|| LoLa's Tid Bits || "How To- Page 4"

       As an artist or group you need to get your name out to as many people as possible, this is good for several reasons. It will allow you to create a following (fans), you will get your name and face exposed to talent scouts and it will give you a feel for what being a working artist is really like. As an artist you are constantly trying to appease your target audience (gain fans�if you create a following) those same people will create fan sites about you and best of all�they will buy your debut CD!
       One of the best ways to get your name out is to perform for parties, clubs, proms, spring flings, community events hosted by youth organizations, high schools as well as college�s, charity events, picnics (like the Greek picnic or Freaknic), talent showcases like the NACA (the National Association for Campus Activities), and block parties (it worked for �DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince�).
       You may want to perform for free for some of the bigger events, this is essential because, you can ask for commendation letters from these organizations to make your presentation stronger when you solicit other organizations.
       This where selling your demo comes into play. At these events you can gain some overhead (money that it takes to create a demo) and maybe even some pocket change, by selling your demos to the audience. You may want to have a few people you trust help you manage this. Make sure you keep all receipts for all of your gigs� you don�t want to end up in a jam with the I.R.S..
       That also means you need to set aside enough money to pay them come tax season. Once you have exhausted booking shows across your home state, you need to save more money and book shows in other states.

Do you see where having enough time in your life becomes important?

       Once you have created a buzz and a following, you have a greater chance of being signed�which means you are a major step closer to being a member of the entertainment industry. As I said before this was just an overview, you will need to do your own research on the field you want to get into. Below, I will briefly discuss how to get into the media industry (print, radio, and television).

So you thought Howard Sterns� job was cool?

       Print- refers to working for a newspaper, magazine, or online media source. Generally to be considered a part of the entertainment industry you should be writing about entertainment (gossip/preview/review columns or interviews with a celebrity, etc.).

       Radio- refers to working for a radio station that involves itself with celebrities (so a weather station that gives you snippets of the news will not count, although it will give you valuable experience.).

       Television- refers to working at a television station in any capacity�that should qualify you as a working member of the industry (there are some exceptions that I will not cover. Again you have to do your own research.).
       A rule of thumb for any of these fields is to go to college and get an internship at a company that corresponds with the field you wish to join. You can also work at your college�s newspaper and radio station. This will give you an edge over other people interested in getting an internship at one of these companies. You will gain experience, make contacts, and have the opportunity to create a demo tape (samples of you on-air) or clips (samples of your writing).

       I hope you have found a few helpful tips under �how to.� If you have any other questions or comments, please email them to me. I will get back to you at my earliest convenience.

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