Mp3 Players and Digital Music

Mp3 Players and Digital Music  » How To Earn $30,000 With Your Music Within A Year

How To Earn $30,000 With Your Music Within A Year

As an independent musician and/or recording artist, if you did

*NOT* earn $30,000 (or more) with your music alone last year,

let's jump right in and get you started with doing so this year.

Again, bear in mind that the main necessary ingredient is

"consistency" of every aspect, and on a weekly basis.

Remember! This is a worst case scenario, in regard to what you

should be able to easily earn within each aspect, and you are

very likely to earn much more.

The "lead generator(s)" in each aspect reflects the various

resources that you will use to obtain results in these areas.

So, here is the financial mathematical layout.

___________________________________________

[---GIG EARNINGS---]

Practically any band should be able to market and promote itself

well enough to obtain, at least, one gig per week, whether the

band is based in a metropolitan or rural setting, and whether it

performs on a fulltime or part-time basis.

So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at getting one gig

per week:

1 Gig X 1 Week @ $300 X 4 weeks = $1,200 per month

Lead Generators:

* Contacting venue managers and bookers directly

* Signing on with an area booking agent

* Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly newspapers

* Contacting area performance theaters

* Host your own gig at an area hall or theater

* Contacting high schools for performances

* Contacting college student activities offices for performances

* Low-cost college newspaper ads for possible gigs

* Low-cost college radio ads for possible gigs

* Your website calendar gig notices/tours

Note: Provide your media kit and business card to prospective

clients.

=====

[---GIG CD SALES---]

As you are already aware, most gig employers will allow you to

sell your music during performances.

So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at getting sales

during gigs, with a minimum of 100 people at each gig, and with

10% (10 sales) of the crowd who, after witnessing your

mind-blowing spectacular performance, suddenly realize that life

is not worth living, and they simply cannot go on unless they

own a copy of your CD:

10 sales X $10.00 (per CD) X 4 weeks = $400 per month

Our monthly sub-total is now $1,600

Lead Generator:

* Your incredible stage performance that left them mesmerized.

* Your website for additional sales

=====

[---TEACHING---]

Right now, in your own area, there are innumerable people who

would like to learn to play your instrument, or be able to sing

as half as well as you. So, why not teach them how to do so

while earning a bit of income doing it as well?

So, in our worst case scenario, let's say you teach only one day

each week, with only two students, at one hour each, while

charging $10 per student, per lesson:

1 day X 2 students X $10.00 (per student) X 4 weeks = $80 per

month

Our monthly sub-total is now $1,680 +

Note: If you decide to devote an entire day of the week to

teaching, say 8 students/8 hours, your income increases to $80

per day/$320 per month.

You can also consider contacting area community colleges that

will likely be receptive to your classes within their

"Continuing Education" program, which can even pay a bit more

money. And, if time allows, why not get the best of both worlds,

so to speak, by teaching both independently, as well as within

the college system?

Lead Generators:

* Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly newspapers

* Contacting high schools to post notices/fliers

* Low-cost college newspaper ads

* Low-cost college radio ads

* News releases to area radio and print papers

* Feature interviews on area radio and in newspapers

* Your website with your class notices

Note: Provide your credentials to student prospects in the forms

of a resume and/or portfolio.

=====

[---ONLINE SALES---]

Just a few noted sites include:

CD Baby ( http://www.cdbaby.com )

The Orchard ( http://www.theorchard.com )

Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com )

New Artist Direct ( http://www.newartistdirect.com )

With fairly decent online promotion, at the least, you ought to

be able to realize an average of 3 sales per week from each of

these sites. While all may not produce those 3 sales

individually each week, some of them are likely to produce more

than 3 sales, dependent upon your promotional efforts, of which

should still average out to 3 sales each.

However and again, let's review a worst case scenario:

4 sites X 3 sales each X $7.00 = $84 X 4 weeks = $336

Our monthly sub-total is now $2,016

Lead Generators:

* Peripheral online sales from gig audiences

* Low-cost ads in area weekly newspapers

* Low-cost college newspaper ads

* Low-cost college radio ads

* Internet marketing and promotion on music message boards,

music forums, and within discussion list signature files

* News releases to area radio and print papers

* Feature interviews on area radio and newspapers

* Your website sales

=====

[---WEDDINGS---]

Though weddings occur within every month of the year, the

biggest and most traditional month for weddings is June. And,

right now, in your own area, there are quite a few being planned

for this summer. Weddings are one of the most lucrative income

generators for musicians, because families generally are very

liberal in spending on them, and go all out, so to speak, for

this special day for their daughters.

So, in our worst case scenario, let's say you can get, at least,

one wedding gig per month, at $1,000 per gig (more wedding gig

opportunities are likely during summer months especially):

$1,000 X 9 months = $9,000

Our monthly sub-total is now $3,016

Lead Generators:

* Caterers & Catering Services

* Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly newspapers

* Your website notices of your availability for weddings

* Providing your business card to area upscale restaurants that

cater wedding receptions and banquets

* Your business card left with flower shops

* Your business card left with jewelry stores

* Your business card left with bridal shops

* Your business card left with tuxedo shops

* Your business card left with bridal services

Note: You should also provide your business card to wedding

attendants who inquire about your services for upcoming

functions that they may be hosting in the future.

=====

[---WEDDING CD SALES---]

You may also be able to sell your CD at weddings, however, ASK

FIRST when coordinating your performance arrangements.

Attendants usually interact with the band, as it is a happy

occasion.

If you are allowed to sell your recordings at weddings, you

should do so passively by having your CDs placed near the

performance area in a conspicuous position.

However, I would not "hard sell" (repeatedly mention) the CD

from the stage, unless of course, a wedding coordinator decides

to do so, or states that you may do so.

So, in our worst case scenario, let's say, at least, 100 people

attend each wedding (more are likely to attend many weddings),

with 10% of them purchasing your CD:

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10 sales X $10.00 (per CD) X 1 month = $100

Our monthly sub-total is now $3,116

Lead Generator:

* Your performance

* Your website notice

=====

[---RETAIL STORE CONSIGNMENT SALES---]

Since stores won't be laying out cash in advance for your music,

you should have very little problem consigning your music to

retailers.

A word of advice is for you to not consign more than five copies

per store, per 30-day period, at any time. Limiting copies to

stores will allow for sufficient time in your product moving off

retailer shelves.

Consider getting your product consigned with, at least, five

area retailers. However, if there are not enough music stores in

your area, consider consigning it with other retailers such as;

bookstores, flower shops, jewelry stores, and any other such

retailer that gets quite a bit of traffic and might be

interested in carrying your music.

You will, generally, be required to present retailers with your

own consignment form, and I have created one that you can freely

download and customize for your own use at:

http://www.MuBiz.com/CnsnmtFrm.html

Just be sure to duplicate it so that both you and the retailer

have copies.

So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at your area retail

possibilities:

5 Stores X 5 copies X $8 (your take) = $200 per month

Our monthly sub-total is now $3,316

Lead Generators:

* Low-cost classified or display ads in area newspapers

* Low-cost radio ads

* Low-cost cable television ads

* News releases to all forms of media

* Feature interviews at local television, radio stations and

print media * Music reviews in your area print media

* Your website listing area stores carrying your music

Note: Provide your media kit and business card to retailers in

order to further influence their decision in consigning your

product.

=====

[---PRODUCTION---]

Did you produce your own CD? If you did, and if people are

raving about how great it is, why not consider producing other

area bands as well for some extra cash?

Between now and the end of this year, you should be able to

produce, at least, two acts for, at least, a $1,000 fee each.

Lead Generators:

* Word of mouth and fellow musicians you know

* Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly newspapers

* Low-cost college newspaper ads

* Low-cost college radio ads

* Your website notice of your production skills

* Fliers in music instrument stores

Note: Provide your media kit and business card to contacts.

As our monthly sub-total is $3,316, providing a grand sub-total

of $29,844, when you add on your $2,000 production fees for both

bands that you produce, your minimum grand year-end total comes

to $31,844.

As I stated at the beginning of this article, each of these

aspects contain 'bare bones' minimum figures in respect to what

your earning potential is within them.

=====

* Special Note: In each of these areas, it is very likely that

you will experience repeat business, as well as word of mouth

promotion, which will further add to your annual income this

year, thus, creating the potential for doubling or even tripling

your income.

About the author:

Kenny Love is president of MuBiz.com, a multi-service music firm

providing radio promotion, media publicity, gig publicity and

business services for musicians. Get complete details at

http://www.myspace.com/kenlove