Okay, here’s a new thing I’m trying out… answering reader questions… I hope I can help.

One reader writes…

Ian,

I am trying to get into the music business with the ultimate goal of owning my own independent record label. I have been asked by a friend of mine to run their street team. What type of advice would you give to someone taking over a street team? They have amassed a large following in the local area, played several colleges and universities, receive airplay on the public radio station and recently sold out a 400 seat venue in our hometown. They are now ready to start branching out and increase their fanbase.

Running an artist’s street-team could be a great experience for you, especially if the artist has a local following, and presumably, some fans willing to get active and take part in their street-team, just waiting for someone to lead them.  It’s a great way to start learning about marketing and promoting music, and with many of the street-team activities these days shifting toward online activities, it can be a great way to start building relationships with important websites and key tastemakers around the world if you want.

Street teams these days are so much more than handing out flyers, and postering for gigs.  These days its rallying kids to write reviews of products on iTunes/Amazon/etc., launching facebook campaigns, creating user-generated videos, creating iMixes, stimulating conversation on social networks and messageboards, and more.  You can also create downloadable pdf posters that team-members can print-out themselves and distribute.  The types of missions you charge them with is only as limited as your imagination.

But, I would urge you to view this possibility (if you choose to accept it) as a serious way to gain business experience for yourself… it’s basically a management position.  You will learn how to deal with many different personalities, how to manage and direct support staff, how to motivate people, how to organize and launch campaigns, recruit staff, communicate effectively, and try your hand at marketing and promotion.  So treat it like a business.  Be organized, be reachable, be professional, be courteous, be respectful, be admirable, and above all else, be excited about your product.

And in closing, remember this… when taking on a significant role in an indie artist’s team, be sure this artist is one you believe in, because by promoting them, you’re attaching your name to them.  To the rest of the industry, and the world, that means you endorse what they are doing, and you will be judged on their quality and success.  Since you say you want to start your own music company one day, your reputation will always be of upmost importance, so make sure you believe wholeheartedly in the artists you choose to work with.

I hope that helps!

Thanks for writing, please keep reading, and keep sending me your emails!  I’ll try and do my best to answer them here in future articles.