Hey everyone! Just lookin for tips for any music video producers out there. I'm new to LA and am trying to find ways to meet new bands for potential clients to do music videos for. I've been browsing myspace, thinking of posting stuff at Guitar Center, and trying to just go to some shows and possibly talk with the bands afterwards, but I'm not sure how effective any of these will be. Any ideas from people that have had success doing music videos? Thanks.
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Finding Bands
- Thread starter iceblueorbitz
- Start date
Those ideas will be far more effective than doing nothing.
You need to market yourself all over the LA music scene. Go to
two or three clubs two or three nights a week and talk with not
only the band, but the promoters and audio mixers there. Post
not only at Guitar Center but at the smaller speciality shops and
audio places. Make connections at the small recording studios
(most are in garages and do no advertising) and work your way
through all the recording studios in the area.
Getting paying gigs is really difficult. Every musician in LA is good
friends with someone with a camera who is willing to shoot their
videos for free. No unsigned band has the money to make a good
music video and the signed ones are required to use the prodCo
known to the record company.
A little personal story: A guy I work with (he's a stage manager) has
a tribute band. He asked me to shoot a promo video strictly as a favor.
So I've shot at a few of their gigs. There are always three to five tribute
bands on the bill. Within 15 minutes of showing up with my camera
the promoters and band members are approaching me to shoot for them.
I get several cards at each gig I attend. None of them can pay, but they
ALL want some good video.
If you are out there in the scene, making connections, handing out
your business cards (and a reel) you will get more work than you can
handle. Which would be great if they all paid....
I've got an idea for you if you want. Go to see local bands perform and tape them. Talk to them after the show and hand them tape (with your number on it) and let them know you got some good footage of them, and you also do music videos. They will appreciate that you taped them, and now they have your number. If you can afford to do this, it can pay off.