How to: Get jobs producing audio for commercials?

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 2:58 am

I've decided I want to jumpstart my home studio and really turn out some profit. I see loads of commercials on TV and radio for local businesses, and they look and sound like shit. Surely I could do better, right? Surely they should be giving their money to me, and not some other jackasses, right?

So primarily, I'll ask for any basic advice from people with experience in the field, be it from the recording side, or the client side. Anyone in advertising?

I figure Monday, I'll make about a million phone calls. I'll find local businesses that are actively involved in advertising, and I'll find the person in charge of making decisions about their advertising. Make the deal.

I figure radio shouldn't be a challenge. For video, I have a competent person to work with.

I'm wondering how much these kinds of services are generally worth, and how busy I could keep myself.

As things progress, I'll detail them here.

Post by **Lunkhead** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:26 pm

Sounds like a good idea. It may take a while to "break in" to the business, but you can probably do it. I'll be curious to read about your progress. Maybe you should set up a blog, too?

Eric Y. · Post by **Eric Y.** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 12:29 pm

i'd recommend titling the thread something more like "how do you get gigs doing commercials" or something... the way it is now it sounds like you're asking about booking live gigs at a commercial location...

(edit -- at least that's the way it sounds to me. perhaps i'm just retarded though.)

Tonamel · Post by **Tonamel** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:32 pm

No, I read it that way, too.

I had the same idea, Sober, but ultimately ended up doing something else, so I'm afraid I can't be much help.

pegor · Post by **pegor** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:55 pm

Have you seen this? : http://adchallenge.podshow.com/earthlink/landing/home/ Earthlink sucks and Podshow podcasts are mostly sucky, but winning this thing would be a resume bullet plus they are paying real money for it.

Post by jb » Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:30 pm

Ahem. Opinions vary on whether or not EarthLink happens to suck.

Maybe *you* suck.

jack · Post by **jack** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 10:34 pm

yeah pegor, don't bite the hand that feeds you.

also sober, craigslist is your friend. put an ad here

pegor · Post by **pegor** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:01 pm

clearly my contributions to the music archive have proven my suckiimetic rating. Anyway - way off topic aside - earthlink support refused to answer basic ( none platform speciific) questions when I metioned I was on linux.

Ok I slither back to my hole now singing the praises of earthlink tech writers....

arghhhh

roymond · Post by **roymond** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:54 pm

Sober, PumpAudio now takes submissions from independent artists. It's non-exclusive and artists retain all rights. I know little more than that. Go register and see what happens.