Here are a few rules to make your CD Release party effective and profitable.
Check Your Invitation List If you are inviting your relatives, friends and fans you are NOT having a CD Release party. The primary reasoning behind a CD Release event is to get as much press, media, radio, TV and online media writers to review and promote your music. Anything else is self-defeating and a waste of time, energy and money.
Advance Preparation is critical. Determine the place where you will be having your event, scout the location, setup prior to your event and check sound, lights, seating and acoustics. Know which area you will be preforming in and where you will greet your guests for one on one autograph and photos.
Choose your team wisely, they will represent you The team that you have should be able to make your event easy and comfortable for you or your artist. Have enough qualified people around so that your guests feel pampered and their minds are solely on the music. VIP guests should be escorted into the event, directly to their table, where they can have the option of seating or mingling with other guests.
Keep solid publicity Having a person send out an email blast without being able to get you phone interviews, video interviews, print reviews of your project and online blog interviews is NOT having a publicist. Hire a publicist who can develop your guest list and make sure that you have a quality follow up after the event. A publicist should be able to write the documents, press releases, informational sheets and in some cased the reviews of your cd. This same person needs the ability to contact and invite music reviewers, bloggers, radio & television executives, announcers, DJ’s, print media, videographers, and photographers. After the event your publicist becomes extremely important for you want the world to know about your project. Make sure that you have copies of any and all footage taken at your event, any interviews recorded and tons of photos.
Be Personal Take the time to speak to EVERYONE who has come out to be a part of your release party. They took the time to visit you and listen to your music, YOU take the time to be one on one and place a positive face to your music. The worst thing you can do is to be a DIVA and not speak friendly to everyone; these are the people that will talk blog, write, review and ultimately play your music to the public. Piss one of them off and you may not be able to reach any of them again.
Your Presentation is Crucial Practice your performance in front of mirrors before you get on a stage telling the world how great you are. Know what you look like holding a microphone, how to move and address your audience, even if you can’t sing well. Engage your audience and make them a part of your show, happy people make for happy cd reviews.
DON’T SELL YOUR CD AT YOUR RELEASE PARTY You have invited press and media and then you tell them that they can buy your cd? That really means that you hold them in contempt and they are no longer interested in you or your project. Every person that has taken the time to come to your release party should have a complete package on you when they leave, which includes bio, photo, CD and a personalized thank you card.
Reaching the largest audience with a positive message that increase your revenue is the ultimate final result of a GREAT CD RELEASE PARTY.