how to make it big

[mesergod]

how make it big man..haiz...spore music its like so on our own...we need a company to sponser these bands to go international...we need a gd label man...sony bmg won't support metal..maybe someone could franchize roadrunner records in spore...then maybe from ther...spore bands can start their journey ther..u guys agree??

 

[dir]

emigration

 

[mesergod]

how make it big man..haiz...spore music its like so on our own...we need a company to sponser these bands to go international...we need a gd label man...sony bmg won't support metal..maybe someone could franchize roadrunner records in spore...then maybe from ther...spore bands can start their journey ther..u guys agree??

 

[dir]

alphonia has some pretty good tips for making it big! jkjk

 

[kerplunk182]

Zooming in helps make it big...
Ok seriously, there are too many complain threads whether the topic is on singapore having too many gigs, too little gigs, life sucks, this big label doesn't want to sign me.
Face it. Why would they sign you when hardly anyone knows/listens to you? And it also depends what kinda music you play. Not everyone finds pleasure in listening to metal. So if the company doesn't think your band is profitable, why would they sign you?
And if you think franchising a company like Roadrunner records is that easy, think again.
Anyway, there are other smaller labels in Singapore where you can start.

 

[mesergod]

who's alphonia??

 

[zax]

Define making it big? , if you plan to become the next metallica in singapore , that's close to impossible . If you do the type of music you play , which usually remains in the underground scene cause few people know how to appreciate it , then stay underground . Do it for the love of the music , not over the hope of making it big . It does help to know people and create your own sex tape if you wanna be famous , i mean tammy was an overnight star .

 

[zax]

messergod , maybe you suck? i mean if you were all that im sure you'd get spotted

 

[Jugman]

stop complaining about the music scene. its growing little by little, but at least its growing. just focus on the music. you're makin music for the love of the music or just to get known?

 

[spongebob_squarepanties]

HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

bands like Metallica,helloween,etc... they are not where they are now without their constant love for music and their countless hours of practice.

after you are SURE that you have practiced hard,then record a demo.
Dont waste all your hard saved money,go record some crappy music and end up unsatisfied with it.make sure you are sure of what you want to sound like BEFORE going to a recording studio.

well after you've created your 'masterpiece', then "promote" them to record labels,distribute your demo freely,take people's opinions into consideration regarding your music.
make reasonable copies of your demo,dont make like 100 and in the end 90 is left in your cupboard.

send your demos to anyone who may be interested in your type of music.
who knows you may get lucky and a record label wants to sign your band up.
(myspace is a good source to promte your music too.)


the constant need for improving your music is a must.
the love for music is essential.you dont want to be playing music because you have to,but because you WANT to.

 

[pedialite]

step 1
Every member must look like Brad Pitt or better (attract the female crowd)

step 2
Surpass skills of bands such as Dream Theatre and Cannibal Corpse and Racer X and the list goes on.. (*insert obscure technical death metal band here*)

step 3
Record a good demo of your blazing fast songs or epic songs or brutal songs. Shouldn't cost too much considering the fact that you're gonna make it big. Millions of dollas babeh!

step 4
Burn as many of your demos as you can and give out FREE at gigs, and send to every major recording label in Australia, Japan, America or Europe.

step 5
Send to instrument companies too :X maybe you'll get free shit




These 5 steps, maybe abit stupid la.. But more or less you break it down its kinda true.

Good Looks (dont really need in metal :X) more of an image la I guess
Tight Skills
Tight Band
Good Demo Recording
Effort to promote your own band. (making a thread about your band on soft.com doesn't count, not for much anyway, if you wanna make it big)

 

[Whitestrat]

how make it big man..haiz...spore music its like so on our own...we need a company to sponser these bands to go international...we need a gd label man...sony bmg won't support metal..maybe someone could franchize roadrunner records in spore...then maybe from ther...spore bands can start their journey ther..u guys agree??

You need money. Lots of it. There's lots of bands I hear of who are too busy touring Australia and other countries to post here. (shows that I'm not one of them)...:mrgreen: And yes, they do play the chugga chugga sort of metal. Many of them pay their own way first, then when recognition comes, the rest will follow. You still don't get to make it big yet, because you're not white.

Basically, self-promote. Singapore alone is not enough, and the market here is resistant to local talent (Remember Stephanie Sun? She was famous here only after she made it in Taiwan) Use the internet as your marketing tool.

You don't need a good label. You need a good band manager. If your'e good enough as a band (yes, some talent is actually required), then Malaysia or Indonesia is a good enough place to begin. Especially if you're versatile enough to do songs in Malay too.

 

[dirtchamber700]

=pedialite

you forgot one more thing bro. let me add that. (disclaimer: might be offensive to some)

step 6:
must be more than willing to go down/bend down to those in major recording labels. smaller/indie labels don't count.

how many indie labels have you seen that made it big? few and far between really. sadly those who own indie labels have better music taste than those working for bigger labels.

 

[pedialite]

aiya, I believe if your skillz imba everything will follow

which is the most important thing. skills good music nice. :X

people CANNOT dont take notice.

but then again, most people are self-defeating Singaporeans including me.. WHITE POWER!

haha im an ass.

 

[pianomankris]

I can't comment on this subject with regards to Singapore, but could give an insight into the UK market with this, as i'm signed to a UK company.

You guys certainly have a different outlook!!

The record industry is catch-22, in the sense that the majors won't be interested until you have a proven track record of consistent selling. Too many risks were taken in the past with regards to promoting/signing new acts, which cost the record companies millions of pounds. It is easy to slate the big companies, but, at the end of the day, they are a business first, and many went under in the 70's/80's/90's due to signing unknowns who a few A&R guys thought would make it big.

I'm not saying they shouldn't take chances; all i'm saying is that if they take too many chances, it would kill the business.

No-one here has mentioned publishing: here is one piece of advice - don't approach a record company if you have no publishing in place - the majors won't even consider speaking to you if your music has no safeguard i.e. publishing rights.

What about funding over there? Are there arts councils? Or approach the local council/government (sorry, it may be different over there) with regards to grants. This could, at the very least, get you good gear for gigging with.

Someone mentioned Dream Theater - record companies hate it when 18 year old lads think they can play and sound like Petrucci and the such - the result is usually very messy playing (not many can be consistent in the studio every time - and studios are very expensive, and the record company pays for the studio hire. It is ok to sit at home and nail a fast riff once, but the playing has to be great every time). So just do what you do, and do it well, as there are a million people out there trying to be the fastest guitarist/pianist/whatever. Remember, to the non-musician, it all sounds complex anyway! And if you are trying to appeal to a niche market (e.g. specifically to guitarists), then you are drastically and instantly cutting your market appeal, so it will be tougher to get signed.

 

[pianomankris]

..Is it really true that the scene over there is pro white/anti anything else?

A few people have said this.

It seems pretty extreme, but i don't know how it is out there.

I thought that a multi-cultural band would contribute to the image of Singapore, rather than detract from it, since it is a multi-cultural society?

 

[visa]

The Suns had a Chinese, Indian and Eurasian and they were both wonderfully Singaporean and extremely lovable at the same time, and Australia loved them!

MySpace.com - The SUNS - Punggol, Tampines & Bedok North, SG - Punk / Rock / Ska - www.myspace.com/thesunsrock

I believed that they made it big, or relatively bigger than the rest of us, not because they moved but because of the massive amounts of hard work and dedication they put into writing, performing, recording and promoting their music.

if you mean big as in "large fanbase", promoting is everything. Of course, if you're promoting rubbish then everybody's going to have heard of you but nobody's going to like you.

 

[Anirudh]

Although i agree to a very small extent that the music scene is kinda white supremist. There are plenty examples which prove otherwise.

One good example would be our very own Rudra. Their fanbase extends from Indonesia to India, USA, and i even remember a Romanian guy commenting on their guestbook.

Go figure

 

[pedialite]

local musicians aren't the KKK people.

Its the not-so-hardcore music listeners. eg casual mainstream radio dude.

 

[visa]

well if i were a random fella on the street i'd be pretty terrified of some scary indian fellas playing heavy music and sounding like they're going to kill me. =p

rudra's fanbase may extend far and wide, but you will find 10 times that number of people who will be scared off by their music.

it's not a racist thing, it's an alternative thing. people just aren't comfortable with alternative culture. you know it, that's why you get into it