An album release is a big deal. It is the culmination of a lot of work. It deserves a great celebration. And, the better the party, the better the overall sales! But to throw a great Album Release Party, there will be costs and you need to be able to meet them.
Items that will need to be paid for include:
Swag: t shirts, (figure $5 each in small quantities and single color) stickers, free CDs,
Sometimes you can obtain some free gifts in exchange for advertising on you posters, website etc. Talk to local music scene businesses about gift cards, iPod Shuffle, CDs etc
Posters and other print material like business cards, post cards, etc. Post them everywhere you can think. Coffee and sandwich shops, Whole Foods and other similar companies have a place for posters. Don't forget about local colleges, gyms, clubs, music stores, any place your genre congregates needs a poster. Part of this budget item includes the graphic design person who creates the images.
Press packages with music samples, photos, bio's, etc
Photographs. These should be done by a professional. Don't skimp on this one! Make sure your photographs include individual photos to include in your "bio" page as well as the photo of the complete band. Try different sites and outfits, time of day, lighting. There are plenty of photographers out there that are hungry, talk to them. Many will give another fellow artist a great deal, especially if you give them free tickets to your party and other concerts you are holding!
On-line costs such as a web site setup or update to an existing site
Venue costs, stay tuned on how to limit these!
Food: keep it simple, but have something.
Decorations: again, keep them simple. This night should focus on the music, not the table settings andcenterpieces!
Sales assistants: They can be borrowed relatives or paid sales clerks, just make sure you have enough of them to really sell your new album!
DJ for entertaining guests while you mingle
PA rental fees if you or the venue does not have one
PA technician: pay for a good person to control your sound!
As a co-owner of an Event Venue In Birmingham AL that hosts album release parties, I must suggest one thing...
Planning for the costs of an album release party can reduce the overall stress and allows you time to think about how to limit the cost. Create your budget early on and avoid costly surprises!
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