Promotion, Promotion, Promotion

Promotion, Promotion, Promotion I don't understand why Artist don't seem to get they need PROMOTION !!! Without promotion you have nothing !!!!! When new artist contact me to see if I can book them, I always ask them if they have a promotional plan, what I hear from them is silents... nothing, nada!!! They don't even think about Promotion, because they think Promotion is something someone else will do for them. News Alert !!! WHO are you talking about, me !!! If you don't invest in yourself what makes you think I will do it, or anybody else. Really if your not going to invest in promotion then why even record. Also no one seems to understand you need a piece of paper with a PLAN written down on it, A PROMOTIONAL PLAN, what in the world is so hard to understand that you need a road map. Look it is simple, if your going to some place you have never been before, what is it that you do? Don't 99% of the world use a Map, a simple map, and if you don't have one pre-printed you then do what, WRITE down the instructions on how to get to where your going. So tell me why is it so hard to understand that you as an artist needs a road map, A PROMOTIONAL PLAN. Okay so now your saying "I don't know what a Promo Plan looks like. Well here is a sample... So think about what your going to do and the cost behind it and write it down, step by step so you don't get lost. Next time you look for a Booking Agent or Agency you can tell them that you have a Promotional Plan and you have done X to date. This way that Agent or Agency knows what else to do or where they can pick up from and follow up on what you have done to date. Also let me just say, this plan is not a one day thing, that plan need to be written in steps and written to be completed in 6 to 12 months. What !!! that long? YES that long, unless you have a staff of about 50 to 100 people working 24/7 this promotion any promotion will take more that 1 week to get your song known. So you better get started.... Oh yeah - Good Luck and save that money because promotion is not cheap. One more item, find your self a Public Relations company or Person that deals in Music and in the genre you recorded. Then show them your Promotional Plan. Planning Your Promotion Campaign - a sample A Hit Maker Concept The commercial Radio, Print Media and TV industry, at this time in history, couldn’t be less friendly to the independent musician, heck even Major Label Artist are having problems, because the Major Labels have pulled back on promotional funds. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some significant Radio, Print Media and TV airplay available to you if you know what you’re doing. Outlined below is a plan to consider if you have the four important ingredients necessary for working your record to Radio, Print Media and TV. 1. The MONEY to fund the campaign. 2. A great looking Video of the song or songs you are going to promote. 3. The time to spend working all the stations, websites and Print Media consistently. 4. A product that is READY for national airplay, which is extremely important. When it comes to commercial Radio, Print Media and TV, the chances of getting significant national airplay and favorable Reviews for your independent record are next to none. We live in an era when a small group of powerful media conglomerates own and control the most important Radio, Print Media and TV stations in the land. Unless you are connected to a major label, or are independently wealthy, the costs of promoting your songs nationally to commercial Radio, Print Media and TV have spiraled out of sight. There are, however, lots of mix shows and specialty shows on commercial stations that may offer limited airplay, and at least will get you some awareness in the markets across the country. There will be a lot of work involved in finding these stations yourself, city by city, and music format by music format. I suggest you subscribe to or get a copy of the annual CMJ Directory and look online for every website that has lists of Record Pools, DJs, Online Radio and Cable TV video and non Video shows. If you have money to invest in Radio, Print Media and TV promotion it’s possible to hire an independent "Public Relations" promoter or company who may be able to open some doors to these shows for you. Be prepared to spend several hundred dollars a week for their services. A more realistic approach for airplay and reviews is to consider the options available on the noncommercial side of the FM dial. (88.1 FM to 91.9 FM) With the combination of college Radio, Print Media and TV stations, community stations, and even some of the larger National Public Radio and TV affiliated stations and Cable TV, your chances of getting your record and video played are much better as well as getting to perform live. Below you will find an outline based on how professional record labels plan for their Radio, Print Media and TV promotions. You need to prepare: • A database of commercial and non-commercial stations that you realistically think may play your music. • The timeline you'll use to put the promotional material together (basically setting your deadlines). Be sure to remember that your plan may be distributed to employees, and any independent promotion people you may hire. This plan will be their introduction to you or your artist, and is the plan they will base their work on. 1. Design a detailed overview of your Radio, Print Media and TV promotion plan. • Consider all marketing and promotional ideas listed below. • Propose what you think would work best in each of the areas to help market the record to Radio, Print Media and TV. • Remember to keep cohesiveness between all areas: Give reasons why your music is appropriate to each station you approach, each reporter or editor. • Remember you will need several practical tools/materials to achieve your goals. (Computers, hardware/software, office supplies, money etc.). Address the following specific topics in your plan: Background/Goals: Give a brief history of the artist, and describe the goals of your plan. Make sure you have a real Biography and Promo Pictures. Image: Describe and maintain the artist's image consistently in all promo materials. Radio, Print Media and TV: What Radio and TV format(s) will be targeted? What Print Media would review your music? What markets? Which songs? Any station promotions? (On-air concerts?) Hiring any Independent PR promoters? Publicity: Describe your plans to create a “buzz” in the print media. Any press releases to the music industry trades and regular magazines and newspapers? Update any bios, fact sheets, and other press materials. Sales: Describe Distribution and Retail plans. Any in-store play/ promotions? What other specific sales opportunities? Mail order, live shows, Internet Website, Blogs, Internet Radio? Any store promotional tie-ins with Radio and TV stations? Video: Is a video budget cost effective? Does the Video look as good or better than whats on the top Video shows now? How many songs are on video? What airplay opportunities are there for the video? Touring: Describe the time frame for touring, and other promotional events to coordinate while on the road. Consider specific clubs, halls, fairs, festivals, etc. Any club/venue promotional tie-ins with Radio and TV stations Advertising: Design an ad to be placed in the trades/ consumer music press, and other media? What funds are available for purchasing ads? Describe the costs/benefits? Misc.: Record release party and where? Are you doing more than one Record release party? Will you perform at the Record release party? Maybe a promoter will sponsor your Record release party? Novelty item to give away? Any other clever ideas? Explain clearly each idea. 2. Design a 24 to 48 week plan for the product and promotional tools. * Lay out what needs to be accomplished each week to get the record out. * Consider the: artwork, mastering, credits, sequencing, printing, pressing, booklets, layout/design, Bio, Pictures, One Sheet, Press releases. * Include in the timeline when to start working on the promotional tools that you will need for your plan (photos, press releases, novelty items, display material, ads etc.). * Design the timeline with deadlines for each element of your project. As you can see, a Radio, Print Media and TV promotion campaign is something that is done as part of a wider marketing plan. Always have distribution and sales plans ready, as well as publicity, advertising and touring plans coordinated carefully with your airplay and print campaign. The worst thing that can happen to any song on the Radio, Print and TV is that someone hears the song, but can’t find a way to buy it. Professional major record labels always have distribution and sales connections set up way before they secure Radio, Print Media and TV airplay. You must do the same. Okay so there it is, if I missed something, Let me know... Chino Rodriguez, LatinMusicBooking.com

Everyone wants to do what I do, Why?

Everyone wants to do what I do, Why? - So I need to write about what is going on in a Depressed time of October 2012, I have been booking Bands and Artists, and even other type of entertainment since around 1974, and I have always had a hard time if it wasn't because I had other interest such as working in Systems, getting to upper management in some big corporations and selling a computer hardware and programming company in the late 80's, the truth is I would really not still be doing this Music Booking business... oh yeah I have had some advantage and LUCK and as people say fallen into shit, but that is because of my nature, the way I treat people who I see will become something or are respectful of others and themselves. I just heard about these 2nd rate producers as well as second rate record executives are now looking at starting a Booking Agency, but with an angle, provide Public Relations and Publicity and well as pushing out Artist and Bands to Promoters, Buyers and basically come out as an Agency that has these artist exclusive, also mind you, these are not A list artist / bands these were at one time A list names but in a world of what have you done lately, these acts are more oldies but goodies, until the next New Artist or A List artist makes a hit or by chance one of the oldie but goodie make another hit song, hey could happen!!. Well I am writing about this because as you may or may not know, in life things always gets back to ones ears... and my Name comes up in conversations, as being the brick wall that these new Agencies must break down. I must laugh at this, not because these people feel as if I am in their way, really ?? me ??, Look the real is, the TIME of the era is against them, I feel that there are only a handful of private Booking Agencies, I am one, Juan Toro, Andy Pozo and then a few other Dominican guys that basically have continued from what their fathers have started and now their fathers are now passed or retired and so the sons have continued hey that's great, But hello they are running Agencies that are established... I have stayed above water for many reasons, one, I get income from a Savings which was from a company I sold for a price that I dumped the funds in a savings, two, I get funds from odd jobs I do in a real work world as a consultant as a programmer and also hardware repair and modification, three, I assist in musical productions, recording, concert productions, and promotions etc... and then of course Bookings. As I mentioned, Live Music Bookings is very hard work and a thankless job, from all sides, Artist, Buyer and anyone of the staff or investors. The point is because of my wit I have stayed in business and above water. As time passes I have noticed that people become more mean with each other (including me I guess) because they have not figured out how to keep that income coming, and because they have started or are starting a business that needs BALLs to work in, they think by targeting an old-timer that has not really looked to handle exclusively the A list artist or any bands, but yet still gets permission from those A list acts and the management teams to be able to say I have them exclusive on a non exclusive basis ;-), anyway trying to block my efforts or taking away the B and C and D list acts, they think they will close me down or place a dent in my income. News alert, it's not easy for me, what makes them think that doing whatever, will make them number one... I don't get it, and I feel that's just mean and drumming up bad vibes. I live my life easier than in the past, in New York I would do things that I now regret I ever did. But I did them, and the rule of life is if you place an older, wiser animal in a corner thinking that animal does not have the energy or a way to get away or not attack because it's old and/or has d-clawed him/herself, keep in mind that your not thinking about experience and experience gives that cornered animal a strategy of how to plan the next step. Does that animal act dead, hurt, scared or does it attack as a crazy animal, or fake foam at the mouth to scare the attacker, or just dodge the attack and get away. In either case that animal will plan a retaliation and that plan will include a finally that may or may not include everything but the kitchen sink. And since these people gave a tell at the poker table, they made their first mistake. Instead of making me feel that the fight is not worth it because I am old and not really into going to war, or maybe my connections and following are retired or dead so I would not have any political power (friends) to assist. They are painfully wrong, We as a group of Agencies that compete with each other on normal days, will work with each other and will come together to protect what is ours, unless one of us has died, we basically don't like giving up the little we have. Just like every animal in the world they all mark their play area and if another animal comes into that area to claim it... Watch Out.... So the moral to my blog today is watch out it ain't over till the fat lady sings.... and there is no such thing as cosa nostra. (okay so I am Venting, a guy has the right to vent) ;-) Chino "Carmine" Rodriguez - Latin Music Booking - online since 1991 est. 1974

Happy New Year - 2012

So it's 2012, the end of the calendar, well if this is the end, I must say I had a good run. I just got some bad news on my personal life side. My son's father in-Law has been given months to live, yeah cancer, I feel bad about that, my grand kids have seen him more than I only because my daughter-in-law chase my wife and I away years ago, but that’s another story. Any way her father is now dying and has been given a few months, this means maybe by April or May he may be gone. He is a nice guy, the grand kids are in my opinion more attached to him because he lives 3 minutes away, while I live 8 hours away. I have never had a long discussion with him, but he has been very gracious with us, I know he feels alittle guilty that he and his wife get to see the kids often, but it’s not his fault and I know that. I feel pretty bad that he will be gone soon, we never were best of buddies but I know he would always speak up on our behalf, if there was a discussion that we were mentioned. It’s so awkward because I don’t know what to say, or how to prepare for what will happen. I understand he is like a tooth pick now, because of the Kimo therapy, he can’t eat and now that he is home he is going to try to eat since his therapy has stopped. I understand he is going to get looking like if he is getting better, he’ll fatten up, and color will come back to his face. But that is just giving us faults hope , because the Doctors already have told us that he has a few months if that. I will pray for his soul, and ask my church to do some rosesary prayers in his name. Pete Ferandino make your peace. A warning to all who smoke, Please Stop !!! and those who don’t right now, Don’t start !!!, Sad day.