Just Voted Off The Voice, X Factor, American Idol, What Do I Do Next?

Whenever i watch these shows, which i still love, by the way...

I know all the arguments and all the reasons why they’re bad for music... But i still like them.

I don’t have much time to watch them anymore, but c’mon what great television.

But whenever i watch these shows, i try to telepathically communicate to these people as they are leaving the big stage for the last time....

GET YOUR BUTT ON THE PHONE!

You just had MILLIONS OF DOLLARS of publicity and a priceless level of exposure.

Screw going back to your day-job just yet, your NEXT MOVE is to CAPITOLIZE and make the most out of this opportunity, as fast and as effectively as humanly possible.

THAT is the next step. THAT is your JOB.

If you want a career, you will NEVER HAVE another opportunity like this...

It still AMAZES me how only a HANDFUL of the HUNDREDS of insanely talented artists that have been in the top 5 slots in the these shows and actually built a career that i actually hear about off of that MONUMENTAL amount of press and public attention.

The problem is that the ARTISTS are at the hands of the LABELS, and if the ARTISTS are not managing their careers themselves, and looking out for what moves THEY are trying to make, they fall victim to the efforts of them.

Don’t get me wrong... You are NOT supposed to try to do all this stuff on your own.

You need the BEST people for each job that you can’t/shouldn’t/don’t want to do.

But it IS your responsibility to manage the projects.

So then, what should i do, i hear you snear...

..Don’t worry, i’m here to help!

I’ll tell you exactly what you need to do.

First off, if you don’t already have anyone on your team, and you are not a seasoned music marketer, that is your first phone call. Don’t listen to your mom, don’t listen to ANYONE that tells you ANYTHING even closely resembling... “Well, dear, if it is meant to happen, then something will happen for you.”

BULLSHIT.

If you don’t capitolize on this exposure, then you will be forgotten in six months and your window of opportunity will have closed.

Here is the basis of what you are trying to accomplish, and then i’ll try to explain what the purpose and main objective is.

First: Setup a website, by yourname.com domain if you don’t already have one, shame on you, but it happens just make it happen and get one up. Blogger is free, Hostbaby would be cheap and easy and for the sake of time, i’d recommend it because it is very convenient and wont require much fuss or potential for screw up on your part.

This should be done within the day. Period. Before you EAT or sleep, go and do these things.

Also start a twitter, youtube, facebook, a google+, a myspace, and a linkedin account if you don’t already have those setup as well.

Also, setup a reverbnation, a soundcloud, a soundclick, and a last.fm account.

Then get an email marketing service provider account like Mailchimp, aWeber, Fanbridge, or just use HostBaby.

Now that you’ve got your platform wired up.

Go and setup a google alerts account, and setup the google alerts for anything that has to do with your name and the show you were just on, the songs you sang, any memorable things you did or said or would potentially be googled or searched for on you-tube.

Second: Call up the best music marketer can you find.

Don’t give him the job just yet, interview him, and ask WHAT he would do in your situation.

Call several people and ask what they would do.

Kindly tell them that you will call them back.

Again, DO NOT hand anyone the deal yet.

You are excited, you need to remember TO PUT your business cap on and keep your composure, just slow down and breathe.

This is your chance, if you stay calm, listen to me, and do what i’m telling you to.

Next, call up several music publicists and repeat the process.

Write down ALL the notes about what everyone tells you they think you should do.

Then call me, i’ll give you some advice, free of charge, just to make sure you are not going to get taken by anyone. Again, if by chance you are reading this and this situation applies to you, i want you to know that someones got your back.

I’m sure if the situations were reversed, you’d do the same for me.

Next: Find a great (the best you can find in a couple days) original song, record it professionally, ASAP, like within a few days. Period. Non-negotiable.

Borrow the money from someone or make a deal/barter with a local studio,

If you can’t/don’t write, i got news for you, you can find them EVERYWHERE!

There are entire communities of people with fantastic songs looking for someone to cut them.

If you can, try to buy the rights to the song, but if its truly a great song, then don’t let it go and do a percentage deal.

CUT THE BEST SONG you can find, in the best quality you can, in a couple days...

PERIOD. No way around this. It ALL starts here.

DO NOT dilly dally and talk to a producer who’s “interested in producing an album” that he’s going to wait for you to write that takes all year to get done.

You need you best singing performance, on the best song you can find, As soon as is humanly possible.

Also: During this time book a photo shoot with the best photographer you can afford who you can work with in the next couple of days.

Now place that song on your website and use the reverbnation widget to capture the visitors name and email address in exchange for the track.

If your website has NOTHING more than this function, that is ok, as long as it has this function.

You don’t have to know WHY you are doing these things, just make sure you are DOING them!

Now you have a product, you have a presence, you are getting alerted when someone mentions your name and you are going to the page and responding or reviewing the opportunity that has presented itself.

Good Job!

Now call me, i’ll tell you what to do next.

It’s really a matter of figuring out where the opportunity is and then figuring out how to capitolize on it, which is all i, or anyone else would do.

I know that i would have your back, and i wouldn’t even charge you just to make sure you got a fair shake.

Essentially though, their are a LARGE amount of variables at this point and where or what the opportunity of the traffic may really look like in your situation depends on a number of factors that i can’t write a step by step prescription for.

But by now you’ll likely have 10’s of thousands of fans and followers and your SOLE mission in life is to get as many of them back to your site and onto your email list.

That is YOUR WHOLE goal.

Focus on nothing else right now.

All the traffic you can, needs to come back to a page that capture their name and email address in exchange for your song.