Experiment: Band Management: Blog 6: BURGER RECORDS and Sean Bohrman.

This is what I need to do for “Band A” – the band that I am currently “Murraying” – just sell their art. It’s that simple. There’s this guy “Andy” in the band – there’s always an “Andy” in the band – whose been asking what am I actually doing? This year I will sell their music, maybe merch, maybe concert sales too. There are 5 members, so at a minimum I need to sell $250,000. Fawwwwwk. Well, their bandcamp site has sold 2 copies of their latest album.
So, taking a step back, I believe if people listen to this music they will buy it. How do I get this music out to enough ears? Traditionally, a label helps to get the music on radio, written about in media, distributed, places the band on tours, different ways to reach an audience. 
But what do labels even do these days? – “Andy” asked. 
So I had to reach out to a friend. Sean Bohrman of BURGER RECORDShas always been kind to the Holy Crap Records podcast. We interviewed him for an early show and he’s introduced us to some of the bands we’ve played. Burger Records is one of the most creative ventures I’ve ever met. As well as being a somewhat traditional label (mainly focusing on distribution of tapes and underground bands like The Black Lips and The Brian Jonestown Massacre), they also host an annual around-the-world mass music promotion called the Burger Revolution. You know. We know. It’s an underground music festival that happens in Asheville (at Fleetwood’s) and in cities around the world. These guys just invented that in their minds and then made it a reality. 
Anyway, I’m a cynic. I entered into this conversation with Sean with the attitude that labels, bookers, and radio only care about the numbers – and my goal has been to buy social media likes for “Band A” and hire a publicity agent to get them some favorable media. I asked Sean how he finds new bands? “Word-of-mouth.” Simply, bands he likes tells him about other bands. So you can just be playing in a local scene making the best music you can – and that may be enough to get on that first label. And he listens to demos – if people send him a polite, personalized email about why Burger Records is a good fit for a band. Then we laughed and laughed about the “rock stars” – oh good times. Listen to the rest of the interview here: 
https://youtu.be/FhRBqURkXOE

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 5: Social Media Fail

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I do love one of those shows when you have to shove the pool table to one side, bring all your own equipment, have no monitors, and all the people at the bar stare at the band like they’re aliens. Of course I didn’t shove the pool table – I’m management. Here’s a plus about “Band A” – they don’t have a hard time getting shows. So generally they’re well behaved, they have songs, and they’re bring a handful of friends along. Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire says that you shouldn’t book too much, that each show should be an event. I’ve heard this from @Derek Allen too. I’d subscribe to that theory if “Band A” was destroying each show. They’ll have a great loose show – and then only four of them will show up and it will be entertaining but not a religious experience. I want to book them shows until they get sulky and arrogant and obnoxious. 
That was the good part of band managing this week. I also failed on social media. How do you reach a larger audience? On Wednesday I paid social media for likes – because I believe 5,000 likes will make it easier to get them on a label, play at festivals, and get 100 people to shows. I paid $5 to social media. “Band A” has +11 likes this week. About 50 cents a like. So that didn’t work. Or maybe the ads need to be smarter?
So how do you get people to listen to this music? Bumperstickers? Music videos? People do like music videos. So a music video, of the band sitting around, or looking artsy and angsty is fine – but “Band A” is having a local show soon and I want all their friends to show up. Because if all their friends show up, they’ll act wild, and then they’ll tell all their friends they’re in a music video. Organic marketing!!! (Please someone get in a fight, or make-out on the dance floor, or at least I hope the smoke machine will be working again…) We’ll see…
Also, looking forward to this week – we will be interviewing Sean from BURGER RECORDS and Jordan from Godless America Records (and hopefully Tristen Colby) for our 4 questions in 5 minutes section.

Ep 52: 3 Legged Dog, The Unsatisfied, The Styrofoam Turtles, Daddies, Sean Barna

Sexiness is swirling. Andy’s big moment. Rock star success checklist. Cinnamon makes an appointment. Plus: weird English desserts. (Follow us on Facebook! Instagram! Twitter! And lots of stuff about these and other bands, including artist interviews, is at www.hlycrp.com.)