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wikiHow to Get a Band and Get Famous

Four Parts:PreparationPromoting and advertisingPerformingThe fameCommunity Q&A

So you want to be a famous rockstar? Live the big life? Sex, drugs & Rock 'n Roll all the way? Well... this isn't exactly that, cause what you do with your life and fame is all up to you, but here's a fairly detailed description of how to get to fame. It'll work for any kind of band and most of it will actually go for any way to get famous.

Part 1

  1. 1
    Get a band!
    • First, you need to know what kind of music you want to make. You can also do that after you have the members. If you want to get famous, metal might not be a great choice, since it's not exactly mainstream, it's harder to get noticed (though it pays off more if you do get noticed). Rock or pop might be better if you're really aiming for fame, but remember that the music has to suit you, for it to work (more easily). Be sure that you know the types of music and what they require.
    • Find people willing to play with you. They don't even have to be good (yet), though it would really help. Pick a front woman (that's usually the vocalist, since they already have to use their voice), that's the person that does the talking in the beginning of shows etc. The common, basic setup exists of a vocalist, a guitarist and a drummer. A bass player isn't required, but definitely recommended. Keys (piano, keyboard) are optional, just like any other instrument. Music is a creative thing, so let your imagination go free and come up with an original setup. Make sure the instruments go well with each other though. Originality will definitely get people talking about you, automatically getting you more known.
    • Think of an original name for the band together. Something catchy, that people will remember. Nothing too difficult, something simple and obvious can be great! (Metallica; how simple do you want it?) Something random can work out really well too, just make sure your band will be found when people search for it online and don't get that random thing all the time (of course in the beginning your site wont even be found by the search engine at all, but that'll change as you get more known). Make sure another band doesn't already have the name you want. Be really careful with that, cause you could get sued for using a name that's already claimed. Band names with two words usually work best.
  2. 2
    Write some songs.
    • Writing a song isn't just the lyrics, it's the music too.
    • According to some (and I must say, I agree) most bestsellers are really bullshit, so making shitty songs may work. It's true that the majority of the population doesn't really care about what it is, as long as it's catchy and they're able to sing along. Remember: Las Ketchup, etc.
    • As you get a little more known (or even before that), do work on at least some decent songs. Making a hit might be fun, but you want to be famous, meaning: you want to be remembered. So just a hit won't work for you, you'll have to write good songs too to keep attention (Metallica, Michael Jackson).
  3. 3
    Practice and Improve.

Part 2
Promoting and advertising

So you have a band, now what? Now you get it known of course! You can't get famous if no one knows you.

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    The oldest, easiest, cheapest way of self promoting (and no, although it does work, it's not prostituting yourself), is mouth-to-mouth promotion. Tell people about it, anyone you know (and don't know). Friends, family, people in your class(es) at school, at work, people you've met online... Anyone. And tell them to tell other people about it too. You never know who has the right connections.
  2. 2
    What better way to reach out to the world, than the Internet?!
    • Get a site and have it look professional. That doesn't mean it has to be boring, but it should be easy to navigate, not all chaotic and it has to be easy to read (no spelling and/or grammar mistakes all over the place, some crazy unreadable font or the background image making the text nearly invisible).
    • As you probably already know, MySpace is a good, easy start. Having your own site is good too, but don't waste any time on that yet, till people at least remember your name. Put some songs on it or complications/just (the best) parts of songs.
    • Use the right keywords on your site and register your site/MySpace in directories and major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN-search etc.)
    • Exchanging links with other (starting) bands works too.
    • Get on forums, sites and chatrooms. Don't go spamming or trolling though! It's really annoying, gives you(r band) a bad name and it'll probably get you kicked or banned.
  3. 3
    Visual material. People like to see who/what they're listening to. Make pictures of the band (and of each member separately) and pick some for the MySpace. If you all have some time, make a video for one of your songs. Just a video that introduces you all could work too.
  4. 4
    Ask if you can advertise in your school paper and/or leave pamphlets/cards at stores where your goal-audience comes. (Skate shops, music stores, certain clothing stores etc.)
  5. 5
    If you have a few songs, hand out free demo's and see if you can arrange something with a local radio station. Ask people if they have any connections I was talking about in step 1.

Part 3

  1. 1
    Stage fright. If you want to become a famous band, obviously none of you can have it. Of course it doesn't matter if one, some or all of you do, but make sure to get over it before you get asked to perform. Practice by not skipping classes where you have to show and tell, do speeches in front of the class and when there's someone needed to talk in front of a group, volunteer. You'll find out that being well prepared is the key. It'll also gain you experience of standing in front of a group, knowing what it takes to get you into it, how to get the crowd pumped, what you have to do to not fail etc.
  2. 2
    Have concerts whenever you can. In the basement, as a street artist, at school shows, talent shows, at youth centers, open bars, birthdays, maybe even funerals or weddings. At other places that vary per facility there might be a possibility to perform too (a mall, a garage, bowling center etc.). Invite all your friends, ask them to bring people to and don't make them pay for it. You can ask for donations though. If you're not good, your audience will get what they paid for, right? Also; you're just starting out, so people will be less likely to pay for a band. Think about it; would you? If they like it, they'll tell people about it and they'll want to hear more of you.
  3. 3
    Most bands have a "signature". That's different for every band. Some have a certain image (Marilyn Manson, Slipknot), a special move (Michael Jackson), a piece of clothing (a hat, a tie, anything) worn in a certain way, a line they always say or sound they make...

Part 4
The fame

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    Once you start to get a little famous or when you are famous, don't get it all too high in your head. Always remember to stay humble and remember you're still just a regular person, with all the needs of any other human being. Never forget where you came from and who supported you.
  2. 2
    Money doesn't buy happiness, it just buys things. Although they make your life easier and luxurious, my opinion is to always think twice before you buy something (for yourself) and consider whether you really need it or not and if you could spend your money on something better. (I'm striving for minimalism, I'm not trying to push my opinions on you, but just advising.)
  3. 3
    With the fame you've gotten, you have people listening to you. You have the ability to reach out to people. Your fans and especially people who might idolize you will definitely follow your example. Don't abuse this 'power', but rather use it for good. The more people you have listening to you, the less effort it takes to make the world a better place. Besides, doing good things (standing up for human/animal rights or the environment, even just being associated with it) is a great promotion as well.

Community Q&A

Ask a Question


  • Don't be afraid to ask for help, but don't let others do everything either. You might end up having someone else taking over everything for the band, no longer making it 'your' band.
  • Never forget to not take yourself and everything too seriously.
  • A smile and a polite, friendly attitude gets you farther than you think! :)
  • When you're just starting, make the band members hard to see on pictures and in videos. Like, they flash by quickly or from a difficult angle. Just one picture where one of you (the best-looking one would work the best I suppose ~yes, I know it's very superficial, but that's how it works; good looks get places faster) is clearly visible. Stay mysterious. It'll make people want to see you and look up things about you.
  • Promoting is everything. Getting your name out is what gets you famous. It's also the way to get a great label contract. If you have as much subscribers on YouTube as a big, famous band, you'd get a contract immediately if you'd ask. But think about it; it might be easier if you have some businessman take care of everything for you, but you'll have to share profits with them. Do you want to have it easy, but not getting all of the money you actually earned and being kinda limited by certain things, because of the contract put on you? Or do you (the band) want to take the credits yourself and get 'famous' on your own (which you already did if you have that many subscriptions) and still be as free as you are now?


  • When you start getting famous, people will want to take advantage of you. In terms of money, but also just to hitch a ride to stardom. Don't forget who your real friends are and if someone wants to be your manager or something, don't think you've made it and just get a contract. Research about the label and if you think it's fishy, even if you just have a slight doubt, don't sign. If you're really good, a trustworthy, bigger label will contract you someday or just stay self-promoting.

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Categories: Summarization | Forming a Band


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