In his book "Wild Thing", Ian Copeland, founder of Frontier Booking International (FBI) and talent agent to The Police, Sting, and No Doubt, says: Doors were usually closed to newcomers in the industry. We decided to stop beating on them and create new ones!

Its not enough to simply give someone a business card or demo tape and then sit back and expect to gain employment or procure a record or publishing deal. No ones going to hand you success on a silver platter. You need to take more control of your career and create your own destiny. Whether youre an individual musician, a songwriter, a solo artist or a member of a band, ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THOSE WHO CAN HELP YOU BY FIRST HELPING YOURSELF!

Musicians

If you're a musician who wants to be known as a great player rather than simply as a member of a band, and you want to perform with successful artists and play on lots of recordings, then get out there and be heard! Don't wait for the phone to ring. Try starting your own band first. Youll have the opportunity to showcase your individual style letting people know what you do best and most comfortably. Attend local jam sessions to find other musicians whose personalities and abilities you admire and then perform together everywhere you can. Eventually, more successful musicians and bands will begin to notice you, and may even ask you to play on their records or tours. Get to know the producers and managers of these acts. Your reputation and opportunities can build from there. For instance, when Guns N Roses were looking for a replacement drummer, GNRs guitarist, Slash, happened to attend a concert at which drummer Matt Sorum was performing. Slash liked Sorums heavy/solid style, and without auditioning thousands of candidates, Slash offered Sorum the gig. Sorum worked hard at putting himself in situations where he could shine. As a result, he got a great job. At that time, Guns N Roses were one of the greatest rock bands in the world.

Songwriters

If youre a songwriter (not an artist/performer), who wants to get a publishing deal and get your music placed with successful artists and in television commercials and films, you can start off by contacting some of the more popular bands in your area yourself and see if theyd be interested in performing one of your songs or co-writing one with you. If the group ends up getting a record deal, bingo, youre in business! Some writers even go so far as to develop their own artists, writing songs for them to perform, and then producing them and helping them get signed to a recording contract. Its a long-term approach, but you have to start somewhere. You can also try contacting the film departments at local colleges to make your music available for student films. The film may go on to win an award, or that student may even go on to become a successful director one day and youll be one of the first people he or she calls. Try contacting some of your local radio stations to see if theyre interested in using your material for their advertising spots. Start with the smaller radio stations and work your way up from there. Also try contacting a few of the many music libraries that exist (organizations who help place songs in video games, corporate video presentations, phone music on-hold, elevators, etc.) such as www.mastersource.com, and see if theyd be interested in using your material. Also Keep your eyes open for the number of songwriter's workshops and competitions offered by the performing rights societies (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) as a way to gain exposure, earn a few bucks, and also improve your songwriting skills. Check out www.ascap.com, www.bmi.com, and www.sesac.com. Other organizations to check out include the Songwriters Guild of America at www.songwriters.org, Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) at www.aimp.org , and Society of Composers & Lyricists at www.filmscore.org. The opportunities to take charge of your career are endless.

Solo Artists and Bands

If youre a solo artist or part of a band that wants to get a record deal, cut your own record first! Digital technology has greatly reduced studio costs and has made home recording equipment more practical to own. CD manufacturing has also become more affordable. You can sell your CDs at live performances or over the Internet (the Internet provides a number of marketing opportunities through online stores and MP3 sites). Create a buzz! Build a following. You'll be surprised at how many people in the industry you'll attract once you set the wheels in motion. Everybody likes a winner and will want to be part of your success by associating themselves with you. Singer/songwriter Ani DeFranco was actually able to by-pass the record companies altogether by starting her own label out of her parents garage. She was only twenty years old when Righteous Babe Records began. At the time of this writing, sales of her albums are known to reach up to 30,000 copies per month. This brings the old saying to mind,You ever notice how fast firewood burns when you cut and then chop it yourself? Though Defranco is a rare example, it shows what you can accomplish when you take the initiative. In yet another example, both Guns N Roses and Motley Crue were selling out Los Angeles clubs before Geffen Records A&R man Tom Zutaut "discovered" and then signed the bands. There were literally lines around the block to see the bands performances. As Zutaut says: YOU DONT NEED EARS TO BE A TALENT SCOUT; YOU NEED EYES!