Expert: Terrance Copley - 11/1/2008

Question
Hi, i`m josh and i have a band and we wanna make it big and we were thinking you could help us do that
heres a video of us playing Numb by Linkin' Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9hKX1egep8

Answer
Most people do !
Here are some suggestions:


Practice, practice, and practice and keep believing in yourself. If you lose hope in your talents, you'll never make it anywhere. Sometimes you think you lost your talent, but you should just take a rest and come back later to try again.
Record some of your music, after you've memorized the lyrics/notes by heart. It's a good idea to make a CD with your tracks.
Allow your closest friends to listen and consider your music
Let a group of people listen to your music after you've made changes; watch their expressions. If there's a lot of winking and shaking of heads, tweak a little more of your tunes.
Play at gigs. Sometimes they're hard to get but you need them for exposure.
Create a band/artist MySpace to reach more people and help create a larger fan base.
Record your band's music on a video and upload it on Youtube. Make sure the video is "cool" and will appeal to many people.
Tell your friends to recommend your music to as many people as possible; the effect will snowball, and you may have an even larger fan base.
Try to get a recording company to sign your band, but make sure it's after you have played at venues and have an acceptable number of fans.



[edit] TipsSpend most of your practice time songwriting as being a good songwriter will get you further than being a good player.
It's much better to make it big in a band than it is to try and become a one-man show; everything is easier when you're in a group.
Remember this won't happen overnight; you need to practice a lot and get your exposure off the charts.
Play at gigs for free at the beginning, as you need all the exposure you can get.
If you do all this your dream is possible, but remember you could be just as good as some famous musician but get nowhere. It's all about meeting the right people at the right time.
Make a simple website for your band and advertise it on there. Add some videos of your band.
Never EVER give up. Many famous people who are famous today started out like you and with determination and with determination, they got to where they are today.
Being a rockstar isn't just having leather jeans and going out late at night. It is about making music for what you believe in.
A good way to get gigs is to meet bands and support your local scene. A little helpfulness can go a long way.



[edit] WarningsDon't just stop playing music if the rock star attempt doesn't work out. Music can fill your free time, and anyway, if you keep trying, you'll get noticed sooner or later.
Don't let music take over your whole life.
Know your Limits: Take proper care of yourself,don't work 24/7,get proper sleep/take time out and don't over-.



[edit] Things You'll NeedFor Starters, you'll need the instrument you're going to play. Let's say you pick the guitar. Guitars range in price from $100 to $50,000. And don't ever assume that a higher price means a better guitar. Plus, some of the big guitar companies, like Fender and Gibson, own companies that sell the same or similar product (like Squier or Epiphone), but made in Korea or China, as opposed to the U.S. For example, Squier Bullet Strat, which sells for about $100 (U.S.) online, can sound just as good as the Fender Standard Strat, which sells for about $400 (U.S.). These guitars are similar and looks and sound quality, but $300 apart in price. Another popular brand that appeals to musicians on a lower budget is Epiphone. These guitars are very similar and alot of ways to Gibsons, but can cost over $1000 dollars less. For example, the Epiphone Les Paul Standard sells for between $400 and $450, but is very similar in quality to the Gibson Les Paul Standard, which costs over $2000. So you don't need to start off with a super expensive guitar, especially if you are un-familiar with the proper maintenance and care of a guitar. You can learn these skills on a cheaper guitar, and even use the cheaper guitar to make enough money to buy the really good guitars.
Another thing that you will need if you are playing guitar is an amp. It depends on what you plan on doing with the amp, but most people learn on something small, like a 15 Watt amp. Remember, you don't want to invest in something that you may find out later you don't like. So stay small. Usually, a first amplifier shouldn't cost more than $150. And never start out with a tube amp. Tube amps are amplifiers that use vacuum tubes to both construct a certain sound, and a higher power output without using too much energy. They are very delicate, and can be difficult to use if you don't know exactly what you're doing. Not only that, but they can be dangerous. You can get electrocuted from touching a tube while the power is going through it. So stick to something small. You can get a Marshall MG Series 15 watt amp for around $100 or $150, or you can get a Fender Frontman for about the same or lower price. Behringer makes good starter equipment for a low price. There are many choices for the beginner.

Good Luck !

Terry