Customer Reviews

CD Release Party Strategies: Insider Secrets for Independent Bands, Musicians, and Songwriters--How to Have a Major Label Event on a Shoestring Budget

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was disappointed in this product. If it were a book, it would be more of a pamphlet than a book, and never worth the price charged for the cd. Many of the topics "covered" are merely mentioned with maybe one "expert" tip thrown in. For example: according to him, the key to sending out mailings is addressing them by hand. That's pretty much all you need to know. At one point, he tells the listener to stop the recording and write long lists of answers to specific questions. In good faith, I did as he said. Then he dropped the ball and never explained the purpose of that exercise or followed up on it in any way. The topic he covers most thoroughly seemed to be the range of ways to serve alcohol at an event, which was not high on my list of concerns. If alcoholic beverages are crucial to your music, this cd could be just what you need.

The bonus CD included serves primarily to promote Discmakers, and secondarily has some interesting anecdotes. Still, I felt manipulated. What he proves with this CD is that he is a master of promotion, who can make people pay a lot to get a little, and then thank him for it. I can't help wondering if he even wrote the positive customer reviews himself. Being a master at promoting is not the same thing as having a top quality product, and I suppose that is the most useful lesson I got out of this cd.

For all independent musicians...this c.d. is for you. Dave knows the music bussiness inside and out and his C.d. Release Party Strategies c.d. is right on. If there is anything you have'nt thought about when releasing your c.d, Dave does the thinking for you. With all the things independent artist have to keep track of, this c.d. is a great tool to have and to refer to. The second c.d. is a bonus, the telephone interview talks about the reality of the bussiness. It will make you think twice about the bussiness, how you approach the "bigger" picture of being an independent.

David Hooper often credits me with giving him his start, since I was the first person to feature him on a music conference panel several years ago. I may have given him that initial push, but Mr. Hooper has long since made his own unmistakable mark on the indie music world. (Fans of the old "Kung Fu" TV show might imagine the Master saying, "Grasshopper, it's time for you to leave.")

On disc 1 of "CD Release Party Strategies," his latest resource, David goes over an in-depth checklist of important things to consider when planning your event -- the choice of venue, what's involved in offering food and beverages, choosing a date, and a ton of details I had never even imagined before listening to this.

On disc 2, things kick into high gear as David interviews Tony van Veen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Disc Makers. Tony shares a lifetime of great advice on how to package your CD and use it to draw attention to yourself, make money and build a music career.

David concludes the second CD with an exhaustive list of Release Party questions and answers. You'd be hard pressed to find a question that isn't answered on this two-CD set. Great advice. Soak it up!

-Bob Baker, author, "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook"

After evaluating David Hooper's "CD Release Party Strategies," I was overwhelmed at the information and fine details covered, leaving no stone unturned. This basic yet advanced course reveals the "essential" knowledge necessary for bands not only to successfully plan and prepare their CD Release Party, but also teaches basic fundamental "knowledge" and "know-how" to effectively prosper in this ever-so-difficult industry. I highly recommend this course to all musicians and rate it as a "must have" course.

Think you're six months away from your CD release? That's not too early to get organized.

Have only a week to go before the Big Day, and your product's not ready yet? Don't you wish you'd listened to David Hooper's advice!

Concise, to the point, organized (even when you're not), and an extremely helpful tool to make your presentation and your product as professional as possible. After all, you want RESPECT and SUCCESS.

As a music artist on the brink of throwing his first ever CD release party, I'm SOOO glad I listened to this disk set first! I would have never thought of all the things I had to do or planned for it properly. Now, I feel like I have the knowledge and the tools I need to throw a kick ass release party! If you are an artist or a band, especially a beginner like me, you NEED this in your library.

As someone that who has done CD release parties and attended many others, this is a great item to make sure you don't forget anything and ensure that your release party is a successful and enjoyable event.

Putting a CD together is a mad rush of adrenaline and pride, but keeping those discs from collecting dust in your basement requires another set of skills. David's new double-disc set includes all the secrets that successful artists use to build buzz and audience for their new records without the risk. Listen to these discs while you're commuting to and from your day job -- they'll make you want that success even more.

An absolute godsend for indy musicians/artists who have poured their heart and soul into creating a CD and are then faced with the daunting question....How do I sell this thing or make anyone pay attention to my new CD? It's at this point that most musicians fail and this is exactly where David Hooper's CD Release Party Strategies comes to the rescue. Well laid out and perfect at addressing the obstacles most indy musicians have with tiny promotional budgets. A great resource!

Kelly Pardekooper
Indy songwriter/musician

As someone who has been an educator in the Music Industry for over 20 years, I'm always on the lookout for new, well written and informative books, CD's & DVD's for Artists. Today, We're in midst of a Revolution in the Music Business. Not only technologically, but everything we thought we knew in terms of how careers were launched to how artists make a living is changing, being rethought, redesigned and only the artists who truly understand this will succeed. David Hooper's new CD "CD Release Party Stratagies" is a vital & necessary tool for any new Artist or Band who wants to persue a career in the new Music Industry.
Today, the new opportunities available for artists are vast and varied, but you need know what they are and you need to have a plan. That's what makes this new 2 CD Set such a great tool. It takes you through a step by step process that allows you as an artist or band to see and really understand each step along the way of what needs to be done & why! Everything from understanding the need for mechandise at live shows to performing at Alternative venues. What makes David Hooper's CD stand out though is his understanding of the ENTIRE process from starting a career to maintaining it. The most insightful part I felt, was his understanding of why people attend live music events in the first place. Most music business educators don't get this at all. If you're an Artist, Band or Musician who wants a career in the new Music Business, this is a great start!

Ritch Esra
Music Business Registry