Vimpire's Entertainment BLOG

As we discussed in the previous section of this series, few things are more exciting for a musician than the launch of a new CD. The experience can be made both more memorable and successful by hosting a properly planned CD release party.
The CD release party is a very important step for musicians so we have divides this topic into a short series of articles to help you avoid common mistakes that might hurt your sales. With that said, on to Part Two.
To Play or Not To Play, That is the question.
It’s a CD release party. The fans are all gathering because of your music. They all want to meet you, the musician who creates the sounds they enjoy. So this leaves us at a paradox… Do we play music or mingle with our fans? Actually, the best option might be to do a bit of both. CD parties don’t have to be the high energy, mind blowing theatrical experiences that concerts turn into. Consider doing an unplugged session or playing a few sets and then announce that your going to take some time to mingle with the guests and invite them to come up an meet you before the next set. Most importantly, follow the lead of the crowd. After all, they are your fans. If you are just finishing the last song of a set and everyone is getting involved, screaming for more and having a good time, then keep going. Listen to your fans and they will keep listening to you.
Public or Invitation Only?
This is a matter of personal choice when it comes to planning a CD release party but you should understand there are advantages and drawbacks to both ideas. Invitation only events are often more controlled and you know what to expect from the people on your guest list. Things seldom get out of hand because the invited guests are personal friends or business associates. Unfortunately, this also limits your earning potential for the evening and doesn’t do much to expand your fan base.
Public events have the potential to make a lot more money and grow new fans just because the guest list is not a limiting factor. Unfortunately, public events are open to the public so that means you may quickly wind up with an uncontrollable mob on your hands, like Justin Bieber did when his 2009 performance at the Long Island Mall resulted in the arrest of Def Jam Records executive, James Roppo, for not using his Twitter account to disperse the crowd. If a crowd becomes unruly and someone gets hurt or property is damaged, you could be held responsible.
The words of wisdom here? Know the risks before hand and make your choices based on those risks.
Watch for part three of the series when we will discuss some more planning tips to make your CD release party a success and ways to avoid common mistakes.
Ty Cohen wants you to learn how to market your music successfully, without becoming a slave to the major record labels and others in the music industry. To get his free information visit and read his blog at