Indie Band Survival Guide

If you’re looking to burst onto the music scene without the help of a major label, this indie band survival guide can prove helpful on your journey to fame. By now, it’s well established that working for a major label, in short, stinks. Generally, their contracts stipulate that they own everything you make, and after expenses you won’t be paid much for your creations. Making it as an indie band is no doubt very difficult, but the benefits of self-creation outweigh the obstacles you’ll face.

1. Know what you stand to lose by going indie. Major labels are pretty awful for a band to work for. But when it comes to getting what they want—which is getting their bands famous—they are experts. Major music labels have huge networks of PR and advertising firms that can launch your band into the stratosphere overnight. Also, they have the studios, tools, and equipment ready for you to start recording and touring with little immediate investment from your band. They make it easy on bands just starting out, but in the end aren’t worth the long term trouble.
2. Treat your indie band as a business. You will need initial investments to produce music, cut records, tour, and buy things like advertising and airtime on the radio. When boiled down, starting a successful indie band is much like founding a small business. It takes entrepreneurial spirit and business savvy to get your music heard.
3. Take advantage of the newfound openness of the music industry. In case you haven’t noticed, indie bands have been surviving and even thriving in the digital age. The Internet has opened up the channels of distribution for music to just about anyone. Without a major label’s help, your band’s survival hinges on a well made web page and song exposure on the Internet. Build a website, and start giving your music to the owners of popular indie music blogs and sites. If they like it enough to write about it, you could be one of those thriving musicians mentioned earlier.
4. In the beginning, tour constantly. This is where the aforementioned initial investment is key. Save up enough to hit the road long-term and build a large fan base across the country. Bands like The Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews, though they are no longer indie, built huge followings just by touring and word of mouth. Set out to do the same, and your band will likely be rewarded.
5. Use all of your connections to get your music made and heard. This is probably the most important facet of this survival guide. While your indie band is gaining exposure and fans, network constantly to scrape up the resources for sustaining the tour and production process. Other indie bands you tour with are especially good for this purpose. Your music may be great, but it takes some relationship building to keep your band going.