Mise En Place

French for: everything in place. Pronounced, meez on plauss. It's normally used in culinary settings but is a very necessary mantra in music. 
I am currently completing my mise en place for Casaundra's EP. It is very possible to release a CD of your music without going through the rigors of mastering and pro duplication but I feel that if you want to make a splash you should spend the time and money to make sure it's ready for play anywhere. With that being said, save your chips and get it done right. How you start is how you finish.


So as far as preparing for a CD release goes, there are several things you may want to consider before you set a date. Things like the demographic your marketing to, is it for the urban market? Middle America? Adult contemporary? If so then make sure that not only have you done some listening research, ie. what's currently playing and working in your genre or area but also what do your target listeners LOOK like. what are they wearing? American Eagle? Rocawear? Tommy Hilfiger? Stetson? Because when your putting together your cover art, it should help draw the eye of the listener to your CD (ref. The Art of Presentation). 


Where do your listeners purchase or listen to the majority of their music? Are they the iPod carrying crowd? Do they use their smartphone as their music player as well? Do they tend to stay online at 1 of the numerous social networking sites? Take it all into consideration so that you have all the key distribution options covered.


Let's roll back to step one now. IS YOUR MUSIC COPY WRITTEN? LOL Yes your music is copy written when you have it in a fixed, tangible medium but let's just say someone with a foot in the door already uses your lyrics because they heard them in a song your created and posted on the internet. Want to be covered for maximum protection? PAY THE $35 FEE FOR eCO REGISTRATION!! You can register up to 40 works for .88 a song. 


Are you registered with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)? Do you believe that your music will be played on the radio? Muzak? Performed on TV or on the big screen? Take it all into consideration.


Is your buzz so hot that people in different regions are calling a radio station and requesting your song? If so, have you registered with BDS so you can keep track of your spins? 


Listen, the list of having your mise en place goes on for days but if you get it out of the way early, not only will you gain the behind the scenes knowledge about the biz but you will be more informed about your career and where to press on or fall back some.


I have intentionally left out some things because it is hard work to get it all ready but well worth the sweat equity when you research and do it on your own. Just saying put the time into the grind!


Love always,


The Lioness