Posted: Sep 14, 2020
Category: The Musician Business
diy music business keys to success gear practice recording music technology learning the legit musician
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"Let’s face it, we all want to have a professional studio in our backyard filled with all the best gear. This is not possible for even the most successful musicians out there. For the indie musician, this dream is even farther off than we can imagine. That shouldn’t stop you from creating music, however. You need to think of ways to use the stuff you already have around you to create the music you love."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 10, 2020
Category: Touring
touring guide touring lords of the trident diy keys to success international touring
**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 6, 2020
Category: The Musician Business
music business resume the music entrepreneur keys to success persistence learned skills lords of the trident small business
**Guest post by Fang from Lords of the Trident, the most METAL band on earth!
"Episode 15 of Words of Fang featuring John McLucas, discusses some of the positive aspects of being in a band."
View Full ArticlePosted: Dec 16, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
networking music business keys to success persistence repetition constructive criticism the legit musician
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"Most successful musicians...had a goal and did what they needed to do in order to achieve it. Lots of talented people give up too soon...Nothing comes easy and it usually takes many years to get to a point where you become successful. Remember, persistence wins the game."
View Full ArticlePosted: Sep 16, 2019
Category: The Musician Business
managers music business keys to success the grind music business after dark jeff lysyczyn
**Guest post by Jeff Lysyczyn, music industry veteran, educator, and creator of Music Business After Dark.
"The first episode of Music Business After Dark, a series of informative vlogs by music industry veteran and educator Jeff Lysyczyn."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 12, 2019
Category: Health
keys to success health eat healthy mental health treat yourself exercise electraland radio sleep finances supplementing stress companionship hydrate
**Guest post written by Electra (The Rock-n-Roll Health Chick), an Integrative Health and Nutrition Consultant and Coach, specializing in the health of musicians.
"Bad mental health robs us of enjoying our lives or caring about what we’re eating and drinking. Bad mental health can also cause disease and makes us feel worse all over. So, I’d really like you to work on all of the health tips I mentioned, including this one! After all, your mind runs the whole show!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 29, 2019
Category: Health
touring keys to success eat healthy mental health treat yourself physical health exercise electraland radio hydrate coconut water
**Guest post written by Electra (The Rock-n-Roll Health Chick), an Integrative Health and Nutrition Consultant and Coach, specializing in the health of musicians.
"Even when you’re a rock god, your mental and physical health can go either way. We all need a little help sometimes. So, I’m going to share the Top Three valuable and doable actions that will help you think and feel your best while you’re on the road, playing a gig, practicing in your room or just watching your favorite band. If you don’t take care of your body and mind, you won’t be able to think, write, perform or live well."
View Full ArticlePosted: Apr 23, 2019
Category: Songwriting
music business songwriting influences keys to success disc makers bruce springsteen lyrics the beatles leonard cohen joni mitchell david bowie tom waits the cars taylor swift
**Guest post written by Chris Huff, originally featured in the Disc Makers Blog.
"If you are interested in writing lyrics with depth, you need a deep artistic well to draw from. All output requires input, and as a lyricist, I recommend you begin with words."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 15, 2018
Category: Delegate Responsibilities
music business keys to success delegate responsibilities the legit musician collaboration dirty work fiverr upwork cd baby
**Guest post written by Scott Aumann, originally featured on The Legit Musician blog.
"Nobody ever has enough time to do everything they want to do. That’s a fact! Most of us want to do more, but can’t seem to find enough hours in a day to do it. That’s why we all need to focus on the really important stuff and just do those items. Get other people to do the dirty work for you!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 23, 2018
Category: Digital vs. Physical
merch diy make money online distribution vinyl keys to success ask fans musicgoat.com physical vs. digital competition
**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: Feb 5, 2018
Category: The Musician Business
career goals diy joshua rich keys to success mentors stay positive
**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: Dec 4, 2017
Category: Social Media
facebook fan engagement instagram keys to success know your audience marketing plan social media twitter zing instruments
**Guest post written by Ged Richardson of Zing Instruments as featured in the Ultimate Guide To Social Media Marketing For Musicians.
"The commonest mistake that musicians make is not to consider who they are trying to reach with each platform. That’s right. You need to think who are you trying to reach. And the complexity doesn't stop there. People you’re trying to reach don’t all use the same social media channels either..." View Full Article
Posted: Sep 5, 2017
Category: The Musician Business
diet eat healthy keys to success location make money music technology perfection raise money save money schwilly family musicians selling your act
**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.
"Over in our Facebook Group I was asking about what excuses people are allowing to hold them back. As it turns out I've had a LOT of the same excuses hold me back over the years. So I reckon it would be useful for you to know how I put them behind me. Interested? Here we go!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 19, 2017
Category: The Musician Business
artist collective branding career goals invest keys to success make money marketing record labels save money
**Guest post by Vinnie Hines of Artist Collective.
"It’s almost understood that if you’re a musician, you’re likely unemployed, homeless, broke or all three. I deal with it constantly when people ask what I do for a living. Though I love writing and booking, I will always and forever identify as a “musician.” It’s my passion and my purpose and here’s the kicker: I’m not broke. The reason for that, is that I have approached my music like a business from the get-go." View Full Article
Posted: Jun 12, 2017
Category: Songwriting
#1 hit songs 100 greatest artists charts elvis presley gocompare.com keys to success songwriting the beatles
**Guest post written by Matt Lindley.
"Every musician takes inspiration from their heroes – modern pop music owes a debt of gratitude to the Beatles and Elvis Presley, while the lineage of hip-hop runs from 1970s New York acts like Afrika Bambaataa and Kool Herc to modern stars like Drake and Kendrick Lamar. But how much do you know about the careers of the legendary artists that have paved the way? And what can the musicians of today learn from them?" View Full Article
Posted: Dec 12, 2016
Category: Show Booking
booking agents branding hometown keys to success live performances networking show booking songwriting the unsigned guide this is now agency tour booking x-ray touring
**Guest post written by Louise Dodgson, Editor at The Unsigned Guide.
"Working with a booking agent is a topic we’re often asked about by artists and bands who wonder whether they should still undertake all gig bookings themselves or acquire the services of an agent who can bag those lusted-after festival slots and tour supports. Do I need an agent? At what stage should we approach one? Will a booking agency even work with an unsigned or emerging band? If you’ve ever wondered about any of the above, this blog is for you!" View Full Article
Posted: Nov 7, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
brand storytelling career goals fan engagement jonny carroll karma keys to success social media value
**Guest post written by Jonny Carroll, a touring singer-songwriter from Grand Rapids, MI, as featured in his blog.
"In my short time burning the pavement that is independent vocational musicianship I’ve come to observe the artists who, regardless of genre, possess some traits for being wildly successful at making it into a flourishing career. The common denominator between them is simple..." View Full Article
Posted: Oct 17, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
bret alexander conductors keys to success lawyers managers music business steve jobs the beatles the real gig
**Guest Post by Bret Alexander of The Badlees and Saturation Acres.
"This week I finally got around to watching the Steve Jobs movie. He was a complicated man for sure. It wasn’t the most feel good film I have ever watched. But I must say there were several scenes that apply to many of the things I try and discuss in this music blog. I was surprised how much Steve Jobs referenced musicians when talking about his quest to democratize the computer. It was pretty cool..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Aug 8, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
film kenny babyface edmonds keys to success licensing movies nomad stageit the career guitarist touring plan tv
**Music Director and guitarist for Kenny Babyface Edmonds, composer, artist and author of: The Career Guitarist.
"1) What does the term "Career Guitarist" mean? Typically when speaking of a musician who solely earns their money from music, we refer to them as a professional musician. I just simplified it and coined the phrase Career Musician, then narrowed that down to Career Guitarist which is the embodiment of what I’ve done throughout my career in the music industry, which includes..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 6, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
bret alexander can't do it all diy keys to success master of one primal ear specialty the real gig
**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: Jan 25, 2016
Category: The Musician Business
career goals gigging keys to success licensing live performances los colognes making it masters music business practice publishing sync placements
**Guest Post written by Jay Rutherford of Los Colognes.
"Like millions of other morons out there, I'm attempting to make music both the primary joy and primary financial security in my life. My band Los Colognes has achieved marginal success, just enough to get mom and dad off our backs, so to speak. Without further adieu, here’s me convincing myself I have achieved some wisdom, when in reality I have no psychological control over any of it yet. Pretend this is the Old Ben Kenobi version of me, from somewhere in the future..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 6, 2015
Category: The Musician Business
apparatus career goals diy entrepreneurship keys to success music business networking the grind
**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 ArticlePosted: May 26, 2015
Category: The Musician Business
career goals delegate responsibilities diy entrepreneurship keys to success music business music career
**Guest post written by Ashley E. Norton, a Colorado based nomad, currently touring across the country with her Indie duo, Whitherward.
"I've been a professional singer-songwriter for about 10 years now...and I've been screwed over many times...I moved to Music City 5 years ago to hire a team of people to do the behind-the-scenes work I was so tired of doing my fucking self. Like many of us, I wanted to solely focus on my craft. This, is the only mistake I've ever made..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 13, 2014
Category: The Musician Business
confidence constructive criticism entrepreneurship keys to success make money music business perfect your performance practice professionalism value
**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.
“The first requirement for being successful in anything is to define what success means to you. That is one of the biggest challenges musicians face today. There is no standard to follow..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 27, 2013
Category: Renman Music & Business
advice career goals fun. keys to success music business
In this highlight clip, Nate Ruess, lead singer of grammy award winning band Fun., talks about his career and path in the music business. Nate has a fantastic story about coming up in the business and prior to superstardom with his band Fun., he had given up all hopes of commercial success. Nate leaves us with a handful of great quotes to remember and motivate everyone trying to make a career out of their music.
View Full Article