Question

Topic: Strategy

Band Re-launch Campaign Needs Help

Posted by Anonymous on 6/7/2005 at 1:05 AM ET 250 Points
I recently joined a party rock band that's been around for about 6 years enjoying some "moderate" success. It's always been a band with 5 guys playing fun party rock and new music. But now that I've joined the band (I'm a female lead singer & guitarist) I completely change the dynamics of the band - top to bottom, from the overall look to the types of songs we can perform. Collectively we now bring something very unique to the club circuit in our area - in a time where things are becoming very stale and "new" talent is a craving.

Being that the entertainment industry here is pretty tight and extremely competitive, we have to come up with some kind of incredible re-launch of this band. We have all the right ingredients - look, talent, song selection, etc., but I'm not sure if this band has already seen it's peak. The problem is that this is best the band's ever been - but is it too late?

On that "note," your ideas would be most welcome!
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  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 6/7/2005 at 6:28 AM Member
    It's like the person who asked a cop in New York "Can you tell me how to get to Carnegie Hall?"

    "Practise, lady, you gotta practise", replied the astute cop...

    Unfortunately its more than just practise which is required. You need a unique edge, something different that singles you out from all the other bands trying to make the big time.

    Yes, of course you gotta practise, you have to be as good as you can be. But if you can't play like Hendrix, Clapton or Page, or sing like Kiri Te Kanawa, that doesn't mean you can't make it. Look at some of the bland drudge that gets served up on the radio. The Sex Pistols had a unique, different edge, but nobody called them musicians, ever. I doubt they even knew how to tune a guitar.

    Decide what singles you out from the rest. Sure, a chick lead singer guitarist is good, but it's not new (Pretenders, Melissa Etheridge, Suzi Quattro, plenty more have used their gender as a differentiator.

    The Beatles were playing dowdy clubs until they went to Paris and got their hair cut, and those lapel-less jackets, that constituted their 1960's "look".

    You need a distinctive sound. You need a distinctive look. And you need to promote those skillfully.

    Have you released a CD?

    Do you write your own material? (Not many bands succeed if they don't, and none succeed long term).

    Do you have a good manager?

    Have you created a really, really solid act that can be reproduced night after night?

    What's the band called?

    Can you give us a bit more info?

    Cheers
  • Posted by wnelson on 6/7/2005 at 5:22 PM Accepted
    Now, if your bass player doesn't work out, let me know! While my singing is a handicapp, I am a marketer - that's gotta be worth something!

    Oh, right..this is a forum for your questions, not promoting my talents (or lack of them, as the case may be).

    I had some thoughts about the band's name. Is the band's name a help or an obstacle? Will people know the name? Are people going to remember it as "that old has-been band" or will they think on it nostalgically? Those who think positively on the name - will they be stuck on the old sound or will they embrace the new sound? I remember at a Paul McCartney concern, he started by playing Beatles. Everyone was up and singing. He played Wings...half the stadium sat down. He played new stuff...everyone sat down. Anyway, you may consider changing the name if you think it's going to hold you back. Instead of a come-back, be a new band.

    Hope this is helpful. Good luck.

    Wayde
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