Posted: May 26, 2020
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!
"Episode 17 of Words of Fang. As a band, when do you need to "throw your weight around", and when do you need to, well, just stay quiet? Fang tells you the secrets of the trade!"
View Full ArticlePosted: May 18, 2020
Category: Recording
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**Guest post by James Longman of AudioReputation, a technology writer & blogger by profession.
"A very common question we have been trying to answer is – can I use my headphones to record and mix music? Well, unfortunately the answer isn’t “definitely yes” because of some reasons, but if you have some decent mixing skills and you can trust your ears, then the answer goes pretty close to “yes”..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 27, 2020
Category: Live Performance
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**Guest post by Casey Burke of Plaze, which helps musicians connect to the people & resources they need.
"Thankfully, musicians have found ways to maintain their livelihood in the absence of physical human contact. Enter: the Instagram livestream. While not strictly new, this format has taken off during all the unrest, and it’s likely to develop for at least as long as social distancing is the norm..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 13, 2020
Category: Tips & Tricks
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**Guest post by Whitney Asher of The Marketing Mixtape.
"...feeling distracted? If you’ve got a ton of to-do’s but can’t seem to focus, check out our top 3 productivity hacks… & then get back to work!!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 10, 2020
Category: Touring
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**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!
"Episode 16 of Words of Fang. Eventually, your band will be faced with the daunting task of touring outside of your home country. Here are some Dos and Don'ts about DIYing your cross-country-conquest!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 13, 2020
Category: Touring
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**Guest post written by Vinnie Hines, Co-Owner of Artist Collective AKA @ac_vinnie.
"As a music consultant for Artist Collective, I constantly hear the complaints and excuses of artists all around the country about the industry and the idea of ‘touring’...so to start chipping away at the brainwash, let’s knock down these 5 HUGE LIES ABOUT TOURING IN 2020..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Sep 9, 2019
Category: The Lefsetz Letter
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**Guest post by Bob Lefsetz of The Lefsetz Letter.
"Don't wait for help, do it yourself. Just like you can record and distribute yourself, you can promote too. If you're waiting for a manager to start, don't...Decide who you want to be. A hobbyist, a touring musician or a superstar. This affects your path..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 24, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Nick Cesarz, drummer, producer, and blogger from Milwaukee, WI. Nick is the editor and owner of DrummingReview.com, a website dedicated to helping drummers choose gear, learn how to play, and guide them through the music industry.
"It's a phone call conversation I wouldn't wish on any of my enemies: getting dropped from a record label. Being let go from a record company is a sad tale that many acts endure throughout their careers. Today I'll explain what it's like and how you can reduce your chances of having this unfortunate conversation."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 28, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Carlos Castillo of Schwilly Family Musicians - music marketing strategist, web designer, live performance recordist, international road-tripper, lap steel player, and Captain of the Schwilly Family.
"...before “Time Management”, “Business Planning”, “Email”, “Social Media”, “Content Planning”, “Making Money”, “Crowdfunding”, or any of that other stuff that you need to understand but can easily get overwhelmed by...You need to do a Vulcan Mind Meld between your mindset as a “Musician” and your mindset as an “Entrepreneur”. That’s how you can arm yourself with a set of key values..." View Full Article
Posted: Oct 29, 2018
Category: Music Streaming
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**Guest post written by Angela Predhomme, a singer-songwriter / music producer of inspiring soulful songs.
"As independent artists releasing music on streaming services, we have one goal: that people come across our music and like it...First, I’ll go over a little background information about music streaming and promotion, and then share the details of my own personal experience..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 23, 2018
Category: Digital vs. Physical
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**Guest post written by Sylvia of Vinyl Price Comparison Search, previously featured on MusicGoat.com.
"Vinyl is back on the (turn)table as a means for new artists to get their musical message out there. And vinyl record shops and online stores are even making a revival. But if you’re an up ‘n comer is it worth putting your needle on the groove, when there are cheaper and easier options at your fingertips? Let’s take a spin around this complex issue…."
Posted: Jul 16, 2018
Category: Touring
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**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"In most professions, emotional health is largely neglected. When you’re a touring musician, it can feel taboo to even admit to yourself that you’re lonely or that you need help, nevermind telling others...Here’s some of what I learned about relationships and self-care during my time on the road."
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 5, 2018
Category: Show Booking
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**Guest post written by Jordan Gates, of Megaphone Agency.
"In the early days, a lot of bands book their own shows until it becomes necessary to seek out an agent or when an agent finds them. For serious artists, hiring a booking agent can be a big step in launching their music career to the next level. If you are wondering when you should get a booking agent, here are some things to consider..."
Posted: Feb 5, 2018
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Joshua Rich, a pop pianist out of Washington, DC.
"Have you heard the famous story about the invention of the V-8 engine? Seems that Henry Ford kept telling his engineers to create it, and they kept coming back saying it was impossible...As a creative person - one who is pursuing my dream of becoming a successful performing artist, I think it’s super important to remember these points:"
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 10, 2017
Category: Touring
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**Guest post written by Andrew Tufano, Nashville based Acoustic Pop Singer-Songwriter.
"When you’re touring full-time, every cubic inch in the back of your van counts. You can’t be a hoarder and tour efficiently, but fitting your daily necessities into a suitcase-shaped hole isn’t easy. Here are some strategies I learned on the road to help you consolidate your life into your car so you can comfortably tour for a living."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 3, 2017
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Paula Tolly, one half of the Boca Raton based Americana duo 33 Years.
"Did your bass player just move out of town? Are you broke and can’t afford the next photo shoot? Looking for a way to make a bigger online splash?? Don’t fret! Here are a few DIY Band Fixes that you can try RIGHT NOW before your next gig."
View Full ArticlePosted: May 30, 2017
Category: Recording
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**Guest post written by Ben Jacklin.
"For any touring outfit, life on the road can be fun, but can also mean a lot of fast food, cramming in the back of vans and plenty of spare time. For musicians, this can present an opportunity to write, practice and even record songs whilst making your way from one show to another. We’ve put together some top tips for putting together your next demo whilst you’re touring, the perfect way to fill the hours from one city to another and at a time when many bands and artists can be at their most creative."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 5, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest Post by Bret Alexander of The Badlees and Saturation Acres.
"I have always said that the best way to break up a band is to make a record. I’ve seen it a hundred times. A bunch of guys have a rock and roll dream. The band gets all excited and starts diligently writing songs. They save up some money...Then, they do the recording. Then, they put together the artwork. Then, they plan the release party. Then……. About two weeks or so after the release party the phone calls start coming in. The band is depressed. At this point they ask the question that whole empires have risen and fallen on: Now what?"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 13, 2016
Category: Recording
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**Guest Post by Mahea Lee of Soundfly.
"For many musicians, the idea of recording a demo can seem a bit daunting, especially when taking a do-it-yourself approach. Fortunately for those of us who need a bit of guidance, Black Lodge Recording’s Vishal Nayak has helped the Soundfly team create a brand new course, full of tips for efficient, effective, and stress-free demo production."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 6, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest Post by Bret Alexander of The Badlees and Saturation Acres.
"Over the past few months, I have written several entries about diversification in the music business. You have to be able to do it all to keep your calendar full. Write, play, record, teach, etc, etc…… it takes a wide array of skills to fill your calendar these days. But here is the rub: Once the calendar is full, that’s when the real soul searching begins. Ironically, the real gold is in being a samurai at something. That’s how you get to the next level. A master of one, not a master of none."
View Full ArticlePosted: May 31, 2016
Category: Technology
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**Guest post written by Ari Herstand. It originally appeared on Ari's Take.
"I just released a music video. It cost me exactly $0 to make and it looks pretty darn awesome if I do say so myself. Well, I can say so because I didn't make it. I kind of had nothing to do with it - other than writing and recording the song of course (and showing up and shooting the thing). So how did this happen?" View Full Article
Posted: Mar 14, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Gaetano, a NYC based Singer, Songwriter, Producer, and Guitarist, as featured in his blog and on Digital Music News.
"At this point, we all know someone trying to “make it” in the music business. Thanks to the world of technology we live in, the industry has easily become over-saturated with thousands, if not millions, of aspiring singers, producers, songwriters, musicians, DJs, etc. Anyone with a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection can simply fill out their social media bio and give themselves whatever title they wish to be called. With too much supply and not enough demand, it’s no wonder that so many are getting discouraged while in pursuit of their dreams..." View Full Article
Posted: Nov 30, 2015
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest Post written by Dave Cool of Bandzoogle.com.
"...it can be difficult as an independent musician to determine the best path to take for long-term growth and success. Ultimately this crossroads is met with three separate avenues: DIY (Do It Yourself), Independent Label, or Major Label. There are pros and cons to each avenue, which should be weighed carefully against what type of musician / band you are and how you expect to see growth." View Full Article
Posted: Aug 31, 2015
Category: Technology
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**Guest post by Hank & Cupcakes, Brooklyn based Indie/Pop/Rock duo.
All of us are aware of how important the visual aspect of our music is for promoting, exposing and marketing our band. It seems that many indie bands are afraid of making their own videos mainly because there's a common mythological assumption that it is very complicated, expensive and technically demanding to create this kind of content, so many bands don't even try to explore this territory which is today as accessible to us as the audio recording field is...
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 6, 2015
Category: The Musician Business
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**Guest post written by Brandon Waardenburg, founder of Apparatus (an artist accelerator providing music advice and coaching to independent artists and DIY musicians) as well as a musician, songwriter, "musicpreneur" and consultant.
"The luster of performing can die pretty quickly when it becomes old...Truthfully, any activity can turn into a grind no matter how intentional we are about keeping focused..." Here are some signs that you are on the right track.
View Full Article