So now you’ve stepped outside of the rehearsal studio – or your family garage – you have the songs, you have what you feel is the image and elements of stage craft and yes… of course you have your social networking tools at your finger tips. The next step is to become the biggest band in the world or the biggest artist in the world.

If you don’t want this then pack up and go and work in Morrisons (other supermarkets are available) or head to the office job that should really simply be the means to fund your dream. Certainly up to the age of 25, anyway!

First things, first – get known locally!

The first step to becoming the biggest band in the world is to become the biggest band in your street. Start the buzz… Experiment… Don’t worry about the major venues. Find somewhere where people are.

Success isn’t waiting for you, you have to go and get it!

Head for a street near you and build your audience. Don’t worry initially about the data capturing, just get out there and feel the lack of interest from the public. Understand how much they just do. not. care. about what you are doing. Check out their eyes as they make a determined effort not to take any notice of you. This is what you need to understand, the world is not waiting for you, you are waiting for the world.

The moment your music connects with a listener

Notice the feeling when someone – just one person – starts to connect, and stops and listens. This is the first step to your efforts to become the greatest music act on the planet. I know it sounds daft, and you would much prefer to rush back to the wonderful online advice about “how to sell your music on the net”, but it is this moment that will be the starting point. And ‘why?!’ I hear you cry…

Because someone no more that a few feet away will take the time out and wants to hear and look at you. Again, hold back on your desire to follow online PR tips for unsigned bands and do not allow the words DATA CAPTURE to spoil the moment. Live the dream as this might be as good as it gets.

The first fan is important

Okay, so depending on what happens next this first fan could end up being your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend or just more likely the person who tells someone else.

Your friends and family really matter when starting out in a band

Now it is important to remember that you aim is to become the biggest noise in music down your street first. Naturally, you will need to move quite quickly but the experience will be truly fulfilling as friends, family, next door neighbours etc. are vital in building your understanding of what you are all about.

Sample audiences to test your music on

Again, don’t forget this process of street building is likely to take a month – maximum! You need to be motivated. Invite absolutely everybody to come to your front garden/green/garage to hear you and see you for no longer than twenty minutes (just a taster/way to get a feeling for what you will be unleashing soon).

Interaction is key to making your band a success

Now, this is where you ask them to bring their phones and interact with the birth of a soon to be legend. This kind of event is also worth informing your local paper about, as again, if it is a truly quiet day and you have families attending there is a chance that you will get your first media attention. “Why should this happen?” You ask?

Well…

Reaching out to the local media

Well in part because you made the effort to contact them , if they do not turn up make sure you take hi res images of the event , the odder the better and send them to the picture desk of your local paper with just a few words basically telling them to contact you, if your timing is right you will end up in your local paper and then being interviewed on your local afternoon show on the BBC, why?

Because you are creating something interesting – not very interesting admittedly – but interesting enough on a slow news day to draw attention to yourselves.

And yes, okay, now it is fine to mention social media. (From this point, as long as you have gone to the effort of making sure your band/artist’s name is emblazoned on the backdrop of the pho-tie fence, house, garage door, in the trees and so on…)

Also, another tip: with the photo maker sure it is:

A) In focus

B) Interesting

C) Fits a headline (i.e. snappy one liner to make the sub editor’s job easier)

Then you are on your first step to world domination!