If you don't know anyone connected with the entertainment industry is there another way to get your foot in the door?

Answer 1

Promote yourself to those who you know are big in the industry. Join theatre groups or choirs/bands in order to promote your name and develop those ever-necessary contacts. And you might want some luck on your side too. Grab yourself a four-leaf clover. I can think of a few things you can do to get started in the business. Build yourself a local following by getting as much exposure in your hometown as you can. This means getting out there and performing. Play free gigs if you have to, enter local band contests, just get out there where people will hear you. Record labels love to see bands or artists who already have a large fan base. Be generous with promo items - bumperstickers, t-shirts free CDs are a great way to promote yourself or your band. And you ''may'' be able to write off the cost of promo items as a business expense on your tax return. (NOTE: Be sure to get the advise of a tax consultant BEFORE you try this - you or your band need to actually be recognized legally as a business to claim business expenses! Your consultant will be able to help you out.) Network. Talk to other musician's; make as many friends in the business as you can regardless of how low on the food chain they may seem to be. Keep in touch with them. Sometimes opportunities come from unexpected places. Get your music on the internet! Try CDBaby.com. My husband's band has sold CDs all over the world thanks to them. AND we were able to get the band's songs listed for sale on iTunes through CDBaby.com. Download.com is another excellent site for musicians - at least it has been for us. If you decide to approach record companies, '''do your research'''! *Make sure they will accept unsolicited demos before you mail them a promo kit, or else it will go straight into the garbage. If you're not sure whether they accept unsolicited material, call or e-mail them. Sometimes just calling and asking will get you permission to send your demo. *Don't waste their time or your own time and money by sending your demo to a label that doesn't handle your genre of music. *Be sure your promo kit contains everything it should - this will vary from one label to the next. Do your research! *Try to make your kit look as professional as possible *Unless they state otherwise, you should only send your three best songs. If they like you, they'll ask for more. If not, they probably won't listen past the first song. *Include a postage paid, SASE *Don't waste your time sending demos to the major labels. If you are good enough, they'll come looking for you. Start with small indie labels. If you sell a lot of CDs with s small label, often the larger companies will take notice. Read books about how the industry works. Search the 'net for sites for musicians, singers, songwriters...whatever your specialty is, and learn as much as you can. Good Luck.