The very first project for most up-and-comers often is an EP. An EP usually consists of
anywhere from 3-7 songs and is usually used as a demo by bands for press and label solicitation.
However, more common than not, those unsolicited EP’s end up in the trash bin remaining
unopened. Yet year after year bands continuously hold on to this aimless tradition that in the end
only leads to heartache and financial losses. There are many of other options that you could do
with an EP that actually could help your career tremendously depending on where you are in your
career.
First, the rules of a great EP. Since this is not an actual cd that you are “pushing” it can then be
treated as sort of a personal compilation/greatest hits of your current and previous works. Often
times musicians will only include newer works on these cds with only some of the songs
realistically having a commercial chance. By taking this approach and compiling your EP of new
and old hits you open up another option, which is remixes of the songs. The whole purpose of a
remix is to make an already hot song even hotter. In fact, most of today’s top radio hits have
actually been remixed prior to there being commercially leaked. Another thing is you’ll already
have most of the songs down pact, which will make the studio sessions a lot quicker and
smoother. Saving you not only time, but money!
Now that you have your blazing hot EP recorded and ready to go you have many options ahead of
you. First off, you could treat this as a promotional item giving them away at your live shows
and the shows of others in your area with a similar sound. Another option is selling them at your
live shows and giving them away everywhere else you market yourself. Say for instance online,
as a way to get people to sign up for your e-mail list so that you can get their all too valuable emails
to be used for future warm sales of your products. Something else you could do is leave
free CDs in stores (preferably on the counter top for maximum exposure) with a display case to
house (Check Galaris.com store) them you can easily spread the word about your band with little
marketing work on your part. This works out great, especially if your tend to play at cafes and
coffee houses. The owners very often will be very open to you leaving cds after or even before a
performance you do at their venue. After all, the more people that they can get into your shows
the more business they’ll be getting.
So that handles the sells and promotional aspects, but what about actually advancing my career
through networking and getting my music into the right hands you say. Well my friends this is
where I shine, guerilla marketing campaigns. Simply sending thank you letters, flowers, candy,
heck even pizza or doughnuts to say, a radio station crew and other people whose attention you
desire can easily sway peoples minds to help your career along. Will you get tons of air-play if
you try this with a radio station, well no, in fact probably only once, if at all. But if it’s a major
radio market in your area think about the possibilities that could open up for you if the Dj does
play your song and likes it, or more importantly interested fans call in wanting to hear it again, or
your web address being said on the air. Still taking a chance, however, the odds of someone
helping you out in such a little way in return to your kindness to them, are HUGE!
People like helping people that are nice to them. Sending roses to the secretary of executives
you’re wishing to get a meeting with and just happening to also send he or she (probably the later
with this example, huh 
a signed EP of yours with it can put you in a favored place with that
secretary and the next time you walk in trying to schedule or get a favor (EP slipped to their boss)
I bet more times than not you’ll get an ok. There are many other ways and situations you can use
this method. The important thing is that you’re creative and always remember to accompany
your EP with the gesture.
One more thing, with the acts that I have worked with I usually have them send out their EP’s to
venues when they are looking for live shows. Simply calling the venue and asking who the
correct person to contact about booking is and sending in your EP and sometimes a full press kit,
though not always, and not soon after another show’s lined-up. If you are only sending an EP in
this instance, and any other thing mentioned above for that matter, always remember contact
information, preferably a business card or two and to also write it onto the cd itself. Also, as far
reproducing your EP goes, due to the fact that it is only a demo type of product a simple cd-r
burning manufacturing system is all you need to get started and to maintain this process, which is
why an EP is such a good option for promotions.
These are just a few ways that an EP can lead you toward a fuller career and can in fact be Your
Big Ticket.
Now, Get out there and Manifest Your Career Success!
Tags: making an ep, music business articles, music career planning, music marketing