 Stand Out
 Making it in the music industry isn't easy for new bands but there are some ways you can try get ahead of the pack.
One of the organisers and judges of New Talent's New Band search in 2005 spoke to us about what he thinks makes a new band stand out and what steps you can take to try get your foot in the door.
Q1. What makes a new band stand out? It's got to be a band that's original. Originality and the ability to pull off a good performance. Live performance is the key when you consider record sales are going down and the most buoyant part of the industry is the live sector. Six million people went to arena shows in the last year, so bands have to be able to perform live. Q2. What is the most common mistake you see? Lack of competence, confidence and sloppiness. You will only build up confidence by gigging. Play to anyone, whether it's your mates in the youth club, people at a pub, or students at school. Bands like Lost Prophets went out and played school gigs and built up a fan base, which not only increased their popularity but also improved them as musicians. The more you play together the more you gel and the better you're going to be. Q3. Advice for bands trying to break into the industry? Be yourself and do your best. Originality is something that will shine through. When you look at the market place now, things like the boy band scene has imploded and there's not much of it around. People are now into good singers and songwriters - they want something natural rather than something manufactured. Q4. How can new bands get noticed? I think if anyone is confident enough and focuses enough they will succeed. Things like iTunes and MP3 players have knocked down the walls for many musicians and a lot of bands are now making it through the back door as they don't need the massive advances from record companies anymore. Technology means people can now make music in their bedroom and with a click of a button send it in an email across the world. Technology has opened up the music industry a lot more, so bands shouldn't be so tied up in signing that record deal - they want to be honing their craft and proving that what they do is valid and has a place in the marketplace. Q5. A final piece of advice? Breaking into the industry is all about perseverance and hard work. Take on board what people have to say about your music and keep ensuring you are creating original sounds. |
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