how do I check if an item exists before inserting into DB

Question

I am trying to check if there is a project name already in the database, but I cannot get it to work, I have the insert working just fine, so I commented out what I was trying to work with(not working)

here is my C#

protected void CreateProject_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

var insCmd = new SqlCommand("INSERT INTO Projects (TesterName, ProjectName, ProjectDescription, DueDate, DateAssigned, Platform) values (@TesterName, @ProjectName,@ProjectDesc, @DueDate, @DateAssigned, @Platform)");

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@ProjectName", txtProjectName.Text);

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@ProjectDesc", txtProjectDesc.Text);

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@TesterName", ddlTester.SelectedValue);

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@DateAssigned", txtStartDate.Text);

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@DueDate", txtEndDate.Text);

insCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Platform", TxtProjectPlatform.Text);

//if (!projId())

//{ }

//else

//{

using (var cnn = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["ProjectsAndTasksTestConnectionString"].ConnectionString))

{

insCmd.Connection = cnn;

cnn.Open();

insCmd.ExecuteNonQuery();

cnn.Close();

}

//}

ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "insert-success", "alert('Project created');", true);

}

/*public bool projID()

{

using (var cnn = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["ProjectsAndTasksTestConnectionString"].ConnectionString))

{

cnn.Open();

string query = "Select ProjectdName FROM Projects WHERE ProjectName= '" + txtProjectName.Text + "'";

SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, cnn);

SqlDataReader dr;

dr = cnn.ExecuteReader();

while (dr.Read())

{

projID = dr["projID"].ToString();

if (projID != "0")

{

ClientScript.RegisterStartupScript(this.GetType(), "insert-fail", "alert('Project Name Already Exists');", true);

return false;

}

cnn.Close();

}

return true;

}

}*/