Income Ideas for a Starving Musician

A starving musician can do the usual by plopping his hat up-side-down while playing on a street corner, in a park or in the free speech area of any library – hoping to catch the stray coins from passers-by. That will certainly stave off hunger but it’s sure not going to create the kind of income that you are going to need to go from starving musician to thriving musician.

Starving musicians have frequented beach’s, malls and sometimes bars that will allow the up-turned hat. So, don’t discount the ‘hat trick’ while looking for other avenues to make money. In this day and age it is very possible to find gig and job opportunities that in prior ages just were not available to you. Wouldn’t it be nice to take the "starving" off of the front of "musician"?

A musician that is starving, without computer, can go to a public library to find resources and gigs on the computers there or go to a friends house. This is the digital age, music can be recorded and sold digitally, paid for online and downloaded instantly. With just a bit of time invested, you can have you own "money machine". Help 2 Succeed has a free download page where you can rapidly download and use programs to create your digital products. Starve as a musician no more!

A starving musician can create his own shop at the Smart Gallery – at the Help 2 Succeed Free Marketplace, where it is easy to instantly create a listing to display and sell your digital works. The opportunities are as endless as your musical creations. To get more ideas on what a musician can do to flourish, you can stop by and read the first article in this series "A starving musician".

To Your Success!
ILIA

Here's More Tools for Presentations

If you click here, you will find downloads especially for musicians. On this page, you will find audio software.

Information on how to profit from seminars, how to get good publicity photos, tips for press releases and a few more downloads for presentation can be found by clicking here.

Utilize the downloads to better market yourself and your band in order to create a lasting impression to your audience with your music.

To Your Success!
Ilia

Professional Presentations Made Easy

Creating professional presentations does not have to become a huge expense. With a little time and effort you can create incredible presentations with free software.

The first program that you should download will help you to create business cards, brochures (sell sheets), letterhead, flyers, greeting cards, posters and newsletters - with templates so you don't have to spend time attempting to figure out the layout. You get state of the art professionalism with this program. Click Here to get your software. There are a few pages to get you acquainted with the software and to see how it can help you to create presentations. This link will explain about the desktop publisher versus using a word processor. This link will show you the desktop publisher in action.

Next, if you want to create a standard look and professional presentation - similar to the Microsoft Powerpoint software, but FREE - click here to get your software. (it may take a bit of time to download but it is worth it!) Once you download the software, use the Impress Tool, you can click here to find out what it does.

By using both programs you can create a one of a kind, extremely professional Press Kit. Creating a Press Kit has never been easier!

Basics for Creating a Press Kit

Here are some basic steps to creating a Press kit. You can easily create a handy kit that contains everything a recording company, radio station, magazine editor or reporter needs to know about your music in order to sign you or write a bang-up story about you.

You can do this yourself so that you can save money, it really doesn't have to cost a fortune.

This is the very basic outline on creating your Press Kit. Each step will be expanded upon in order for you to be able to totally succeed in cerating a professional presentation. Stop back often to get tools, programs and tips in order to create a great presentation.

Instructions
Step #1: Choose a pocket folder to hold all your information. Go to your local Office Supply Store - Staples and Office Max are very good stores. Go to the "presentation" section of the store and you will see some very professional pocket folders. Get one that will go along with your music. In this day and age, you can make a pocket folder with a Press Kit communicate not only the information inside but also make the package aesthetic.

Step #2: Write short, one-page bios of each person in your band - or just one if you are a soloist, and print out the bios on a laser or inkjet printer on company letterhead. Include the title of each person that is in the band, history with the band, quotable statements, basic personal information, band purpose, artist's statement and pictures.

Step #3: Compile all recent press releases, positive press coverage and sell sheets [a sell sheet is a concise one page document that provides all the details about your CD on one sheet of paper - similar to a brochure. You need one sell sheet per CD]. Print the press releases on company letterhead, and color copy or professionally photocopy recent articles for inclusion. Presentation is everything; standard copy paper doesn't make the best first impression.

Step #4: Do you write a newsletter? If so, include it. If you don't have one, work on releasing your first issue, which can be done inexpensively on a laser printer. Just include some basic clip art and photos, articles of your type of music, and upcoming gigs or shows.

Step #5: Assemble all the information in a logical order. Typically, start with the bios on top, followed by your sell sheets, newsletter, and any press releases or recent clippings near the back of the packet. Add photographs, comments from your fans and, if you have a website or are featured on any other websites, include that information.

Step #6: Top it all off with an informative letter that briefly explains what's inside and offers to provide any additional information needed. If there are business card slits in your pocket folder, include your card there. If not, it's appropriate to paper clip it to your letter.

Extra Notes:

Include small promotional items, such as a magnet or your latest CD. This is a good way to
keep your band name right in front of them.

Include only the most interesting details in your bios. For example, any noteworthy musicians or artists in your family? or, have you or any band members worked with a known band? This is noteworthy information.

Keep your press kits on hand in your studio, at gigs and shows, at community events you may attend, or at events you may hold. Make your information readily available to every news outlet you encounter.

Remember, first impressions are important.