DO STRANGE THINGS WITH INSTRUMENTS
Try doing something really different with your regular instrument. In my jazz clarinet days, I learned to do note bends with my mouth, rather than with my fingers. I played guitar by hitting the strings with my hand while fretting a chord, then pulling up the volume and/or reducing it so that people thought it was a keyboard or some percussion instrument. I've seen people come up with some really unusual percussion instruments using household objects, and a band that did their gigs with children's instruments. Many bands have set themselves apart from others simply by putting an electric pickup in a standard instrument, then adding or not adding effects depending on their need. I've seen people also create really unusual patches for their keyboards and sequencers either electronically or using recorded sounds they found in nature. Sometimes even a new stomp box or new combination of effects for your guitar or bass can work wonders. Be brave and see what you can do to add a new sound to your band this way.
DO STRANGE THINGS WITH YOUR APPEARANCE
There is always the classic blank or untitled album folder. If you aren't The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, though, you might at least wait until you get a fan base that can spread the word around before you try that one, though. Many reps have taken notice of a band simply by the colored or lacy envelope, nice stationery or colored jewel case their package came in-it may be silly, but it might work for you. You can always try the Kiss, Ziggy Stardust or Boy George route and try really outrageous costuming and makeup to set you apart from the crowd, but unless you get an audience first, you still need good songs to get you past the reps, so work on at least the audience if not your songwriting so you can pull this off effectively. As I've said before, too, make sure that you can perform in whatever costume or makeup you choose. It may look really cool, but if it runs into your eyes under hot lights, makes you fluff your notes because it gets tangled in your instrument or makes it so you can't dance around on stage like you'd like to, it could be more a handicap than an asset. With a lot of practice, though, and maybe a strategic tuck here and there, you can probably make it work. Once again, dare to be different-someone had to have the nerve to wear furry chaps and giant cowboy hats first, and being a gal with no hair, or a cowboy with a long braid down his back.
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