Independent Rock Music

Professionalism. Musicians. Music.

2014-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Be Professional

This rule is at the top of the list for good reason. You may be getting involved in the music business because you love music, but a lot of people flock to the business because they think it's just a non stop party. While there are certainly plenty of opportunities to have fun when you're working in music, but the key word here is WORKING. Getting to the good stuff requires hard work and commitment. When you have a job to do, show up on time, and do it. Show people that you can be counted on to work hard and you know the difference between work and play, and you'll find doors swinging open.

Be Polite

Here's a hard truth: whether you're trying to break into the industry or you're already there, working in music involves lots of cold calling/emailing. Some people will ignore you. Some will take ages to get back to you. Some of them might respond to your 10 emails with a single word response. It's incredibly frustrating. What can you do about it?

Nothing. It pays to stay polite and professional at all costs. If someone blows you off, resist the urge to tell them off. If someone takes the time to help, SAY THANK YOU. The music biz is a smaller place than you think, and your shoddy behavior will come back to haunt you.

Don't Be Afraid to Make Some Money

Getting involved in the music business because you eat, sleep, and breathe music is the RIGHT reason. Going into music purely for monetary gains is a drag, and in fact, there is definitely an argument to be made that chasing profits has come at the expense of good music at many labels. But, don't confuse that fact with an idea that it is wrong to want to make money in the music business. To able to work in the music business, you need to be able to pay the bills from your music job. Period. Getting a paycheck doesn't mean you are crossing over to the dark side - rather, it lets you keep doing what you love.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask

If you don't ask, you don't get. Do you want an internship, a job, to work with a certain producer, an opening slot on a bill with your favorite band - the people who can get you these things aren't mind readers. They're not going to come along and knock on your door one day to offer you the shot you're after. If you want something, ask for it. Sometimes, people will say "no." That's not a problem, because sometimes, they will say "yes." Don't be so sure you know what the answer will be - ask, and you may be surprised what you can get.

Get it in Writing

Yes, even when you're working with friends. Even when there is no money involved yet. Beyond the financial reasons, a contract is a good way to clarify working relationships and responsibilities. You'll be able to get things done a lot more effectively if everyone knows where they stand and what is expected of them.

Say "I Don't Know"

If you're working at your first music business job, or your band is meeting with a label, and you, well, don't have a clue what everyone is talking about, say so. People often feel a lot of pressure to appear "cool" in the music business, and so they pretend to know a lot of things they don't. Having the nerve to say you don't know what something is about is absolutely a lot "cooler" than flubbing your way through a conversation that is over your head - you'll almost always give yourself away. Besides, if you're serious about this, you'll have to learn the ropes eventually. Do yourself a favor and speak up.

Above All Else - LISTEN

Whatever you're trying to do in the music business, you can bet you're not the first to try it. Now, granted, most people who enter the music industry have a life long love affair with music that gives them some level of knowledge - but don't assume that because you've bought a lot of music and read a lot of magazines that you REALLY know how things work. When you get a chance to get some advice from someone who has been around the block, listen up, even if you think it sounds like a sell out. The people who really get ahead in music are the people who never stop learning from those who went before them.

Don't Spread Your Music Too Thin.

2013-10-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

The independent musician is running a business (if they're serious) whether they realise it or not. As a business independent musicians need to be constantly analysing and adapting their marketing strategies at the risk of being left behind.

I remember back when blogging first started in the independent music industry, when people told me, "you need to blog to keep up!" Initially went on a silent protest. Through time, I realised that, as a songwriter, why NOT blog? The thought of more than writing music used to be simply overwhelming at the time. That was in the mid-200's when I entered the online music industry as an independent musician. Further on down the road I became an author.

Then the social networks started popping up, begging for my time and attention. I all but ignored MySpace, and at first Facebook. LinkedIn lurked on the horizon, offering a little value if I was looking to poach someone for my company ... and then it all converged into a blizzard of gotta-be-here-hammering-it-daily networks that I felt like I had to invest in.

Turns out, only a few of them actually drove my independent music business. The rest are flotsam...time wasters...content vampires. Through this I've learned that you don't need to be everywhere, because that's like trying to dance your way out of quicksand. You'll never get there.

I then deliberately started subscribing to newsletters from businesses; music and otherwise. What the vast majority of these business newsletters had a common thread. I needed to think differently about the rise of social networking and all the opportunities that come with it. Here's what you should really look at: Are your business targets moving to new streams to find, connect and share? Are they harder to reach with your current marketing and CRM strategies? If so, then you likely need to setup a new camp, otherwise, wait until you have a real need to make the leap.

Some people say that it's easy to make this decision based on your type of business: Professional services on LinkedIn, Consumer offerings on Twitter and Pinterest, Technology and media services on Google+ and everybody on Facebook, but I think that's an over-generalization that is disproved by countless case studies. Here's a more scientific way for you to figure out where you need to be.

First, you need to be clear on who your targets are. By targets, I mean, who do you want your music to reach and who do you want to interact with more often? For independent musicians the prospective or current music lover represents your top target. For some independent musicians, reaching self-fulfilling 'statistics' are more critical. Hhmmmm.

Next, the independent musician needs to ask their best customers where they fish for solutions, graze for information and share their content. Ask them where you can connect with them, share their content, and give them updates and special offers. Create a survey (no more than seven questions), or better yet, make it part of your ongoing conversations and then distill the information to develop a top three social networks list. In my experience, my top customer has a media profile that closely resembles my top prospects, so this exercise will scale from current to prospective victories.

Now, create a program to serve NO MORE than the top three networks. If you can, limit your work to two. Often, you'll do this to serve multiple types of targets. In the case of McGladrey, they invest in LinkedIn for new customers and Facebook to recruit accountants. They use their Twitter account to drive traffic to their blog posts.

In my case, my targets include readers, conference planners and speaking bureau partners. I work my blog, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (in that order of priority). I don't 'really' do Google+ or Tumblr . They don't offer me ROI against my defined targets. If I tried to do everything, I'd likely be spread too thin.

Finally: Monitor the results, refresh your survey as often as you see fit and drop dead-weight networks. So far, my blog and Facebook have generated the most business for me, but Twitter keeps me directly connected to most of my targets. I've been investing more time in LinkedIn, but haven't seen much results yet...so I might drop it. This way, I don't end up with network creep, where I simply add new ones to the pile, ending up spread out eventually.

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Music Buying Options And Survey

2013-10-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

Introduction

This entry is dedicated to giving a brief and objective overview from a musicians perspective of three distributors in the online music industry and the effect that it has on music lovers. They all have their good and not-so-good aspects. At the end of the day, the choice is yours.

iTunes

Without doubt, iTunes are considered to be the most popular music download site worldwide. Their promotional 'pull' is second to none. iTunes has carefully made its' way to the top of the hill to the point where any independent artist who has their music on iTunes are suddenly, without logic, considered a big name.

The myth that people will always buy music at the cheapest price has been blown apart by iTunes. iTunes has become a part of music lovers language. How do I know? I'll tell you why. My "Mean Business" album retails on iTunes at $15.21. The very same album, processed to the same high standards as is required by iTunes can be downloaded on Bandcamp for $7.00.

One would assume that my album sales would be higher on Bandcamp than on iTunes. Wrong! iTunes sales are exceeding Bandcamp sales by over 25%.

Amazon mp3

Amazon mp3 has always reminded me of the 'little brother' of iTunes. It has less emphasis placed on music but it is worth investigating. As is the case with iTunes, my material on Amazon mp3 is more expensive than my Bandcamp material.

Case in point....my "Nuts And Bolts" E.P. on Amazon mp3 sells for $5.34. The "Nuts And Bolts" E.P on Bandcamp. retails for $4.00. Despite this example (there are more), Amazon mp3 outsells Bandcamp by almost 15%

Bandcamp

Ever since discovering Bandcamp by mistake, I have made it my distribution site of choice. Admittedly it doesn't have the flashy graphics, the bells and whistles and so forth that iTunes and Amazon mp3 have. Outside of the 'superficial' glitz, I am amazed that more musicians and music lovers have not embraced it.

Bandcamp has a few qualities that I, a musician, see as a great benefit to my followers and myself. You can visit my Bandcamp page and play every song (full length) from every album as often as you wish. No strings attached. The Bandcamp album widget options are designed to fit almost everywhere.

The musician is also able to offer music lovers discounts of varying degrees and can even allow free downloads of an album or a single if they wish. Finally, you (as a member of my mailing list) will be notified in advance of the exact day and time of each new release.

Summary

As I am not particularly knowledgeable about the world of music downloading, I hope that my observations may make things clearer and make your mp3 downloading an enjoyable and informed affair.

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Should Independent Musicians Allow Free Downloads?

2013-09-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

As an independent musician trying to gain exposure in the music business, create some awareness and enthusiasm for your band, but also trying to make a living with your music at the same time you may wonder -- Is it is a good business decision to provide a free download of one of your songs online for fans and/or potential fans?

There are a couple different patterns of thought on this throughout the music industry. To some it still remains a controversial issue among musicians and business people alike. Others may tell you it is a 'given.' I have put together a brief summary of the pros and cons to allowing at least one of your songs from a full length or EP-CD, or a single to be downloaded online for free from a business point of view. Never lose sight of the fact that you and other independent musicians are a business....that is if you want to be viewed superficially as an independent musician, behind the scenes you are a business.

Pros to Allowing a Free Download:

* You are giving your current fan base a way to interact and spread the word about your music
* You are offering a gift of appreciation to your current fans
* You are providing an enticement for current fans and potential fans to purchase the entire album once they have had a taste of your single.
* It can be a great promotional tool. You can get setup with promotional postcards to give away at shows which have a promotional code. The fan is directed to a website where they punch in the code and get their free download. This way they really feel like they are getting something of value for free.

Sure, you can always offer fully streaming music which allows fans to listen to entire music albums without downloading it to their hard-drive or iPod, which will entice them but by giving them a free download you are actually offering them more of a token of appreciation and you are opening a lot of doors with new fans. Whether you know it or not, no matter how encrypted or non-downloadable you think a track may be, it does not take someone who is very tech-savvy to be able to clip it anyway.

Cons to Allowing a Free Download:

* You are losing revenue for each free download
* You are losing potential revenue for each person the original person who downloaded your song shares the file with.
* That's about the only con ----

So you have to weigh the two to figure out if it makes sense to offer a free song download. Obviously it does not make sense to offer an entire record for free download. Kind of defeats the purpose of trying to sell records, or does it?

I believe the greater majority of independent music industry labels, business managers, and publicists, will tell you that it probably can't hurt to offer a free download once in a while. You may want to offer it on a limited basis by way of your Newsletter in the course of usual promotion so that you do not lose revenue on a consistent basis. The choice is ultimately yours of course - but again - once in a while should not hurt sales and could potentially increase them in the long run.

Independent Music Business

2013-08-26T02:26:00.000-07:00

Investing in your career as an independent musician is a business venture. It isn't free. I didn't anticipate the journey as I was barely aware of the music industry online when I began and this is just the premise. This is an enterprise almost similar to a start up company in a new music industry where the internet plays a major role in distribution and copyrights. Th upside is...many avenues can be pursued free as opposed to what used to happen in the 'bad old days.'

I fortunately encountered a music industry specialist who produced great results across the independent music spectrum This guy said he believes there is a free recipe. At this point it is still too early to talk about success as an independent musician or anywhere near it. I still remain optimistic about my career. One can say that being a working artist is a complex adventure. It is. Especially when the economy is still unstable globally. Again, however, there are many avenues that can be investigated and/or pursued for free.

Managing the distribution process is essential; therefore, the use of alternative distribution is mandatory nowadays. Starting with new independent distributor taking a portion of your revenue. This realm is now slowly shifting to the attitude of the independent artist submitting their music free whilst the distributor takes a percentage after a sale. Then satellite radio airing music for free and even malls and grocery stores distribution, the scene is changing rapidly today. A famous digital platform, available though apple computer products, (not to name it) is already challenged with digital rights management technology available for your cell phones and computers.

The use of regular distribution is still possible through regular major labels but is rare and should be embraced when made available. Some structures feed your one single to all kinds of distributors within the whole industry. This particular point will be addressed in a later blog so you may wish to subscribe to this blog for free or sign up to my free mailing list at the end of this entry.

You name the location and independent musicians needs to find its market, such as the appropriate radio stations to air songs. For example, I have read that there are people who are paid to sit down in New York City and wait for the radio reps to listen to your tunes. Later in the game agents, with their business and administration prowess constantly oozing from them, come in to the picture to develop your talent and brand the artist image as an independent artist selling your act and helping you open for major artists. One advise, use email promotion wisely. (see below). It is mandatory. Your own mailing list could become a goldmine and should start helping you selling. It takes time to build a solid list of followers so get to it as soon as you can.

Then it always comes down to the quality of your production, recording and your music and how much people like your stuff, which is only possible if it is good. And it must be good as people in the value chain are taking a little share of your revenue.

It is exciting to develop a universe around art. Nowadays I wonder and realize how many hats an independent artist needs to wear to be capable of entering the music industry. It is business. The golden days is coming leaving space for all kinds of artists and a new industry.

The question is to find out whether or not the independent artist is ready. I do not think too many truly are and I'll probably be shot at dawn for saying this. The difference is; one independent artist and the next one is that one knows how good they are. On the other hand, someone like myself knows how good I'm not. I finally understood the complexity of the new and ever-changing environment and can feel comfortable enough to take myself as an example. Scars and all. We are quick to assume. The industry is changing constantly and reinvents itself. Keep in touch right here.

How To Earn An Income As Independent Musicians

2013-08-13T01:12:00.000-07:00

It is extremely difficult for independent musicians to be identified on a large scale in the conventional music industry. Quite often a good musical entity can generate a small fan base but the free marketing capabilities are difficult due to regional limitations and finances. These opportunities are growing as independent musicians are moving onto the internet with the generation of large and free online profiles and the creation of independent band websites. Although these internet opportunities have increased the abilities for an independent band to be found online, there is still a lack of consistent marketing for these underground bands.

There are websites currently on the market that work with new and unsigned bands so that they can grow themselves into a marketable independent band to achieve a global fan base, increase their music popularity, and even make money in the online economy of the internet. The opportunity to compete with other new independent bands is the first chance that working with these sites produces. These sites will offer your group a chance to go head to head with other new indie bands, being as independent rock music is a well liked genre and the fans of the music choosing the winner. This allows your music to be distributed amongst some of the biggest fans of indie rock music, encouraging the spread of your music on a global scale. This free music atmosphere will generate interest in your band and the music that you create. The global market you are now revealing your band to will show the benefits of online competition in contrast to radio competitions and country competitions. Free.

A group can post online videos and gigs that exhibit their performance capabilities in addition to online competitions. This will assist in the generation of local interest as you travel with your band to various gig locations. Using the virtual world of the internet the fans will now have a one click alternative for previewing your new music live and in person. Allowing you to view how your competitors are performing will assure you that you are up to date on the most current trends and visual cues to help to get your fan base to continue to expand is possible with the online videos.

Finally, outside of the opportunity to finding free online fame and spreading your independent music you have the opportunity to market your band through the sale of goods and services. Promotion opportunities that many groups do not have until they are picked up by a label is something that these sites offer your band. You can open an online store, sell clothing and music for free through these websites. Helping to spread your band name and escalating your chances in band growth will be accomplished as indie rock music fans worldwide can sport your band clothing and download your music. Every occurrence they use your music in the different ads they post online, these sites will pay you, in conjunction to your making sales. It's now time to join the online network, that brings together a massive free list of independent musicians all at one place.

Independent Bands And Email Lists

2013-08-05T01:58:00.002-07:00

Independent music promotion strategies are the same as the music promotion techniques used by major artists. The main difference, however, is that indie musicians do not have as much financial resources at their disposal as the major record labels do.

As an independent musician artist, you may not get your music advertised to millions via the various forms of offline media, such as in a TV, radio or magazine. You might not even be able to afford to be able to create your own CDs to sell at gigs. But the good news is that no-matter how limited your resources, you can still reach a large audience and make good money using indie music promotion strategies on the Internet.

Whether an independent musician or an artist with a major label behind you, the primary aim of the online music marketing techniques is the same: to develop a relationship with fans to help make sales. When you have developed a relationship with people, it is then much easier to make sales from them.

OK, so let's look at how indie musicians can promote their music on the Internet by using search engine traffic and an email list.

The Email List

The email list is the best way to make sales of your music. Now, when I say "sell your music", this does not have to be CDs that are sent through the post - this can simply be MP3 files that are downloaded.

The email list is such a powerful resource to use in order to make money from your music. It is especially important for indie musicians who do not have all the promotional resources in the world at their disposal.

The email list is so powerful because the people that have joined your email list have an interest in your music - otherwise they would not have signed up! Even with a small list of subscribers, you can make good sales if you handle your email list correctly.

The email list should be used to develop a relationship with your fans. You should be encouraging discussions of music in general with them, asking their thoughts, giving them cool members-only gifts and special offers, and announcing general news in the music world that is likely to interest them. When you have developed a relationship with the readers of your email list and have gained their trust, then they will be so much more likely to buy your music and merchandise when you promote this to them.

Many bands just use the email list as a way of sending out the monthly newsletter. A monthly newsletter is very important (and you should have one), but I think the contact with your fans should be more frequent than the just monthly newsletter. The communication does not always have to be about promoting something. Just sending out general emails to discuss interesting topics is a great way to develop a rapport.

OK, great, "but how exactly do I build my email list if no-one knows about my band in the first place?!" I hear you ask.

Fear not, we will get on to this. But it is important for you to first understand that you should have a means to capture the email addresses of your fans before you start an indie music marketing campaign.

So presuming you have your own website with an email opt-in box in the sidebar, we can now get down to business with getting people to your website. This will be done by using search engine traffic.

Search Engine Traffic

Having your website rank highly on Google for certain keywords can do wonders for your exposure. The good news for musicians is that it does not cost any money to get a high Google ranking and it can be relatively easy to achieve high rankings for certain keywords.

I am sure if you type in your band or musician name into Google, your website will already appear on the first page if you already have a http://www.yourbandname.com domain or social networking page that is. This is great, people who already know that your band exists can now click through to your website and learn more.

But what if people don't know that you exist yet?

It can be very powerful to have your band website appear on the front page of Google for a wide range of search terms other than just your band name.

You should try to get your website ranked highly for more generic terms such as the genre of your music, the geographical area of your band, the type of gigs you perform etc. This way people who are trying to find a new artist in a certain part of the world can find you with a generic search such as "New Jersey Punk Band' or 'Rock Music Gigs in Ontario'.

For certain keywords on the Internet, it can be very hard to rank for them. But music related keywords are much easier to rank for because they are not directly related to selling a certain product. Also, most musicians are not aware of the Internet based indie music marketing techniques that can be used to help them to rank highly on Google.

For example, it would be hard to rank highly on Google for terms related to buying an iPhone as many businesses are in competition for these terms, but competition for music related terms are going to have much less competition.

Think of as many relevant keywords as possible that people could type into Google in order to help them stumble across your band. Then you can try to make your band website (or separate blog posts on your website) rank on the first page of Google for as many of these keywords as possible.

You may find it impossible to rank for very generic terms such as 'indie band' or 'rock music', but more specific terms such as 'indie band Pittsburgh' or 'wedding band Cambridge' or 'singer-songwriter similar to Nelly Furtado' will be more achievable.

In order to rank highly for a certain keyword term you need to have this keyword phrase appear a few times (or at least once) in the text of your website and you also need to have other websites on the Internet linking to your website using your keyword as the anchor text link.

The anchor text is the keyword you wish to rank for, and appears as a link that is highlighted in blue and underlined on a webpage. If many other web pages around the Internet link to your website with this keyword, then Google will rank your band or musician website highly for that term.

The link to your website from another website on the Internet is known as a backlink. The more backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank.

Then as you get more and more traffic to your band website from Google, you will start to build you email list, develop a relationship with more fans, and make more sales.

Free Email List For Independent Musicians

2013-07-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

Prior to commencing this entry, I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to the recent influx of free subscribers and my loyal followers for your support. I suspect that your support means more to me than you know.

No doubt, you and our other independent musicians have been dreaming of a huge and free email list? The kind of list that, just like any other business, with one click of the "send" button generates hordes of fans mobilize to come to see your shows, or play your new track at ReverbNation If not, then shame on you. You are overlooking one of the most powerful tools at your disposal....and it's free! Just look at the 'Free Easy Subscription' form to the top right of this blog. It's as easy as pie, free, right in the readers face, yet unobtrusive and as it says, 'Free Easy Subscription.'

A well maintained and growing email list is a mighty tool. Why? Because it provides a quick and easy way to keep in front of your adoring fans, and it is absolutely FREE. In this digital age, independent musicians can honestly boast about being part of the music business

The sad thing is that most independent musicians drop the ball on building this marketing powerhouse. So, in an effort to stop this business atrocity, I have decided to give you four simple and effective tactics to build that list. If I can do it, so can you.

1. Migidy Mic Check...

Your standing on stage, maybe the beach balls are floating atop the crowd, or the mosh pit has attracted the police, or maybe the fans are singing so loud you can't hear your own music through the stage monitors. Whatever your situation, the fact of the matter is that you have human beings sitting right in front of you, hanging off of your every word, wanting to become your fans!

Do you realize the power of this moment? Right now your audience is focused on you and your music. As hard as it may be to believe, at this very moment, more than anything else, they want more of you. How do you give them what they want? Speak up and offer to get connected.

Tell your audience in your own genuine words that your email list is the way you stay connected to your fans. It is how you pass on latest news and how you notify of your upcoming gigs.

Simple, free and effective. Do not let one gig pass without asking your music fans to get connected.

2. Give it away now...

Ok, you know the value of seizing the moment while you're at the microphone, now lets make signing up a little more enticing.

Do you like free stuff? Who doesn't? We are suckers for trinkets and giveaways. Now just imagine if you were to offer your music fans an opportunity to get something more valuable than a mere trinket. What if you offered them the opportunity to win one of your T-shirts or autographed CDs, or [wait for it...] Both! Oh my, the pandemonium, the crowd goes nuts.

How would this work? Simply hold a contest where the entry form is a piece of paper that asks for your fan's first name and email address. It's that simple. You exchange the chance to win one music CD (your cost under $2) and a T-shirt (your cost around $5) in exchange for the email address of the members of your audience. If the cost of giving away a few pieces of much merch bothers you, just think of the value of only one new fan dragging a friend to your next show, shelling out two covers charges, selling a t-shirt to the friend and both of them telling others at work about their experience... Lets move on.

3. Something Of Value

Ask yourself what the real business objective of the contest mentioned above is? Let me tell you plainly, the objective is to mutually exchange something of value. You offer something of value to your fans in exchange for something of value to you. A surprisingly high value item to your fans is a simple old-fashioned newsletter. You know, the thing with silly facts and stories about you? Offer this gem in exchange for something of value to you - your fan's email address. This is an easy sell because you need their email address to send the newsletter right? It is a natural win-win situation so use it.

4. Point of Sale

Now we're at the end of the show and people are flocking to your merch table. Your latest self-titled music CD is flying off the shelf. Your fans are even picking up that illegible sticker that was designed by your crazy cousin Fred. Are you going to just let them walk away without offering them the chance to stay connected to the band that they just laid down their hard earned cash to buy a recording of?

You have a perfect opportunity while you are counting out their change to "ask them" to sign your concert connection and stay connected to the band. What's the worse they can do, say no?

There you go four tactics you can use tonight to pack fans into your mighty email list. That should get you going. Remember it is the simple and effective tactics performed flawlessly over and over that make you successful. Don't miss a beat and watch that email list grow.

*If you would like me to join your list, simply fill in my email collector (below). I don't spam and would recommend avoiding this very impulsive mistake. Like any other business, building your list does take time.

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Music Sharing And Independent Musicians

2013-07-15T01:39:00.001-07:00

Social media sites are one of the best ways to get your new single and album out to the public. It is a given that you will grow and reach a broader fan base if you use these social medias effectively. You've been using social media sites like MySpace, Reverbnation, and Google Play but why have you not been discovered? Well, here's the problem: 1) these sites are not working for you;instead, you are working for them 2) you are being overshadowed by irrelevant content and famous artists who are getting all of the exposure. Please let me explain...

When you go on MySpace you are just another indie artist uploading music. Commercial artists get all of the spotlight because they have an established fan base given that they are constantly on the radio. When you become a part of MySpace you are just a groupie among celebrities! Now, Reverbnation will distribute your music on iTunes, Spotify and the rest, but of course that service is not free. It does not make sense for a struggling artist to spend money that he or she does not have, but some of us really want to get our music out so we'll pay for anything that might give us a shot. Should you waste your money? I would say no since there are no guarantees that paying will make you a superstar. Your talent should speak for itself, and if it doesn't, then you should use your the money you have to polish your craft. So your last option is (to the untrained analysist) YouTube; that is, in case you envy to be the next Justin Beiber....(or not) but those chances are slim since your fans are more likely to land on a donkey video when they search for your music. So think about it! Are these networks working for you? No!

You should promote your music online to get discovered, but how do you do it? You have to use sites that focus on undiscovered talent instead of the talent that has already been established. If you have to pay for any services, then that site is probably not the right site for you. The free services that a site offers will give you a good idea of what they are about and what they can actually do for your career.

Struggling artists need help getting their music out to the public, so having various social medias work for you all at once is a golden opportunity. Increasing your network is the key to giving you a significant online presence which will ultimately give you more exposure in the industry. A lot of people use social media to promote their work, but few people know how to do it effectively.

At the end of the day, you need all of the help that you can get to grow your career. It's great to put your music on all available networks, but you also have to use networks that want to help you get discovered. For an upcoming artist trying to make a name in the music industry, if you don't have a record label supporting you, the best option is using free networks which will not put a dent in your pocket!

For music fans, all you have to do to show your support for a particular independent musician, 'sharing' to one of the sites at the end of the blog can be as beneficial as an album download.

Sell Your Independent Music Online

2013-07-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

There are a number of different approaches you can take to selling your music online as downloads on the internet. These can supplement the income of a musician. Apart from the obvious choices, there are other, potentially more attractive ideas being developed and evolved on the web.

The first traditional approach is to sign-up to a single website service who sell a artists music on their behalf and take a commission for each sale. They often hold the earnings for a period of time till they have reached a certain sales figure, before making payments.

One advantage is that they normally don't ask for any sign-up fees or monthly fees, so if the artist doesn't sell any music, they haven't lost any money. If they are smaller websites they may give you more promotion than the big boys.

The disadvantages are that the amount one can earn per track is a lot less than the retail price charged, because the service takes a percentage, the prices are often, but not always, charged at a fixed rate set by the web service. Also an artist won't get the money straight away and will invariably have to wait for sales to reach a certain figure before they get paid.

A more recent approach in the last few years is to use a digital distributor, who for a fee will place an artist's music in a number of large well known digital stores. This has the advantage of stocking music in all these stores in one fell swoop, placing music in all these services. The distributor will then collect all the money and from each service and make one single payment to the artist, normally each quarter.

The disadvantage is the artist has to wait many months after having paid, to get music on these services without any guarantees that they will sell anything. Also there is definitely no control over the price an artist's track is sold at, as this is totally dictated by the web services. Also again they have to wait for payments to be made, holding up cash flow whilst they wait. Again after commission the amount they earn is considerable less than via the diy method. iTunes is does have the advantage of hype and artist cling to the hope that if they're on there they will somehow sell music, many artists can't understand why once they're on a big music download service, they're not automatically selling loads of music.

With these big sites they are competing for attention with millions of other artists, the chances of casual browsers discovering and then buying their music is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. It's only the known of artists with some promotional clout and a lot of backing from a label, who will get exposure and the vicious circle continues, even smaller independents have recently campaigned for equal exposure on these services, so as a totally independent artist the exposure is even worse and the odds stacked against them.

What invariable happens is the independent musician has to promote their own music or merchandise and send fans and customers to his or her page on these services, whilst the service gives the artist no exposure, unless by the sheer volume of sales the independent bands selling mp3s can buck the trend and rise in the charts, so listeners become aware of them.

Many artists have used PayPal to sell their own music CD's for this very same reason and been happy with the independence it brings and extra earnings it generates and the direct customer contact. The issue with selling digital music is it requires some quite sophisticated technology to deliver the music to the customer after the payment is made. This means delivering an instant download link once the payment is completed, which will expire, so people can't share the link, it means providing a dedicated fast download speed to the customer and also providing the customer with a password so they can download the file again if they loose it. For these reasons it's far most cost effective and convenient to use a specialist service.

Also the services often provide a music player so people can preview the music and also a mp3 music widget which can be placed anywhere to promote music with a link directly back to the artists sales page.

The only disadvantage I can think of is that if the artist's don't sell enough they won't cover the monthly fee, but with a 30 day free trial, there's no risk. If you're an independent musician, band or artist who's serious about selling your music online you've got nothing to lose from giving it a go.

Pay A Price For Independent Musicians Sake

2013-06-27T03:13:00.000-07:00

We are much more reliant today than ever before on technology and the many contributions it makes to our lives every second. Perhaps most notable is the many options technology has given to the Internet and the world of entertainment, making many artistic projects and productions, from digital music albums to e-books to short and long films and television programs available to a larger audience of people.

Steadily children that grew up with the Internet and don't remember a time without it are reaching adulthood, and attitudes about both the monetary value of artists' works available online and the cultural value of these works are changing. This revolution began with the introduction of CD's, which became easy to copy and distribute to friends.

There are certainly varying opinions about the worth of downloadable music and purchased music in general; while a younger generation of music lovers is certainly divided on whether music downloaded online should be free music, there are definitely more in that generation deciding that perhaps people should be more freely allowed. When it is so much easier to copy mp3's online and from friends, and also easier to record entire albums in the studio with full digital capabilities, many young music listeners wonder, is a musician's work and the musician him/herself really worth as much as at the dawn of the recording industry?

Many studies have shown that adults that remember a time when recorded music was expensive and more difficult to obtain are much more cognizant and respectful of basic music Copyright Law. They understand why certain laws are in place, and some that are artists themselves have relied on Copyright Law to protect their creative expressions. Copyright Law also allows music and other art forms to perpetuate in the world, and is the reason there is so much variety available.

The music industry has been cracking down on how people get their music recently in response to the increased availability of downloadable music and digital music on the Internet. The music industry was largely unprepared for the sudden introduction of file sharing programs to music lovers, and it has taken several years for them to realize their impact on musicians, songwriters, other music professionals and record companies. Before the Internet, most young people bought CD's, and shared them by simply burning a copy for friends. While this was certainly a violation of Copyright Law, it somehow did not pose as large of a problem as when mp3 players became available and people downloaded free music off the Internet en mass through high-speed connections. The music industry has recently started filing lawsuit after lawsuit to stop this phenomenon and put systems in place to make music lovers pay for downloadable music. As was evidenced in recent lawsuits that were filed against those in small towns in middle America, you do not have to be high profile to suffer consequences for violating the law when it comes to digital music.

The industry has been driving hard to try to get the public to recognize that not paying for music takes money away from artists and musicians that they deserve for their hard work. While music is a source of entertainment and a cultural commodity for most, for those involved in creating it, it is a job that they rely on to make lives for themselves. Like any other professional, musicians can't be expected to do their work for free. While the amount some receive is certainly debatable, what is not debatable is that they should receive something. The latest drive to enforce Copyright Law by the music industry is causing a stir among young people. New anti-piracy software is now being put on CD's to cut down on illegal CD copying. The software prevents listeners from burning the CD more than five times.

Teens especially are noting that this will not stop others from discovering new ways to get music. Many adults agree that someone is bound to come up with a way around the software, as technology always seems to find a way to surmount obstacles that prevent free sharing of music, DVD's and other media.

Many teens note that there is an obvious and simple way around the anti-piracy software; all a person has to do is make a copy of the CD once and then use the copy to make more copies. Those invested in the downloadable music and digital music craze feel the anti-piracy software is really just a way to slow down some of the most avid copiers while the industry thinks of a more permanent solution.

Other teens support these new attempts to prevent people from getting music for free. They feel that music is a valuable part of everyone's lives that touches so many aspects that certainly free music or even cheap music should not even be an option. They fully understand why musicians deserve to be paid for the privilege of owning and listening to their music over and over again.

So what are some alternatives to illegally downloading digital music or free music?

There are many services that provide low-cost and virtually free music for professionals and individuals simply hoping to expand their music collection. For those still entrenched in the CD movement, there are some subscription services in development that will allow people to freely share unlimited CD's through the mail at very low cost and without violating Copyright Law.

As more services for downloadable music and digital music arrive on the scene and make a more competitive market, track downloads and album downloads are becoming cheaper. Even iTunes offers songs as 99 cents apiece, and entire albums at cut rates, so even young people can afford to buy music legally to enjoy.

As an alternative to digital music provided by major music providers, reputable royalty free music companies are bringing original tracks of music plus many high quality royalty free music versions of some favorite classical pieces to listeners at affordable prices and sometimes even free. Royalty free music companies such as Royalty Free Music.com offer huge and very comprehensive downloadable music libraries with collections from every genre from classical and jazz to rock, techno, dance and Hip Hop. And with royalty free music, you pay to satisfy Copyright Law upfront so you don't have to worry later about any additional fees. Many royalty free music companies even offer totally free music that is of excellent quality and different from anything else available.

The point with digital music is that listeners will continue to try to find ways to get free or cheap music; at this stage of technology, finding loopholes and ways that allow for freer sharing of information is just human nature.

Catharsis by Bob Findlay

Recording Rock Music

2013-04-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

As industry insiders, we sometimes forget that when discussing the recording process, the rest of the world really has no idea what we are talking about. Hopefully this will provide an explanation of the song formation process in layman's terms so that there may be less disconnect between the professional and the consumer.

As with any creative process, there is no absolute hard and fast procedure that must be followed stringently, but there is a logical development that all recordings must go through, which includes:

Composition

Arrangement

Recording

Editing

Mixing

Mastering

That being said, this is an explanation of that general process and what takes place during each of these steps.

Composition

Composition is really where a song or piece is born. Preceding this step may be brainstorming and idea formation, but the song actually begins to take a real form and become an entity in itself during this stage.

This is what separates ideas and melodies floating around in the air from actual well-formed songs. There isn't a whole lot to be said concerning Composition, other than it consists of forming a melody (and often basic accompaniment) that flows chronologically from a start to a finish. Lyrics (if applicable) will also likely be written at this time.

Arrangement

Arranging is taking the Composition that has been created and determining what instruments will be used for the recording, writing the parts that those instruments will play, and the tempo (speed, beats per minute) that the song will be played in.

To best illustrate this point, think of the song "What a Wonderful World." The most famous version of this song is arguably the one sung by the great Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. Compare this to the Ramones version of the same song. Both are based on the same Composition, but with entirely different results based on the fact that they are Arranged differently using very contrasting instrumentation and are at vastly different tempos. (You can use any number of examples to illustrate this principle; "Yesterday", "Happy Birthday", etc.). Arrangement, as with Composition, may range anywhere from informally assigning parts to instruments to drafting the parts using musical notation, all dependent on the preferences of the arranger and the formality of the project.

Recording

Now we start to get a little more technical.

The term Recording is often used to refer to this and the following three steps as a whole, but for simplicity's sake, the term Recording is used here to mean "putting performances to tape" (or as is the case now, a digital format). This is also referred to as Tracking, Cutting Tracks, etc.

Recording Studios have long been somewhat of a mystery to industry outsiders, but basically what takes place during Recording is microphones and various (expensive) sound altering equipment are used to capture a sound being produced in an acoustically tuned room or environment and storing that sound information onto some sort of media (be it magnetic tape, a computer hard drive, or, in the old days, acetate discs).

Generally, a process called Multi-Tracking is used for commercial recordings in which each microphone (and hence, each sound, be it vocals, guitar, or cello) is printed discretely to the storage media to be manipulated at a later time.

To simplify it a bit, the 'normal' stereo recording that a consumer would hear is comprised of two tracks or channels, the Right and the Left. During the Recording or Multi-Tracking stage, there are virtually innumerable quantities of tracks or channels that can each be controlled separately from the other tracks. For instance if you have recorded a vocal part on one track and a guitar part on another, because they were recorded discretely in a Multi-Track setting, the volume of the vocals can be increased or decreased without affecting the sound or volume of the guitar track whatsoever.

In a typical session, what you would be left with after completing the Recording stage is any number of discrete tracks each containing an instrument. An example of a track listing for a rock song might be:

Track 1: Kick Drum

Track 2: Snare Drum

Track 3: High Tom

Track 4: Low Tom

Track 5: Overhead Left

Track 6: Overhead Right

Track 7: Bass Guitar

Track 8: Electric Guitar

Track 9: Acoustic Guitar

Track 10: Keyboard Left

Track 11: Keyboard Right

Track 12: Lead Vocals

Track 13: Background Vocals

Meaning that each of these tracks had a microphone assigned to it for the specific purpose of recording the desired source. (Notice that tracks 1-6 are for various parts of a typical drum set).

Also (not to complicate things further, but...) these instruments need not be recorded at the same time. The bass guitar player could record his/her part on Thursday, and the vocalist might lay down tracks a week later. Basically, because they are on separate tracks, the musicians do not have to be playing at the same time or even in the same place to create a finished product that sounds like they were looking right at each other. This also enables a multi-instrumentalist to record all the instruments themselves and create their own 'virtual' band where they are the only member.

Editing

Had this exercise been written 15 years ago, I would not have included Editing as its own section as it generally takes place during Recording and Mixing on an 'as needed' basis. But with the evolution and general industry acceptance of digital and non-linear recording formats, Editing has become a much more important and functional stage in the creation of a musical work.

Simply put, Editing consists of changing the original recording by way of altering the timing, pitch, or speed of an individual track, or tracks to change the performance. One such common practice is referred to as "comping." Comping is the idea of recording multiple takes of one instrument with the intent of compiling all of the takes into one cohesive take for the purpose of eliminating errors or creating a 'perfect' take.

For instance, a vocalist may sing the same part over and over again making mistakes in different parts on each take. Rather than continuing to search for a complete perfect take, or settling for the best take and having to live with the mistakes, the recording engineer (the guy turning all the knobs ?) will choose the best take and then after identifying each mistake within that take, pull the line, phrase, word, or even syllable from another take where the mistake did not occur and paste that into the correct spot on the best take essentially eliminating the mistake and making it sound like it was performed and recorded without it.

Digitally, this process is simple and can be completed with just a couple of mouse clicks. Using analog tape, it becomes much more cumbersome and requires a series of meticulous tasks to record to a third track while muting and un-muting the source tracks, or pulling out the old razor blade and slicing away.

This is just one example of the use and purpose of Editing. To go into the virtually infinite uses would be long and redundant as the editing limits in the digital domain are nearly limitless.

Mixing

The Mixing stage is necessitated by the differences in the format that is used in the Recording stage and the format that the end consumer is able to use. If you recall, when we finished the Recording stage, we were left with (for example) 13 different tracks, each with it's own instrument. Each of these tracks by now has been edited to contain the best possible performance during the Editing stage, but they are still individual tracks and not one cohesive song that a consumer can pop in the CD player. For argument's sake, we will only discuss Mixing down to stereo and not touch upon surround sound, 5.1, 7.1, 9.1, or any other format as stereo is currently the most generally accepted format (for now...). Mixing is the process of taking all of these individual tracks (in our example, 13) and by way of using sound altering effects, changing volumes, and manipulating perceived position Left and Right (panning), creating a stereo (two track) recording. Think of it in terms of a funnel. The individual tracks are the wide end, and they must be brought together to form two tracks (the narrow end).

Again, we will not go into the intricacies of Mixing in practice, but in order for all of the tracks to sound good together (play nice kids...), they must be twisted, manipulated, affected, squashed, and combed so that they sound just right and like they are all playing together in one space just for the listener instead of all separately and in padded booths like they actually were.

Once this is accomplished, we are left with a stereo (two track) recording with all the instruments sounding great together and the song is nearly finished.

Mastering

This is the final and most often overlooked step in the song creation process. In fact, if you were to ask a group of musicians what mastering is, chances are a good portion would not be able to tell you what it is and why it is so important.

Essentially, Mastering is preparing the final stereo recording for commercial consumption by pumping it up to a usable volume and making sure that the song will sound good on any sound system it plays on, from a home theater system that costs thousands of dollars, to your little tiny, terrible laptop speakers.

Mastering is most important if you have multiple songs and are creating an album or if you are preparing your recording for commercial release. This is because when the Mixing stage is complete, the stereo recordings you are left with were mixed to sound good on the speakers that they were mixed on regardless of how that sound translates to other spaces and speakers. Also, in the case of making an album, you don't want Song #1 to be a whole lot louder than Song #2 or even Song #15. Have you ever listened to a CD where you were constantly adjusting the volume just to maintain a consistent pleasant playback level? This is a CD that has not been mastered (or was mastered poorly). The same applies for making the songs sound like they belong together in that you don't want one song to sound 'tinny' (a.k.a. too much high end equalization) and another 'boomy' (a.k.a. too much low end).

So that explains why Mastering is important for album, but what about commercial releases? Imagine if your un-mastered song were on the radio between two wonderfully mastered songs. You would get swallowed up. Your song may be too quiet, or have too much low end and basically just sound unprofessional by comparison.

As mentioned before, Mastering will also make sure the final product sounds good no matter where it is played or what system it is played on. When making a presentation of your final product to a client, record label, or even friend, you don't want to say, "Sorry, I can only play this through Yamaha NS-10 speakers." And you certainly don't want to be taken by surprise and find out that it sounds bad everywhere but in the studio.

So there you have it. The real deal on how a song is created from Composition to Mastering and now the final product. No more mystery and technical jargon. So now that the cat is out of the bag, everyone can do it all on his/her own right? Wrong. Just knowing an automobile works on an internal combustion engine doesn't mean you can start building your own cars. Audio professionals have spent years learning what to listen for and how to make things sound 'right.' Not information that can be gained in a four-page discourse. Contact your local audio professional to get your project started, but at least now, you'll know what you're in for.

Advice For Independent Bands

2013-04-02T21:36:00.001-07:00

If only it were so simple in the life of an unsigned band. If you're reading this it's probably because your band is awesome, talented, unique, and... not ready to sign with a label.

"What?? No way!" You say, "we're all super talented and our songs are really well crafted. Of course we're ready."

No, you're not. That's not because your songs aren't good, or you're look isn't right, or any of that other stuff artists tend to over think. It's simply because most musicians tend to forget what half of the "Music Business" is. Business. (And to be honest the balance between "music" and "business" is really more like 20-80, favoring business.)

As much as we wish it were so, talent and skill simply are not good enough to warrant label interest. How many super-talented musicians do you know who are still unsigned? If talent were all it took, wouldn't they already be packing arenas?

The fact is record labels as businesses are looking for something they can cash in on quickly and with as little investment as possible... record labels sign success.

So what does that mean? As an unsigned band, it's up to you to establish a fan base, book shows, record, publish and distribute material, and yes, even make a profit.

Now I know this all sounds backwards. Isn't that what the label is for? In short; not really. At least not in today's music industry. Changes in consumption habits and technology have left record labels less willing to gamble on startup, and even up and coming acts, which means it's now up to unsigned bands to prove their success, and ultimate worth.

But better you're aware of the realities of the music industry earlier, than to haphazardly throw yourself into the mix with no real idea of what you need to accomplish to succeed. As stuffy as it is to talk and think business, it's even more frustrating to see all your efforts end in nothing.

So what can you, the unsigned band, do to become a success? Here are some tips to get you started:

* Record Some Music: This seems like a no-brainer, but record something. Anything. Set up a couple mics during practice, or ask a friend with equipment if they'll help you cut a demo. Or even find a studio with affordable rates. There are a variety of ways to get it done. Online classifieds, message boards and schools with audio engineering programs are good places to look.

* Give those recordings away (almost) free: At this stage the whole purpose of recording is to give fans something to remember you by. But that doesn't mean you can't get anything out of the transaction. A simple one-page website, or 'landing page', where people can download your stuff in exchange for sharing their email address is a great way to build a fan base. But keep it simple. Include a brief summary of your band, and explain how the process works. The page should have no more than 2 options for visitors: share your email and claim your download, or leave.

* Promote the download: Print business cards and hand them out at shows, you can get hundreds for extremely cheap. Promote it on your band's other online sites as well (Facebook, Reverbnation, Twitter, etc.)

*
Upload your music for free at ReverbNation.com

Build, and use, an email list: I know, 'who still uses email?' But there's a reason you're doing all this. Firstly it establishes a direct connection with fans who you know are willing to act when it comes to hearing, and staying in the know on what the band is doing. And it's a much more direct method of promoting shows and other happenings than hoping your post will stand out amongst hundreds of updates on Facebook. Second, it proves to labels that your band has an active fan base, willing and excited to be involved with you, and ultimately more likely to financially support your efforts through show attendance and album sales.

* Find some signage: On average, new acts only seem to tell an audience the name of the band 2 to 3 times per set, if that. That's not enough to stick with most people, especially in a loud bar or venue. So put your name in writing. The kick drum graphic is a classic, and works great as long as no one is standing in the way. Whatever signage you chose, just make sure it's easy to read for everyone in an audience of 200 or so.

* Concerning merchandise: It's awesome! Everyone loves seeing their band's name on tee shirts, stickers, bracelets, buttons, beer cozies and the like. But don't expect to get your money back on them. As an unsigned band these are simply more tools to keep you on the top of people's minds. And you'll likely be giving most of it away for free anyway. I'm not saying avoid merchandise, because it's definitely good to have. And eventually it will be necessary. But do know that there are more efficient ways to build, and showcase, your success.

Obviously this list is far from comprehensive, and there are thousands of other ways to promote your music. But keep in mind that whatever you do, record labels are looking for trackable information that proves you're successful. As an unsigned band, starting with simple, low-cost methods is a great way to establish a foundation and take your first steps.

If you wish to gain more insight into the ongoing changes in the world of independent music, feel free to contact me using the email form below my Bandcamp player.

Mean Business by Bob Findlay foxyform

The Future Of Independent Music

2013-03-29T01:25:00.001-07:00

-->

While the financial markets get a massive bailout from the U.S. government, it's no secret that the music industry needs a bailout of its own. This was the catalyst for many financial crashes globally. With CD sales becoming practically obsolete over the next few years to record store closings, it's becoming tougher to survive the music industry. While major labels downsize and reduce their marketing budgets, imagine the effects to the independent artists.

In a new year with change on our minds, it's also time to start shifting towards the changes in the music industry. It's wiser to follow the trend or get left behind. Which will you do?

Here are 10 trends to follow in the music industry:

1) It's all about being social!
Whether you like it or not, your survival in the music industry depends on how social you are. And I'm not talking about Myspace. Myspace is no longer the ring leader and is being crushed by Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. And in case you haven't learned by now, being social and building your buzz and fanbase is not about asking people to check out your music. It's all about creating conversations and the rest will follow.

2) They don't want to write about you.
The music industry needs a bailout and so does the media industry. Major media companies are bankrupt and closing shop. Advertisers no longer have sizeable budgets to spend with media. So what does that mean for the music industry? They won't just write about you anymore. With little to no funding left, pay-for-placement is the next choice. Yes, payola does not only exist in radio; it's common in media as well. On perusing several papers, I was taken aback....which is a rarity for me....but them's the punches, folks, that us independent musicians have to gauge our progress. Had the stats been totally reversed, I would hope to think that independent musicians would roll with those punches too.

--> 3) Ad-funded music.
Ever heard of RCRD LBL? They're part-blog and part record label and that's the wave of future music promotions. Artists and labels are funding their projects through sponsorships and co-branding deals.

4) Blogging- you need it like you need oxygen.
Citizen journalism has entered the building and traditional media has left. A recent study found that BLOGS had more of an impact on increasing music sales than any other medium. Consider this, instead of trying to get in the less than a dozen major music media sources that are still around, focus your public relations efforts on blogs and ezines.

5) USB Music Sticks
Those little things that replaced floppy disks are now being used for music. USB Music Sticks allows you to sell an album on a USB stick included with digital songs and other content - videos, photos and so on. This is an ever-increasing yet simple way of sharing one's music.

6) How about Music 2.0?
Web 2.0 this and Web 2.0 that. It's just the hottest technological shift. How about Music 2.0? What exactly is it? In simple terms, it simply means ensuring that all of your online promotions are search engine optimized (SEO) and that you leverage new media technologies to promote your music.

7) The new type of record label.
The old record label model is obsolete and will soon be replaced by the new label model, which will serve more as a helper to the artist than an owner of the artist. This new label will assist with marketing, bookings, networking and the other promotional aspects of the music business. But instead of owning all the rights to the artist, musicians will PAY their labels for their help, and the musicians will retain their rights. Seems to me that the new label will seem more like a marketing & PR agency than anything else.

8) Free. Gratis. Nada
These days you have to give some of your music away for free or at least so that you can drive sales of other products, such as concert tickets and merchandise. Check out RCRD LBL, Jamendo, and Spiral Frog.

9) Name your price.
It worked for Radiohead when they let their fans name the price of their CD or download and it could work for you.

10) Get your own.
It's all about creating online conversations, networking, and being social. So how about creating your own social network. You can create your own Ning platform, your own Twitter microblogging tool that you can use to connect with journalists, DJs, etc., and even your own interactive widgets for your websites and social profile pages such as the app shown below. Simply Click Here to download it for free and find out how versatile apps are these days.

Alternatively, I recommend contacting "Apps To Order" to create your very own personalised app.

Mobile Apps And Fans And Bands

2013-01-27T19:34:00.000-08:00

If you are a musician or a recording artist or entertainer who has your own music or recordings in the apple iTunes store or available on-line then you should be thinking about having your own app or "application" as a useful tool to help promote your music. So what is an app you ask? It is simply a software programme that is designed to specifically operate on a particular device (e.g. smartphone, iPhone, template computer, iPod, iPad, etc). Each app is usually represented by an icon on the devices menu screen.

So how can an app help you find potential customers? Well currently there are 5.3 billion mobile subscribers in the world, in 2009 half a billion mobile subscribers accessed the internet worldwide. Android is expected to become the top operating system for new smartphones in 2011 and top the Apple iPhone. These stats can be seen at the "mobiThinking" website.

In February 2010 the 10 billionth song was downloaded from the iTunes store. That's scary....almost....so there is plenty of demand for those artists that make it into the iTunes store. An app can provide a vehicle to assist a musician gain exposure. While I am relatively new to the app building industry I can identify the big advantages for the musician in having their own app and the shortage of affordable app producers that can meet the rapidly expanding demand for good, basic affordable and even free apps.

Advantages for a musician in having their own app: -

1. Presence in the market place where your customers go to find music, yet not many musicians so far have an app, (there are reports of 306K iPhone apps and between 150 - 250,000 Android apps),

2. Add credibility to your existing PR portfolio (blog, fan page, social network pages) as your fans want to be able to access your music, videos, etc, anywhere on their mobile phone that goes everywhere with them,

3. Increase sales of your music, promo products, etc, once you connect with more potential fans,

4. Build your fan base, have old fans reconnect with you as well as have new fans find you,

5. Update your fans of your new releases, new products, albums, singles, etc,

6. Have a free app so anyone can afford to have it to use and it can potentially have a viral spread amongst the music community.

7. Be one of the first musicians to have an app in the app market and take advantage of the leverage it can give you.

So as you can see from the above list of advantages there are some valid reasons why musicians and recording artists should have their own app promoting their music. The cost of having an app doesn't have to be prohibitive and nowadays can be affordable to musicians and recording artists on a modest budget or even no budget at all.

I have now released nine android apps and am branching into building basic, affordable and functional apps for musicians, recording artists or entertainers....in between recording sessions, may I add.

Contact me if you need clarification or assistance via my free band app on Android.

Independent Music Online

2012-11-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

Using the internet to find music you like to listen to and build your music collection in any style of music is an easy and affordable way to add to your music library as you can easily burn your own CD's or download mp3's to your iPod or other music player. It is also a great way to find out about current and new artists, new album and single releases, get free lyrics and find free music downloads. The popular free iTunes software and music library allows you to create your own music library, find TV shows, podcasts and get free music downloads and for only $0.99 a song download you cannot really go wrong. Plus there are a lot of websites online where you can find free music videos and mp3 downloads like YouTube, MySpace, Rawkus, CDBaby, Soundclick and so many others.

What does this mean for the future of music? With the everyday consumer buying on average 2 new music albums a month this could have an effect on the music industry but most shops like Virgin, HMV and other well known music retail shops also have online websites which offer even more discounts and sometimes a music community so the music lovers using the internet can only boost music sales.

The internet is also a good place for independent artists without a major record label to upload and promote their music. There are a lot of independent music websites where you can create your own profile, update fans with your news and even sell your own music. The royalty companies like ASCAP, PRS, Harry Fox and BMI also have internet music licenses you can get so that you receive royalties and commissions for all music plays on internet radio stations, and for any music downloads and mp3 or CD sales.

You can even make your own music by buying and downloading music production and creation software you find online to your PC or laptop and if you have a good sound card and microphone you can make and record your own music and beats very easily. In fact, you can find hundreds of free loops and backing tracks you can download and even license for commercial use making it easy for the music producer and songwriter to make their own music.

And if you want to learn about music, study an instrument or get advice on the music industry you can do a search on the internet and find so much free and useful information in articles and on music websites and blogs.

Does this take away the traditional way of making and playing music for the musician? Some think so but you can look at it like this; the internet has opened up the whole globe to us and you can make good music contacts from all over the world and build your own worldwide fan base just by promoting your music online. Music you may never have even heard of has become easily available and the whole music scene and industry has benefited and grown because of internet and satellite communications.

You can see then that using the internet connects music lovers around the world and Cyber Technology has made it easier for the songwriter and musician to create and record their own music. Plus it opens doors for the independent music artist and also increases exposure for major record label artists so that they can build their fan base and sell more of their music.

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Catharsis by Bob Findlay

Your Music Website

2012-10-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Let's have a look of your situation then... maybe you are a great singer or you have a small band or even your own label. You have big ideas but only a tiny budget. Your father doesn't own a record company and your mother isn't a Hollywood actress so your network is confined to the local press writers and groupies.

Maybe you already have your own CD's and have made a few sales but you can't seem to find the time for promotion. The gigs you play bring in a little money but things don't seem to be getting anywhere. So how to progress?

One very realistic option is to exploit the potential of the internet. Of course, the internet has often been cited as the answer to everything, but in this case, it really can provide impressive results. And this is the key: it's a cheap and it's quick.

The music industry is changing, has changed. We are in serious transition now. The discontent amongst music buyers has created a gap which the internet can adequately fill.

The internet music market is real. A survey by Georgia Tech found 41% of all internet users have purchased music from the web. Forrester predicted a market volume of $76 million USD for digital music downloads in 2003, rising to $541 million USD in 2005 and continuing to reach $2 billion USD in 2007.

The statistics suggest there is a genuine market for legal, modestly priced music.

The internet is a perfect platform for marketing your music. Promotions, press releases and
positioning are cheaper here than in the real world. Your audience is already here. The web
(along with sites like pitchforkmedia) has become the first point of reference for music news and as we all know, it is a popular resource for downloading music.

The internet's function as a communication medium gives you a direct line to your listeners, peers and even your critics. Email is the perfect mechanism for keeping in touch with fanclubs and sending newsletters and it's cheap.

That doesn't mean if you start a music website today and get busy selling music downloads online that you'll be able to give up the day job immediately! However, the internet can provide a lot of things you need to promote yourself as a musical artist.

This is what a music website could do for you:

1. Provide news to your fans when your latest CD is ready, read it here!

2. List gigs or concert dates (and any changes)

3. Sell your songs as music downloads to fans all over the world

4. Provide press information

5. Publish interviews, photos and biographies

6. Provide a communication center for dialogue with fans and other bands

7. Act as a "calling card" for getting new bookings or attracting the attention of major labels, getting contracts for incidental music etc.

A website can represent your music in multimedia much better than print or radio, and it is much cheaper than TV. And you can sell your songs as music downloads anywhere in the world! Consider the comparatively low start up costs (for example, the 1-2-3 Music Store script lets you set up a complete "shop" and costs only $168 for a label license and only $68 for an individual or band).

Music downloads are emerging as a serious alternative to the CD. In an age where most modern
kids burn their own CDs, it makes sense to adjust your strategy accordingly. Selling songs as moderately priced downloads means you have no production costs. It means you don't need a record deal and you are free to do what you want with your music. Package a CD cover along with the songs and your fans can burn the CDs themselves.

Buying music downloads is potentially a more satisfying buying experience than traditional music shops. It provides instant satisfaction for consumers when they discover, download and play your songs immediately.

The internet is an amazingly flexible format. Theoretically, you could record a live show, encode and upload it later that evening so that the entire show would be available for sale the next day. Fans would love to have this as a reminder of a great concert. Better than a T-shirt!

Seriously consider setting up your own music website and selling your music online. A music website is often the first port of call for people - fans, label managers and A&R to check you out. It makes good sense for you, as an unsigned artist to have one.

Dear Artist: Behind The Music Video

2012-10-10T03:23:00.001-07:00

The video clip to "Dear Artist" is the first time that I have discussed any of my songs at any great length publicly. There are a few factors that I feel I should address to put you in the picture before viewing the "Dear Artist" video clip with the idea of increasing your insight and enjoyment of the track.

I'm a recovering alcoholic. I have been sober for several years now. I suspect that I was an alcoholic since I took my first drink. I reacted to alcohol differently to other people. I could drink much more and yet cause no harm to others....any direct harm that is. The severity of my abuse led to numerous alcoholic seizures. Once a person experiences a seizure, they remain prone to seizures for the rest of their lives; alcohol induced or not.

I had been sober for two years and gave the aforementioned alcoholic seizures no thought as I had been put on medication to help prevent them. At around 7pm. one evening I began to feel 'odd.' As my former seizures were alcohol induced, I had no recollection of any aura that often surrounds gran mal seizures. I took myself to bed. Approximately an hour later (according to my parents) I had a seizure. They were alerted by me slamming against my bedroom wall. The seizure lasted approximately 15 minutes.

After each seizure I can recall feeling 'odd.' On this occasion I can recall spending the night listening to the rain and trying to escape the odd sensation that I was experiencing. I tried to visualise a calming scene. It took me some time to reach a scene that my mind was happy with.

The scene ended up as a French cobble-stoned street. It was in black and white. I took this image one step further and pictured how this scene came about. In my minds eye I came up with an artist painting this scene from a second storey window, so I was actually picturing a scene upon a scene. It sat very well with me. It sat so well with me that I was able to get to sleep. The following morning, I had the lyrics that you hear on the video below written in the space of about 15 minutes.

The 'scene' of the video was, to my mind, a stroke of genius by Haych Storm. I think the various 'displaced' paintings in the background of the video really capture the confusion of "Dear Artist." The 'jaunty' beat & uplifting lyrics of the chorus, from comments received, act as a perfect counterpoint to the more serious & cynical nature of the verses.

The video clip is obviously mimed. Haych suggested wearing headphones purely as a prop. My initial response was "What?" She thought that I wasn't keen on the idea. The fact is, I was so blown away by the idea that I was half-shocked.

It worked a treat. "Dear Artist" became the first track on my "Mean Business" album.

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Touring Tips For Your Band

2012-09-23T04:23:00.000-07:00

"Hello, er, um..." (pause and look down at set list) "Flint, Michigan! Are you ready to rock?!"

Well, it sounds like you've done it. You've taken that giant leap of faith, piled in a van with your band mates and hit the road. You're all so excited and everything is going perfectly...except for your drummer's BO...and your singer's insistence on singing the falsetto portion of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in your cramped, non-resonant living quarters ad nauseam...and your keyboardist's musings on the musical legitimacy of 80's synch-pop...and your guitarist, drooling on your shoulder. Though becoming touring road warriors is not a perfect science, there are things that everyone can do in order to live together in a less stressful environment. The following are tips on how to co-exist with your band of brothers and how to bring about a little Kum Ba Yah on the road.

1) If your band can't agree on what to listen to, then prepare to bring your iPod. And if you can all agree, still bring your iPod.

It sounds like such a small issue really. But let's consider this in the context of other work environments. How happy are corporate workers whose cubicle neighbors hum songs that they find annoying, or whistle, or talk too loudly on the phone? Essentially, a van is a smaller, more confining cubicle environment, where 4-6 people intimately co-habitate, on wheels. Does that make questionable musical tastes any less so? Definitely not. So if you cannot stand to listen to your bassist's Michael Bolton indulgence, prepare for this ahead of time and bring your own supply of tunes. Besides, people's tolerance for song repetition varies greatly so you can't go wrong bringing your own favorites.

2) Don't play any instrument consisting solely of air and flailing appendages.

Unless you are also hoping to gain a substantial following as a wicked karaoke band, air guitar on the road is a huge no-no. For one, it's annoying after about 30 seconds. For another, there is not nearly enough space in the van which means that you will ultimately end up maiming one of your fellow passengers and you don't have money to fix them up if you accidentally deck them during the solo in "November Rain", do you? This tip also applies to drummers whose "portable drum kits" consist of anything that doesn't move and some things that do.

3) Don't assume anyone else with bring anything useful.

Rechargeable batteries for the iPod? Check. Extra guy liner for that bad club lighting? Yup. A spare tire when the van gets a flat? Um, no, that was removed because it took up too much space and no one could fit the inflatable stage blow-up doll inside the van, so one of them had to go. Essentially, if you need it, assume that no one else will ever consider bringing it along. So before going on the road, make a list of all the things you personally will need, then a list of all the extras you'll need for your gear. Now add "first-aid kit", "extra cell phone battery", "phone card", "duct tape", "emergency credit card", "aspirin" and "frequent shoppers' cards" to your list. Now add everything that you know everybody else will need but will neglect to bring, starting with the items they always bug you for at your gigs because they forgot theirs (gum, picks, set lists).

4) Don't drink.

Alcohol is rarely known to bring out the best in people. Inebriation coupled with an infinitesimally tiny living space can ignite anyone's temper. And though it's hard to throw punches in a van, other damage can occur and name calling, drunken grudges and personal insults tend to not bode well for a band's long-term stability.

5) Eat well.

They say you body is your temple and when your temple starts to look like a dilapidated relic, fast food on the road is often to blame. A good rule of thumb is this - if a restaurant's main menu options consist primarily of fried foods, stay far, far away. Not only is this type of grub fattening, but it leaves you feeling sluggish and because of the lack of actual nutrients, you'll be hungry again a few hours later. Subway, Quiznos and other options with healthier fare are a better value for your money and will keep you fitting in those skinny jeans.

6) Be on time

6:30, 6:45, 7:05. At 7:22, Band Member X decides to finally show up for your 7:30 gig, armed with excuses ("Traffic was so bad, I've had a really bad day, I just lost track of time,") and none of the equipment he needs ("Oh, dude, does anyone have an extra cable? And a pick? Oh, man, and I forgot to replace my E string!"). Not only is this disrespectful to the other band members, but club owners and promoters don't relish this type of behavior. It's unprofessional, so don't expect to be on their short list of groups to have back at their club.

And bands, if this point refers to someone in the group who is not you, tell them to arrive 30-45 minutes earlier than when they're actually needed. For example, if load-in is at 5:30, tell them 5:00. This works both for arriving at a venue, and picking up people whose sense of time is entirely their own. And if you are responsible for picking up a procrastinator and this first trick doesn't work - leave without them. You will be amazed at how quickly they move when they realize you've left and they're not with you. Repeating this a second time is usually not necessary.

7) Throw away your trash.

There should be absolutely no explanation necessary for this one. If it's a box, bag, or carton with nothing in it, get rid of it. Don't stow it under the seat, toss it in the back or put it in someone else's bag - just throw it away. Why in the world are you keeping it anyway? What good is it possibly going to do you? And do you really like your van smelling of stale, week-old pizza and McDonald's?

And finally:

8) Respect your band mates' personal space, however small it may be. Nothing is more irritating than finding sweaty clothing, reeking shoes, and nasty garbage all around where you rest your head at night, particularly when it's not yours.

Hopefully, these useful tips can ward off fights over common issues. After all, if you're doing it right, being on the road is not only fun, it's also work. Bands need to be at their best to continually give consistent, meaningful first-impressions to crowds, promoters and venue owners. So, bands, good luck and remember, if all else fails, take a deep breath, count to ten and just say "Kum Ba Yah."

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Fast Internet Music Promotion

2012-08-18T04:44:00.001-07:00

When it comes to Internet music promotion, most people become very lost! I don't blame them either because I used to be in the same exact boat. It is often a struggle because many people don't know where to begin or how to begin. It's tough trying to start something when you have no clue where the starting line is. Here are some online music promotion techniques I learned that will help you get started and fast!

1. Create a Blog and Hide it!

Yes, you're reading correctly. The purpose of hiding it is to brand yourself. When I say hide, I mean instead of your blog reading "mymusic.blogspot.com," it will read, "mymusic.com." People will remember "mymusic.com" faster than any "MySpace.com/mymusic" or "YouTube.com/mymusic." First, go to Blogger.com, create a free blog, and add your videos, music, ring tones, albums, T-shirts, and anything else you want to promote. From there, go to GoDaddy.com and purchase a domain name. After purchasing the domain name, there will be a link on your home page titled "domain forwarding." Here, it will give you directions on how to mask your "mymusic.blogspot.com" site and make it look like "mymusic.com." you have just hid your blog and made it look like a professional website.

2. Getting Traffic to It

Online music marketing is simple in terms of branding your site on something you're already selling. On every T-shirt you sell put your website somewhere on it. For every gig you perform, tell people to go to the website. Put it on your CDs, YouTube page, videos, etc. You want your website name to get out as fast as possible but, there is more. There are thousands of article and press release sites on the Internet that allow you to write articles and press releases directing them to your website URL in the article. Some of them are EzineArticles.com, ArticleAlley.com, GoArticles.com, ArticleBase.com, and so on. I can go on forever but these four are extremely powerful for generating website traffic however, if you are going to do it, read 5 or 10 well written articles from each website so you will learn Internet music promotion correctly.

3. Extra Tip Throw Some Ads on It!

Blogger.com has a section in the control panel where you can put Google AdSense on your blog and earn revenue every time someone clicks on an ad. Many people can actually make a good living off of the revenue they get solely from AdSense clicks, so this isn't anything to take lightly.

Most people settle for a job and a boss after getting nowhere close to their music dreams, even knowing this information. Slow income, to no radio play, this doesn't have to be you and; should have never been them.

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Musicians And Pain

2012-08-09T03:40:00.000-07:00

When someone describes dangerous jobs, the first thoughts that come to mind are construction workers, mechanics, or maybe a welder. No one ever really thinks about how painful the music industry can be. When we go to a concert, we enjoy the music, the lights, and the performance of the band. We don't often realize what musicians go through to put on such a great show. Musicians put their heart and soul into their performance on the stage, and no matter their position, that means injuries are bound to happen. The longer a musician continues to perform, the worse those injuries might get.

Being on the stage might look like an easy job, but musicians have to be in great physical condition to put on an energetic show. Long hours of practice and unpredictable hours can lead to fatigue and exhaustion. Cuts and bruises from moving heavy equipment can cause minor aches and pains, but dehydration is a bigger hazard. Musicians burn a lot of energy and sweat out a lot of their fluids. Dehydration can lead to cramps and illness. Many musicians take supplements like Potassium to prevent the effects of hydration like cramps. More serious injuries can occur over a long period of time. When first learning to play, guitarists have to toughen the skin on their fingertips. Until they develop callouses, they often get blisters and bruises. Because of the constant movement and strain on their hands, they also often suffer from arthritis after years of playing. Drummers will experience sore muscles and wrist strain when first learning to play. After years in a band, drummers may develop carpal tunnel syndrome from the constant repetitive motion of drumming. Vocalists have to take better care of themselves throughout their careers. When a vocalist gets sick with a cold or the flu, the show can't go on. Vocalists may experience long term voice strain and increased throat related illnesses due to the long periods of voice strain they subject themselves to.

Not all career related injuries for musicians can be avoided, but musicians should take some precautions to stay in the best health possible. Getting plenty of rest before a show will help avoid fatigue and exhaustion. Try to load vans and do any other heavy preparations the day before the show so the day of the show can be dedicated to rest. Drink a lot of water the day before and the day of each show. Musicians will lose a lot of fluids during the performance, so pre-hydrating will help avoid cramps and keep bodies functioning optimally. Just like any athlete, musicians need to stretch before a performance. If musicians make stretching a habit before performances and practice, their muscles will be better prepared, and they may help avoid some of the ailments listed above.

Musicians sacrifice a lot more than just their time and energy to provide our entertainment. Many musicians experience pain of some sort every time they perform. Taking proper precautions will help alleviate some of the pain, but some amount of pain just can't be avoided. Next time you go to a concert, or listen to the radio, take a minute to consider what that musician is putting their body through to give you a good show.

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Digital Music Distribution Tips

2012-07-29T05:07:00.058-07:00

The main goal of an independent musician is getting the music out there. There is nothing more lethal to an artist of any sort than obscurity. It does not matter if you are the best thing to happen to music since Wolfgang Amadeus, Beethoven or Jimi Hendrix if there is nobody out there listening to you. Fortunately, the Internet has made it a lot easier for independent musicians. It is entirely possible for an indie musician to not only get their music heard, but to actually make a living from it, something that artists like Jonathan Coulton have proved. But in order to do so, you have to get your music distributed.

This is where you hit the downside of the Internet. Because it has made everything so much easier, you now have to work even harder to get your voice heard above the crowd, since everybody and their brother thinks they have got the new sound that will rock the world. You can rise above the crowd. All it takes is some canny marketing and making the best use of your time and energy. Every musician has an audience, you just have to go out there and find it

First and foremost, you need to remember that all the people out there downloading music are not your enemy. They are, in fact, your potential audience and, if you use the download sites correctly, your best friend. This is one of the most efficient ways of getting your music distributed.

So the very first thing you should do is to make sure that your music gets on the download sites and social media networks such as Facebook and MySpace. You then need to make sure your music is available on paid download sites, of which iTunes is the big one. This way, if people like your music and want to get more of it, it will be easy for them to do so.

The next step should be to try and get your music available on Internet radio services like Spotify. Again, this will not make you much, if any, money but it will get your music out there. Likewise, put up some performance videos on YouTube and then link to your other online sites so viewers can buy your music.

All of this should be done in conjunction with aggressive offline tactics including distribution of CDs and download cards at your gigs and through your website. The best way to take advantage of CD sales is to make sure that you are offering them something that they cannot easily get in digital form. Consider adding bonus live versions of songs or maybe some nifty stickers with the CD.

Personally, I always carry fours stock-standard articles that I carry with me as a matter of course. The first is an XLR Male Jack 3 Pin Plug for Microphone Cable. Even though vocalists have the least to maintain as far as equipment, they are predominantly 'ordinary when it comes to actually doing it. These XLR connectors are suitable for audio connections and for connecting microphones and other recording equipment. Features: Brand new and high quality Nickel housing and nickel contacts signed Die-cast assembly with rubber insulation Offering improved protection and shielding suitable for audio connections and connecting microphones and other recording equipment Package Include: 1 x 3 Pin microphone cable plug.

The other 'minor' thing that I carry is a 3.5mm Stereo Jack Plug to 2 RCA Phono Socket. This connects the speaker output of your PC to an amp/HiFi system. Also can be used to connect the headphone socket of MP3 players. Features: Brand new and high quality Gold plated to cut down on interference and enhance the sound Left and right stereo phono sockets Connectors: 2 x RCA plugs to a 3.5mm stereo jack plug Suitable for audio connections and connecting microphones and other recording equipment Package Include: 1 x 3.5mm stereo jack plug. Both of these products are inexpensive but can (and will) save you from more than one embarrassing evening.

Your Bands Electronic Press Kit

2012-07-22T02:02:00.000-07:00

Freaky Creatures Press Kit (Photo credit: Brandy Shaul)

The main goal in creating a press kit is to generate interest in an artist and the music they play. A press kit includes background information, photos, samples of music, a listing of past and future gigs you have scheduled, and any other pertinent information.

A press kit is used as a way of introducing and artist to newspapers, the media, promoters, and music industry leaders. You can create a press kit that is mailed to the appropriate recipients and it is a good idea to have an electronic form of your press kit that can be emailed and posted on web sites.

Things to include in your press kit:

Offer a limited a mount of information about yourself, your band, and your style of music. Don't give the reader more information than they want. If your introduction is too lengthy, you will lose the interest of your intended audience.

Talk about your music, the way in which you perform your songs, your sound, and who your influences are. You will want to give a good idea of what you may sound like in these descriptions. Do not be afraid to interject a little humor into your descriptions. You will get someone's attention during the very first minute they open your press kit. If you do not captivate them immediately, they will lose interest.

Describe the things that make you special in comparison to everyone else. What are your skills and experience level? Why would a record promoter or executive gain by giving you a chance to record and market your music? Record companies spend a great deal of money in promoting new artists. You will want to make it clear why you would be a good investment.

Include press clippings and quotes as they become available. A remark made about you by a reputable person will go a long way in making your press kit credible. This will let the reader know that you have been recognized as a talent to be reckoned with and could possibly create extra momentum for you while you are trying to launch your career. Whether you are in need of a singer, musician, or actor press kit, recognition from others is a great tool in promoting yourself.

You really only need one page of your press kit to be devoted to a biography and one page that includes quotes and press clippings. This rule stands even in an online portfolio. By keeping each topic on a simple page, you are much more likely to hold the interest of the person who receives your press kit. Make sure the tone of your band press kit is in line with who you are as a person and the type of music you perform.

A sample of your music in the form of a high quality CD or clips that can be heard in an electronic press kit are critical. Make certain you label the CD with your name and contact information. If someone loves your music but has misplaced the rest of your press kit, you will want this information to readily available to them.

Be careful not to overdo the self-promotion. You should be positive and state your ambitions, but shameless self-promotion will make you look unprofessional and less than credible. Also avoid including too much personal information. No one cares (yet) about your first pet, your grades in elementary school, or your personal phobias. Keep the focus on your music and your accomplishments. You want to be sure you do not look desperate for work, even if you really are.

Include a personal cover letter to whomever you send your press kit to, and try to avoid sending your musician press kit unsolicited. It is always better to have a referral from a friend or associate of the person you wish to see your material.

Booking Your First Gig

2012-07-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

You've spent months working on your set list, recording your demo, and perfecting your stage presence and now you've come to the pivoting point; Setting up your first gig. Don't worry, there is nothing to fret (pun intended), setting up your first gig is as easy as plugging in your instrument. Here are some insider secrets on the art of setting up your first gig.

1. Get your act straight - this means have a demo, a webpage with some recordings and pictures, and possibly some friends already. This is not required, but it is a huge help when trying to score a gig at a bigger and more popular venue. Some venues will not consider you unless you have an EPK (electronic press kit), or at least a webpage with music and pictures. If you don't have a demo, record your 3 best songs, burn them to a cd and send them to all the venues you'd like to play.

Know your crowd - this is going to help you figure out what venues to call and set up arrangements. Obviously, if you're a rock and roll band, it might be good to know if the venue you're playing is primarily a rap crowd or a country crowd. Make sense? Usually this is as easy as asking around, or making a few phone calls. Most of the time, a venue will be able to let you know if your music would fit their scene, and if not, usually they can name off a couple other venues that would fit.

3. Ask the promoter - at the venue you've selected what the average head count is on weekends, and what other local bands (or out-of-town) bands play there regularly. This will help you establish if it's worth playing, and if it's just another hole-in-the-wall joint.

4. Once you've figured out the other bands - give them a call or email and see if they'd like to include you in their next show. Most bands out there love to have other local bands of similar taste play shows because it brings in different people, and can help increase their exposure. This also helps you because their crowd will be able to see you, which will bring you more exposure.

5. Sell your band - to the owner or promoter. Usually at first, if they've heard a demo, you'll get a gig (you'd be surprised at how many bands get accepted to play for venues that aren't too "awesome"). Venues will provide you with tickets in most cases to sell off, since this is your first gig, take 25 - 50 tickets, as it's not as easy to sell tickets as you'd think... then sell, sell, sell. Anywhere can sell a ticket, it all depends on you.

Promote like your life depended on it - you must promote. Flyers are a great way to promote, put them around at local tattoo shops, grocery stores, or stores that you might find people who listen to your music at (hot topic for example for metal shows, etc..). Pretty much anywhere they'll let you put a stack of flyers is a great place. Flyers can be made on one sheet of regular sized computer paper, 4 to a page. This way you can spend less money for more exposure. Be prepared to spend at least 10 bucks on materials for posting flyers.

Your webpage is another great place to advertise your show. Tell all your friends, family, and anyone you know or do not know about your show. Also setting up shows with other local bands (where you're headlining rather than them) is another great way to get promotion out. This will bring more people as stated before, and you can also post comments on their pages getting people to see more about the show. Also adding friends from local bands that are similar to your genre are a great way to get more fans. Make sure you have recordings! No one wants to go to a band page with no music.

7. Set up your set-up - when you get your tickets and your go-ahead on playing a show, make sure you look at the stage so you can draw up a layout. Usually after a few shows, you'll have the basic concept of your layout embedded in your head. But for now, draw up a rough sketch of the stage and go over a few ideas on where to place your amps, keyboards, drums, mics, etc.. and make sure you remember to factor in how much time it will take to move your equipment into desired positions. Usually a few friends works great for stage hands.

8. If you're looking for a real bang - hire a light guy. Lights are one of the most impressive factors of a show, and good lighting can make-or-break a show. Lights add a different effect, especially when they're your own. Most venues already have lights, but it'd be nice to stand out from everybody else. Light guys can be expensive, but sometimes they're pretty cheap... it's even better if you already know someone with lights. Ask other bands who their guy is and see if you can get a deal. Sound is usually taken care of, but if you want to go the extra mile, hire a sound guy to make your sound stand out more than the rest.

If you're more about being cost friendly, and know how to hammer a couple boards together, make your own light show. Usually all it takes a couple 2x4's and some fluorescent lights to make a really good show. Using a power-strip is a great way to turn on flood lights by the click of a button when the timing is right. Play around, it's not too hard.

9. Figure out the cost - It's just like a business (it actually is if you think about it), you need to factor in distance of venue from practice spot, labor (moving your equipment around), gas, and play time. If you're playing a half hour set, you'll ask for less than if you're playing an hour or more. Make sense? At first, pricing is not as important as getting exposure. Once you bring in the crowds, you can charge as much as you want. Some local bands around my area make 400+ a show for a half hour set. It all depends on the crowd.

Also, playing locally will usually get you less than playing out-of-town. If you're from out-of-town, then charge them more. Have a set price after a while, because remember, it really is all about the crowds. If you play out-of- town on your first gig, then charge them a little more. If you're going to be bringing them a big crowd though (first show or not) then you better charge more. The more you charge, the more you appear to be professional. This is a big step in getting more venues to call you instead of you calling them.

10.

Play and have fun - When you get your crowd involved, it makes them have more fun, and they get a connection to you and your music. Don't just be another band going from song to song. Talk to the crowd, make them have fun, make them cheer, make them move. Venues love it when you remind the crowd about the bar and tipping the staff. Promote the venue you're in, and always, always, always remember to thank any other bands you have and promote them as well. For example

"We loved playing for you guys, you rock! Remember, so and so is playing next, so give them a riot and rock on!"

Other bands who play with you will love to play with you more often if you promote them as well, remember, when you combine, your crowds become one. You and the other bands both get more exposure.

If you follow these guidelines, you will get your first show booked, and many more afterwards. Your crowd will increase, and you'll grow in time. A band who plays good is good, a band who can sell and play good is great, and a band who can bring a crowd is excellent.

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Microphones In Business

2012-07-12T00:37:00.000-07:00

Microphones are one of the latest inventions that are very useful in our day-to-day life. These are devices that convert sound into patterns of electricity current. Today, we see that many big organizations are successful by using the microphones in many areas of their work. Huge equipments in the office that occupy lots of space have been now replaced with these sophisticated microphones. Now, with the usage of microphones we are able to utilize the space efficiently and develop more business. Microphones are used extensively in many offices irrespective of their nature of business. We can see that the microphones play a dominant role in banks, hospitals and call centers to name a few.

Microphones are very useful during meetings and conferences. They are also used for video conferencing and business recording. The usage of these microphones makes working easier and it also helps to create reliable records for future references. One of the varieties of microphones called miniature microphones, combined with digital recorders, are useful in business meetings, lectures and music recordings. As a result, one can easily understand the importance of microphones not only in business, but also in entertainment.

Microphones come in varied models like ear bud microphones, ear-worn microphones, headsets, Bluetooth microphones, convertible microphones, cellular adapters and one can choose according to their needs. The invention of microphones has enabled us to do our work in a much better and faster way than we did earlier. Nowadays, telephones headsets come with built in amplifiers and are used in many call centers and offices. The usage of microphones has increased the productivity and quality there by increasing the overall business.

One of the most famous Bluetooth wireless headsets is the GN Netcom 6110. This is the first Bluetooth headset that gives seamless, hustle-free communication: freedom both at home and in the office. Generally, the microphones are very handy, flexible and can be used anywhere without any restrictions. There are various categories of microphones - wireless hand held microphones, desk top microphones, wired hand held microphones and computer microphones. Microphones are widely used in medical and business transcription.

Microphones can be used to listen to music when they are fitted with digital recorders. Thus they can be used in homes or in cars, where they serve as portable sound systems. They occupy little space when compared to the old recording systems. Microphones are fitted with handy cameras using which we can shoot snaps with the surroundings and music.

Microphones are rapidly gaining importance and the technology used is such that it is very useful not only in a particular field, but also almost in every field.

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