Last year, Guitar Idol saw at least 3 players gain well over 1,000 votes in a short period of time. This year the vote count has been very low. Now is the time to really promote yourself as much as you can to ensure a place in London. NO ONE is guaranteed a place at the Guitar Idol 2009 finals.
With so many top companies involved with the contest – not least of which Steve Vai’s Favored Nations Record label – keeping a very close watch for new talent don’t waste this amazing opportunity.
Many of last years finalists have secured endorsement deals, teaching positions, tours and studio work as a direct result of the massively increased profile Guitar Idol 2009 gave them.
No company will wish to get involved with a guitarist who can’t even get a few hundred votes – be realistic: as a musician in today’s world you HAVE to be able to promote yourself first as NO ONE else will do this for you. Companies will want to work with guitarists who have shown that they have the professionalism and business sense.
Remember that this is a business folks – no one cares if you’re the best guitarist in the world if no one outside of your bedroom knows about you.
It is essential that
market yourself to EVERYONE you know – and then recruit new fans through the limitless avenues that are open to you through the Internet.
Here are some methods:
Contact local and national media: newspapers, music magazines, radio, internet sites and TV.
Let them know you are in the final Heat of the biggest online guitar talent search in the world with a chance to win thousands of pounds worth of prizes and represent your town/city/country to the world. Offer to do interviews, live performances etc.
Get local businesses to help sponsor you in the form of publicity and even see if they will help with travel costs!
Contact instrument and amp manufacturers from your country and ask them to support you – you never know they might offer you an endorsement deal!
Print fliers to hand out at local gigs and concerts, and distribute at local music stores and venues publicising your Guitar Idol entry – and include the Guitar Idol logos which can be found here:
http://www.guitaridol.tv/media_kit
Get onto a
minimum of 20 Internet Forums asking the users to rate your entry and vote for you. Make sure they are forums dealing with guitarists/bands of a similar style – for example the John Petrucci forum or the
http://www.musicradar forums.
Pick the forums that are busiest and get some friends to join up and help you keep your thread current.
It is
not enough to just post a “Vote For Me At Guitar Idol” topic – you may be spammed off so also make sure you take the time to contribute to some other topics before you introduce yourself.
There is no time to waste!
Join Social Networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo and market your entry with details about how to vote.
Contact Online Guitar magazines as well as print magazines to see if they will publish what you’re doing – online magazines will almost certainly feature you.
Finally, to repeat point one contact everyone you know and hassle them until they support you – you never know…
This is a genuine opportunity to not only win thousands of ponds worth of gear, but play at an event you will remember for the rest of your life, mix with some of the top guitarists in the world, meet the companies such as Marshall, Paul Reed Smith face to face and - if you play it right - launch your career.
Don’t waste this opportunity… so what are you waiting for?
