Calling all closet musicians: It's time to make those dreams of super stardom come true. OK, so you might not have the time, talent or moolah to move to a big city and get signed right away. But with some planning and dedication, your tunes could easily please ears other than your own. Believe it or not, Lansing and East Lansing have been longtime breeding grounds for thriving music scenes, featuring bands and solo artists kicking out everything from jazz to bluegrass to straight-up rock. So, sure, there's plenty of acts out there - but the best part is, there's always room for more music. And that music might as well be yours.
One of the first steps to becoming an established band or solo artist is getting plugged into the area music scene. This means attending lots of local shows, meeting fellow musicians and getting familiar with the people who book concerts. Put your face and sound out there, talk to people and be willing to play whenever, wherever to gain exposure.
"At first you have to work a few angles: play a few open-mics and coffee houses," said Jason Lantrip, guitarist for local space-pop band Calliope. "But that's how you end up getting people to know you to begin with."
Lantrip suggested newbie musicians set out a notebook at small stage gatherings to start an e-mail list. This keeps fans updated on future shows as well as lets the musician keep track of how many people he or she can draw.
"If you can make an impression on somebody and have a place to direct them, then that's all part of building it up," he said.
Another vital step is putting your music down onto some sort of recording. A demo, live tape or album gives you something to post on Web sites or hand to local venues in efforts to line up gigs. You can record at home professionally, depending on your resources and what sound you're seeking.
"With technology the way it is, we didn't go into a studio," said Brian Westrin, vocalist/guitarist for local acoustic-pop group Westrin & Mowry. "We made it in our basement. You can definitely do it without paying major studio costs."
And those in the know said the quality of the recording doesn't always depend on the method.
"I've heard a lot of good recordings tracked at home. I've heard a lot of bad recordings tracked at home. But then again, I've heard a lot of bad recordings tracked in a studio," said engineer and producer Glenn Brown, owner of professional recording studio Glenn Brown Productions in East Lansing. "It doesn't matter where it's done; it matters how you do it."
After recording, it's time to get your act together - literally. Assemble a simple press kit inside a folder, making sure to include a recording, a one-page biography, precise contact information and photos, if available. Drop it off at local venues and follow up with a phone call or e-mail.
"Persistence counts," said Steve Lambert, booking agent at Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. "One e-mail might not do it, you might have to send a couple. Eventually, we'll probably have something for you."
Local musicians said the key to getting gigs is being willing to play for nothing, keeping an open schedule and an open mind, and not losing sight of your band's singular style.
"The best thing you can do is really find your personality of the band and try and put that in the forefront," Lantrip said. "It's going to be what makes you different from everyone else that gets people's attention."
