When it comes to conceiving big ideas such as laying the foundational seeds to start your own record label, most people would freak out and panic at the thought and as a result, never do anything about it because of the enormity of the project at hand.
On the contrary, the seeds you must plant to start your own record label is so simple and straight forward, however it really comes down to a matter of perspective.
If you feel that to start your own record label requires lots of money, an office space working 9-5 with a one hour break for lunch, getting out of bed at 6am in the morning and foregoing everything else in life because you now run a record company - then you will obviously be freaked out and never go about starting one.
However, if you realize that walking down the road with a bag on your back full of your own music and marketing materials is a form of promotion and distribution, then you have already started a record label without even realizing it.
It hasn’t even cost a cent yet!
A Record Label On Your Back?
I had a friend who was in a band I used to work with. One of the main reasons why I liked him was that he would never ever leave home without a backpack on his back.
His backpack would contain at least ten copies of his latest album, a handful of bio’s and press shots and a couple of demos of his three best songs in case he bumped into someone he could give a demo away to.
Whenever he bumped into anyone he knew or whenever he spoke to people as he went about his daily chores, he would always try and push you a copy of his album or talk about something related to his band.
Sometimes, when a friend stops you in the street and shows you his latest release and tells you he’s selling them for $10, it’s pretty hard to say no. Even if it’s out of guilt, it’s still a sale.
This guy was a walking advert and promotion for his band
It was amazing to see - sometimes a little annoying for his friends but nonetheless a serious commitment that did not go unnoticed by many people.
At the front of his mind was always the same scenario, how was he going to sell or talk up his band to you.
And how did he do this?
By carrying his store on him at all times and acting like a record label.
Think about it for a moment - what is the difference between what my friend was and probably still to this very day is still doing and a record label?
Absolutely nothing
If you decided to start your own record label would you be doing anything different to my friend?
No way - the principles are exactly the same, the only different is the mindset you need to adopt to get the ball rolling and get yourself to believe that you too can do it.
You’d be surprised at how many copies of your album you could sell by simply going about your daily routine - walking to catch the bus, going to the movies one night, doing the shopping.
You never know who you’ll bump into.
If you can set yourself a goal to sell ten copies of your music a week, and it doesn’t matter who you’re selling it to, you could be selling it to your sister, to your mother, but if you’re selling 10 copies a week for ten bucks a piece, its a hundred dollars a week.
Multiply that by fifty two - that’s over five thousand dollars in one year.
Not bad for a small independent record label release. That income also does not take into account the people and network you will build by getting into the habit of leaving your home fully equipped like a mini-record label.
My friend ended up selling well over 1,000 copies of his music every few months. He also managed to build a massive network and street team through this initiative.
The moral of the story -
Don’t think that to start your own record label you need tons of money. All you really need is some commitment, a sturdy backpack and some balls to follow through.
Go on, what are you waiting for?
Tags: Starting A Label, The Music Industry
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