How to get signed - question for the admin

[9milli]

Ok I read the how to get signed post but couldn't reply bcos its locked, anyway i read all the stuff on how to get a producer and then professionaly get the cd mastered and run a 1000 copies, BUT doesn't all this cost a LOT of money, it sounds as though it does although i wouldn't know but could u maybe put a price on all of it for those who don't know?

Peace

[admin]

Prices obviously vary, to do it right it runs about this.

1,000 copies - $1800-2000
Custom art layout, 4 color film seperation, shrink wrap, 4 color printing insert front and back, 2 color CD print.

Mastering - $400-$1000 for reputable mastering. Bernie Grundman or Masterfonics will be more like $3,000-$4,000.

Album production - $1500-$6000 for a good project. Now a lot of producers work like I do. We don't work for free, but we'll do budget prices in exchange for a cut of the project. You can find producers with Grammy winning abilities for $3,000 for an album. Look for project studios that have done good work in the past, have been in business for a while and has a producer that still works and isn't jaded.

All in all, overall cost can be as low as $3500 complete. But a more reasonable budget would be around $5,000. People say "I don't have the money". I say "you're not serious", end of story.

[Big-D]

Prices obviously vary, to do it right it runs about this.

1,000 copies - $1800-2000
Custom art layout, 4 color film seperation, shrink wrap, 4 color printing insert front and back, 2 color CD print.

Mastering - $400-$1000 for reputable mastering. Bernie Grundman or Masterfonics will be more like $3,000-$4,000.

Album production - $1500-$6000 for a good project. Now a lot of producers work like I do. We don't work for free, but we'll do budget prices in exchange for a cut of the project. You can find producers with Grammy winning abilities for $3,000 for an album. Look for project studios that have done good work in the past, have been in business for a while and has a producer that still works and isn't jaded.

All in all, overall cost can be as low as $3500 complete. But a more reasonable budget would be around $5,000. People say "I don't have the money". I say "you're not serious", end of story.

I second that. I would also like to include that those costs are based on each project 9milli. But after you make a CD, you have to market and promote it (Posters, print and media advertisement, paraphernalia etc.). This aspect usually runs a few more thousand dollars.

After you invest your money to make an album, you will have to recoup your investment back. This usually requires more investment because you must first establish yourself as an "artist of interest." (Unless you are backed by a label that is willing to make the investment in you.)

[Rocco Malice]

9Milli dint you say you from the UK? the costs are gonna be abit different and it will probley be harder to market. Im in London at the momment and my business do event organisation ( Like Club nites, BBQs, paint balling, shit like that) so if you want i might be able to help you wit marketing cos we do events around the country and are working on talent shows and film so we get singers and producers applying to us. Holla back

[9milli]

yeah i'm from the UK but i'm nowhere near london.

[Franklin]

listen people im from Liverpool but am in London at the moment so if there is anyone that could help with adcise on rap events/competition auditions or any promotion tips. i have a CD of about 12 full songs and some instrumentls and half tunes that need to be finished. i am willing to work as hard as it takes not nesseserilly to get signed strieght away but to get my tunes out there.

any pirate radio stations that i could contact or anything else that you think would come in handy.

[Rocco Malice]

How old are you? I cant hook you up wit pirate radio stations but it really depend on how nice your flow is and if your ne good. drop something in the audio room and ill see if i like it. ( p.s i aint gonna get bavck to you straight away so stay active in this site and ill contact you.)

[Franklin]

am 22, my flow is tight but i havent got it on the internet yet but will be soon ill drop some text on here so have a look at it that way for now and ill get the audio on soon.

i have been writing since i was about 15 and have been on and off ever since. i didnt even start writin to rap it it was just personal thoughts that kept comin so i kept writin over the last 3 years i have been converting all my thoughts to rap and song to get my message heard because i believe that ive been given this to do something with so am gonna do it whatever way i can.

peace man keep an eye out for me.

[Rocco Malice]

Well im gonna be off the net for a month or so, from friday, so stay active and ill get back to you soon. ( which part of london you in at the momment?)

[brix]

I have been in the business for a long time too. There are many ways besides those listed here to make a major impact in the industry. As far as producing an album, here is a means of cutting corners and working on a low budget.

now mind you... your still going to spend the smae money- but here is how to leverage it.

Create a Team!

1. Find a NEW producer that is looking for exposure and couple up with them. Make your first project all exclusive. let him give you free beats. In the process you also take on the responsability of helping him shop his beats to others. You can also download audio production software and practice a bit and make some of your own beats. You'll be suprised at what someof the greatest's use. You can still get a professional sound just make sure your samples are high quality mono waves sampled at at LEAST transparent quality 24bit or above. You can find new producers online or via your local music college..just go about talking to people and see whassup. All you have to do is make sure that when going into the studio you can get your beats into the hardware/software as multiple tracks so that the mixdown can be legit. You can always replace your kicks and snares etc if they sound weak once you get to the studio.

2. Studio Time. Hook up with your local music college students and find someone who is majoring in electronic music engineering. Usually they have projects where they have to utilize the schools studio for their projects. You can at minimum get a demo out of it. You can do this at several colleges and probably get an LP going. Usually these students have studio's of their own where you can get some real good pre-production done for cheap or free (depending n if your nice or not). The other thing you can do is hook up a basic studio at hom to do pre-production recording. Just be sure your vocals are crisp and free from feeback and background noises. You can then take this to a proffessioal studio - like you would do with your beats, and then perfect the mixdown before mastering.

3. Mastering. you shouldn't cut corners here or on your mixdown. HOWEVER if your broke there are ways of making money before this part that will enable you to leverage your funds to afford it. What you do is take 1 of the tracks you've done and see if you can get a decent mixdown thru a colledge student (I mean an Okay mixdown) and you burn a TON of CDs with your song... then you spend a month doing nothingbut trying to sell this song on cd for like $2. $2 x 250 copies is $500 (USD in terms) and enough to remix down the track and maybe another 1 or 2.. just keep flipping your bootleg 2-3 tracks that are done well.. increasing the price to $5 as you do more and better work (meanwhile keeping the other music you've done in the stash). This is also valuable promotion especially if you have a website listed and contact info on your cover. you can make your cover using a graphic program- It looks cooler (yes even a bootleg) if you make the cover black with white print and you can run these off on a xerox copier. By the time your done mastering all your tracks youve probably sold over 1000 promos.

Having a message board and email list on your site is also helpful. If your really thorough you can get emails and phone numbers from people you sold CDs too so you can follow up with an ecard or something.

Make sure your promo is on every download spot onthe net and make sure you constantly interact with rap community forums and chat rooms. The internet is global...do not underestimate it.

Once youve done all that your in the go with a small fanbase running, next Id say go try to get some shows. You can start going to rap shows and just talk to everyone. Who cares if you look desperate...closed mouths don't get fed. If by then youve got a small team going, delegate that someone represent you in the meantime. Try to land yourself an agent, someone who get's paid 20% to book you shows. this will be added income that you can stack to press your CD. You can also seel your promo at shows and do other things to make money in the meantime. Look online for various advice on making money with your cd. Theres tons of it.

Once you got the dough to press 1000 units gotheu a pressing company that offers some kindof distribution online, also google around for online stores and distributers you can get your music on in a non exclusive contract. Meanwhile out of trunk hustle your newly pressed cd and gho to local mom and pops and negotiate consignment deals... dont forget to follow up with everyone.

Your goal is to get 50,000 people in a regional area to love what your doing.

If you have 50,000 people that love you , you will do well.

Thats how you can jump off with no $ to start. Network, be humble and work work work. Never sit down for too long either.

Feel free to email me if you ever have any questions... Im also here to answer questions.

[admin]

Yes, there's lots of ways to do it. I still stand behind my post. If you're serious, don't mess around and waste time.