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Isn't it enough that you play good music ? Of course it isn't unless you want to stay in obscurity in a market that has fierce competition. What makes music work is that people listen. Without fans, music doesn't go very far because it is those fans that turn a musical production into a viable proposition, and here is where success lies. In an effort to cover all eventualities, this article starts at the beginning because building a fan base is more essential for those artists that are starting out, and that need all the help they can get.

THE LOCAL BAND OR SINGER

Many people start up their own groups, or sing solo, and in an effort to get recognition, try out the local venues to get gigs. Of course, they are able to invite friends to support them, though in the professional world, it isn't those few friends that make the difference. The local venues want artists that bring in the customers, and even the most versatile of artists can fail by not gaging the right kind of venue. For example, a country player won't get much support in a club that specializes in music of a more vibrant nature. It's unlikely that you will be hired for the wrong kind of venue, because groups and musicians are screened, but imagine the difference if you have already looked at the market, at the music that is playing and have found the type of venue where your music fits the bill perfectly.

What happens is that by playing in those places where your genre of music is appreciated, you begin to build a fan base. People like your music and that's all it takes to have a fan base. To develop this further, musicians need to have sufficient music to sustain their fans. A repertoire that is changing, though also allowing for those fans that enjoy the music you do best, will gather even more fans. Demonstration cd's of your music are another way to build up your fan base. Here, for example, the venues where you play could offer your demo discs to the audience, and here preparation of demo discs isn't that hard these days with technology being geared towards recording and promoting new work. A demonstration cd should have a variety of music to try and pull in as many fans as possible, and leaflets can also be distributed telling fans where the band or individual singer will be performing in the future. By keeping fans informed, the gathering gets bigger, and more sustainable. Simple printed leaflets inserted into demonstration discs inform fans of your future venues and keep them happy.

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