Branding.

[altotap]

How important is it to brand?

 

I'm about to put out a cd of sorts and thinking of creating some faux record label for it to come out under and then try and persuade some of my friends with good bands to do the same. hoping that people will put two and two together and think it's cool.

Any pitfalls in doing this? Do you think it's a good/bad idea?

[BlueStrat]

WTF is a "CD of sorts?"

 

Asd far as your question: it's a good idea for cows...bands, not so much.

[altotap]

just some recording I've been doing with my band and just thought to open a general discussion with it... If you want to talk about clothes and {censored} like that. I'm not talking about that though feel free to do so. I'm just thinking like having like a logo on the CD so if people like it it might be some seal of approval or whatever. Therefore helping any local band that might have the logo.

[BlueStrat]

I don't see any advantage or point.

[jaxn slim]

I'd say you're already branding by puting your or your band's name on the CD. If you put extraneous stuff on your CD case, it will detract attention from things that are important.

 

If you have plans of making a real label out of it, then go for it. Otherwise, there doesn't appear to be much of a point.

[fetishfrog]

 

I don't see any advantage or point.

 

 

If you can do it the way KISS did it, then I'd say it's the way to go. It would be an incredible amount of work with nearly zero chance of it paying off though, but that's the music business for ya.

[daddymack]

sounds to me like you're trying to create a label where there is none. But really, how often do you select music because the artist is signed to a particular label?

[SS-Krieger]

 

sounds to me like you're trying to create a label where there is none. But really, how often do you select music because the artist is signed to a particular label?

 

 

This makes a lot of sense. While it may appeal to you to have a label it's not necessarily going to influence the buyer at all.

[sabriel9v]

 

How important is it to brand? I'm about to put out a cd of sorts and thinking of creating some faux record label for it to come out under and then try and persuade some of my friends with good bands to do the same. hoping that people will put two and two together and think it's cool. Any pitfalls in doing this? Do you think it's a good/bad idea?

 

 

I listened to your myspace page...got nothin for ya pal :lem:

[altotap]

 

I listened to your myspace page...got nothin for ya pal

 

 

I'm not sure what that's meant to mean but the stuff on the myspace isn't totally indicative of what's on the CD. The CD is different songs and has been recorded differently with other people than just myself. I hope some people will enjoy it and I can make a couple of quids but i dont really expect too much. It seems people have a problem with stuff if it isn't so {censored}ing so. It's an idea to talk about not some not some weird social excersise in god knows what.

[BlueStrat]

 

It seems people have a problem with stuff if it isn't so {censored}ing so. It's an idea to talk about not some not some weird social excersise in god knows what.

Listen here- you floated an idea and no one sees thrilled with it. If you don't like the response, then accept it or go do it anyway. No one's stopping you. Or do you think getting pissy is going to change anyone's mind?

 

What you're talking about is pretending to be on a label and misrepresenting yourself to the public as such in an attempt to convince them that you're somehow more successful than you are.

 

Again, what's the point?

 

Go become a great band and draw great crowds and it won't be an issue.

 

And you might want to invest in a tuner. Just sayin'.

[altotap]

I wasn't getting pissy at all nor disagreeing because nobody is thrilled with the idea. In fact I think you might be right on the matter. You are aware how pretentious phrases like "listen here" and "you might want to invest in a tuner." sound? Though I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick with sabriel9v's post, it seemed like a personal attack on something unrelated to my original post designed to make me feel small. I come here not really knowing much, so it's not really helpful to me or anyone else looking for advice. On a more base level it isn't what music is about.

 

Anyway, sorry to ruffle your feathers pat. I hope we can still be friends.

[BlueStrat]

 

Anyway, sorry to ruffle your feathers pat. I hope we can still be friends.

 

 

No ruffling here. I just thought you were getting defensive. My mistake if not.

 

I don't take anything here personally. You're cool with me.

[daddymack]

That's exactly what i was thinking. I was thinking that it could eventually be the beginnings of a label... MAYBE. It's not like I'm talking about a big operation or anything - just something for locals and that to latch on to. There are people that buy CDs based on the label but I really doubt it's a majority and not sure if I'd be wasting my time. Though I don't care about capturing a majority that much..

I think jaxn hit the real nail here though, and that is if you want to 'brand', brand the band. MaAke it identifiable, and exert your promotional efforts into creating awareness centerred on your band.

[germs]

I disagree.

 

I think this could be done legitimately and well.

 

Starting a "label" can give people the wrong impression about you. LABEL implies that you're giving out free money or recording services or whatever. Any half-ass band for 100 miles is going to come running to your doorstep (don't worry, they'll find you) with {censored}ty demos and warped dreams. Do you really want that hassle?

 

Here's a better idea:

 

If you're identifying yourself as "such-and-such" a genre, or ideal, or style then form a coalition of sorts. Go all out, make a logo, get tshirts done, stickers, whatever you can sell.

 

Then, get your buddy bands to put that logo on the front or back or whatever cover of the CD as a "seal of approval" of sorts. Then, support the hell out of each other. Make a myspace (or whatever you're using) to support the cause. Make a banner and support each other's shows.

 

Literally: This will create more buzz than any fake label you invent. If it turns into a label down the line, then so much the better.

 

Unfortunately, there's no good that will come from "fake it till you make it" in that regard.

[sabriel9v]

If you're identifying yourself as "such-and-such" a genre, or ideal, or style then form a coalition of sorts. Go all out, make a logo, get tshirts done, stickers, whatever you can sell. Then, get your buddy bands to put that logo on the front or back or whatever cover of the CD as a "seal of approval" of sorts. Then, support the hell out of each other. Make a myspace (or whatever you're using) to support the cause. Make a banner and support each other's shows. Literally: This will create more buzz than any fake label you invent. If it turns into a label down the line, then so much the better.

 

My friends and I have done this.

 

www.hijackingmusic.com

 

I like the idea of keeping Hijacking Music as a kind of collective as opposed to a label. If we make it a label, then we've got real responsibilities as businessmen and not just artists.

[Johnny-Boy]

 

WTF is a "CD of sorts?" Asd far as your question: it's a good idea for cows...bands, not so much.

 

 

I think the cows may disagree.

 

John:cool:

[ermghoti II]

You are aware how pretentious phrases like "listen here" and "you might want to invest in a tuner." sound?

 

You are aware of the inherent irony in hurling a charge of pretension in a thread in which you suggest presenting yourself as a pretend label?

 

In seriousness, take down In Ostinato. It is grievously out of tune, and meanders eternally. Internet users have the attention span of starving kittens on meth. I gave it a full minute, out of an urge to post a fair review, and just gave up. If I hadn't found it through a thread like that, I'd have back-buttoned off the page forever after 10-15 seconds. The two rockish/grungy tunes could be made into something, if you can play in time, but I fear that the market you seek might have dried up a half-decade or so ago. I like the layering of instrument lines, you have some potential. I'm not nuts about the fourth song, but it won't hurt you if it loads last. It represents an extra dimension, not a bad thing.

[altotap]

I think germs understood my sentiment and made more sense from it than i did. Label and brand were probably the wrong words to use. A coalition of sorts makes more sense to what I was thinking in my minds eye.

 

 

And I appreciate the comments on the myspace. I'd rather an honest critque than a lashing for no reason. I do find it weird that more people have checked that link out from this post than when I've asked. The whole point of the CD is that it's a fresh start for the band and it different from me messing around at home... that myspace right now is mostly irrelevent to this post.

I came here for advice and somewhere to bounce ideas around. Not so much to be scoffed at by people who should be old enough to know better.

 

I'm not sure that anyone that's listened here knows that the first song is intentionally out of tune and improvised. Dissonance isn't like a new thing in music. But honestly don't take that comment as "defensive" or I'll get sick of explaining stuff. Thanks for listening to them.

[slight-return]

I think things may have just gotten off on the wrong foot

 

the faux-label thing was, maybe, an unfortunate choice. Not so much b/c of "label" (thought that's part of it) but also because of "faux" - being false, to your audience. I can dig how it could rub people. I suppose that reaction is a reflection of the potential problem (audience backlash) with disingenuous advertising

 

 

you might be getting more listening (and even critical response) because you 've moved from project, 'hey check out my music' , to product 'I'm going to release this as an album' (I assume for sale?). The stakes and expectations can be higher with the (esp commercial) product, so the critique can get a bit more stringent

 

 

I'd suggest, instead of trying to address users and comments, point by point (which has you managing the misunderstanding, not getting the thing back on track), addresss the problem of misunderstanding in the first place -- basically, invalidate the topic post as not clearly explaining and restate the idea.

 

If you want to discuss the idea itself, one good way to "unload" the topic is to remove personal reference "my band", "I want to", "we're about to". That stuff puts the context as your specific project and people are going to include that in their analysis and comments.

Instead you can go with just the idea