This has been an interesting election, so I watched this week's Presidential Debate with great interest, especially since it was held just a couple of blocks from where I live and work.

The "town hall" format featured questions from apparently "undecided" voters, both in person and via the Internet.  Most of them were focused on the economy.

For example, "How does this bailout affect me?"

Was flipping through the radio earlier today and heard some talking heads talking about the campaign.  Over and over, there was a clip from a McCain rally by a women who, more or less, asked...

"I'm a real estate agent and I'd like to know who is responsible for the current economic crisis and what you're going to do about it!"

Or, if you read between the lines...

"I'm getting my ass kicked by the current economic situation and need some help selling houses, so I can stay in mine.  How are you going to help me?"

Nobody was talking about Iraq, or abortion, gay marriage, or Bin Laden, or anything like that.  Why?  Because that stuff doesn't affect them.

I'm going to use a broad stroke here, but for the most part, people are only concerned with themselves.  They want to know how something affects them now, or at least how they perceive it to be affecting them now.

Judging by this campaign, we can assume...

Does legal abortion affect people?  It definitely annoys the religious people, but it doesn't really affect them.

Does gay marriage affect people?  Just the 10% who are homosexual.

Does Bin Laden affect people?  Are you kidding?  Certainly not compared to how people feel $4/gallon gas or a talking stock market is affecting them.

The people who buy your music, come to see your shows, and spend money with you are the same way.  They probably don't care about half the stuff you think they do.

You can make a killing if you can find your version of "Drill Baby Drill!"  Hit that hot button and you'll be fighting people off with sticks.

How do you do it?  Stop looking at yourself.  This isn't about you.  Nobody gives a damn about your band; they only care about the feeling they get while listening to you and it's much more than "I like the beat."

Answer this question and you'll make a killing... Why do people listen to your music?

When I'm working, I usually have music playing in the background.  Today a band called Jellyfish came on, which got me thinking about the songwriting and recording process.

We're at a time in the music business where it is very easy to go crazy when recording something.  Unlimited tracks, samples, effects, etc.  And there are plenty of people who take advantage of all this stuff, by adding, and adding, and adding things to the mix.  More samples, more instruments, more harmonies, etc.

Here's the problem...  Does it work live?

Live performance isn't the only way to make money in the music business, but it's where most independent musicians and bands make the majority of their money.  And to be successful at it, you have to have material which works well via live performance.

It's great to have a slickly produced record.  It's great to take advantage of new recording technology.  But don't forget that the purest form of connection with fans is made via live performance.  They can hear you, see you, smell you, touch you, and receive a complete experience, not just the aural one they get with a recording.

If you're song doesn't work in a stripped down, able-to-be-played-live way, how are you going to connect like this?

You're not.

If you're musician who plays live, when you're writing and recording songs, ask yourself, "What will it sound like live?"  And if it doesn't work live, don't do it.

Put this into the mix when you're working on a new album and I promise you it will change your career.

If you've been following me for a while, you've probably read my book, "How I Make $100,000/year in the Music Business (Without a Record Label, Manager, or Booking Agent)."  If not, I suggest trying to find a copy.  It's out of print, but the methods still work and there are usually used copies available on Amazon.

When I was actively promoting this book, people would always ask me about the title.  The "$100,000year" was very enticing...

The title had nothing to do with me though.  It was about my co-author and the money he was making as a working musician.

But there is more to the story...

Although I'm known as a marketing guy, I'm also a musician.  I'm not talking about playing a few chords on guitar either. I've played since I was a kid, I studied music in college, and my degree is in music.  I was once a working musician and I still have a publishing company.

I'm just like you.  I know what it's like to want my music heard.  I know what it's like to want respect as a musician.

So why are you just now finding this out?  Because marketing is my real strength. 

I started my own direct mail business when I was a teenager.  When I was in college, the volume of mail I received was so great that I had to work out a special deal with the campus postal service, who refused to deliver the buckets of mail I'd receive to my dorm, since I was running a business via my campus address, and would make me come pick everything up at the main post office. 

Marketing is what I was born to do...not music.  But coming from the musician culture, I wanted to stick around.  I didn't want anybody thinking I was a failed musician trying to make money on others in the business though.

Being a marketing guy, I branched out to various things... Most of you know about my syndicated radio show, books like the one mentioned above, and my live "bootcamp" events to help musicians sell more music and get more people to their shows. 

But what you might not know is that I make a ton of money via licensing.

Music licensing is the licensed use of copyrighted music.  This allows companies such as those in the film/TV and video game industries to use your music in exchange for money, a licensing fee.

There is big money to be made in music licensing.  Big money.  It's not uncommon for independent artists and songwriters to get five-figures at a time.  But it can be a lot more than five-figures...

The Rolling Stones song ''(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'' can be heard on a TV commercial for Snickers, played by studio musicians.  The candy bar has used the slogan ''Snickers Satisfies'' for years and wanted to use ''Satisfaction'' in a big way. 

How big?  Music publisher ABKCO, which owns the rights, received $4,000,000.00, of which songwriters Mick Jagger and Keith Richards got $2,800,000.00.

Not a bad day's work.

Will you make that kind of money via licensing?  I doubt it.  But as I mentioned earlier, it's not uncommon for indie musicians and songwriters to pull in five-figures at a time...and that's not bad. ;)

Ask yourself...

• Would you be happy with a five-figure licensing deal?
• What would that kind of money mean to you and your music career?

Again, this stuff isn't uncommon.  You can do this.  I know because I've done it...and continue to do it.

Your time to make this happen is now.

The opportunity to license your music to film and television companies had never been better.  The time to license your music to advertising companies has never been better.  And the video game industry brings in $18 BILLION per year.  How much of that goes to licensing music?  Plenty.

I'm going to show you how to do this...free.

Over the new few weeks, I'll be posting a series of videos, audios, and other information on how you can make a killing with music licensing.  Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions and even email me directly.

By the time we're done, you'll have everything you need to know. :)

Again, this is free...a gift from me to you. 

To get started, I need you to do two things:

1. Subscribe to my feed. It's free and this will make sure you're instantly updated when I post a new video or other information on licensing music.

2. Sign up for email updates.  Not everything will be posted here. 

Why?  First of all, I want to keep this information exclusive to the people who really want it. 

And secondly, I've got some contact info for you, which will put you directly in touch with people who are looking for new music.  Can't post that on a public website. :)

Input your name and primary email address below.  That way you'll be sure to stay on top of everything I release.

NOTE: You can unsubscribe from this list at any time, with a simple click. :)

That's it!  Looking forward to talking more with you about getting your music licensed to film, television, and video games soon!

It’s like a job interview, but so much more.  A band member isn’t just doing a job—they are joining your creative family.  You want to be sure of their technical ability, and you also want to be sure they will blend with the rest of the band.  Success for your group depends on a synergistic blend of personalities.  Here are ten questions you can ask a potential band member to ensure they will be exactly what you need to take your band to the next level.

1. Why do you want to join?

Watch the response to this question.  Do they have to really think about it?  If so, you need to clarify whether or not they have a good reason to commit to your band.  You’re not trying to make it difficult for them to join, but this first question is the single most important one for them to answer well because it is a true reflection of how they feel about your band and your music.  Don’t prompt them for the answer you want.  Simply ask, and let them answer—no matter how long it takes or how much they struggle for the right words.

2. What do you think you can contribute?

The answer to this question will let you know if they are a well-rounded band mate.  If their answer is just about their musical abilities, that should be a red flag.  What you’re looking for is someone who can tell you about their musical skill, but also be willing to contribute time, energy, money, contacts, and other important resources.  Someone who has experience is also a big plus.  Look for a person who has their eye on the overall activity involved with making your band succeed.

3. Who were your biggest musical influences?

This question is designed to find out who your potential band member emulates musically and in every other aspect of their lives.  If your band is Rolling Stones and your interviewee is Jim Croce, you might want to take that in to consideration.  An ideal candidate will talk about the types of musicians that inspire you and the rest of the band.

4. How much time do you have to devote to practice?

This is serious.  Practice is the heart of your band and if someone has an inflexible schedule or can’t practice every single week, they aren’t a good prospect.  All the talent in the world won’t matter if they aren’t able to make it to rehearsals with the rest of the band.  Everyone should agree on the time commitment that is acceptable and insist that any new member be able to commit to it before you agree to bring them on board.

5. Do you have any other skills you can contribute?

Sure they can play the drums—but find out what else they have in their arsenal.  Even if it is something that seems totally unrelated, it may turn out to be useful in promoting or managing the band.  A degree in accounting?  Great!  Ask them to help you make a budget!  Internet freak?  Super!  Have them manage the band’s website.  Find out what’s in their whole skill set and find ways to utilize that to your advantage.

6. Are you dependable?

The answer of course should be “yes”, but as a follow up to this, ask them to provide you with examples of their dependability.  If they can’t come up with a concrete example immediately, you should be worried.

7. Why did you leave your last band?

Just like a job—people can voluntarily leave their band—or they can be fired.  They can leave for personal reasons or because of conflicts.  Find out what the real reason the interviewee left their band, and remember to keep a skeptical mind.  There are two sides to every story. 

8. Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

You’re not proposing marriage to the person, but you do want to know that they are going to commit to working with you long enough that it will be worth hiring them.  Constant changes in a band are unsettling and cause disruption.  It takes time to gel with a new member and reach an optimal level of creativity.  You don’t want someone who is going to run off in six months after you’ve invested that much time into making them a part of your sound.

9. How do you define “team player”?

Everyone has different perspectives, so make sure you ask them find out exactly what they think it means to be on a team.  Ask for examples of how they’ve contributed to a team before.  Ask them about their best and worst experience working in a team environment.  It might be about their little league baseball team, their science group in high school, or their competitive race car driving experience—but listen carefully at the words they use to describe these situations.  Watch their face as they describe both the good and bad scenarios for clues about how well they handled these situations.

10. What do you want from the band?

Every relationship is give-and-take.  Find out what this person expects from the band in order for them to be happy and remain creative.  An honest and mature person will be able to tell you what they need in order to stay involved.  Do they require honest feedback?  They may need to feel that their suggestions are taken seriously, or that they have freedom to try new things.  Whatever it is, weigh their answer with the rest of the band and make sure it is something you feel you can do in order to keep your commitment to your newest member.

When you sit down with your potential band member, try to make it informal and easy for them to tell you what they really think.  If you are having this conversation it means you have already heard them play and like their abilities; a face-to-face interview like this should be a final step in the decision making process and every member of the band should be there.  Make sure you tell them a specific date that you’ll let them know your final decision and then stick to it.  They’ll appreciate your professionalism regardless of whether or not you hire them.

Just got back last night from a few days in Los Angeles...  Whenever I travel, not just to LA, I've noticed that more and more people simply don't have time for anything or anyone, which they perceive to be outside of their current tasks.

For example, on this trip, I was walking along beside a guy near the taxi/shuttle pickup area and asked him a very quick, yes or no, question about the correct area for me to wait for my shuttle...

No reply.

And things like that happened a few times over the course of this trip.

I understand that an airport like LAX has a lot of people who may not speak English.  Or maybe he was deaf.  There are a million reasons he didn't say something back to me, but I thought it was a good reminder to post an important message here...

Don't be an asshole.

And perhaps more important than that, be approachable.  You never know who is around you...especially when you're at an airport.

I get to LA at least every three months.  The last time I was there, I was behind a guy who was having problems with the check-in kiosk.  We started talking and it turned out he was in the music business.  But not just anybody in the music business...he was the manager of a top name rock band and, like me, travels between LA and Nashville on a regular basis.

These are good kinds of connections to have, right?  And they're all around you, every time you travel.

Actually, they're all around you every time you leave your house.

So be approachable...

Thoughts?  Good stories of how you've connected with others in the music business?  Post them here.

By the way, if you're like to "follow" me on my travels and day-to-day stuff, check out my Twitter page.  Not only will you be up-to-date on what I'm up to, you'll also get great examples of marketing that you can use in your music business.

The Oak Ridge Boys are auctioning a house concert on eBay.

Winner gets a private New Year's Eve performance and party favors for up to 200 guests.

Where will it take place?  The eBay posting says, "it can be in YOUR home, living room, patio, party barn, wherever you would like!"

Minimum bid is $25,000.  Auction closes Sunday.

At its close today, the Dow Jones had lost 504 points — 4.4% — and the S&P 500 had plummeted 59 points — 4.7%.

US investment bank Lehman Brothers has collapsed.

Gas is going for as much as $5/gallon...if you find any.

But is your life really any different than it was a couple of weeks ago?

Seriously.  Maybe the economy does suck right now, but did you really have any more security last year?  Probably not. 

Jobs are a false sense of security.  Record deals are a false sense of security.  Money on paper is a false sense of security.

If you really want control of your music career (or your life), the best thing you can do is to develop yourself.  When you do that, it doesn't matter what happens to you, because you have the skills to deal with it.

When you have the skills to build a fanbase, it doesn't matter is you lose all your fans, because you can go out and get more.

You you have the skills to write a hit song and get it cut, it doesn't matter if you lose publishing on something you've written, because you can always write more (and possibly better songs) songs and get them cut.

Things like what are happening now are what keeps innovation going.  We're running out of oil, for example, and that's going to drive alternative fuels...which may very well be cleaner and more efficient.

Would that happen if we had a never-ending supply of oil?  Probably not.

There is opportunity within every challenge.

Thoughts?

Derek Sivers just posted this great video of a speech he did for a bunch of new students at Berklee School of Music.

As somebody with a degree in music myself, I've often thought about how my life would have been different had I known in music school what I know now, so I think this is a great opportunity for upcoming musicians, and all of us, to think about...especially since most people know more even now than they are currently acting on.

As a musician, you know you need to practice.  Are you?

You know you should be promoting your music.  Are you?

Here's the video...

Thoughts?

If you're comfortable putting your political views out in the public, this is a great time to release a video which makes a political statement.  For example...

Or this one...