By Carla Acheson 

Millions of people all over the world spend a good portion of their time working towards something that will bring them future enjoyment and satisfaction. As we speak, thousands of people are concentrating very hard on producing a song. Something they might get pleasure from doing and working hard in the hope that their efforts may some day be rewarded.

You might be just one of those people searching around looking for advice and guidance, but have you a plan in mind for your music career? Perhaps it's just a hobby for you and you're not thinking abut it seriously enough to waste too much effort in getting noticed. On the other hand, perhaps you're working really hard and churning out quality tunes. But how many people are taking notice? And who are they? Will they be of any benefit to you in the long run?

With the advance of so much internet power allowing us to grab free unsigned music across the globe, indie artists are now taking hold of a good portion of the internet. Where do you stand in all this? The true statement is: STOP AND THINK about where your heading and how hard, difficult, expensive is it going to be for you to get there. In other words, where would you like to be ten years from now?

Whilst your next choice of sample might be the only thing in your mind at the moment, take a look at the whole picture. Look at the world.... the music world within.... then you! Do you feel like a little dot sitting agitatedly, expectantly in the middle of this mad adventure, struggling to showcase your talent amongst all the other dots going about the same thing? What could move you ahead? Whilst there are hundreds of ways of getting noticed (running around the streets naked is one of them, but we don't advise it) there are also hundreds of ways to go about it and the corners you take are either going to lead you up the green path to glory, or, alternatively slowly down the black hole.

Planning a music career is much like planning any other career, only harder! Why? Because thousands of people are playing the same game and trying their hardest to succeed and labels that take on new artists are getting harder to break into. This being mainly due to the fact that so many musicians can now produce quality material 'inexpensively' in their own homes which in turn allows the labels to be more fussy of course. Whilst we must have hope, living on hope alone is as good on praying for the sky to fall, therefore we must have a PLAN. And it is those with plans that might eventually break through. There are several things you can do:

Contacts

The reason I put this first is because it IS very important. The more people you get to meet in the music world, and the more you associate with them, the more help you can ask for and receive advice and support in return. "But I dont know anyone" I hear you say! Well this is where you have to get up off your rear and move around and talk. I advised some people that a great place to get 'contacts' is looking through your local directory and seeing what's actually going on around you in terms of live venues and events.

If your not into the live thing, then you could scout around the internet looking for other people who are also into the same thing as you and chat to them and see what plans 'they' have in mind. Another plus is getting yourself to a music festival. Germany holds them annually, and it is a big huge event where artists, producers and label people gather every year to drink chat and be merry. You'd be guaranteed to meet at least one person who could benefit your career! If they don't know you exist how can they help you?

Support

Whilst it's very nice to sit back and wait for your message box to fill up, it's also nice to join forums, music groups, and support other artists. By all means don't spend your life doing it, but they can be very helpful again in providing information, experience in the field. Musicians generally like to listen to each other and talk about their careers and music. Don't be left out and feel that you are stuck on a limb. If you can afford to take a course in music technology or production, then you will meet a whole new bunch of people at them. Check out the local colleges near you. Some courses are as small as 2 days, and you might come out not only with a bit more knowledge, but a whole new outlook and some friends.

Management

If you're confident with your product and feel someone may be willing to invest in you, take it one step further and enlist the help of a manager. Whilst there are quite a few rogue managers about, make sure you don't sell your soul to the first guy who says he'll make you a star in a month. This is as impossible as physically turning you into a comet, (unless you are talking to a fat, cigar-smoking record executive,) in which case, well done, but go with caution. Get a lawyer and remain level headed. Irreputable managers will suck your account dry and sometimes show you a CV of bands they might claim to have pushed to the top. Bands you might never have heard of, but you wouldn't know, right? Wrong. Don't take it from anyone, get proof.

If he is the successful manager he claims to be, he will, for one thing, be able to provide you with references from his clients. If he has none, he probably never had any! Always ask yourself 'Why is he doing this for me?' and ask as MANY questions as necessary before ever saying 'Yes' to a deal. Having said all this, there are certainly reputable music management companies in the books, and if they see a worthwhile investment will take the work and effort in helping you along. Key word: 'Research'. Here is a handy list of management companies.

Labels

Make sure your submissions to labels are of good quality, check with the companies themselves if they take on submissions, and for full advice on this read our article Ten Top Tips To Getting Signed on the matter. Here is a great link to a list of Record Companies and Labels. Take time to look for the ones that may be interested in your style of music.

Money

It is a well known fact that some companies will charge you for the privilege of getting your name out and about. Whilst I for one don't believe in paying huge amounts of money to be heard, some artists swear by it. One such company in particular is www.taxi.com. The annual fee to join is somewhere around $250. Though for this price they claim to do their utmost in selling your artistry and getting your music to A&R ears. I couldn't testify to the 'amount' of artists they have made famous, if any! But the choice is entirely a personal one. If you have the money to throw at companies then it's your call. If you don't, then just don't be silly, try all other methods before even thinking of resorting to emptying your pockets. As said already, if you're a worthwhile investment, the investment is in YOU not them.

There are many ways to 'get heard' and the above is just a few examples of some of them. We all want to succeed, but remember the final point. Success is also about making effort and being one step above the rest. Make plans, read, ask, talk, then take small steps to fulfil each goal. If in ten years time you are feeling bitterly under-valued, undiscovered, and unappreciated, well, either you must have been doing something wrong all the way, or perhaps, this type of success just isn't for you! Look upon it as an 'enjoyable challenge' rather than the be all and end all, and life won't sweep you under the rug.

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