THE BUZZ FACTOR E-ZINE

October 2, 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Borrow This Idea From Austin Powers
• To Quote or Not to Quote a Media Source
• Tour, Quit Your Day Job, Get a Record Deal?
• A Special Offer That Ends This Sunday, Oct. 6

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Bob's Buzz-Building Tip of the Week

Take a tip from Mike Myers and his Austin Powers conglomerate. If you saw "Gold Member," the third film in the saga, you saw cameo appearances by a lot of well-known people.

One guest star in particular that caught my attention was "Today Show" host Katie Couric. By including her in the movie, Myers virtually guaranteed that he'd get massive exposure on NBC and cable station MSNBC. It worked. Over the summer the two networks aired lengthy segments on Couric's experiences on the movie set.

And all that exposure was the result of just one cameo. All of the other celebrities each created their own type of buzz by being included in the film, too. So I got to thinking ... How could musicians put this tactic to work?

What if you did this on a local level? Invite disc jockeys, newscasters, music editors, athletes and other local personalities to "appear" on your upcoming CD or music video. Invite some of them into the studio to shout a simple background chorus. Others could play percussion instruments. If one of them happens to be a good guitarist or horn player, offer him or her a solo.

Using this tactic, you might stir up your own media frenzy when the CD is released. Yeah, baby!

Save Money - Offer Ends This Sunday, Oct. 6

Get $5 off the price of "197 Promotion Tips, Tricks & Resources for Indie Musicians." This downloadable report contains 68 pages of great tips collected from more than two years of past Buzz Factor e-zines.

Normally, it's only $12.97. Order by midnight this Sunday, Oct. 6, and it's yours for just $7.97. What could you do with 197 new ideas? Find out more about the incredible resources in this report at www.bob-baker.com/buzz/197.html

Much success to you!

-Bob

P.S. I hope to see you during the Nashville New Music Conference. On Saturday, Oct. 12, I'll present a workshop called "27 Things Every Musician Should Know About Self-Promotion," starting at 3:30 pm at the Ramada Inn in downtown Nashville.

I'll talk about the special relationship between artists and fans, and how you can develop new ways to get exposure and build a following. Head to www.2nmc.com for more info.

Music Resource Spotlight

GUERRILLA MUSIC MARKETING HANDBOOK
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htm

"This book has a wealth of information. As soon as I started reading it I was brainstorming ideas which I have since put into practice with great success. A must-have for anyone who wants to further their career." -Jon T. Pomplin

Quotes of the Week

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
-Anais Nin

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars."  -Les Brown

Music Buzz-Building Tips from Bob

TO QUOTE OR NOT TO QUOTE A MEDIA SOURCE

Subscriber Sarah Sharp (www.sarahsharp.com) recently e-mailed the following question:

"Am I supposed to ask for permission to use something in my press kit that a DJ says about me? For instance, during a recent radio appearance, the DJ closed the show saying, 'Sarah Sharp, our coolest new discovery.' I can't decide if it's necessary to ask him if I can use his comment. I'd appreciate your opinion."

My response:

"In the same way that you wouldn't need to ask a print or web publication for permission to quote a published review, I think a DJ on the airwaves is also fair game for use. If he had said it during a private conversation with you, that would be different. But when media people make statements in a public forum, you should be free to quote them without asking permission first.

"You should get approval from fans and anyone who sends or expresses a personal comment. (It might not hurt to let the DJ know you're using his comment anyway, since it might inspire him to plug you again!)"

Speaking of press kits ... When I announced the availability last week of my special report, called "Killer Press Kits: The 29 Most Important Elements in Creating Sizzling Music Publicity Materials," I had no idea it would rocket to the top of my bestselling titles list. No other report has ever sold that much so quickly. It's obvious musicians are curious about getting exposure through the media.

Find out more about the bestselling "Killer Press Kits" report, which spells out the key things you must include in a promo package (and exactly how to present them), at www.bob-baker.com/buzz/presskits.html

Cool Music Stuff You Need

TAKE THIS MUSIC MARKETING QUIZ
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/quiz.html
Find out how savvy you really are about the Web.

SELL MORE CDs & MERCHANDISE!
www.cdstreet.com/signup/thebuzzfactor
Get serious about accepting credit cards online and at gigs. It's fast, easy and reliable. The Buzz Factor uses this service. So should you.

More Music Buzz-Building Tips

TOUR, QUIT YOUR JOB, GET A RECORD DEAL?

Michael Laskow, founder of the TAXI independent A&R vehicle, has posted a ton of great music business articles on his site. One, simply called "Getting a Record Deal," details several aspects of attracting the attention of record labels by going the do-it-yourself route first.

Here are some nuggets I gleaned from the article:

• Play gigs within your general area. Once you begin to reach saturation in those clubs, start widening your circle. Play clubs within a hundred mile radius. Then 200 miles, then 300 and so on.

• If you get press in those towns, send an advance person to hang posters in every conceivable place and work with local radio stations to promote your shows

• Don't press a thousand CDs without having a marketing plan firmly in place which outlines how and to whom you will sell them.

• Keep your day job and book as many gigs as you can find on weekends within a three-hour drive of your home base. Once you hit the saturation point with weekend gigs, start thinking of creative ways to take Fridays off of work so you can plan longer trips.

• It takes a good business head to make enough noise for a major label to find you instead of you getting frustrated trying to get to them.

• If it was easy, everybody would be a rock star.

It was produced several years ago, but there is still a lot of good advice on my 60-minute audiotape "Getting Signed," which reveals what every artist should know about major record labels and how to grab their attention. Find out more at www.bob-baker.com/buzz/signed.html.

More Cool Music Stuff You Need

72 FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS
www.bob-baker.com/freemusic
Here are 72 of the best artists you may have never heard of. Download this unique e-directory and share it with everyone!

DOWNLOAD IT FREE!
www.bob-baker.com/dl/DoubleCDSales.html
"How to Double Your CD Sales (in 90 Days or Less)." As a subscriber, this report is yours absolutely free.

MAKE MONEY AS A BUZZ FACTOR AFFILIATE
www.bob-baker.com/af/BuzzAfil.html
Earn 40% per sale! Get paid twice a month!

Guerrilla Music Marketing Power Course
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/gpc.html

How to Promote Your Music on the Internet
www.rainmusic.com/htpma/buzz.htm

Indie Music Contact Bible
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/icb.html

Buzz Factor Formalities

Read the previous issue here:
www.bob-baker.com/buzz/zine/092302.html

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"Reprinted from Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor, featuring free marketing and self-promotion ideas for songwriters, musicians and bands on a budget. Visit www.TheBuzzFactor.com for free details."

(c) 2002 by Bob Baker - All Rights Reserved