I AGREE 100%

Maybe we can start a business where we tell everyone how they should spend their money……..lol.

I expect Daybreak to mail me their new cd because we have talked about them. Ha! One more thing….I met them at a concert we did together in Scotland…..Scotland knows them!

I am on vacation from singing for 2 weeks! What am I doing discussing it on a blog at midnight on saturday?

Obviously, this thread has evolved into exposure and trying to make it, and I agree with a whole lot if what you say and my asking was more to try to get others to contemplate this rather than wanting or needing to know for myself. I already know most of the ins and outs of this business, as you obviously do, too.

For every wannabe group there are a dozen people with their hand out to take money from them for a promised service that may or may not ever come to fruition. I think there is more than one way to make it in this business–some have hit on a big song, others by their stage performances or the way they build a following one fan at a time. It is not easy to predict who and what will click with audiences. And it is true that some artists have more dollars than sense. But I think a well balanced blend of talent, personality, hard work, an ad budget well spent on the most effective bang for the buck, as well as a healthy prayer life would be a good place to start for most any group.

And depending on the time of day, I may prefer the boneless pork chop sandwich instead of the ice cream.

Referencing your post # 70 (2nd part)

Nick Bruno makes the same points I was making. So many groups that are “chasing the dream” spend big bucks on radio promotion, ads, ect….to send their music to radio in California when they are not able to leave a 2 state radius because of work restrictions. These same artists draw 35 people in their hometowns but get talked into a “national” campaign to promote their ministry.

You ask how can they know if a promoter is bad or money grabbing? Pretty easy….if they don’t know the scope of your ministry, if they don’t ask important questions like ” are you selling out in your area?” then you might wish to keep looking.

The way you build a following and fan base and get noticed is NEVER to buy it. Try doing what the Booth Brothers and many others did. They sang their tails off in their home state first and built a following outside of their family and then slowly eased into regional/national promotion. Shoot- the BB still drive an older bus and have the cash in the bank to replace the engine and transmission! They are at the top of the food chain but run the business very different. They have a unique recording deal with their label as well. They are the blueprint to follow.

A group that wants to grow their ministry and signs a radio deal will pay around $800 to get on a disc. Monthly promotion can run $400 or more a month. You have to do that 4-5 months per song. Now you have spent $2500 or more to have your song buried at the bottom of a disc and never get heard.

A better model is :
1. Put $1500 in the bank for future needs!
2. Send out about 400 demos to new prospects for booking with the other $1000.
3. use that extra money to build your fan base through your web activities, mailers to your suppor tlist ect…..

Once fans are beating your door down in your area and 2-3 states around you…..take the next step and seek out a GOOD company for ads and promotion.

This is a model that groups like Daybreak and many others follow. This is how you sing full time for a lifetime, retire with money in the bank and not have to have a benfit concert if you need a root canal.

Souls can be saved, lives can be touched and a nice life can be had all at the same time!

Blessings.

#64 Daniel, re-read Mark’s post, then answer this; how are groups supposed to get noticed and try to make their mark if they don’t utilize advertising, promotion, marketing, attempts to make the best quality records, and/or trying to get their music on the radio? I know there are folks out there who are not reputable, but if a group wanting to increase/expand their work doesn’t spend some money, how do they compete with all the other groups out there? And if no one tells a group a certain promoter or label is out there only for money, how are new groups supposed to know this? I know a lot of this is trial and error, but aside from that, what do you think?