Music Business Hacks: Recent Episodes
Simon Tam
A music business show made for artists who are looking for clear information, inspiration, and application for their careers. Ideas are broken down into steps that musicians can use to advance their career. The show is written and hosted by Simon Tam, an industry professional who is the founder of The Slants Foundation, author of multiple books, and longtime mentor/speaker at SXSW, the DIY Musician Conference, and other major events.
It seems almost everyone is in Austin right now for SXSW...and that's a good reminder that sometimes it can be beneficial to go against the grain. When trends, movement, or industries all appear to go one in one direction, when is it right for you to do something else that can help you stand out from the masses?
If you're thinking about going on tour, you'll want to listen to this episode first.
Resources:
On Merchandise:
Episode 26: How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise
Episode 31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers
On Touring:
Episode 33: 5 Tips That Can Save Your Band's Tour
Episode 36: How to Book a Band Tour, Step by Step
Episode 107: How to Keep a Tour Vehicle Running Properly
Episode 108: How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life
Episode 155: 5 Hacks for Filling in Gaps on Your Tour
Do ever notice how sometimes the press can't stop talking about certain artists? Have you experienced times when you felt unstoppable creatively? Or have you ever struggled to get something started? These are instances of momentum. If you want to create demand, you have to understand how to create momentum. That's when and where you should invest in your career.
Whether you are looking for band members, a team to help the business aspects of your career, or a producer, it is important to have the right process in place so that you can get the most out of the relationship. In addition, you want to save time - yours and theirs - by avoiding relationships and that simply won't work in the long run.
Keep these four steps in mind:
- Have clear expectations and goals
- Answer: What does success look like?
- Answer: What is the return on investment for everyone involved?
- Sign an agreement
RESOURCES:
Episode #8: SMARTER Goals
Episode #24: Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement
Intraband Agreement Template
How can a business efficiency practice designed for factories be used and adapted for musicians looking to advance their career? Today, we talk about continuous improvement methodology and how those ideas can improve nearly every area of your music, from more effective rehearsals and stage performances to getting better responses to booking emails and better paying gigs.
Resources:
Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse Instead.
There's a lot of talk about Spotify these days: whether it is creating a disservice to musicians, how it is impacting the music industry at large, and whether it is worth it to dance with them. But distribution is beside the point. Real music-preneurs know that there's a much more important conversation to be had about strategy, audiences, and building a sustainable career.
Most artists understand that storytelling is an essential skill for developing better lyrics. Some also know that it can help with writing a stronger biography as well. However, we can apply the best practices of storytelling to more than just traditional narrative - it can also impact your live show, your pitches, and how you can connect with audiences in other ways, too.
Resources:
Other storytelling episodes:
Episode #97 – Storytelling part 1: Creating an emotional arc
Episode #98 – Storytelling part 2: Lyrics
Episode #99 – Storytelling part 3: Writing a better bio/press release
Episode #100 – Storytelling part 4: the Live Show
Episode #101 – Storytelling part 5: Social media + marketing campaigns
Episode #102 – Interview: Joe Jiang
Infrastructure is important for organizations and communities to thrive. What about artist infrastructure? Today, I talk about the supports that you need so that you'll be able to leverage big moments and be prepared to execute your plans.
Negotiation is a critical skill for artists to develop a sustainable career yet so few make the time or effort to grow in this area. Today, we'll talk about how you can negotiate for a guarantee or better pay for your shows but the same tactics can be used to get better deals with sponsors, record labels, merchandise/vendors, and more.
Here are some of my favorite resources for negotiation:
BOOK: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Black Swan negotiation training channel
ARTICLES:
Negotiation by Email for Salary
How to Get More Pay (Last Stop Booking)
Today, we're discussing what you can expect from the music industry in 2022. There's no doubt that there are many changes on the horizon, but here's what you can do to prepare and make the most out of the moment.
If you’re looking for ways to grow your music career while making a real-world impact, check out our free music business conference designed with an equity-first mindset. It takes place Nov 5 + 6 and it’s all available to you for free, first of The Slants Foundation. Get your tickets now: www.cpocmusic.com
Today's episode is taken from a workshop I recently delivered through my nonprofit organization that serves Asian American artists, The Slants Foundation. It was a session specifically on creating a lasting impact - be it cultural, systemic, or industry. We also focused on bigger ideas of how to create a more sustainable arts career by re-examining how we think about relationships, tools, the maps we use, and other key areas.
Resources:
Watch the video webinar of this episode.
Learn more about The Slants Foundation.
The early deadline for SXSW artist applications is coming up. Today, we discuss best practices for applying to SXSW and other major music festivals. Also, I have a special announcement regarding CPOC Music, a new music business conference designed specifically for artists of color.
Resources:
SXSW Showcasing Artist Application
CPOC Music
It's sometimes hard to put long-range goals into perspective when we're considering the many means of getting to them: touring, social media, list building, licensing, music industry trends, formats of releasing music, etc. but those are all tactics, not sustainable strategies that are scalable. Too often, we glamorize the hustle without thinking about what matters even more: working with purpose.
Today, we'll talk about whether or not it actually is a long way to the top (if you want to rock n' roll) and a better way of getting there.
The music industry is an ever-evolving landscape that is often adapting to changes in technology, the law, and how people consume music. However, artists often don't adapt to these changes well because we often create processes without a lens of resiliency. In today's episode, we talk about "future-proofing" your work and how you do business so you don't have to recreate the wheel each time you need to do something for your business.
Do you wonder how you can get more stuff done? Today, I share some personal strategies for making more progress in your music career each day.
Resources:
Episode #368 – Scaling Up pt. 1: The House of Music
Episode #08 - SMARTER Goals
BOOK: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Today, I'm speaking with Danielle Tucker, the leading force behind the Pandemic-Proof Singer Summit, a free 3-day event filled with leading experts in the music industry who will teach you how to create a sustainable arts career. Today, we'll talk about some of the ideas, what you can look forward to, and how you can stay relevant as a musician in times of uncertainty.
Register for free here.
Have you ever thought about what business you're in? The "music business" is too broad of a term and doesn't really define your activities or what can actually sustain your career. When you understand what business you're actually in, you can start being more strategic about your approach and see better returns.
Today's interview is with Stacey Bedform, CEO of Bandzoogle. It was inspired by an article that she wrote for the Industry Observer, Direct to the fan: websites are where the rubber meets the road for independent artists.
I've always been an advocate of having owned channels but I think it is more critical than ever for artists to level up their websites and avoid the trap of social media gatekeeping and filters. Please enjoy this conversation with someone who can see how websites affect artists at the 30,000 ft level.
Today's episode is a fireside chat with one of the most sought after vocal and artist coaches, Wendy Parr. We talk about the transformative power of finding your authentic artist voice. It was hosted by The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to transforming the world through the power of art.
To learn more about Wendy's work, visit www.wendyparr.com
To learn more about The Slants Foundation, visit www.theslants.org
You've written a song. Maybe you even released it. But how can you multiply its reach and its earning potential?
With so much information out there for artists, newer and lesser established musicians often have trouble deciding on what is most important to focus on. Today, I speak with two younger artists about prioritization as well as addressing common questions for acts in earlier stages of their career.
This consultation session is part of the services provided by The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit that is dedicated to helping underrepresented artists. To learn more about the organization, visit www.theslants.org
When it comes to your music or how you present yourself, what makes you unique? How can you approach your songwriting, marketing/communications, and your audiences with the mindset of differentiation so that you can create a scalable and sustainable career?
Resources:
Episode #291 -How to Dominate a Niche Market part 1: Find a need
Episode #292 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 2: Smallest Viable Audience
Episode #293 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 3: What if Your Audience is Too Small?
Episode #294 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 4: How to Find Your Niche
Episode #295 - How to Dominate a Niche Market part 5: Always Give Value
Episode #296 - Recap: The Secret Weapon to Success
I'm making a few predictions for how/when live, in-person music shows will return. If you want to be set for performances, then you better be prepared!
Resources & Related Episodes: To optimize merchandise:
Episode #26: How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise
Episode #31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers
Episode #39: 8 Tips to Help You Sell More Merchandise
Episode #50: Supplies Every Merch Bin Should Have
Episode #59: The Best Ideas of March:Merchandise, Digital Marketing, and the Interviews
Episode #205: Hacks for Merch Booths at Conventions, Street Fairs, and Events
Episode #287: Dropshipping Your Merchandise with Print on Demand
Episode #342: Making Your Own Merchandise
How to Get Sponsorships:
Episode #178 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 1 – How to Pitch Sponsors
Episode #179 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 2- Creating a Compelling Story
Episode #180 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 3 – Finding Your “It Factor”
Episode #181 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 4 – Connecting with Sponsors
Episode #182 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 5 – Making Your List of Sponsors
Episode #183 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 6 – Places to Find Even More Sponsors
Episode #184 – Hacking Sponsorships pt. 7 – How to Ask for What You Want
Episode #185 – Interview: How Whitherward God Subaru to Sponsor Their European Tour
Perfecting Your Stage Show:
Episode #4: Don’t practice. Rehearse instead.
Episode #43: Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan
Episode #198: How to Captivate an Audience from Start to Finish
Algorithm, the great hidden gatekeeper, has fundamentally shifted the music industry: think about how many artists are now releasing singles instead of albums because they think it favors discoverability, how many release covers on YouTube in hopes of catching more attention, and how we fall into trends when it comes to our careers instead of focusing on the people we're really needing to reach?
This week, I speak with Eddie Lam, a musician in Vancouver, BC who has been able to see huge growth in his social media metrics by leveraging the native attributes in TikTok. But more than that, I wanted him to highlight his big picture goals of building community and show how his different strategies, whether promoting shows or teach guitar on TikTok, all support this vision.
Resources and Links:
Eddie Lam's official website
Eddie Lam on TikTok
Vancouver is Awesome news: Burnaby guitarist's one-minute music lessons are a TikTok hit
There are new social media sites popping up all the time and some rise to the surface more than others. Most recently, people have been swarming over TikTok, Twitch, and Clubhouse. In today's episode, I talk about what it actually means, where you should be focusing your attention, and the benefits of having a refined strategy connected to your goals.
Welcome back to the Music Business Hacks podcast!
We close out season 2 with final learnings from the DIY Musician Accelerator Program/Scaling Up series before launching a new series of content for you. In this episode, we'll talk with Aspen Jacobsen, Darro, and Maxximo, to hear in their own words what worked for them and what didn't work so well in terms of our mentorship program. You'll hear how all three artists doubled (or more) their following, increased engagement with fans, secured majored endorsement deals, and what their next steps are.
This year, CD Baby and The Slants Foundation launched a six month mentorship program for three lucky artists. Join me along with the selected artists Aspen Jacobsen, Darro, and Maxximo to see how they multiplied their social media following, secured endorsement deals from major companies, and increased their revenue - all during the middle of a pandemic! You'll also get a chance to ask your own questions to this music industry veteran and the artists mentored this year. And, you'll learn how you can be considered for this same program in 2021!
WHEN/WHERE:
September 24, 4pm PST/7pm EST. You can stream here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtCLC0MZxUQ
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we’re assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the third call with Aspen Jacobsen. Check out her work here: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
And listen to the full episode of this program here: www.musicbusinesshacks.com/370
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we’re assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the third call with Maxximo. Check out his work here: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
And listen to the full episode of this program here: www.musicbusinesshacks.com/370
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we’re assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the third call with Darro.
Check out Darro here: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
And listen to the full episode of this program here: www.musicbusinesshacks.com/370
This season, we’re partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You’ll get insights as to the kind of advice appropriate for building a scalable and sustainable career while getting to hear about their actual metrics. As the season unfolds, you’ll get to hear what works or what doesn’t work so well for these artists and learn how you can launch your own career as well.
In the third episode from this series, we'll be focusing on hashtag strategies, better outreach, and audience-focused music marketing that actually works. If you've been struggling with the use of hashtags or want to know how to quickly build your fanbase, this is the episode for you.
Follow the artists:
Aspen Jacobsen – teenage singer-songwriter: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Darro – indie/pop punk band: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Maxximo – Pop/electronic solo artist: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you would like to funding for The Slants Foundation effort to counter hate with art or to support our grant program, check out www.theslants.org/counteringhate
Also, Join us in Austin at the DIY Musician Conference: Use promo code *DIYCON30* to save $30 off the registration. At the convention, we’ll be unveiling all of the final numbers from our six months of coaching and you’ll get to meet the artists in person.
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we’re assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the second call with Darro. Check out their work here: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
And listen to the full episode of this program here: www.musicbusinesshacks.com/369
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I’m providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we’re assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the second call with Maxximo. Check out his work here: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
And listen to the full episode of this program here: www.musicbusinesshacks.com/369
This season, we’re partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You’ll get insights as to the kind of advice appropriate for building a scalable and sustainable career while getting to hear about their actual metrics. As the season unfolds, you’ll get to hear what works or what doesn’t work so well for these artists and learn how you can launch your own career as well.
In the second episode from this series, we check in with our artists to see what tactics they've been using to grow their Instagram following, how they've been handling the current epidemic, and how their plans have been shifting. I also spend some time answering questions about approaching potential sponsors and sharing best practices for a focused approach in building audiences.
Follow the artists:
Aspen Jacobsen – teenage singer-songwriter: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Darro – indie/pop punk band: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Maxximo – Pop/electronic solo artist: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Resources:
- Hitmakers: How to Succeed in an Age of Distraction (book)
- How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (book)
The Slants Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. - Creative Capital's List of Resources for Artists During COVID-19
Also, Join us in Austin at the DIY Musician Conference: Use promo code *DIYCON30* to save $30 off the registration. At the convention, we’ll be unveiling all of the final numbers from our six months of coaching and you’ll get to meet the artists in person.
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I'm providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we're assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This is the first call with Darro. Check out his work at www.darrochea.com
And listen to the first full episode of this program at www.musicbusinesshacks.com/368
As part of the D.I.Y Accelerator Program and Scaling Up series on this show, I'm providing the full recorded calls with the artists so that you can get complete transparency with our conversations (as well as hear more about the work we're assigning based on their goals). It also allows you to hear what a consultation/coaching call is like and to dive more deeply into the artists who are in this mentoring program.
This first call is with Maxximo. Check out his work at www.maxximomusic.com
And listen to the first full episode of this program at www.musicbusinesshacks.com/368
This season, we're partnering up with CD Baby to provide six months of mentoring and coaching to three artists in different genres and different stages of their career. You'll get insights as to the kind of advice appropriate for building a scalable and sustainable career while getting to hear about their actual metrics. As the season unfolds, you'll get to hear what works or what doesn't work so well for these artists and learn how you can launch your own career as well.
Follow the artists:
Aspen Jacobsen - teenage singer-songwriter: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Darro - indie/pop punk band: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Maxximo - Pop/electronic solo artist: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Music in the episode includes:
The Slants - "Level Up"
Aspen Jacobsen - "Don't Go"
Darro - "You're Not Insane"
Maxximo - "Burn"
Join us in Austin at the DIY Musician Conference: Use promo code *DIYCON30* to save $30 off the registration. At the convention, we'll be unveiling all of the final numbers from our six months of coaching and you'll get to meet the artists in person.
Today, I wanted to address current concerns as touring performer with the current global pandemic. How do we respond to numerous event cancellations and uncertainty about the near future? Are there opportunities for us to pivot?
Resources:
Episode #24 - Why Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement
Episode #171 - Musician Side Hustles Pt 1: How to Get Started
Episode #172 - Musician Side Hustles Pt 2: Hustles in the Music Industry
Episode #173 - Musician Side Hustles Pt 3: Using Your Skills in Other Ways
Episode #174 - Musician Side Hustles Pt 4: How to Balance a Side Hustle
Episode #175 - Musician Side Hustles Pt 5: Big Ideas for Any Musician
Episode #176 - Interview: How Tyler Chen Doubled His Income with Side Hustles While Touring in The Slants
Rolling Stone article: Coronavirus Could Decimate Touring Musicians’ Livelihoods
I'm proud to announce Season 2 of the Music Business Hacks podcast.
This time, we're taking a slightly different approach. Instead of having a daily show, we'll be following the career of three very different artists. They're each receiving six months of coaching from me through the DIY Musician Accelerator program so every episode will focus on direct advice given to a musician in different stages of their career. We're providing complete transparency so you'll be able to hear in near-realtime what is and what isn't working for artists. Of course, I'll still be focusing on information, inspiration, and application for a music career, but we're now diving deeper than ever and focusing on tactics that scale.
Check out the artists I'll be working with here:
Darro
Maxximo
Aspen Jacobsen
And don't forget to register for the DIY Musician Conference where you can join us to hear the final results of this six month program as well as get information on how you can be a truly independent musician! To save $30 off the registration price, use code DIYCON30.
I'm so excited to announce this new joint venture between CD Baby and my new nonprofit, The Slants Foundation: The DIY Musician Accelerator Program.
You'll have a chance to receive six months of music business mentoring in addition to a CD print and distribution package worth over $2,400 at no cost! We'll be able to tackle your music business goals, develop specific strategies that you can work on each week, and test the latest tactics to scale up your career.
There's no cost to apply but hurry! The deadline is February 15, 2020.
Apply here.
It's our final episode!
Today, I reflect on the lessons learned from our journey of one year of music business hacks together.
Follow me on tour: www.theslants.com
Stay in touch: @SimonTheTam
In today's episode, we talk about how you can learn best practices from other artists in a way that fits your own music business strategy. Do you have guidelines? SMARTER goals? These can provide guidelines for you when considering options that are sustainable and relevant for you.
Recent Interviews:
Episode #356 - Diving Into the World of K-pop with ESAE
Episode #357 - How to be an Unstarving Musician with Robonzo
Episode #360 - Using Memes and Humor with Blank Face Villain
Episode #361 - Crushin it with Camp Crush: Hustlin' Kids and Instagram Hacks
Episode #362 - Touring for One Year Straight in an RV with Elissa Sun
Today's interview is with Ellisa Sun.
“Ellisa Sun is a force of nature.” (KFOG) She cuts out her heart and leaves it on the stage—which is why she never wears white.
Currently on her first national tour, Ellisa is showing she has what it takes to make it on her own. Just a guitar, a 30-foot RV, and an insatiable desire to perform.
Raised in Los Angeles, Ellisa migrated north and found a home in San Francisco’s creative scene, where she wrangled a seven-piece band to play her music. Her sound is honest and textured, combining elements of jazz, soul, and pop.
Ellisa self-produced her debut album Moon & Sun in 2017 to critical acclaim. SF Weekly called the first single, Unravel “as near to perfect as any song could be” and “damn gorgeous.”
Ellisa self-released her 2nd album—the Just a Little More EP—in September 2018. With support from her talented bandmates, the 5-track EP boasts a one-of-a-kind, edgy sound that “takes listeners on a trip across all spectrums of love” (WomenCrushMusic) and is “too much of an original to fit into one box” (The Bay Bridged).
Since releasing her album, Ellisa has ventured out on a year-long national tour. Living full-time out of their Winnebago, she and her partner Ken are taking the music directly to the people. Ellisa and her guitar have also earned frequent flyer miles in Japan and South America.
Learn More:
Official Website: https://www.ellisasun.com
Resources:
A Beginner's Guide to Living in an RV (Book)
How to Make it in the New Music Business (Book)
The Artist's Way (Book)
Music Industry Blueprint (Podcast)
And the Writer Is (Podcast)
DIY Musician (Podcast)
Song Exploder (Podcast)
Music recording gear:
Logic & Propellerhead interface, and Sennheiser e935 mic.
Today's interview is with Camp Crush.
Seeing Camp Crush live is like watching two people fall in love in front of you. And it’s true - the band was born when now-married Jen Deale and Chris Spicer discovered they were at the same summer camp together as children, and years later found each other in Portland, OR. With a late 80s mood-pop influence and driving indie rock rhythms, the duo has discovered new territory; a nuanced middle ground between Madonna and Brandon Flowers, Debbie Harry and Win Butler, “blending old school and indie rock into something wonderful” according to Pop Dust.
Camp Crush has been busy, releasing two EPs in the last year, with a third arriving fall 2019. Soaring vocals combined with blistering synths, epic balladry, punching drums, and substantive lyrics all makes for a musical experience that is unforgettable.
For more, visit www.campcrushmusic.com
Watch: November Skin (Official Music Video) by Camp Crush
Resources:
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth (BOOK)
The Earthsea Series - The Complete Illustrated Edition by Ursula K Le Guin (BOOK)
Dan Cable Presents (PODCAST)
Twin Peaks Season 1
This is Blank Face Villain's self-written bio:
"Ay fam, it's cha main man Blank Face Villain AKA BFV AKA yung jimmy AKA 2Uncrustables. I play too many instruments. I've torrented a bunch of programs. I take pictures. I'm just here to make sure those around me have a good time. Invite me to your wedding(s)."
When you hear today's conversation and his approach to music business, you'll understand what this all means...
Check out Blank Face Villain:
Website: https://www.blankfacevillain.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4NAtTLJWLOWLRIj3gXXlEq
Resources:
Music Business Hacks (BOOK)
The Last Question by Isaac Asimov (BOOK)
The Needle Drop podcast
MUSIC VIDEO:
Today's audio is from my session at the DIY Musician Con.
We all understand that social media is an essential part of an artist’s career but there are very few resources on how to do it well. In this practical and inspirational session, you’ll learn how to build an audience online, make new fans, and create new excitement for your music in a way that defies trends.
If you're interested in receiving a copy of the slides from this session, please hit that contact button. Thank you!
Today's episode is from my presentation at the 2019 DIY Musician Conference.
The world’s most successful artists, brands, and companies have one thing in common: They understand their true fans. If you want to build a sustainable, thriving music career, you've got to understand how to work with target audiences. This session is a master class in marketing, funding, and developing your art so that it reaches your most enthusiastic fans. Mixing inspiration, information, and practical application, this session offers practical steps for you to dominate a niche market.
About Robonzo:
Roberto R. Hernandez (aka Robonzo) is a part-time professional drummer and vocalist, who performs with multiple bands throughout the course of any given year. While he’s most at home performing on a drum kit, Robonzo also regularly gigs with a Cajon, Djembe and other accoutrements of percussion. He’s worked with original artists and cover bands in and around San Jose, California since 2001. Although he’s a predominately self-taught drummer, Robonzo has in recent years become a student of the acclaimed online educator Mike Johnston at MikesLessons.com. Robonzo played his first gig at a college bar in Arlington, Texas. Within months of that first gig, he was performing throughout the greater Dallas-Fort Worth and the neighboring states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Thanks to two older siblings, Robonzo’s earliest music influences included The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Cream. In addition to his love of the 60s, Robonzo has always maintained a healthy interest in new music and emerging genres. On the business of doing business as a musician and an artist, Robonzo has also maintained an interest in the changing music industry. He recognizes a growing need to educate and help the next generation do more of what they love—make music. In July of 2016, Robonzo and his wife relocated to El Valle de Anton, Panama. Similar to his move from DFW to San Jose in ’99, Robonzo is poised to start over. He’s planning to foster and grow the live music scene in El Valle while researching ways to help other musicians around the world.
Resources:
The Unstarving Musician Podcast
The Unstarving Musician Book
The Slants self-titled release on Spotify
ESAE is a self-taught producer, singer, and artist based in Los Angeles and Orange County. ESAE (pronounced ee-say) is derived from the first two syllables of her Korean name, and means second generation, which is an integral part of her identity. As a second generation Korean-American, she grew up experiencing first-hand the pressures and expectations that millions of immigrants and Asian-Americans in particular face, while secretly nurturing a genuine love of music and an unique artistry born from that conflict.
Resources:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/573hBKu7MUNNUbp0OKhuRr Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/esaemusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esaemusic/ Recommended Book: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry WATCH: Groove (Official Music video by ESAE):
Yesterday, we focused entirely on how to be a better interviewee. Today, I want you to think about what it's like to be on the other side of the questions.
Today, I'm focusing on a key skill that very discuss yet is essential for any thriving musician: how to handle interviews. There's a couple of key concepts but the most important one to remember is prepare, prepare, prepare!
Resources:
MAONO USB Condenser Microphone Kit ($55)
Fifine USB Condenser Microphone ($28)
This week, we dived into several key concepts about time and your music business. Today, I'd like to encourage you to invest in yourself. Here the episodes we discussed:
Episode #347 - Knowing the Right Season
Episode #348 - How to Improve Your Timing
Episode #349 - Real Time Marketing
Episode #350 - Time and Goals
Episode #351 - When You Should Refresh Your Brand/Sound
Episode #352 - Interview: How "Bedroom Producer" String Player Gamer Creates Viral Content
Diwa de Leon, AKA The String Player Gamer, is a professional film and tv composer, and live musician that specializes on string instruments such as the violin, guitar and the hegalong, a two-string guitar from the Philippines. Through his viral content, he's earned over 140,000 subscribers on YouTube and has topped 30 million streams on Spotify.
Learn More:
STRING PLAYER GAMER:
Spotify Official Website Facebook
Twitter VIDEO GAME MUSIC BOX: Spotify Official Website Facebook Diwa's Preferred Gear: Sony 4K Handycam Camcorder (FDRAX33) Logic Pro X (DAW software)
Focusrite Studio Bundle (Interface, microphone, headphones, monitor)
Limostudio Green Screen and Light Kit Western Digital 10TB External Hard Drive BOOKS: Lord of the Rings (complete set)
Harry Potter (complete set) The Complete Chronicles of Narnia
Artists update their look, change their name, and evolve their sound all the time - should you? Today, I'll cover when and why companies update their brand and what you can learn from that process yourself.
I've often mentioned how your goals should be SMARTER, but in addition to having goals that are time-bound, you should also create time specifically for them. Let these deadlines help inspire more creativity so that you can get more done than ever!
Today, we're going to talk about Real Time Marketing (RTM) and how you can take lessons from this practice to help strengthen your own ability to produce viral content. Grab your Oreos and listen up!
Resources:
AdWeek article: 8 Types of Real-Time Marketing, and the Brands That Got It Right
When it comes to performing music, rhythm and timing are essential. In that sense, they are always important abilities for the business side of things as well. In today's episode, I discuss how to improve your intuition so you you can better know how and when to deliver on certain tasks.
Resources:
Episode #43: Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan
Episode #347: Knowing the Right Season
Take Lessons article on improving your timing
You've probably noticed that most major artists release albums and singles around the same seasons. Most music festivals happen around the same time. And most bands choose to tour during the same weeks of the year as well. That's because they're operating around specific seasons.
Today, I want to focus on the right seasons for you: for booking, for seeking new sponsorships, and for more opportunities. This episode will help you plan your own seasons for the next few years.
What does it mean to be D.I.Y? In today's recap, I wanted to go over some of the ideas we discussed in light of being an independent musician. Who do you rely on? Who do you work with? How do you make decisions?
If you are going to the DIY Musician Conference, use code DIY2019SC for $30 off tickets at: https://diymusiciancon.com/
Episodes Covered:
Episode #340 - Who to Tour With
Episode #341 - Fitness for Musicians
Episode #342 - Making Your Own Merchandise
Episode #343 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Episode #344 - Weighing Opportunities
Episode #345 - INTERVIEW: GLASYS on Trending on Reddit, Getting Endorsements, and T-Pain
Today, we're speaking with GLASYS.
GLASYS (Gil Assayas) is a pianist, synthesist, producer and vocalist who delivers intricate virtuosic keyboard parts, electronic soundscapes and impassioned vocals in one package that combines his many influences including Electronic music, Alternative Rock, Jazz and Classical music.
Since relocating to the US three years ago, GLASYS has been endorsed by major gear manufacturers such as Nord Keyboards, 64 Audio, Sequential and Spectrasonics, has developed a large social media presence with over two million total video views, has been featured on the GRAMMY's website, and has had his song 'The Pressure' played at a Portland Trailblazers NBA game. Recently, he was discovered by Hip-Hop giant T-Pain on reddit and the two are now collaborating. GLASYS is also currently touring and collaborating with legendary musician and producer Todd Rundgren.
Watch these Videos:
Resources:
Find GLASYS here: Website | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram
Also check out the Grid Kids podcast and Adam Neely's New Horizons Music youtube channel
Recently, Equifax customers got a choice to benefit from a major settlement: $125 or 10 years of free credit monitoring? It got me thinking: how do we think about opportunities that come our way? How do we make better, long term decisions?
Resources:
Episode #336: How to Make Better Decisions
Equifax Settlement website
Expecting $125 From the Equifax Settlement? Here's Why You Probably Won't Get It and What to Do Instead (article)
This one is as much for you as it is for me. We all have feelings of inadequacy, especially in the entertainment industry where everything feels like a front. How we address with those feelings can prevent burnout, extend the sustainability of our careers, and improve our productivity.
Resources:
The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer From the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It by Dr. Valerie Young (BOOK)
You Are Not a Rock: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Mental Health (for Humans) by Mark Freeman (BOOK)
The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer (BOOK)
Amanda Palmer's TED Talk:
If you've ever considered making your own merchandise, you'll want to listen to this episode. I share some of my own highs and lows with printing merch as well as provide some suggestions for you to create your own guidelines in approaching this idea.
Are you going to the DIY Musician Conference? Use code DIY2019SC for $30 off tickets at: https://diymusiciancon.com/
Related Episodes:
Episode #26: How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise
Episode #31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers
Episode #39: 8 Tips to Help You Sell More Merchandise
Episode #50: Supplies Every Merch Bin Should Have
Episode #59: The Best Ideas of March:Merchandise, Digital Marketing, and the Interviews
Episode #205: Hacks for Merch Booths at Conventions, Street Fairs, and Events
Episode #287: Dropshipping Your Merchandise with Print on Demand
Resources:How to Screen Print Your Own Shirts (VIDEO)
A Simple Guide to Screen Printing Your Own Shirts (LifeHacker Article)
Making Your Own Merch:
Speedball All-In-One Screen Print Kit (great for beginners)
Mophorn Button Maker Kit (500 buttons - inexpensive but low quality)
Badge Punch Press (1000 buttons - inexpensive and better quality)
Today, I'm going to make the case for why a regular fitness routine is essential to your music business goals. I'll also share my personal minimum workout routine while on the road and give some tips on making sure that you are in peak performance condition.
Resources:
Infographic: 10 Best Fitness Exercises & Stretches for Musicians
10 Minute Workout, No Equipment Workout
Best Hotel Gym Workout
10 Workout Moves for Your Hotel Room
ALSO: If you want to go to the DIY Musician Conference in Austin this year, use code DIY2019SC for $30 off DIY Musician Conference tickets at: https://diymusiciancon.com/
Today, we talk about who you should tour with, both in terms of other acts as well as who you should bring with you on the road.
Related Episodes:
Episode #25: How to Get the Opening Slot for a Major Tour/Band
This week, we focused on little things - small decisions and daily decisions, small actions - and how the culmination of those little things can really add up to make a tremendous difference in your music career. Today talks about those big ideas and challenges you to focus on a couple of key areas.
Episodes Reviewed:
Episode #334 - Making It Rain
Episode #335 - The Number One Reason Why Fans Will Buy Something
Episode #336 - How to Make Better Decisions
Episode #337 - Tour Blogging Your Way to Success
Episode #338 - INTERVIEW: Katie Zaccardi on Self-Care, Wellness, and Time Management
Today's interview is with Katie Zaccardi.
Katie Zaccardi is a songwriter, artist, music industry professional, and certified yoga instructor. Through her work in both music and wellness, along with her own experience with a generalized anxiety disorder, Katie discovered the urgent need for conversation surrounding mental health and self care within the music industry. Realizing the music industry’s demand for honest discussion on such topics as mental and physical wellbeing, Katie established Out To Be. Out To Be advocates a balanced path to personal and professional success that is grounded in wellness. At its core is the idea that what you set out to do, you turn out to be; that no matter where you begin, you make your own way to the most authentic you. The OutToBe Podcast invites listeners to engage with insightful dialogue on all things wellness and their relation to working in music. Through the Out To Be Coaching platform, Katie supports artists and professionals with a personalized approach centered on cultivating positive actions & attitudes.
Resources and Links:
Katie Zaccardi (official website)
Katie's 1:1 coaching application:bit.ly/outtobecoaching
The Out To Be Podcast: https://pod.link/1456146541
Out to Be Facebook Group (with the Time Management challenge)
Women Crush Music
RECOMMENDED BOOKS:
The Rain Barrel Effect by Dr. Stephen Cabral How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz PODCASTS: For the Love of Money Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield Break the Business And the Writer Is
Believe it or not, but blogging is still one of the most important marketing practices that any business or artist can do. If you can maintain it while on tour, you can do even more things with it like generating revenue, reaching new audiences, and building relationships with your fans (all while getting some killer SEO!). In this video, I share some of my secrets to success and give ideas on how you can get started.
Resources:
Episode #16: Hacking Yelp For Your Music
WATCH: The Slants Taiwan Tour on Prime Video
In business school, we were always taught different business making models to help make the best decision possible. However, I realized that many musicians (even those in music college) don't get that same opportunity. Today, I wanted to go over some of the most popular tools used by business owners and how you can apply that same mindset to your music business decision making.
Resources:
Top 5 Decision Making Models from Management eBooks (free article)
Decision Making Models and Biases from ToughNickel
The Netflix Decision Making Model via Forbes
If you have a tough time selling physical copies of your music, tickets to your show, or other merchandise, then need to understand why fans choose to buy something or not. A recent survey revealed some interesting results. Here's how you can learn from that.
Have you ever thought about the phrase "Make it rain" and what it actually means? Rain isn't any one thing, but rather, a collection of many little things. True success isn't experienced as a windfall or singular event - it's the combination of many concentrated, persistence, and consistent things.
Related Episodes:
Episode #8: SMARTER Goals
In today's weekly recap, I wanted to focus on using self-awareness to solve problems or overcome barriers in your music career. Is your problem your problem? What solutions open up when we started figuring out the right root causes for things we're struggling with?
Episodes:
Episode #327 - Hidden Opportunities at Shows
Episode #328- When to Fire Yourself
Episode #329 - 6 Habits That Will Extend The Life of Your Music Career
Episode #330 - How to Have More Effective Meetings
Episode #331 - Getting More People to Shows: What Kind of Problem Do You Have?
Episode #332 - INTERVIEW: Peter Lin on Jazz, Music Business Hacks, and Culture
ABOUT PETER LIN:
Taiwanese-American trombonist Peter Lin is a young and creative musician active on the New Jersey and New York scene. A graduate of the esteemed jazz programs of William Paterson University (undergraduate) and Rutgers University (graduate), Peter studied with jazz trombone legends such as Slide Hampton, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Robin Eubanks, Steve Davis, & Frank Lacy. He has performed with many notable artists including Slide Hampton, Winard Harper, Charli Persip, Valerie Ponomarev, JD Allen, & Radam Schwartz. Peter is also an established educator, holding a prestigious faculty position at Melissa Walker & Christian McBride’s non-profit organization, Jazz House Kids. His first record, With Respect, featured arrangements of classic Chinese and Taiwanese songs, which peaked at #3 on the NACC Charts and #4 on the RMR Charts. His second album, New Age Old Ways, features eight of his original compositions along with an original comic book with illustrations by Kelly Lin.
RESOURCES:
Books Recommended:
Blues People by Leeroi Jones Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews by Arthur Taylor The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey Podcasts discussed: Rock the Boat
Now in Color
When it comes to music business books, articles, and podcasts about selling more tickets to your shows, most only focus on one piece of the puzzle: awareness. However, no amount of letting people know about your performance will solve the problem if they don't actually care. In today's episode, I cover a more healthy framework to consider when overcoming problems: by solving the ones you actually have.
In the world of music business, meetings are extremely common: whether they are industry gatherings, pitches to potential partners, or regular sit-downs with your band, it is important to know how you can make the most of your time as well as make sure that there's proper follow up in the form of an action plan. Today is all about music business meeting best practices.
This morning, I came across an article from Inc.com that discussed habits that can extend your life by 12-14 years. They're not too different than habits we've discussed in previous episodes for your own health but it got me thinking: what are the habits that can help extend the life of a musician's career?
Related Episodes:
Episode #5: How to Stay Healthy on Tour
Episode #122: The Importance of Mental Health
Many businesses that experience some success eventually find themselves growing stagnant. It's no different with artists and the music business: at some point, you might find that the key to reaching new heights in your career is learning to let go.
Related Episodes:
Episode #37: Band manager, publicist, booking agent, lawyer: who to hire and when?
Episode #247: The World's Worst Manager
How do you make the most of your time at a show? What are you doing before you perform and how can you optimize that time to make more fans, get more sponsors, and make the show even more engaging?
Related Episodes:
Episode #43: Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan
Books:
Music Business Hacks
Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court
In today's episode, I'm doing an interview live from Anime Blues Con in Memphis, TN. We're speaking with nerd pop band, NIGHT SABERS. Night Sabers’ newest record, "Welcome to Saber School,” is out now on Lack of Talent Records.
Be sure to check them out at DragonCon this year!
Resources and Links:
Learn more about Night Sabers:
Facebook
Spotify
Twitter
Over the past five episodes, we covered this idea of becoming a pro. But what does that actually mean? And what does it take to get there? Today, we recap some of the biggest ideas from those episodes.
Previous Episodes:
Episode #319 - Creative Ways of Using Postcards
Episode #320 - How to be a Professional Musician pt. 1: Who is a Pro?
Episode #321 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 2: The Daily Work
Episode #322 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 3: Be a Great Opener
Episode #323 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 4: Leading a Team
Episode #324 - How to be a Pro Musician pt. 5: Be a Great Headliner
Resources:
BOOK: Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
In part 5 of our how to be a professional musician, we close the loop opened up in Episode 322 - How to Be a Great Opener. It's important to know how to start the show as well as close it out. But most important, you've got to know how to really be a part of a show...on and off stage.
In part four of our series, we talk about leadership, influence, and professionalism.
Related Episodes:
Episode #37: Band manager, publicist, booking agent, lawyer: who to hire and when?
Resources for Leadership:
BOOK: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
BOOK: Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell
BOOK: Start With Why by Simon Sinek
BOOK: Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
BOOK: Tribes by Seth Godin
PODCAST: The Go-Giver
PODCAST: The LEADx show
Resources for People to Hire:
Music Manager Database
Directory of Managers and Booking Agents
For those of you looking to be a full time creative: have you ever stopped to think what you would do all day? Today's episode addresses the day-to-day experience of today's music professional and how you can begin incorporating those best practices into your work.
Time Tracking Software:
Toggl
Clockify
We're launching a 5 part series on being a professional musician. What does it take? Who is technically a pro? What are some of the key skills, attributes, or habits needed? Today, we're kick things off by focusing on what is a pro first.
Resources:
Tech Republic - 10 things that define a true professional (article)
It's often a good idea to try new tactics to stand out in the crowd. In this episode, we talk about using postcards to help drive fan engagement, increase turnout at shows, and to help sell albums.
In this episode, we cover the happy variety in topics of the past week and how they all tie in together for adopting an unconventional mindset for your music business career.
Resources:
Episode #312 - Record Labels Accepting Demos
Episode #313 - Winning with Video
Episode #314 - Touring with a Dog
Episode #315 - What Patriotism can Religion Can Teach You About Making Fans
Episode #316 - INTERVIEW: Talking Spotify Strategy with Cenji
Episode #317 - How to Get Better Value for Your Gear
In today, we're talking about how to get better value and pricing for your equipment. Whether you are buying or selling, you want to get good value.
Resources:
Episode #3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.1: Creating Partnerships
Episode #22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt. 2 How to Make the Approach
Episode #178 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 1 - How to Pitch Sponsors
Episode #179 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 2- Creating a Compelling Story
Episode #180 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 3 - Finding Your "It Factor"
Episode #181 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 4 - Connecting with Sponsors
Episode #182 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 5 - Making Your List of Sponsors
Episode #183 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 6 - Places to Find Even More Sponsors
Episode #184 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 7 - How to Ask for What You Want
Cenji is a singer, songwriter, and producer from San Diego, California. He got his start singing cover songs in his college dorm room and has gone on to collaborate with acts such as Pure 100% on his remix of “Shelter” by Porter Robinson and Madeon. His collaboration with Konac titled “Flutter” has garnered support from channels such as Tasty Music, Hyper Potions, and Zekk. Now Cenji is working on creating more original music while working fulltime as a Software Engineer. He refuses to follow trends and strives to improve with every release in the hopes of one day achieving his dreams of becoming a full time musician.
Check out his newest release, "Be Myself" here.
Cenji & Konac can be found:
Konac:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6XoPTqzeS9Y6YhHCnSH5bQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/konac
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/konac
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konacmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/konac_
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/itskonac
Cenji:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sQnHi9rmXwqRmwZ8UjrBq
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CenjiMusic
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/cenjimusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cenjimusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CenjiMusic
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/CenjiMusic/
Resources:
Distrokid (distribute your music)
Spotify for Artists
How to Submit to Spotify Playlists
Producer Oak Felder's guide to producing a viral song:
Gear we discussed:
MIDI Keyboard: Akai MK Mini (25 key, USB)
Headphones: Audio Technica ATH-M50X Studio Monitor Headphones
Mic: Rode NT1-A microphone
Happy 4th of July!
In today's episode, we talk about how patriotism is a lot like religion...and how those two ideas can teach you about making new fans. It's about building a community and so much more!
Resources:
Niels Nielson, author of Religions of the World, on Common Characteristics of Religions
Episode #118: Art and Activism
Episode #97: Storytelling part 1: Creating an Emotional Arc
Episode #99: Storytelling part 2: Writing a Better Bio
Today, I discuss being a touring musician while also being a pet owner. Whether you decide to take your dog on the road or not, there are some important things to consider. Of course, if you're touring in a band, check with everyone in the group that it's OK first!
Resources:
Dog Sitting
If you're interested in getting a pet sitter, dog walker, or someone to watch your home and your pets, check out Rover. If you use my referral link, we'll each get $20 in credit (no obligation).
Best dog stuff for the car:
Comfortable travel crates: Sleepypod Mobile pet bed for comfort or Amazon Basics Travel Kennel for value.
Harness for car travel: Slowton (size medium) or Bwogue (for small dogs)
Dog waste bags: Earth rated (extra thick, good value)
Best hotels for dogs:
Budget motel chains: Red Roof Inn, Best Western, La Quinta Inn, Days Inn
Nicer hotels: Kimpton hotels, Ace Hotel
Or, check out this search listing from Pets Welcome.
Today, I want to focus on two opportunities to help expand your video (and revenue) earning horizons: Amazon Prime Video and film festivals. Of course, it all begins with having compelling content to begin with so if you haven't checked out the episode on making the most of your video (episode 308), listen to that first!
Resources:
Amazon Prime Video Direct main website (sign up here)
Amazon Prime Video Direct account setup FAQ
How to Get Automatic Captioning on YouTube
Film Festivals open to music video submissions (FilmFreeway)
Music Video Submissions for SXSW Film Festival
A List of the Best Film Festivals for Music Video (worldwide)
And, of course...my new memoir! Click on the cover to learn more:
One of the most searched queries for music business websites and musician resources is "Record Labels Accepting Demos" (or some variation of that, like Record Labels Accepting Demos 2019). Today, I want to talk about the mindset, what it actually takes to get the attention of that major record label, and better ways to improve your chances of receiving an offer.
Today is our weekly recap to combine all of the ideas covered over the past six days. In this, we talk about two seemingly conflicting ideas - when to persist and when to quit - and how this is often the ultimate secret to success.
Episodes:
Episode #305 - Getting Unstuck
Episode #306 - The 2 Most Important Habits for Success in the Music Industry
Episode #307 - Do You Need a Reseller's Permit?
Episode #308 - How Artists Can Use Video
Episode #309 - How to Use My Maps for Tour Booking
Episode #310 - The Secret of Quitting
One of the greatest skills of any entrepreneur is knowing when to quit something. In the music world, that means knowing when to give up on a song or album, on a band, or just a strategy that isn't working for you. In today's episode, we'll discuss some of the key ways you can determine when you ought to quit (or stick through it).
Resources:
BOOK - The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit by Seth Godin.
Episode #8 - SMARTER Goals
Today, I want to focus on an underutilized tool: Google My Maps. Not only can you use this for your tour venue database and have it serve as a visual aid for booking, but you can also use it to get an overview of music festivals, conferences, places to stay, or see where your fans are concentrated.
Resources:
Google My Maps page
Live Music Venue Database example (United Kingdom)
Folk Club Map (United Kingdom)
Google My Maps Tutorial:
How can musicians and bands use video? Today, I'm going to provide broad overview of video strategy that is full of tips for you to help achieve your goals. Whether you are wondering to post on YouTube, Facebook, or Linkedin or wanting to know how you can use video to dominate your search engine optimization game, this crash course into video can help you get started.
Also, remember that today is the last day to get the early bird rate for the DIY Musician Conference! Join me there by registering today.
Resources:
Online video editors: Animoto, Clip Champ, Movie Maker Online, Adobe Spark
Explainer video generators: Whiteboard Animation Studio, Animaker
Mobile video editing (for iPhone users only): Apple Clips - bonus: it includes a subtitle generator!
Stock video footage: Adobe Stock, Art Grid, iStock, Shutterstock
Today's episode covers an important part of a music business that no one is really talking about: having a reseller's permit or sales tax ID. In addition to being a part of the actual business part of your career, it can actually unlock several valuable benefits!
Resources:
WikiHow: How to Get a Resale Number
Entrepreneur Magazine: Benefits of a Resale License
Department of Revenue by state:
Alabama Department of Revenue—also offers an iPhone app
Alaska Department of Revenue
Arizona Department of Revenue
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
California Franchise Tax Board
Colorado Department of Revenue
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services—you must register to file and pay online
Delaware Division of Revenue
District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue
Florida Department of Revenue
Georgia Department of Revenue
Hawaii Department of Taxation
Idaho State Tax Commission
Illinois Department of Revenue
Indiana Department of Revenue
Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance
Kansas Department of Revenue
Kentucky Revenue Cabinet
Louisiana Department of Revenue
Maine Revenue Services
Comptroller of Maryland
Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Michigan Department of Treasury
Minnesota Department of Revenue
Mississippi Department of Revenue
Missouri Department of Revenue
Montana Department of Revenue
Nebraska Department of Revenue
Nevada Department of Taxation
New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration
New Jersey Division of Taxation
New Mexico Taxation and Revenue
New York Department of Taxation and Finance
North Carolina Department of Revenue
North Dakota State Tax Department
Ohio Department of Taxation Oklahoma Tax Commission
Oregon Department of Revenue
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Rhode Island Division of Taxation—offers free filing of both federal and state returns for some taxpayers
South Carolina Department of Revenue
South Dakota Department of Revenue
Tennessee Department of Revenue
Texas Window on State Government
Utah State Tax Commission
Vermont Department of Taxes
Virginia Department of Taxation
Washington Department of Revenue
West Virginia Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Department of Revenue—you can apply online for a payment plan
Wyoming Department of Revenue
Where I Order My Merchandise:
RG Riley - for shirts, hoodies, and other closeout items
Wholesale Merchandise - for the occasional deal that you can resell or print a logo on
Wholesale Printing - for very large volumes of printing
Today, I want to talk about the daily habits you've incorporated into your music career. Specifically, I want to tell you about the power of focus and getting things done. These two habits separate those who only dream about being a successful musician and those who are doing it.
Resources:
Episode #8 - SMARTER Goals
We've all felt stuck before: sometimes, it's the lack of creativity. Other times, it feels like the lack of productivity. In today's episode, we'll identify a couple of key practices you can use to keep on keeping on.
Resources:
Episode #8 - SMARTER Goals
BOOK - The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
"The best defense is a good offense." When unexpected things happen in your music career (and they will), what kind of plan do you have? How can you prepare for those situations?
Episodes Covered:
Episode #297 - Travel Rewards for Touring Musicians
Episode #298 - Getting a Logo or Artwork for Your Band
Episode #299 - How to Promote Out of Town Shows
Episode #300 - How to Get People to Respond to Your Email
Episode #301 - When Airlines Break Your Stuff
Episode #302 - The Buy One Get One Strategy
Episode #303 - The Nashville Round: How You Can Make Your Shows Remarkable
A Nashville Round is an interesting way to showcase songs but most artists end up getting lost in the mix. In today's episode, I focus on how the ideas of standing out in a round can really help you stand out in any kind of showcase: open mic, music festival, or just a regular show with a lot of different artists.
Today's episode is about the Buy One, Get One strategy that many companies are using to drive their strategic philanthropy efforts. How have you ever thought of using this to inspire a new model for growth and reaching fans with your music business?
Related Episodes:
Episode #40 - Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music
Episode #118 - Art and Activism
Resources:
Podcast - How I Built This episode on TOMS (a great story!)
Websites to find nonprofits: CharityNavigator.com and VolunteerMatch.org
And if you're looking for a cool nonprofit, check out The Slants Foundation!
After a couple of recent incidents of having my things broken, I decided to do an episode on what you can do when you find your instrument, luggage, or anything else busted up from air travel.
Resources:
USA Today article: Here's how to get reimbursed for your damaged luggage on every U.S. airline
How do you get people to answer to your email messages? When should you follow up? How many words should be in that first message? In today's episode, I discuss email best practices.
Resources:
Boomerang for Gmail
Today, we answer a question from Charlie Cook of the Kronk Men - check them out here!
In it, I talk about how you can really promote your out of town shows more effectively. You'll learn about the difference between push and pull strategies as well as specific tactics that you can use today. Remember, the key is that everything should be unique, generous, and resonate with your target audience.
Today's episode was inspired by a question submitted to MBH on dealing with designers. When it comes to getting a logo or images for your merchandise, what are some important considerations? In this episode, I'll try and help you navigate the issue so you won't have any problems.
Resources:
99designs.com
Are you taking advantage of the many travel rewards available for musicians? You could be leaving a lot of benefits like free flights and hotel rooms as well as discounts off gas on the table. Today, I talk about one of the least discusses best business practices that more artists should be taking advantage of: travel rewards.
Here's the system I use:
- Hotels.com for booking accomodations. I always them because they have the largest selection available, competitive pricing, and give you a free hotel room for every ten nights you book - that's like getting 10% off each time. Plus, you can save the nights up and have a future tour taken care of. If you sign up here, you'll get $50 off your first stay.
- I pay for all of my purchases through my Chase Sapphire Preferred card. That's because you get 2x points for all travel and dining (which is almost my entire tour) and you get some of the best and flexible travel rewards out there. If you use my referral link, you'll get 60,000 points after 90 days - which is enough for two roundtrip flights just about anywhere in the U.S.
- Frequent flyer programs for American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines. That's because I tend to fly those three airlines more than anyone else. In addition to getting points from my Chase card, I also accrue rewards from each of these airlines for additional free flights.
- Hotel rewards programs through Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. While you don't get credit for nights stayed unless you book directly through the hotel, you do get other perks for signing up for their free programs like free wifi and bottles of water when you check in. I've also received upgrades as well. I don't stay enough at any of these hotels so I still prefer hotels.com for the place to make my reservations.
- Get reimbursed when possible. When I fly out to events or have an agreement where organizations/promoters will take of the hotel, I always offer to make travel arrangements and get reimbursed so that I can take advantage of the rewards points available.
Great websites to review programs:
The Points Guy: The Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2019
US News: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
When it comes to hitting long term goals, what's more effective: a laser or a shotgun? Find opportunities where you can focus your energy instead of spreading yourself thin. One of the best ways is by focusing on that niche market.
Episodes:
Episode #291 - How to Dominate a Niche Market part 1: Find a need
Episode #292 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 2: Smallest Viable Audience
Episode #293 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 3: What if Your Audience is Too Small?
Episode #294 - How to Dominate a Niche Market pt 4: How to Find Your Niche
Episode #295 - How to Dominate a Niche Market part 5: Always Give Value
And if you want to check out the book Music Business Hacks, see it here!
Today, we talk about the power of giving value to your audience and why consistency matters. How did a company like Slack explode in popularity? How can you use channels ignored by musicians (like Yelp) to excel your career? How can you use these ideas to get TED talks? By giving value, of course.
Resources:
Other episodes mentioned:
Episode 16: Hacking Yelp for Your Music
Episode 21: It's All About Value
Today, I talk about how you can find your center, the things that you care about the most, so that you can build your own niche audience from it. What are the things that you love but others dislike (or at minimum, feel very neutral about)? And how can you leverage that to create authentic connections with others?
By the way, if you haven't yet, check out the DIY Musician Conference where I'll dive even more depely into this subject!
In today's episode, we'll focus on what happens if your audience is too niche. Is your problem your problem?
It's good to be back! I've been on the road relentlessly promoting my new memoir, Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court, but I'm resuming this daily show on music business.
Today, we're jumping right back into our series on niche markets. This time, it's about building the smallest viable audience. What does that mean as a strategy and how do you implement some immediate next steps to conquer a market?
Resources:
In Search of the Minimum Viable Audience (Seth Godin blog)
Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court
Today, I'm kick off a new series specifically on niche marketing and business development. This episode is focused on the foundation for any business: identifying needs to fill. In addition to sharing some of my own experiences, I'll also show companies like EZ Laundry and Netflix used similar principles as other artists in order to launch their businesses!
References:
Episode #190: How to Find Your Niche
People I've Interviewed with a Unique Niche:
Episode #6: DaRealWordSound
Episode 48: Dez Cadena
Episode #162: Manafest
Episode #258: Shannon Curtis
Today's episode was inspired by Terry Crews' approach to self-discipline. We're focusing on his 4 big tips for discipline with a specific focus on music business and entrepreneurs.
Watch the videos (part 1 & 2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpNbUN2_ebo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziE27pFTptk
If you're slightly obsessed with productivity (like I am), then you probably think a lot about how to make the most of your time. In fact, the idea of "free time" seems like kind of a misnomer because you think of it as more time to work on your music business. However, today's episode is about taking a healthy look at developing a sustainable music business career - and that includes using your free time wisely.
References:
Episode #40 - Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music
Severe weather is terrible for music instruments, vocalists, and our vehicles but sometimes it can't be avoided. In today's episode, we're going to cover best practices and tips in dealing with severe weather.
Resources:
The best emergency roadside kit for bands (Kolo Sports Premium). It's only $45 and comes with plenty of things to deal with quick emergencies.
Accuweather Road Trip Planner. Check it before leaving for tour!
AAA Auto Club - If you do get this, just spend the extra bucks for their premium service. The extended tow range is a must if you're going through any kind of remote areas.
Verizon Roadside Assistance. This is my go-to.
How to Drive in Severe Weather guide from State Farm.
Michael Beinhorn has lived his life in the pursuit of artistic expression, first as a visual artist, then as a performer, and finally as a record producer.
Forgoing a promising career in medical illustration, Beinhorn began his musical endeavors in 1979 as co-founder of the seminal New York musical collective Material. The group’s singular style and strong artistic personalities led to their producing their own recordings out of necessity. As the band rose to prominence, in 1980 they were approached by Brian Eno, collaborating on the track “Lizard Point” from Eno’s acclaimed recording “Ambient 4: On Land.”
In 1983, Beinhorn co-produced Herbie Hancock’s landmark recording, Future Shock, which included the groundbreaking cut “Rockit.” The song, co-written and co-produced by Beinhorn, would become Columbia Records’ most successful 12-inch single ever, selling over three million copies and winning a Grammy in 1984 for Best R&B Instrumental Recording.
After departing Material in 1984, Beinhorn’s production career began to reach new heights. His work on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ breakthrough albums “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” and “Mother’s Milk” was instrumental in propelling the band to stardom.
Beinhorn gained a reputation for producing a number of “high watermark” albums that have helped to define the careers of a diverse range of artists, including Soul Asylum, Hole, Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Courtney Love, Marilyn Manson, Social Distortion, Korn, Golden Palominos, and Mew. His recordings have achieved combined worldwide sales of more than 45 million albums, and he is one of only a handful of producers to have two separate recordings debut in Billboard’s Top Ten in the same week, with Marilyn Manson’s “Mechanical Animals” (#1) and Hole’s “Celebrity Skin” (#9) also earning him a 1998 Grammy nomination for Producer of the Year.
In addition to producing, arranging, engineering, co-writing, and performing on many of his projects, Beinhorn’s attention to detail and tireless pursuit of sonic excellence led him to develop and commission the first two-inch eight-track Ultra-Analog multitrack tape recording format.
In recent years, Beinhorn has turned his attention to the concerns facing today’s artists and producers attempting to maintain their creative ethics and focus on the recording process. He has been increasingly active in mentoring fellow artists and aspiring record producers. He addresses these and other pertinent issues in his book “Unlocking Creativity”, published by Hal Leonard. He continues to inspire the artists he works with to excel to greater heights, with an unwavering commitment to sonic exploration and creative excellence.
Resources:
Michael Beinhorn official website
Michael's book: Unlocking Creativity: A Producer's Guide to Making Music and Art
Other books we discuss:
Bhagavad Gita
Sculpting in Time
Templates for websites and tools by PayPal are making it easier than ever to create your own online shop for merchandise. However, a new option is becoming more popular: print on demand and dropship services. So which one is the right one for you?
Resources:
Artist Shops by Threadless
Merch by Amazon
RedBubble
Society 6
Example online store with Threadless
In today's recap, we revisit some of the big ideas you should be considering as you tackle a new year of music business.
Resources:
Episode #276 - The 7 Things You Should Do Everyday
Episode #277 - Are you marrying your fans or dating them?
Episode #278 - Can you Copyright a Dance move?
Episode #279 - How to Keep Content Going When You're in between Releases
Episode #280 - If you're going to SXSW
Episode #281 - Why Resolutions Don't Work
Episode #282 - Starting Your Own Label
Episode #283 - Replay: books, articles, podcasts
Episode #284 - How to Juggle More Than One Band
How do you handle multiple music projects and commitments? It's like trying to run multiple businesses! In today's episode, you'll get some guidelines on smoothly handling each of your competing priorities.
Resources:
Episode #24: Why Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement
Episode #267: Interview with Carl Stuck
We often rewatch our favorite movies, TV shows, and videos on social media, but why is it that we seldomly reread the books that have made the most impact in our lives? There are a lot of benefits to revisiting content, especially when it comes to music business. So today, we're focusing on why and how to do it.
I discuss the pros and cons of starting your own record label for releasing your own music. What are some of the benefits? The challenges? And what is the point?
Resources:
Episode #62: Interview with Scott Stratton of Finance for Musicians
Episode #40: Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music
Episode #118: Art and Activism
Episode #37: Band manager, publicist, booking agent, lawyer: who to hire and when?
Episode #147: How to Get Press Coverage Without a Publicist
If you've been following the news on Fortnite, you'll know that they've been under fire for appropriating "The Floss" and "The Carlton Dance." It's raised a number of debates on whether or not you can copyright a dance move. Today, I weigh in on the issue and provide some insight into what you can or can't protect in the band.
Resources:
Episode 24: Every Musician Needs an Intra-band Agreement
Episode 46: Protecting Your Music Through Copyright Registration
Episode 111: How to Get a Registered Trademark
When it comes to how you play shows and communicate with others, you should ask this fundamental question: are you trying to date them or marry them? Because that would have two very different approaches. Figure out what you want, then go do it...the right way.
Resources:
TEDxDupontCircleEd talk - Once Upon an App: An Online Dating Fairytale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY2QH_azjU4
If you wanted to create a daily routine for yourself, what would it include? Today's episode focuses on the 7 things you can do to dramatically improve your success and build your career in a sustainable way.
Resources:
Episode #202: How to Get Better Sleep on Tour
Episode #8: SMARTER Goals
How do you respond to news, trends, or memes? In today's recap, we discuss 3 episodes from this week that really came up as a result of viral content.
Listen to this week's episodes:
Episode #269 - Fake it til you make it? Why Buying Followers is a Bad Idea
Episode #270 - When Should You Keep Your Music a Secret?
Episode #271 - How Artists Can Respond to Spotify Wrapped 2018
Episode #272 - How to Recover From Mistakes
Episode #273 - CBD Oil and Its Effects on Musicians
Episode #274 - Interview: Julian David Stone on Photographing the Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and more
Other Resources:
Episode #40: Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music
Episode 118: Art and Activism
How do you respond to news, trends, or memes? In today's recap, we discuss 3 episodes from this week that really came up as a result of viral content.
Listen to this week's episodes:
Episode #269 - Fake it til you make it? Why Buying Followers is a Bad Idea
Episode #270 - When Should You Keep Your Music a Secret?
Episode #271 - How Artists Can Respond to Spotify Wrapped 2018
Episode #272 - How to Recover From Mistakes
Episode #273 - CBD Oil and Its Effects on Musicians
Episode #274 - Interview: Julian David Stone on Photographing the Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and more
Other Resources:
Episode #40: Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music
Episode 118: Art and Activism
In today's episode, we interview Julian David Stone.
While experiencing the adventures that make-up his latest book, No Cameras Allowed - My Career as an Outlaw Rock and Roll Photographer, Julian David Stone grew-up in the San Francisco bay area. Eventually he relocated to Los Angeles after spending his college years at the California Institute of the Arts. He has since written screenplays for Disney, Paramount, Sony and MGM, the full-length play, The Elvis Test, as well as making several short-form documentaries on Frank Sinatra, for the Warner Brothers. He is also the writer and director of the hit cult comedy feature film, Follow the Bitch, which has played to packed houses all around the country and received numerous awards. Recently he began writing books with his debut novel, The Strange Birth, Short life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl, about the world of the 1950’s live television, currently being turned into a TV series.
Resources:
For more information on Julian's work, see his website.
Favorite Books:
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Howl and Other Poems by Alan Ginsburg
At Work by Annie Lebowitz
Favorite Podcast:
WTF with Mark Maron
Everybody is talking about CBD oil right now but how does this supposed cure-all impact vocals? And speaking of drugs (natural or otherwise), how does that impact our ability to write or perform music? In this episode, I take a very business oriented approach to the science and trend of drugs.
Resources:
Science Vs. podcast on CBD Oil
Mic: Science Reveals What Drugs Really Do to Artists' Brains
Study: Stage Fright in Musicians: A Model Illustrating the Effect of Beta Blockers
Medical News Today: 10 tips for singers to keep voices at prime
Leader Live: 6 Vocal Myths
No one likes messing up, especially on stage. But the real mistake isn't the bad notes that we play: it's how we handle problems on stage. In today's episode, we get insights from industry legends like Robert Plana and Miles Davis on mistakes.
Resources:
Episode #4: Don't practice. Rehearse instead.
Episode #43: Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan
Spotify just released their annual cool year-in-review feature for listeners, Spotify Wrapped. So what can you do as an artist in response? Have you checked out the Spotify for Artists dashboard updates?
Resources:
Spotify Wrapped 2018
Spotify for Artists
Related episode: How to Get on Spotify Playlists
In today's episode, I wanted to speak to this idea that we should keep our best projects a secret. (Hint: we shouldn't)
Resources:
Article - Unsolicited Music Demos: How to Get in the Door of a Record Label
If you haven't heard the story of L.A based band Threatin, it's a fascinating one (read the latest here). It reminds me of another idea: fake followers and why I wanted to take a moment to remind you why having them is such a bad idea!
Resources:
Twitter Audit: https://www.twitteraudit.com/
Hype Auditor (Instagram): https://hypeauditor.com
In today's recap, we talk about my personal favorite ideas from the past week and h0w they ultimately contribute to the work of building systems (habits) for music business success.
Resources:
Episode #260 - Show Me, Don't Tell Me in Music
Episode #261 - How to Quit Your Day Job
Episode #262 - 5 Ways Artists Can Deal with Stress
Episode #263 - Why You Should Write Stuff Down
Episode #264 - Why You Should Double Your Performance Price
Episode #265 - There's a System for That
Episode #266 - Integrated Marketing Campaigns and Music
Episode #267 - Interview: How to Marketing Holiday Music with Carl Stuck
Carl Stuck is a songwriter and musician hailing from Louisville, Ky. For years a fixture in the Louisville music scene he has also done extensive touring with multiple bands through much of the U.S. and has worked with artists as diverse as Randy Owen of country supergroup Alabama and soulful American Idol winner Ruben Studdard among others. He currently works both as a solo artist and as the singer/guitarist of the progressive rock leaning Splintered Mind as well as playing guitar for the electronic Velvet Saints, and country Bryan Fox Band. He also regularly gigs as a sideman for several local acts playing guitar, bass, mandolin, and even cajon. When he’s not busy doing music you can find him trying to catch up on his sleep.
Resources:
Favorite Books:
Christopher McDougall - Born to Run
Decartes - Meditations and Other Metaphysical Writings
Stephen Hawking - A Brief History of Time
Favorite Podcasts: Bar Star, Shooting from the Lip, Song Exploder
Favorite Gear:
Taylor 300 series guitarAny acoustic with Fishman pickups
(Simon's recommendation: Fender Hellcat for an inexpensive acoustic with great electronics)
And be sure to check out Carl's website here: https://carlstuck.com/ and on social @carlstuck
If you've ever taken a marketing class, then you'd have heard of IMC, or integrated marketing campaigns/communications. The underlying idea is that it's about how many different marketing channels and distribution works together. But most of the time, it doesn't work because people fail to integrate the most important part of all: the customer. Today, let's talk about what this means for your music.
When something happens to you or you want to make something happen in your career, what do you do? Consider these situations: meeting an enthusiastic fan who has been changed by your life, reading a great article about music business, or connecting with someone at a conference: what is your system (habit) for following up and following through?
Related Episodes:
Episode #43 - Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan
How much do you charge for a performance? Have you thought about the strategy about your pricing? If it has only been based on the market rate (what venues offer or what similar rates you've received), I'd like to challenge you to think about changing your approach. And it all begins with doubling that number.
In today's episode, we cover the importance of documentation - especially when it comes to building up a sustainable music business.
Related Episode:
Episode #80 - Why Every Artist Should Have Timers Built Into Their Contracts
We know that creativity is great for dealing with stress...but what happens when creatives start feeling stress? It can often sap our creative juices. In today's episode, we discuss 5 powerful ways artists can combat stress.
In today's episode, we talk about the most crucial steps in getting ready to leave your day job. If you can handle being a fulltime musician, then need to consider some important steps about budgeting, support from loved ones, and knowing when to actually transform your career.
The first rule in any kind of creative writing us "Show me, don't tell me." How can you use this in your music business? Obviously, lyrics can be improved by having greater detail but you can also use storytelling techniques in your business correspondence and how you conduct live shows as well.
In today's episode, we talk about the best ideas from the past week - in this case, it has everything to do with focus and vision.
Related Episodes:
Episode #251 - Your Post-Success/Failure Plan
Episode #252 - Lessons Learned From Composing a Musical
Episode #253 - The 5/25 Rule
Episode #254 - How to Ask Better Questions to Get What You Want
Episode #255 - Political Rallies and the Use of Music
Episode #256 - Email Drip Campaign (Automated Marketing)
Episode #257 - How to Repurpose Social Media Content
Episode #258 - Interview: How Shannon Curtis Made $25k on a 2 Month House Concert Tour
Shannon Curtis is an artist who works as a songwriter, singer, storyteller, recording artist, speaker, and author. Her sixth studio album, entitled Both at the Same Time, is out now, and explores concepts of duality and of holding opposing truths in tension.
Curtis and her husband Jamie Hill’s pioneering development of their unique community-driven house concert touring format takes them on extensive nationwide house concert tours each year. Their how-to book on that method debuted in February 2014 at #1 on Amazon’s Music Business Best Sellers list. They have become popular speakers on the topic at music industry conferences, and they routinely mentor other artists on house concert touring and DIY business.
Buy the book here!
If you buy her book, send me the receipt and I'll send you both of my books!
Here’s the link to “Shannon & Jamie’s Art Revolution” email list: http://eepurl.com/drqp3j
Additional Resources:
Books discussed:
Dr. Brené Brown - The Gifts of Imperfection & Daring Greatly
Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic
Podcasts:
Pod Save America
Watch Shannon's TEDx talk here:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIjAKE_7Lg[/embed]
Today, I'm going to focus on specific tactics that you can use in order to repurpose some of your social media content. Some of this will be dealing specifically with optimization, while other areas of focus will be on efficiency.
Resources:
If This Then That
Automated marketing, drip campaigns, lifecycle emails...these are all terms you might have heard of. Even if you haven't, chances are you've been a part of the sales funnel that marketers have created in order to receive a series of email messages. So how can you take best practices from this area and adopt them into your own email practice?
Resources:
Episode #47: Email Marketing Hacks
Episode #91: 5 Ways to Guarantee Your Emails Will be Read
Article: How to Create Effective Email Drip Campaigns
Drip campaigns for:
Fanbridge
Constant Contact
MailChimp
Rihana and Axl Rose don't have much in common except one thing: displeasure at Donald Trump for having their music used at his rallies. In today's quick episode, we talk about how/when rallies can use your music and what you can (and can't do) to stop it from happening.
Related:
Episode #71: The Guide to Performing Rights Organizations: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC
Episode #46: Protecting Your Music Through Copyright Registration
In today's episode, I shared specific tactics for asking better questions so that you can get what you want (whether it is better customer service, tech support, or making a pitch).
In today's episode, we're going to begin with the activity first. So grab a paper and pencil and get ready to hit that pause button while we deal specifically with your top 25 goals as a musician. Then, we'll share Warren Buffet's secret on getting more done.
I'm working on a musical! It was never really expected to happen but here I am...and of course, it also comes with lessons that I've found helpful to apply in other areas of the music business as well. Today, I'm sharing my top 5 lessons learned.
Resources:
Episode #97: Storytelling part 1
After a major election, there is usually a group who is elated and one who is in despair. Where they are going - towards greater success or failure - actually depends on perspective. In today's episode, I talk about that perspective and what we can learn to adjust to the major events in our careers.
Tabitha Rhys is the author of Love, Music, Madness, a novel about a songwriters whose music journey takes him across the country and behind the mixing board. Although entirely a work of fiction, Love, Music, Madness is inspired by Tabitha’s adventures on the road as an independent musician and in DIY studios during the rise of the digital recording revolution. Tabitha grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, but has spent most of her adult life on the West Coast and now calls Riverside, CA home. When she isn't exploring her adopted city with her toddler son, Tabitha is hard at work on her next novel.
Resources:Book Trailer: bit.ly/LoveMusicMadnessBookTrailer
Order the book Love, Music, Madness: http://bit.ly/LoveMusicMadness
Tabitha on Facebook and Twitter
Website: tabitharhys.com
Subscribe to Tabitha Rhys' mailing list by the end of the day on November 6th to receive a free download of her song "California." To sign up and get details, visit Tabitha's Facebook page.
Tabitha's favorite books:
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Talent is Never Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent by John Maxwell
Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers From Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
Favorite Podcasts:
The Daily
History Chicks
Our Fake History
In today's episode, I reflect on what it means to "home" as a musician (and when we need to do some remodeling work on our business).
Resources:
Episode #118 - Art and Activism
Episode #243 - How to Tour Lighter
Episode #244 - How to Launch
Episode #245 - Putting All Your Eggs Into One Basket
Episode #246 - The Best Hack for Getting More Time and Efficiency
Episode #247 - The World's Worst Manager
Episode #248 - What You Can Learn from The Elections (battle of the bands)
Today's episode focuses on the upcoming elections and what we can learn from candidates vying for your support. From Battle of the Bands, reality tv shows, or trying to get fans to support your work in some kind of way, we have a bit that we can learn from political candidates building a platform.
In today's episode, we focus what trais actually make the world's worst manager. What are they like? How do they treat an artist? What responsibilities are they avoiding? In reality, we're our own manager...so we might as well be the best that we can be.
Resources:
The World's Worst Boss by Seth Godin
Music Business Hacks #Episode 8: SMARTER Goals
Proverbial wisdom will tell you that getting up earlier allows you to get more done...but is that true? Today, we talk about how and when you can work your best as well as find other ways to get another 5,100 hours each year to develop your music career.
Musicians like singular ideas and actions. Whether it is a new social media trend, booking SXSW, or trying to get on more playlists, we think these are all magic bullets that can guarantee success. However, those are just different baskets - and we need to avoid going all in on any particular strategy.
P.S: If you want to see my newest entrepreneurial effort, visit www.gimigeek.com
In this episode, we talk about strategies for helping launch a new effort: whether it is a cd release, a new music video, or kicking off a tour, you'll want to have a specific plan in mind for creating the momentum that your music project deserves.
In today's episode, we talk about how you can tour with less stuff on the road. Really, you have three options: downsizing your gear, working with a strategic partnership, or borrowing it. What makes the most sense for you?
Resources:
Here are some of my favorite things that are portable and sound great.
Guitar amp: ZT Amplifiers (especially the lunchbox), Fender Mustang III (1x12 is fine)
Bass amps: Markbass CMD121P or Ninja 102 250, Fender Rumble 250. I also love the Sansamp.
Drums: Pearl Compact Traveler busking kit
Episode #3: How to Get a Sponsorship pt. 1 - Creating Partnerships
Episode #22: How to Get a Sponsorship pt. 2 - Making the Approach
Fender Rumble 250
Today's episode is a highlight reel of some of the most important topics covered over the past 16 episodes (at least in my opinion and based on listenership). If you've missed some, now is a good time to get a review for a mini-music business cram school.
By the way, be sure to check out We Are the Northern Light's new single out today! Here's the link on Spotify
Resources:
Episode #225 - Interview: We Are the Northern Lights
Episode #226 - How to Feel More Fulfillment as an Artist
Episode #227 - How to Provide a Legitimate Excuse and Balance Responsibilities
Episode #228 - How Tim Ferris and Malcolm Gladwell Conquer Fears
Episode #229 - How to Create a Facebook In-Stream Video Ad -
Episode #230 - 5 Things That Prevent Musicians From Growing
Episode #231 - Unique Songwriting Advice from Tom Waits
Episode #232 - How Successful Artists Spend Their Free Time
Episode #233 - The 2 Reasons Why Artists Aren’t Seeing Results on Social Media
Episode #234 - How to Make the Most Out of Small Shows
Episode #235 - There's More Than One Way Into SXSW
Episode #236 - How Important is Image in Music?
Episode #237 - The Best Non-Music Business Books for Music Business
Episode #238 - How to Use FOMO to Get More Fans to Your Shows
Episode #239 - Who Owns Your Name and Your Music?
Episode #240 - Free Speech and Music: My Speech at Duquesne University
Episode #241 - Self-Care for Introverts Who Tour
Today's episode is for the introverts out there: you're not alone (even if you want to be). Touring can be extra tough for us so be sure to pay attention and work on some new habits before you hit the road!
Resources:
My favorite earplugs for sleeping: Mack's Ultrasoft -32db ear plugs
My favorite eye mask: Bedtime Bliss
Meditation app: Headspace
Book: Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Today's episode contains some of my remarks from the National Conference on Free Speech at Duquesne University, shared earlier in the day (October 21st). I believe the First Amendment is something that is important for all creators, especially to push for social change. I hope you enjoy this talk and my story.
Today's episode was inspired by Jet Li: it is a reminder to review who owns what. When it comes to things like your music, your name, and even your images, it's important to know (and not just assume) who owns what, especially if you have licensing/distribution deals, work in a band or partnership, and are actively touring.
Resources:
Why Jet Li Turned Down the Matrix (article)
Episode #111: How to Get a Registered Trademark
Episode #46: Protecting Your Music Through Copyright Registration
Episode #24: Every Musician Needs an Intraband Agreement
Need an attorney to help you through this all? Try Ron Coleman, he's the best.
FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out, is a powerful human emotion that gets people to act. Have you ever thought about the principles behind it and how you can use it to sell more tickets, get more fans to sign up on your mailing list, or to help with your crowdfunding campaign? Today, talk about 6 ways you can use FOMO in your music business.
Resources:
Free book: Music Business Hacks
Episode #51: The Science of Persuasion
In today's episode, I talk about my favorite and most influential non-music business books that have radically changed my own outlook and approach to music business.
Resources:
Music Business Hacks (free download!)
Books mentioned:
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin
The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Today, we talk about how image impacts music, especially the unconscious signals that we provide to others. Image is more than just the clothes you wear: it also is your venue, your lighting, what the merch tables looks like, and how you physically perform your music. As you think about what image is, consider how you can control the signals you send.
Resources:
Free Book: Music Business Hacks
Akimbo podcast: Honest Signals
Huffington Post article: Musicians’ Appearances Matter More Than Their Sound, Study Suggests
In today's episode, I go a bit deeper into the idea of finding unconventional ways into the opportunities we're seeking. Whether it is SXSW, Sundance, or a particular college where you'd like to perform, we should approach opportunities with creativity and enthusiasm.
Resources:
Episode 30: Hacks for Booking Colleges
Episode 165: How to Book Conventions and Trade Shows
This past weekend, I caught an unexpected show while eating dinner at a restaurant. It definitely wasn't the environment for a performer but many of us have been there before. In today's episode, we talk about how to make the most out of those situations and turn them around.
This week, we learned of how Taylor Swift was able to get record-breaking numbers of people to register to vote with a single Instagram post. This inspired me to do an episode of the things holding artists back from seeing the kinds of results they'd like, the return on investment we hope for, on social media.
Resources:
Episode 97 – Storytelling pt. 1: Creating an Emotional Arc
Episode 98 – Storytelling pt. 2: Writing Great Lyrics (with advice from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Lin-Manual Miranda, and Leonard Cohen)
Episode 99 – Storytelling pt. 3: How to Write a Better Biography
Episode 100 – Storytelling pt. 4: Making a Better Live Show with Story
Episode 101 – Storytelling pt. 5: How to Use Storytelling Techniques in Social Media and Marketing
Episode 102 – Interview with Joe X. Jiang on How Filmmakers Use Story (and What Musicians Can Learn From Them)
Extra Gum commercial:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLpDiIVX0Wo[/embed]
In today's episode, we discuss the habits of successful artists who have built a sustainable career and how they parallel with the best practices of entrepreneurs. How do you spend your free time?
Tom Waits is one of the most celebrated and prolific songwriters of our time. He's known for innovative songs as well as unconventional songwriting practices. Today, we discuss some of his songwriting advice to other artists.
Resources:
Episode 53: Songwriting Secrets from Max Martin
Episode 98: Storytelling part 2: Lyrics
Episode 139: Rules for Songwriting Sessions
Today, we talk about the 5 most common reasons why artists feel stagnant in their music careers and what they can do to overcome the things that are holding them back from enjoying the success they work so hard for.
In which we discuss how you can create your own video ad that appears mid-stream in others' content. Remember the four most important concepts: audience, content that creates emotional responses, placement, and monitoring/editing.
In today's episode, I share advice about performance from two influential thinkers: Malcolm Gladwell and Tim Ferris. Each has their own approach for dealing with nervousness and anxiety but both are related to the classic philosophy of stoicism. You can take these concepts from the studio to the stage and enhance your overall performance while reducing nerves.
Resources:
Malcolm Gladwell on Ariana Huffington's Thrive podcast
Tim Ferris TED talk
Today's episode answers a question submitted by a listener on how artists can provide excuses in order to get away from other obligations: work, school, etc. In addition to answering the question, we focus on the bigger question of balancing relationships and responsibilities.
In this episode, we talk about joy: how to stay feeling fulfilled so that we have the motivation and satisfaction in doing our work in the music industry. It's easy to fall into ruts, to lose focus, or feel disappointment when things don't go our way - so let's create a healthier approach in preparing for those moments so we don't falter.
Today's interview is with We Are The Northern Lights.
“They say lightning never strikes the same place twice…” unless, of course, you are We Are The Northern Lights, the self-proclaimed “accidental passion project” of indie popfolk duo Hadar Orshalimy and Sheldon Low. With tight harmonies, melodic hooks and personal lyrics that draw comparisons to The Lumineers and The Civil Wars, as well as two of their four placements in film and television less than a year after WATNL’s creation, it’s hard to imagine anything about the project being “accidental.”
Check out We Are The Northern Lights:
Website: http://www.wearethenorthernlights.com
On Facebook
On Instagram
On YouTube
Resources:
Book: No Booker, No Bouncer, No Bartender: How I Made $25K On A 2-Month House Concert Tour by Shannon Curtis
Book: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
Book: How to Make it in the Music Business by Ari Hearstand
Book: What Happened by Hillary Clinton
Book: The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
ZT Amplifiers (loud, portable amps)
In today's monthly recap, we talk about the best ideas from the four weeks. September was a month of building blocks: essentials that artists should know as well as essential qualities that make someone a great entrepreneur. From perspective to problem-solving, there are many things that aren't taught in traditional music programs or MBA programs but things you out to know...that's why we cover them on this show. I believe that being a successful artist involves critical skills in writing/performing music as well as personality traits that can be cultivated, such as curiosity, persistence, and innovation. Some of the episodes you'll definitely want to give (another) spin include: Episode #198: How to Captivate an Audience from Start to Finish Episode #200: Becoming a Lifelong Learner Episode #205: Hacks for Merch Booths Episode #208: 3 Qualities Every Artist Needs for Success Episode #209: How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 1 Episode #210: How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 2 Episode #216: 4 Traits Every Musicpreneur Needs to Have
Building on our previous episodes on using Instagram, today we discuss specific tactics and ideas to use Instagram Stories as an artist. We don't spend much time focusing on benefits or basics - for those, check out this great article from Buffer. If you want to take your Instagram game to the next level, you don't want to miss this episode.
Today, we talk about how you can master the art of Instagram Live as an artist. Whether it is promoting your new giveaway as we discussed in Episode #221 or your upcoming release, we focus on the key concepts you need to know. Resources: Best cellphone gimball stabilizer Blue Raspberry Mobile Microphone (for phones, tablets, and PCs)
We discuss the most effective and legal ways of hosting a giveaway on Instagram (yep, there are rules). Resources: Instagram Promotion Guidelines (link) Example caption of terms: This is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s term of use.
In this episode, I sit down with Elizabeth to answer questions about her career: everything from diversifying revenue streams to increasing effectiveness in her marketing. Chances are that many of the questions she had are also relevant to you as well! About Elizabeth: Singer, songwriter, pianist…a true artist, Elizabeth Eckert was discovered by five-time Grammy Award Winning producer Paul Worley, who upon hearing her for the first time declared she “bends music to her will, note by note.” Her indie-pop sound is reminiscent of Ingrid Michelson with the added "realness" of Sheryl Crow. Elizabeth's training as a pianist started at the age of 3 and culminated in a performance at Carnegie Hall as a teenager, and her career is an inspiring example of classical training with commercial success. A proud graduate of Indiana University as shown in her first single "Bloomington," Elizabeth appears at IU events regularly, and can usually be found on a sailboat when she's not making music. Be sure to check out her work here: EEckertMusic.com facebook.com/EEckertMusic instagram.com/EEckertMusic twitter.com/EEckertMusic Resources: More information about artist consultation work I do here. Episode #140: How to Create an Advisory Board for Your Band Episode #166: How to Book a Tour Overseas Episode #212: How Mentoring Others Will Keep You Motivated
Today, we look at DIY Crafter and YouTube video star LaurDIY, and how she was able to develop a successful business enterprise by using consistency, quality, and innovation. Artists take note: if you want to make a splash with your own channels, you can learn from her best practices to apply them into your own career.
Artists need to learn how to say no more often. In today's episode, we talk about the benefits of turning down gigs and interviews so that you can better focus on projects. We'll also talk about a better way of saying no so you can develop relationships (instead of hurt feelings)
Do you wonder how to get your music on Spotify playlists? Today, we talk about specific strategies that will help you get added onto more Spotify playlists so not only will you earn more revenue through streaming, but so you'll get discovered as well. Resources: Spotify for Artists
I believe that every entrepreneur is a problem solver. Today, we talk about what the skill means and how you can incorporate four key traits that every entrepreneur shares into your own career. Resources: Episode #8: SMARTER Goals Episode #212: How Mentoring Others Will Keep You Motivated
Today, we talk about how and why musicians should actively be using Pinterest to help their music careers. Whether you choose to actively engage in this community or not, you can still set things up to help capture more fans by following these principles. Also, if you'd like to check out Episode 38 of the Music Jobs Podcast, I share my own story of how I started a record label at age 13 and what I did to manage The Slants to success.
In today's recap, we talk about the running theme of awareness, persistence, and curiosity and how those three traits can drive engagement and success in the music industry. Episodes: Episode #208 - 3 Qualities Every Artist Needs for Success Episode #209 - How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 1 Episode #210 - How to Increase Your Creativity pt. 2 Episode #211 - Why Facebook Reach is Declining and What You Can Do About It Episode #212 - How Mentoring Others Will Keep You Motivated Episode #213 - How Manafest Sold Over 15,000 CDs Through Facebook Ads
Manafest is a barrier breaking singer, songwriter, rapper, author and skater. He effortlessly merges rock, rap and pop throughout his music, carefully assembling experiences and compelling inspirations that speak to a wide variety of fans across the globe. His unique style has garnered him notable achievements such as four JUNO nominations, multiple GMA Dove nominations and a slew of GMA Canada Covenant awards. His music has been featured in the NFL, video games, throughout television shows such as Knight Rider, One Tree Hill and MTV Unplugged, and most recently in the movie Hard Target 2. His intelligent and contagious music has sold over 300,000 albums worldwide and has brought him to perform over 1,000 shows across 4 continents. Resources: Smart Music Business Songs Promotions Guide Manafest's Music Promotion and Marketing Strategies video Manafest video: Get a Free CD Sent to Your Door Favorite Books: Bible (New International Version) and (New King James version) Rich Dad Poor Dad How to Reach Your Life Goals by Peter J Daniels Best Small Purchase: Notebook
Mentoring relationships are critical. Of course, we want a mentor to guide us through this difficult industry. However, have you thought about taking on a mentee yourself and how that might impact your own career?
If your Facebook numbers aren't looking great these days, you're not alone. Across the board, reach and engagement is down across industries. In this episode, we talk about what you can do specifically to buck this trend. Resources: Is Facebook Reach Really On a Downward Spiral?Argora Pulse: (article)
Today is part 2 of our series on scientifically backed ways to increase your creativity. As creatives and artists, creativity is the source of our art, so let's discuss new ways to discover our brain-growing activities!
In today's episode, we're going to geek out about science and how it can be used to build stronger neuron connections, the kind that drive creativity. Let's flex those creative muscles! Resources: Online classes: Coursera Udemy
Awareness, persistence, curiosity. These three qualities are what every successful artist and entrepreneur shares. Today, we talk about how you can develop these traits in yourself. Resources: Entrepreneur article: 3 Traits Vital to Success
In today's episode, we talk about strategic application of diversity: everything from using different perspectives and approaching a diverse set of artist needs to actually applying principles of diversity and inclusion into everything that you do. Resources: Episode #201: How and Why Artists Should Have an Inclusion Rider Episode #202: How to Get Better Sleep on Tour Episode #203: The Best Exercise for Singers Episode #204: How Musicians Can Stop Wasting Time Episode #205: Hacks for Merch Booths at Conventions, Street Fairs, and Events Episode #206: Your Music Business Questions, Answered
Today, I answer some of the questions that have been coming in about my approach to the music industry, advice about labels, and how to fund an arts career.
Today, we focus on developing strategies and tactics to make more at non-music venue events such as music festivals, conventions and trade shows, and street fairs. If you want more information about booking conventions, check out Episode #165. Remember the big 7: 1. Location 2. Visual 3. Interactive 4. 15 Seconds 5. Giveaways 6. Presentations 7. Follow up
Today, we talk about productivity. What are the biggest time-killers for artists and what can we do to increase productivity?
Today, we talk about the best kinds of physical exercises for singers. Yes, it's good to have proper vocal technique through warm-ups and runs, but aerobic exercise, weightlifting, and yoga can have a positive (or negative) impact on your voice as well. Today, we talk about what can help you work on your most important instrument: your voice. Resources: Is Lifting Weights Good For Your Voice? (article by Cari Cole)
In today's episode, we talk about 7 specific tactics that artists can adopt to be in peak performance condition through better sleep...which can sometimes be tough to get on the road. Resources: Molded Swimmer's Ear Plugs - Better seal and comfort when sleeping Asutra Silk Eye Mask with Lavender - Super comfy, soothing aroma Nature Made 3mg melatonin - Lighter dose
This week, Warner Bros. announced their approach to having an "inclusion rider." How can music artists learn more from this movement and incorporate this kind of value into their own approach? Today, we talk about how and why every artist should have an inclusion rider. Resources: Episode #118 - Art and Activism
Today, I recap the best ideas shared over the past week and reflect on what it means to be a lifelong learner when it comes to improving our music music careers. This week's episodes: Episode #194 - Two SEO hacks for bands Episode #195 - How to Properly Advance Every Show Episode #196 - Why Music Genealogy is Important to Your Music Episode #197 - How to Create the Best Stage Plot and Input List Episode #198 - How to Captivate an Audience from Start to Finish Episode #199 - Interview: What Working Security for Venues Taught Darren Linder About the Music Business
Darren Linder is drummer for Portland band, The Shrike. But in addition to handling percussion, he is the band's primary lyricist, handles the booking, and serves as the tour manager. When not on stage with The Shrike, he works security at some of Portland's most popular venues and ends up working with acts like George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars. As such, he's gained all kinds of insights into a side of the music industry that not many artists see but really should be paying attention to. Resources: Darren's blog The Shrike official website Book: The Touring Musician: A Small-Business Approach to Booking Your Band on the Road by Hal Galper Book: How To Make It in the New Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician by Ari Herstand Book: Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis Podcast: PDXISH Podcast: Am I Crazy or Just Raving?
Today, we talk about what it takes to captivate an audience. What grabs their attention? What keeps them engaged? How can you do more than simply playing a set of songs? Related Episodes: Episode 2: Don't practice. Rehearse Instead Episode 94: 2 Things Holding Artists Back at Live Shows Episode 100: Storytelling part 4: the Live Show Episode 189: How Musicians Can Improve Their Stage Banter
If you're playing live shows, you should have an updated stage plot and input list that is accurate, easy to read, and specific to your performance. In today's episode, we talk about best practices in creating these crucial documents that you should be runishing to every sound engineer that you work with. Resources: Stage plot software: Band Helper (Android app) Stage Plot Designer (free) Stage Plot Maker (for iPhone and iPad) StagePlot Pro (best software but costs ~$5) Tecrider (free) Input List Creating an input list (article + free template)
Music genealogy is the study of where music came from: how did certain movements and genres arise and what are the qualities of certain types of music? Today, we talk about how this study can impact your music. Resources: MusicMap Pandora How to Submit Music on Pandora
When it comes to your shows, you want to make sure that every detail is covered and confirmed before you get there. Having details in writing will make sure things are a little smoother and so there's fewer surprises when it comes to your set time, how you get paid, and what's expected from you and the venue.
Today, we talk about two things you can do right now to dramatically increase your ranking on Google and YouTube.
In today's episode, we talk about some of the best ideas discussed over the past month. Everything from the big themes like getting sponsorships to side hustles and basics and booking. It's time to see where you are after 192 episodes of following this podcast and hacking your way through the music industry! Resources: Episode 191: How to Overcome Self-Doubt Episode 186: Recap: How to Get a Sponsorship Deal Episode 177: Recap: Musician Side Hustles Episode 170: Recap: Handling the Scattered Musician Mind
Currently in the studio recording toward what will be her next album, singer/songwriter/guitarist Frankie Raye is based in the greater Tampa Bay area and has played 30 cities and 100-plus venues in Florida. She also performed at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, in late January. In May of this year she performed at the 2018 Key Largo Original Music Festival. Soon after that she did a successful performance in conjunction with a Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Baseball) game that resulted in multiple re-bookings.
In August alone Frankie has 29 bookings and routinely averages well over 20 dates per month, having been on stages ranging from the Hard Rock in Tampa to the Ritz Carlton in Naples to a festival on the northeast coast of Florida. She has been featured on ABC and CBS-TV affiliate morning talk shows, and gotten her music into radio rotation.
Frankie released her first official album in 2016, with worldwide distribution, although she had put out a ten-song, self-produced/independently distributed release entitled, “Chapters” in 2014. She writes, sings, plays guitar, and has started to dabble a bit with the mandolin. You can find her online at www.FrankieRaye.com
Resources: Sites for booking: Go Tonight Indie on the Move Website for Bands/EPK: Bandzoogle For vocal health: Vicks handheld humidifier Throat coat tea Loquat syrup Books: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK by Mark Manson
You're not alone: almost every artist is filled with doubt about their vocation and passion. In today's episode, I want to focus on 8 specific strategies in dealing with imposter syndrome and how you can turn that doubt into empowerment instead.
If what you believe is your niche is shared by many others, how do you set yourself apart? If you're unsure of what makes you unique, how do carve out your own niche? In today's episode, I provide a set of questions to help you figure out what makes you different. Resources: Episode 16: How to Hack Yelp for Your Music
We've all been to shows where the music might be great but any kind of conversation between songs is lackluster. Remember, audiences don't just want a collection of songs: they want a show, from beginning to end, so it's important to learn how to improve those moments as well. In today's episode, we talk about creating moments, building anticipation, and how to connect better with the people watching you play. Resources: Episode 100: Storytelling Part 4: The Live Show as a Story
Yes, it's important to work hard. But its just as important to work smarter. Today, we talk about the secret to doing both.
I delivered one of the main addresses at the CD Baby D.I.Y Musician Conference in Nashville, TN on social media hacks. Really, the principles that I love sharing can be applied across multiple areas in your music career: pitching, getting shows, securing sponsorships, and of course, building a solid social media brand. Enjoy this talk + FAQ.
For the past 8 episodes, we've been talking about sponsorship hacks - everything from pitching a potential sponsor to expanding your network. But really, it all comes down to one thing... Episodes this week: #178 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 1 - How to Pitch Sponsors #179 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 2- Creating a Compelling Story #180 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 3 - Finding Your "It Factor" #181 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 4 - Connecting with Sponsors #182 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 5 - Making Your List of Sponsors #183 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 6 - Places to Find Even More Sponsors #184 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 7 - How to Ask for What You Want #185 - Interview: How Whitherward God Subaru to Sponsor Their European Tour Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
Today we sit down with indie-folk/Americana band, Whitherward. Their inspirational story highlights a creative approach to building a sustainable career with many best practices in booking and sponsorship. List for a jam-packed episode full of great insights in taking your career to the next level! For more information on Whitherward, check out: Website: whitherward.com Bandcamp: whitherward.bandcamp.com YouTube: youtube.com//whitherwardmusic Facebook: facebook.com/whitherwardmusic Twitter: twitter.com/whitherwardband Instagram: @whitherwardontour Patreon: patreon.com/whitherward Tumblr: whitherwardmusic.tumblr.com Resources: Booking shows: Indie on the Move Concerts in Your Home database Ashley's phone videography: LG V30 (unlocked) Favorite books: Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4) Book: The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmerv Book: Myst: The Book of Atrus by Miller, Miller, and Wingrove Book: Ascent of the A-word by Geoffrey Nunberg Favorite podcasts: Stuff You Should Know Unqualified Lingthusiasm Now Hear This Other cool stuff: Flexible camera/phone tripod Switcher Studio (multi-angle video switching)
In today's episode, we talk about how to get what you want. When it comes to sponsorships and endorsement deals, how do you ask? Resources Episode #3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.1: Creating Partnerships Episode #22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.2:How to Make the Approach Episode #9 - Perfecting Your Pitch Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
We're building on the techniques discussed this week to talk about even more places where you can fin potential partners for your music. This time, we're looking beyond your network. Resources: Episode #182 - Hacking Sponsorships pt. 5 - Making Your List of Sponsors Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
Today, we're going to focus on an activity that could help you find your connections and lead to your first sponsorship deals. Resources: Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
So you've created a compelling pitch. You understand what makes you unique. Now, it's time to demonstrate how a partnership with your sponsorship prospect can be truly unique. In today's episode, we talk about where to find those connections. Resources: Episode #143:The Ultimate Sponsorship Report: POP Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
In today's episode, we focus on activities designed specifically for you to find your "it factor," that which makes you unique and compelling in the eyes of a potential sponsor. Resources: Episode #9 - Perfecting Your Pitch Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
Today, we talk about how you can create a compelling story when delivering a presentation to the sponsor prospect. How can you use the principles of storytelling and pitching to close the sale so your next album, tour, or effort can be funded? Resources: Episode #97 - Storytelling Tips pt 1: Creating an Emotional Arc Article: Copy Hollywood's 3 Act Structure to Make Your Pitch Irresistible Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
Let's get into specific details on getting a sponsor for your music. How do you pitch them? What should you know before sending that email or picking up the phone? Today, we kick off a new series specifically on getting partnerships by the way of sponsorship. Resources: Episode #3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.1: Creating Partnerships Episode #22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.2:How to Make the Approach Episode #9 - Perfecting Your Pitch Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements (print edition is $7, ebook is $4)
This week, we explored the ideas of having a side hustle, both in and outside of the music industry so that you can create more opportunities for yourself, enjoy additional income, and have more flexibility. Today, we talk about some of the biggest ideas that have surfaced. This Week's Episodes: Episode #171: Musician Side Hustles pt. 1: How to Get Started Episode #172: Musician Side Hustles pt. 2 - Hustles in the music industry Episode #173: Musician Side Hustles pt. 3 - Using Your Skills in Other Ways Episode #174: Musician Side Hustles pt. 4 - How to Balance a Side Hustle Episode #175: Musician Side Hustles pt. 5 - Big Ideas for Any Musician Episode #176: Interview: How Tyler Chen Doubled His Income with Side Hustles While Touring in The Slants
In today's episode, we speak with Tyler Chen about doubling his income with side hustles (while touring around the world in The Slants), working through band dynamics filled with strong personalities, and balancing a marriage as a musician and entrepreneur. About Tyler Chen: Tyler Chen is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist musician, audio engineer, music/video/media producer, web/graphic designer, photographer, UX/UI specialist, and marketing consultant. Tyler is best known around the world as the hard-hitting drummer and backup vocalist for the critically acclaimed bands: The Slants, Silversafe and Redshift. He has performed across the globe, headlining showcases at festivals such as SXSW, MusicfestNW, and New Music West, and has shared the stage with groups such as Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Powerman 5000, Hurt, The Exies, Nonpoint, Metal Church, Men Without Hats, Shonen Knife, Mindless Self Indulgence and Alien Ant Farm. Along with his bands, he has been featured on Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco, BBC, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, NBC, IFC TV, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Huffington Post, MTV, TEDx, and over 1,500 radio stations, TV shows, magazines, and websites across 82 countries, and proudly endorses Ahead Drumsticks, Allegra Drums, Gibson, Fender, Orange Amplifiers, Dunlop, Seymour Duncan, PreSonus, and Audix Microphones. Even before graduating with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Audio Engineering, Media Production and Marketing from The Evergreen State College, Tyler had begun working as a freelancer. Since 2000, he has provided marketing, advertising, web development, design, video production, UX/UI, audio engineering, and photography services to numerous small and large businesses across the Northwest. For more information, including links to Tyler's social media, check out www.tylerchen.net Resources from this episode: Apps for helping with freelance work, automation, and side hustles: Google Calendar Nest App (for remote management of your home) Linda.com (resource for online learning) Coursera (e-learning programs) Udemy (online classes on all subjects) Toggl (Time tracking software) Products to help with creating a rental: Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub Schlage Smart/Wi-fi Enabled Door Lock Other recommended stuff we discuss: The Five Love Languages (book by Gary Chapman) SKB Roto X cases (snare, kick, etc) Makita Roto-Hammer (bust through concrete!)
The great thing about trying side hustles (in addition to making new streams of income for yourself) is that you can apply the principles directly into your music business. Today, we're going to focus on the big three ideas of side hustling and how you can use those lessons to shape the future of your music career.
Today's episode is really about musician time management skills. These best practices are universal and will help you no matter the stage of your music career or if you even have a side hustle. Resources: Article: How to Create Canned Responses in Gmail Episode #108: How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life Episode #45: Pareto Principle
It takes a lot o run a music business. Chances are, you know a thing or two about building websites, designing products, social media, and connecting with audiences. In today's episode, we talk about how you can leverage all of these skills to create a profitable side hustle. Resources: Article: How Starting a Side Hustle Could Be Your Best Investment Yet Design and Sell Your Own Stuff at: Merch by Amazon, Threadless, Society 6, Red Bubble, and Cafe Press. Learn how to become an influencer by listening to Episode 127 Sign up for Amazon's Affiliate Influencer Marketing Program
In part 2 of our musician side hustle series, we talk about untapped sources of income for you in the music industry. These gigs are especially great because they help you network, build critical relationships for your own music career, and can be built from existing assets. Resources: Want to write stock music? Check out Audio Jungle and Pond 5. Want to know more about licensing music? Check out Episode 92: 5 Tips to Get Your Music Licensed for TV, Film, and Video Games Got something to teach? Check out Udemy
These days, our social media feeds and business news sites are filled with inspirational stories of side hustles. How can musicians benefit from a side hustle? What if music is the side hustle? Today, we talk about developing ideas that can bring you reoccurring income using your passion, assets, and ideas. Resources: Article: 99 Side Hustle Business Ideas You Can Try Today (Side Hustle Nation) Article: 50 Side Hustle Ideas to Get You Started (Side Hustle School) Podcast: Side Hustle School Podcast: The Pitch Podcast: Masters of Scale Book: Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days Also, rent out your car with Turo.
This week, we covered a variety of topics than spanned from music business management to music creation. Just like in real life, our work often doesn't fit neatly into themes. I wanted to touch on a couple of different key areas important to building your career. Resources: Episode #164 - How to Create Better Melodies Episode #165 - How to Book Conventions and Trade Shows Episode #166 - How to Book a Tour Overseas Episode #167 - How to Kick Out a Band Member Episode #168 - How to Turn Fans Into Social Media Brand Ambassadors Episode #169 - Answering the Most Often-Asked Questions About Music Business
Today, I answer some of the most often-asked questions about the music industry and being a musician. Questions like: * How do I get a record deal? * How do I get more people to listen to my music? * Should I relocate for my music career? * How do I get guarantees for my show? How do I get paid more per show? * How do I know when I should quit my job?
If you want more information about getting a sponsor, check out my ebook on the subject for $4 (the paper back is $6.99)
The success of social media these days depends on having great content that is engaging to your followers. If they aren't leaving comments or re-sharing, it's going to be largely ignored. In today's episode, we talk about how you can create "brand ambassadors" or "true fans" to help your social media soar. Resources: 1000 True Fans Theory by Kevin Kelly (article) SocialRank (social media ranking tool) Klout (social media influencer rating tool) Rise.Global (gamification tool) Episode #127 - Musicians and Affiliate/Influencer Marketing
It happens: there's a disagreement or creative differences...and someone who is dragging the group down needs to be let go. In today's episode, we talk about what you can do to prevent this kind of situation but how to deal with it ethically and legally if/when you kick someone out. Do you have that intraband agreement handy? Resources: Episode #24 - Why Every Band Should Have an Intraband Agreement
Most musicians love the idea of crossing the ocean on an airplane to tour a completely different market: you can make new fans, experience different culture, and come home with a coveted status of being an "international artist." But what does it take and how can you be strategic about doing so? Today, we break down touring internationally step by step. Resources: Episode #36 - How to Book Your Band's Tour, Step by Step Episode #2 - How to Book Better Shows Episode #165 - How to Book Conventions and Trade Shows Episode #130 - How to Start a Nonprofit Organization My favorite overseas festival: Spring Scream
Corporate gigs, conventions, and trade shows can be provide lucrative opportunities for performers....yet no one really talks about them. If you can combine an event with a unique niche or demographic, you can end up making some serious cash (and perform for many people). Check out today's episode on how to hack booking conventions. Resources: Conference Monkey Database Absolute Exhibits Top 100 Trade Shows (U.S.) All Conference Alert (international) 10 Times conference database (international) Conferences for Event Planners Also: Gig Masters (database of bands/DJs for hire for corporate events)
In today's episode, we talk about two ways to create better melodies in your music. Whether it's a vocal melody, guitar riff, or keyboard lead, these are some simple ways to expand your creativity in order to make better music.
In today's episode, we cover some of the best, random ideas of the month...and end up figuring out that the common theme seems to be creating a unique, unexplored path for hacking the music business. Here are the episodes covered: Episode #152 - How Birthday Targeting on Facebook Works to Promote Your Music & Shows Episode #153 - How to Stand Out in an Overly Crowded Marketplace Episode #154 - Musician morning routines Episode #155 - 5 Hacks for Filling in Gaps on Your Tour Episode #156 - How to Scale Your Music Business Episode #157 - How to Stay Creative When You're Distracted Episode #158 - How to Be Self-Made Musician Episode #159 - How to Deal With Other Acts Who Have a Similar Name Episode #160 - Hacks for Doing Laundry on Tour Episode #161 - How to Get Better Pricing on Music Gear Episode #162 - Interview: Music Business for Rule Breakers with Damian Keyes
Damian is a social media strategist and a newly emerged influencer with fresh perspectives on using online tools for business growth. Damian graduated from music college at 19 and then joined the core team that grew the same college from 50 students to 800 before leaving at 23 to set up The Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM). This is now the biggest independent provider for full time music education in the world valued at an excess of £60M. He is also the founder/director of DK Music Management, which is the UK’s largest commercial band management company, and Warble Entertainment, the largest commercial entertainment agency in the UK. Following this Damian used his experiences in business and music to begin creating daily content for artists hoping to grow their social media audience. This has expanded into a large online platform for anyone needing advice on their online strategy. This year Damian launched his book ‘The Rule-Breakers Guide to Social Media’ as another resource on this topic, which has become the no.1 bestseller in marketing on Amazon. Be it in business or music, Damian is the go-to man for navigating the new social media landscape. Resources: The Rule Breakers Guide to Social Media - Book by Damian Keyes damiankeyes.com - Official website for Damian Keyes youtube.com/user/Damiankeyes - Damian Keyes' Youtube channel Books recommended by Damian: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter A Book About Innocent: Our Story and Some Things We Learned by Innocent Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin
In today's episode, we talk about buying strategies that help save your hard-earned cash at the music store. Resources and Notes: Episode #3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt.1: Creating Partnerships Episode #22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt. 2 How to Make the Approach Episode #31 - How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers Episode #143 - The Ultimate Sponsorship Report: POP
Dealing with smelly socks and underwear isn't pleasant...when you compound that with a van full of people, it can get downright gross. But sometimes stopping to do laundry is a hassle because it's expensive and takes up so much time. In today's episode, we talk about hacks that make things a bit easier (and fresher). Resources: Dryel Starter Kit (bag with 4 loads) or refill kit (for 8 laundry loads) Woolite cleaning kit (14 loads) Bluffworks travel clothes for men Nau performance clothing for men and women)
What happens when someone else is using the same (or almost the same) band name, even if it's a different genre or they're in a different state? What about if it is your birth name? In today's episode, we cover how you can strengthen your brand to prevent likelihood of confusion. Resources: Episode 111: How to Get a Registered Trademark
Thank you for your patience. Music Business Hacks begins airing again tomorrow, July 28, 2018!
With the news around Kylie Jenner and now Paris Hilton claiming to be self-made, I decided to do an episode on what it means to be self-made in the music industry. What are the keys to entrepreneurship and to being a music entrepreneur? Resources: Entrepreneur Magazine - The 10 Obsessions You Need to Have to Become a Self-Made Millionaire Book - Music Business Hacks: The Daily Habits of the Self-Made Musician Book - Strengthsfinder 2.0
One of the biggest challenges for music entrepreneurs is the distraction. Sometimes, we get distracted because of ourselves (like spending too much time on the internet). Sometimes, the people around us distract us. Today, we're going to focus on six key tactics to help with this so that you can stay creative and productive. Resources: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (book) Music Business Hacks by Simon Tam (book) Anti-Social (app for blocking social media) StayFocused (app for blocking internet for windows of time) Focus Lock (app for Android phones on staying focused)
In the world of entrepreneurship, you'll hear the term "scaling a business" quite often It means quick growth to level up and reach new markets like never before. If often means getting outside investors interested. So how can you apply the same techniques and ideas into a music career? Resources: Episode 8: SMARTER Goals Episode 140: How to Create an Advisory Board for Your Band
No artist who spend time on the road enjoys gaps. While it's nice to have a day off occasionally, it also means days of lost income due to travel/logistics. So what can you do to get a show when it seems everyone in town is booked? Today, I focus on 5 different places that you can turn to for more leads. Resources: Episode 30: Hacks for Booking College Gigs The Touring Musician: A Small-Business Approach to Booking Your Band on the Road (book)
In the world of entrepreneurship and success, people are kind of obsessed with morning routines. Nearly every business magazine has an article on the morning routines of CEOs, authors, and innovators. In fact, much of Tim Ferris' books and podcast are dedicated to dissecting the mindsets and habits of world class performers. Today, we're going to look at this from a musician's perspective. Resources: Headspace - Meditation app 7 Minute Workout app (I also really like this 10 minute kettlebell workout video)
A common complaint from artists is that there is simply too much music out there and that it is too hard to stand out. Today, we talk about the secret hack to cut through the noise and reach fans who are enthusiastic for what you're doing: developing and evolving your niche. Resources: Episode 16: Hacking Yelp for Your Music
Imagine if you could do something really special for your most eager fans on their birthday...what would you do for them? Would it be providing a special video message? Giving them a free download? What if you could target their friends and family and let them know you could do something like playing a private party or writing a song just for them? With Facebooks birthday targeting system, you could do just that! Resources: Facebook's Birthday feature & report
In the world of business, most people get confused over the difference between strategy and tactics. In music, it's no different: it's easy to get attracted to specific tactics, the individual approaches on how to get a result and only think of broad strategy as too amorphous and confusing. However, you need both to get there. In this recap, we discuss some of the best ideas in both worlds from this past month. Episodes Referenced: Team Strategy (mindset): Episode #130 - How to Start a Nonprofit Organization Episode #136 - Relationship Advice for the Traveling Musician Episode #137 - An Honest Talk About Being Married & Touring, Visual Artistry, and Inspiration with Faina Lorah Team Tactics (action): Episode #126 - How to Save Money on a Rehearsal Space Episode #135 - How to Get the Best Possible Rate on a Hotel Both/And: Episode #140: How to Create an Advisory Board for Your Band Episode #144: How to Get That Record Deal with Radar Label Group Founder/Partner Jason Davis
Did you know that YouTube is the world's second most popular search engine? While attention is certainly being divided over Facebook, Vimeo, and other options, it's still important to be providing content to YouTube and learning how to optimize it so that your content gets seen.
When it comes to social media, quality definitely reigns. However, frequency is a close second. So how often should you exactly be posting content on Facebook? And when should you tweet? Today, we explore those answers with data. Resources: Tweriod - Twitter anlaysis tool Buffer - Content staggering tool If This, Then That - Amazing customizable internet "recipes" Hootsuite - Social media scheduling tool Tweetdeck - Twitter app to help schedule, monitor, listen Sprout Social - Social Media marketing (enterprise level)
Beyond branding your social media red, white, and blue, what can you do to promote your music on the 4th of July? Today, I want to share 5 innovative ways you can get more fans, sell more music, and get more promotion on this holiday (or any other holiday).
In today's episode, we talk about how you can get unique press coverage (interviews and features) without a publicist or PR firm. Resources: Help a Reporter Out Submit News/Articles to Mashable Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Episode 99: Writing a Better Bio/Press Release Episode 37: Band manager, publicist, booking agent, lawyer: who to hire and when? article: 10 Ways to Get Your Music in the Press article: 7 Ways to Get the Press Coverage You Want article: Clever Ways to Get Free Press Coverage with Zero Budget
Have you listened to or read one too many boring interviews with artists? Don't contribute to the pile! Instead, learn some best practices so you know how to share wit, heart, and the kind of story that will support your music and make fans fall in love with you. Related Episodes: Episode #54: Hacking Interviews: How to Interview Better (and get more from them)
Today is our weekly recap where we talk about the best advice for musicians covered over the past six days. This week, our theme revolved around some fundamental business principles that aren't often discussed but can really help. We ended with a great reminder from Jason Davis that if you want to get a on a label though, you need to write the best music possible. Check out the episodes here: Episode 139 - Rules for Songwriting Sessions Episode 140 - How to Create an Advisory Board for Your Band Episode 141 - The Kinds of Permits Musicians Need Episode 142 - How to Use RSS to Hack Booking Opportunities Episode 143 - The Ultimate Sponsorship Report: POP Episode 144 - Interview: How to Get That Record Deal with Radar Label Group Founder/Partner Jason Davis
Today we speak with Jason Davis. Jason is an artist manager, developer, independent record label owner, and serial entrepreneur. Davis has worked with names like Boyz II Men and P. Diddy to Lonestar and Dolly Parton, transcending genres and gaining an understanding of all facets of the industry. He speaks about writing hit songs, working with Jay-Z, and so much more. You don't want to miss this info-packed episode! For more information about Jason's work, check out: Radar Label Group One One 7 Awaken Records Resources: Your Love Pursues: A Memoir by Jason Davis Mozart: A Life (book) by Paul Johnson Reposition Yourself: Living Your Life Without Limits (book) by TD Jakes Best small purchase: Apple Earpods (wireless)
In the world of professional sponsorship, there's a common term: POP (Proof of Performance). Today, we talk about what makes an effective POP report and how you can use this to not only build relationships with existing partners, but to make a compelling ask to future prospects as well. Resources: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements book Previous Episodes on Sponsorship: Episode 3: How to Get a Sponsor pt. 1 (Creating Partnerships) Episode 22: How to Get a Sponsor pt. 2 (Making the Approach) Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch
You may have heard of RSS feeders. Maybe you even use one to subscribe and read your favorite blogs...but have you ever thought about how you could apply the principles of RSS to your own music career? Today, we talk about hacks for RSS, how you can make your content more subscription friendly, and how you can find booking opportunities using RSS. Favorite RSS Readers: Digg Reader Feedly RSS Bot App
You might not be aware, but you need a permit to be able to do business - including music business. But in addition to registering as a business, there are a couple of other key permits and licenses to be aware of to make sure that you're protected and in compliance. In today's episode, we talk about the most important ones. Resources: Registering your business: LegalZoom.com BusinessLicenses.com Episode 130: How to Start a Nonprofit Street performance licenses: Chicago, IL New York, NY Santa Monica, CA Salem, MA Greensboro, NC Greenville, SC (and many more, check the city first!) Covering songs: For mechanical and synch licensing: Harry Fox Agency Performance Rights Organizations: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC
We're often told to treat our music career like a business...yet most music advice out there is ignoring a key part of building a sustainable, thriving organization: having an advisory board. Today, we talk about how (and why) every band can build an advisory board for their music business.
In the past, we've talked about the benefits of structure and purpose. In episode 4, we covered why bands shouldn't practice - they should rehearse instead. When it comes to songwriting or any other kind of creative brainstorming session, we could apply the same kind of approach to facilitate the best, most productive ideas possible. Resources: Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse Instead Episode 93: How to Use Focus Groups to Choose Songs for Your Next Album
In today's episode, we provide a recap over the best ideas of the week and focus on the laser vs. shotgun approach, relationships, and SMARTER GOALS. It's about having a healthy balance and lifestyle as a touring musician. Resources: Episode 133: Lasers, Shotguns, and Messages Episode 134: How to Get Your Music Into Video Games Episode 135: How to Get the Best Possible Rate on a Hotel Episode 136: Relationship Advice for the Touring Musician Episode 137: An Honest Talk About Being Married & Touring, Visual Artistry, and Inspiration with Faina Lorah
Today, we speak with artist Faina Lorah. In addition to being an incredible oil painter, illustrator, and author, she's my life partner. Today, we sit down and talk about how we overcame the struggles of constant travel when being in a committed relationship. We also talk about her own approach to art and how that parallels the music industry.
To see more of Faina's work, check out her website at www.artbyfaina.com
Resources:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield (book)
It's tough touring and maintaining a strong relationship. Time away from each other in different time zones, stress, and mistrust can deteriorate even the best of relationships. Today, I share some advice on how to have healthy, happy relationships while traveling in a way that doesn't annoy your fellow band members.
There are so many discount websites out there that claim to give the best prices for hotels and motels, but which should you use? And is there a better option? Today, we talk about the good, better, and best options available. Resources: "Good" Discount sites: Hotels.com Hotwire Kayak Hotels "Better" Option of blind booking: Priceline BackBid Roomer "Best" Option/resource: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements book
The explosion of music licensed for video games has helped many artists make new fans as well as a dependable source of income. But how do you get your songs in? Typically, one would work with a licensing agency - however, where there's a will, there's a way... Resources: Episode #92 - 5 Tips to Get Your Music Licensed for TV, Film, and Video Games Video game conferences: E3, Pax, and Gen Con Indy (there are many, many out there) Featured song: "Chinatown Hustler" by Notorious MSG: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSYLMxj63mI[/embed]
What's more effective at hitting its target, a shotgun or a laser? It depends. When it comes to your messaging, be it social media posts or emails, the same thing applies when you consider how precise the targets of your posts should be. Resources: Book: How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements
This week, we discussed building better habits for our music business - especially habits that can save money, create new opportunities, and build wealth. Check them out below! Resources: Episode #126 - How to Save Money on a Rehearsal Space Episode #127 - Musicians and Affiliate/Influencer Marketing Episode #128 - Pay to Play for International Touring Episode #129 - Instagram Hacks for Bands Episode #130 - How to Start a Nonprofit Organization Episode #131 - Interview: Garrison Snell
Garrison is 24 years old. He graduated from Belmont University in 2015 and immediately started a business. Month after month he's paid all his post-grad bills by building and running Gyrosity Projects, one of the hottest new digital project development agencies in Nashville. Gyrosity employs 16 people under 30. One of their projects, Crosshair Music, recently gained some national attention through coverage in USA and Forbes. Garrison and I discuss utility and music (and more!): "The best thing to sell is something with value" - the best music is marketed as a piece of utility; i.e, playlists. Resources: Best Book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
Today we answer the question could you, should you, and why would you file for nonprofit status? There are a lot of pros and cons for doing this, so let's cover how it could apply to your music. Resources: The Balance Small Business: Pros and Cons of Nonprofit Incorporation (article) Christian Band Help: Should a Christian Band be a Nonprofit? (article) Recommended Book: Nonprofit Kit for Dummies (this was very helpful for me) Recommended Book: Starting & Building a Nonprofit: A Practical Guide (another great book, more textbook like but very complete) Recommended Book: Grant-writing for Dummies (so you can get foundation support) Form 1023-EZ (express nonprofit application from the IRS)
How do you get more Instagram followers? Does following other accounts in hopes that they return the favor work? Today, we cover six Instagram tactics that artists can try in order to get more growth and engagement for their channels.
A listener asks the question: should I pay for a tour buy on opportunity in Europe? It leads to a bigger set of questions about paying to play, buying onto tours, and if there's another way to get the same results. Resources: Episode 25: How to Get the Opening Slot for a Major Tour/Band Decision Making Matrixes and Tools Music Think Tank article: Should Bands Ever Pay to Play?
What is affiliate marketing and how can musicians benefit from this new trend? How can you become an influencer or find influencers to bring you new fans? Today, we discuss actual application of these ideas in new ways. Resources: Episode #3 - How to Get a Sponsor pt. 1: Creating Partnerships Episode #22 - How to Get a Sponsor pt. 2: How to Make the Approach Affiliate Marketing Companies: Acceleration Partners Button ShareASale Affiliate Programs: Amazon Influencer program ClickBank ShareASale
If you're playing in a loud band, chances are that you'll need a place to hold those rehearsals. And if you're in a town that has nearly every rehearsal space booked out, you're going to need some other options. Whether you do nor not, it's always good to have several options in mind because they can not only save you money, but build partnerships as well. Resources: Episode 4: Bands Shouldn't Practice. They Should Rehearse Instead.
This week's feature interview is with Bree Noble. Bree had a successful 7-year run as a touring singer/songwriter including 3 album releases, several songwriting and artist awards including Best Female Vocalist at the Inland Empire Music Award (2007) and an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium in front of 60,000 people. In 2007, during her time as a touring musician, she founded an online radio station, Women of Substance Radio, to promote quality female artists in all genres. During its 10 years on the air, the station became a highly respected and sought-after source of promotion for female artists, pursued by their PR agents and Record Labels. Bree’s marketing efforts cultivated a large Facebook following, significant listenership, a healthy email list and regular advertising revenue.
The weekday Podcast of the same name launched in 2014 to spotlight quality songs by unsigned female musicians. A few weeks after its debut, it hit #1 in New & Noteworthy in all 3 of it's categories on iTunes and #4 Audio Podcast for all of iTunes. Bree considers it a privilege to discover and promote amazing artists who are not getting the promotion they deserve from traditional media. In July 2017 the show hit 10,000 monthly listeners and continues to grow.
In 2015 Bree launched a 2nd Podcast, the Female Entrepreneur Musician (also #1 in New & Noteworthy), to serve the artists she had been promoting with Women of Substance. On the weekly show, Bree teaches marketing and business strategies for musicians and conducts interviews with successful Indie female artists and industry professionals that are both informational and inspirational.
Bree has become a pioneer for women’s voices in Podcasting. In fact she was recently featured in a Forbes article called “The Power Of Podcasting To Fight THe Patriarchy.”
Bree has created a large, enthusiastic following of female musicians over the years. She made this community official when she opened the Female Indie Musician Community on Facebook in July 2016. By mid 2018 the group will have amassed over 3,000 engaged members.
Drawing on her extensive experience as a musician and entrepreneur, Bree has created several online courses to help musicians learn to make a living from their music. Her most popular offering is an online training and mentoring community exclusively for female musicians called the "Female Musician Academy".
Additional Resources: Get this Book!!!! The Artist Way by Julia Cameron Microphone arm with desk clamp
We normally do a month-long recap every ~30 days, but today I want to focus on a question that I'm repeatedly asked: what is the one thing I need to do to be successful? It is the question underneath all of the other questions out there (How do I get a record label deal? Which social media site should I use? etc.) Resources: Storytelling episodes: Episode #97 - Storytelling part 1: Creating an emotional arc Episode #98 - Storytelling part 2: Lyrics Episode #99 - Storytelling part 3: Writing a better bio/press release Episode #100 - Storytelling part 4: the Live Show Episode #101 - Storytelling part 5: Social media + marketing campaigns Episode #102 - Interview: Joe Jiang
If you want to make people excited (like, really excited) about your e-newsletters, content that you share, or your general communication with your followers, then you need to be providing something truly special. By having consistent, exclusive content, you can reward faithful fans while achieving your music career dreams. And, for loyal listeners of the show, I have special exclusive reward for you! Resources: Episode 51: The Science of Persuasion
This week, the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain rocked our world. Countless entertainers, musicians, and fashion icons have taken their lives - it shows artists are not any more immune than anyone else. I wanted to have an honest conversation about mental health and provide some resources for those who may need them. Resources: Mental Health Screening Self-Tests National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call 1-800-273-8255
In today's episode, we talk about how you can reach music business and industry leaders who are busy. How can your email stand out from the rest? How do you get people to respond to your requests? Resources: Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Episode 51: The Science of Persuasion Episode 72: 6 Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Diva
It happens. People get sick. But when you have performances or a record on the line, how do you deal with people who need to call in sick? And what kind of remedies are actually the best for a singer in recovery? In today's episode, we find out. Resources: Loquat Syrup (for speedy recovery and best throat care in the studio) Episode 24: Interband ageement
It happens to the best of us: hecklers. When you're performing at venues, especially bars with drunk audience members, people can sometimes get unruly. But instead of responding in anger or frustration, you can use a bit of compassion and humor to defuse the situation. In doing so, you'll win over fans in a new and unexpected way.
The worlds of art and activism have been connected for as long as social structures have existed, however, we're living in a new era of inter-connectedness where the lines between activism and art have blurred, on and off stage. How can artists passionate about a cause advance incorporate their values into their work in a meaningful manner? Songs in this episode: Childish Gambino - This is America Bob Dylan - Times Are a Changin' Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A
This week, we focused on developing some core music business practices that every artist should have a grasp on: trademark registration, accounting/finance, press photos, and having the best EPK/press kit possible. Are your materials up to date? Do you need some inspiration? Then listen in! Resources: Episode #111 - How to Get a Registered Trademark Episode #112 - Music Business Budgeting Episode #113 - Hiring a Photographer to Get Your Best Press Shots Episode #114 - How to Improve Your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) Episode #115 - How to Become a Famous Singer Episode #116 - Interview: Matt Westin on Meeting Danny Trejo on a Slayer Set, Making Meaningful Music, and Gary Vaynerchuk
Matt Westin's first single, “Our Redneck of the Woods” reached the IndieWorld Country chart and the European Country Music Association charts. Matt is nominated for a 2018 International Music and Entertainment Association award. In this episode, we talk about making a record dedicated to the memory of his father, hanging out with Danny Trejo on a Slayer music video film set, and social media hacks from Gary Vaynerchuk. To learn more about Matt, check out: http://www.mattwestin.com https://www.facebook.com/MattWestinMusic/ Resources: Favorite books: 1. The Holy Bible Prophecy Edition (NKJV) 2. Live Like You Were Dying: A Story About Living by Tim McGraw 3. A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel 4. Crushing It - Gary Vaynerchuk
Favorite microphone: Shure SM58 (wired and wireless) "Our Redneck of the Woods" lyric music video: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pslvqzdtr0[/embed]
Recently, I came across an oft-asked question: "How do I become a famous singer?" It's so common that Alexa and Google suggest it, leading to a generic article with advice that won't really get you anywhere. So today, I'm going to answer the bigger question under this sentiment (while helping you with an activity that will ultimately get you there).
Here's the hard truth about submitting anything via Sonicbids or Reverbation, your press kit to a record label, or trying to book a big show: You have less than one minute to get the person's attention. With those kinds of stakes and competition for attention, you better get it right by having an EPK that is up to date, has great information, and gets the right details across! Related: Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Sonicbids (EPK site) ReverbNation (EPK site)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So what are your press photos saying about you? In today's episode, we talk about why you should have better press photos and how you can find the right photographer.
Do you have a business for your music business? Have you forecasted your revenue or expenses for the year to include touring, new albums, and merchandise? In this episode, we cover this crucial (and sometimes painful) business essential: the budget Resources: Episode 62: Interview with Scott Stratton (Finance for Musicians) WikiHow: Create a Business Budget Sample Music Business Budget/Template
What is a trademark and why should every artist get one? How does it differ from a copyright? In today's episode, we discuss some of the most important information about getting a trademark registration for your music business. Resources: Need a trademark registration? Try one of these attorneys: Ron Coleman Joel MacMull Anthony McNamer Want to try it yourself? Go to the official United States Patent and Trademark Office
Touring is a staple for most performing musicians. This week, we focused on some best practices for artists who travel for a living. Check out the episodes to build your skillset and professionalism: #104 - How to Soundcheck Like a Pro #105 - How to Overcome Common Obstacles on Stage #106 - How to Use Special Effects for Your Live Show #107 - How to Keep a Tour Vehicle Running Properly #108 - How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life #109 - Interview with Ed Wimp
Today, we speak with Ed Wimp. Ed Wimp is a Speaker, Author, Tour Manager, Artist Manager, and Musician from Orlando, Florida. After graduating college, Ed began transitioning into the business side of the music industry when he began working as part of the road management staff for R&B legends Earth Wind & Fire. From there, he was able to travel and tour with hip-hop icon A$AP Rocky. In the Fall of 2016, Ed released his debut book, Building Fans, Fame & Wealth: The 18 Revenue Streams of Music. The book shares real life stories from the music business, and encourages musicians to think outside of the box to develop several revenue streams. While staying involved in the fast moving music industry, Ed earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida A&M College of Law. He currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Monmouth College and a Master's Degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Ed is an avid golfer and takes the opportunity to play whenever his busy schedule allows.www.edwimp.com
Twitter: @edwimp Resources and Recommendations: Books to read: Getting to yes: Negotiating Agreement without Going In by Roger Fisher and William L. Ury Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill How to Win Friends and Influence by Dale Carnegie
How do you decide who is going to drive on tour? By being proactive and prepared, you can avoid dangerous situations like falling asleep at the wheel or driving drunk.
If you are going to be doing any kind of extended traveling, it’s important to do some basic maintenance and preparation on the vehicle to prevent any unexpected breakdowns. Here are some things you should consider getting: Resources: AAA Emergency Roadside Kit Compact Tire Gauge Roll of Blue Shop Towels AAA Roadside Assistance
Many bands don’t think of set design unless they’re touring large venues on a regular basis. Even then, some only go as far as putting a large backdrop or banner. However, touring acts have the ability to kick things up a notch by applying some creativity, lessons from theatre, and special effects from magic shows to really enhance the performance. Good stage design can help transform mundane rock clubs into unique experiences that help the band stand out. Many of these things don’t even require a large budget to start out with - just some forethought and a little talent. These are some of the things that you can enhance your stage with: * Custom lighting * Projections (or LED wall) * Art pieces/sculptures/banners * Pyrotechnics * Confetti and streamers * Fog/smoke * Bubbles/stage snow * Wind/air movement * Phosphorescent paint or materials * Fabric * Custom instruments * Strobe lights * Balloons * Height (ramps, risers, etc.) * Other theater effects
Resources: TheatreFX (great place for fog machines, confetti canons, and breakaway glass) MagicFX (UK based company that specializes in event effects) Sound-Activated LED light kit
One of my biggest pet peeves as a performer is a band who doesn’t know how to soundcheck properly. It shouldn’t be - it usually reflects inexperience and ignorance rather than disrespect and apathy. The truth is that most bands are taught how to soundcheck, it’s just a skill that gets picked up along the way. Despite this, the soundcheck is often an indicator of the professionalism of the band. Here are some tools that can help you: Creating a Stage Plot/Tech Rider/Input List: Stage Plot Pro Reverb Nation Pro Sonicbids Touring Musician Essentials: These are some things that you might consider carrying with your band at all times: * Additional vocal mics (I recommend the Shure SM58 or the Beta 58 for tight stages) * Extra XLR cables (Kirlin cables provide the best bang for the buck) * Extra ¼” guitar cables (I like the Kirlin stage series cable) * DI boxes (Behringer DI boxes are a good choice for backup unit) * Power strips (Get an industrial strength one like this) * Heavy and medium duty extension cables (lower gauges are for heavier use) * Gaffer tape and painter's tape (more versatile than masking tape) * Strings, picks, drumsticks, and other common accessories * Velcro strips * LED Flashlight (RockBirds has a good, versatile one for multiple uses) * Batteries (9 volt, AA, and AAA). I recommend quick rechargeable sets * Additional copies of the setlist (get them laminated) * Sharpies (buy in bulk to save)
These items aren’t as common but are also helpful to have on hand as well: * Mic stand (tripod and round base) * Guitar stand (get Hercules, they're the best) * Keyboard stand (I like two-tier since they're versatile. This one is cheap/light, this is heavy duty) * Powered stage monitor (I like the Mackie 12" Thump or Behringer B208D for a portable set) * Portable PA system (The Fender Passport is surprisingly powerful for a compact and affordable unit) * Fuse kit * Basic tool set with wrenches and soldering kit * Power cable (for amps)
This week, we focused a lot of storytelling - that's because it is so important and can impact nearly every area of your music business career! To review the week, check out our episodes: Episode 97 - Storytelling pt. 1: Creating an Emotional Arc Episode 98 - Storytelling pt. 2: Writing Great Lyrics (with advice from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Lin-Manual Miranda, and Leonard Cohen) Episode 99 - Storytelling pt. 3: How to Write a Better Biography Episode 100 - Storytelling pt. 4: Making a Better Live Show with Story Episode 101 - Storytelling pt. 5: How to Use Storytelling Techniques in Social Media and Marketing Episode 102 - Interview with Joe X. Jiang on How Filmmakers Use Story (and What Musicians Can Learn From Them)
In today's episode, we speak with director, editor, and guitarist Joe X. Jiang on the art of storytelling and how the world of film can teach us more about songwriting and performance - not to mention improving the video content that supports your music. Resources: Article: How Calvin & Hobbes Inspired a Generation Books: The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Collection My Beloved World (autobiography by Justice Sonia Sotomayor) Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (by David Sedaris) Films to Watch: The Godfather Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The Florida Project Favorite Gear: Macbook Pro (for editing, producing, writing and pretty much 75% of his creative work) Faded Gibson SG(the guitar thats been in every musical project he's played in) Panasonic Lumix G series camera (the beginning of his backpack filmmaking kit) Links and things: The Slants (our band) Track Town Records (recording studio) Music Videos Directed by Joe: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B2d7E2wkbM[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC-4qQmGS_Q[/embed] Joe's Video Reel: [embed]https://vimeo.com/117241119[/embed]
Is the trend of telling stories and marketing a hype? Let's talk about how you can use the tools of story - and storytelling - to make your social media memorable, engaged, and interesting.
Many musicians think of the live show as an opportunity to showcase their songs but that’s a mistake, it’s so much more. If it was only about the songs being shared, then Spotify or YouTube would do just fine. The live show is an experience. And like all performing arts, it benefits the most would it is shared through the trappings of a story. Resources: Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse Instead Episode 44: How to Work a Crowd
Most artist biographies are terrible. They sound more like a collection of achievements or include details that no one cares about. However, you can change that by using the power of story.
Things rarely go exactly as planned on stage. There are often setbacks - instruments go knocked out of tune, the monitors don’t sound right (or the venue lacks monitors entirely), someone forgets their parts - you got the idea. However, many of the typical obstacles can be overcome with the proper attitude and a little preparation.
Today, we talk about songwriting secrets gleaned from the art of storytelling. To help with best practices, we'll get advice from Jason Blume and Andrea Stople, as well as songwriting giants such as Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. We'll also cover songs from Eminem and Taylor Swift. Resources: Six Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling by Andrea Stolpe
We all want to learn how to tell better stories. From comedians to writers, the art of storytelling hooks an audience in a way that keeps them coming back. This week, we learn how to become better at the craft and apply it to some unexpected areas. Resources: My favorite books on storytelling: The Moth Presents: All These Wonders Wired for Story The Storytelling Animal The Art of Storytelling Article: Seth Godin: How to Tell a Great Story Videos on Storytelling: Andrew Stanton's TED talk: The Clues to a Great Story [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxDwieKpawg[/embed] Jonathan Gottschall's TEDxFurmanU talk: The Storytelling Animal: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhd0XdedLpY[/embed] Kevin Hart's 3 Secrets to Hilarious Storytelling: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_L4OPU_rg&t=359s[/embed]
This week, we spent a lot of time building the case for developing more effective systems: better email, live shows, and processes to get your best content out there - as well as - how you can use an audience centric method to make sure your music resonates. We capped it off with an extended interview/discussion with Rick Barker. Check out the episodes: Episode 91: 5 Ways to Guarantee Your Emails Will be Read Episode 92: 5 Tips to Get Your Music Licensed for TV, Film, and Video Games Episode 93: How to Use Focus Groups to Choose Songs for Your Next Album Episode 94: 2 Things Holding Artists Back at Live Shows Episode 95: Rick Barker, Former Taylor Swift Manager & Music Industry Blueprint Founder on His Best Advice
Today, we speak with music industry guru, Rick Barker. From formerly managing Taylor Swift to founding the Music Industry Blueprint podcast, Rick is a powerhouse of knowledge for independent artists. Get his book, The $150,000 Music Degree for free at www.rickbarker.com Check out his podcast, Music Industry Blueprint Resources & Recommendations: Audio book streaming service - Audible Most influential books: Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk How to Make it in the New Music Business by Ari Herstand Start With Why by Simon Sinek You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero If people want to learn more about my case: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: https://on.cc.com/2tWRJAf Rolling Stone profile: https://rol.st/2KxEaQQ Also, check out Algora Pulse Social Media Tests (their podcast show is called Social Media Lab)
How you can take every situation, whether it is karaoke night or playing Madison Square Gardens, to show that you are a star.
A few years ago, I thought of a new way to select songs for an album I was releasing: by treating it like a songwriting contest. I realized how a focus group could be a powerful way to not only get feedback, but to get engagement.
There’s a wealth of information out there on how to get your music into video games, on films, tv shows, commercials, and other opportunities. In today's episode, I want to cover my favorite tips to help get you started. Resources: Music Licensing Agencies to Check Out: Audiodraft Audiosocket Beatpick Broadjam Getty Images Music iStock Audio Mangatune Marmoset Ricall Rumblefish Sentric Music YouLicense The Best Books on Music Licensing: The Musician's Guide to Licensing Music: How to Get Your Music into Film, TV, Advertising, Digital Media & Beyond by Darren Wilsey (the best overall guide) Your Music Licensing Handbook by Paul Curtis - (for less than $5, it provides a decent overview) The Plain and Simple Guide to Music Publishing: What You Need to Know About Protecting and Profiting from Music Copyrights by Randall Wixen (not exclusively about licensing but very good info for all artists)
Today, the average open rate for an email is 10%. The average click through rate for music is 2.5% (of the emails that are actually opened). With social media becoming the “new email,” it is likely that rates for Facebook event invites are close, if not lower. People seem to find a new trend in communication and then proceed to saturate it with the same poor tactics that gave them low responses to begin with. Here’s the secret: changing the medium won’t improve conversions, clicks, or interest. Changing the message will. So how do you get someone to read your messages? Today, we talk about 5 specific things you can do to guarantee that your emails will be read.
You have the ability to unlock your full potential as an artist. It just requires 3 main things: 1. Changing your perspective 2. Building new habits in light of your goals 3. Dedicate time to work on what needs to be done
Today, we talk about some of the best ideas that will help get you there.
In today's interview, we speak with country chart topping star, Madelyn Victoria. From viral videos to performing with acts like the Jonas Brothers, this beauty pageant winner, model, and San Antonio native shares her story and secrets on Music Business Hacks. Resources & Recommendations: Book: Cash by Johnny Cash Guide to Facebook Ads and Boosting Microphone: Shure SM58 Madelyn Victoria's I Can Be Your Señorita music video: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9t13yNYtM[/embed]
In today's episode, we talk about the importance of creating unique events to engage with fans both offline and online. How can you become more creative with your fan engagement strategy? Resource: Check out Storify here.
If you're flying to shows, you'll want to learn some of the basic hacks of traveling with a guitar and learning how to navigate the system. Recommended Items: Sign up for TSA Precheck Review Airlines for America guidelines Gear you should have: Gator ATA rated case for bass guitars Gator molded ATA case for guitar 8 Space ATA rack case ATA XL Keyboard case with wheels ATA rated pedal board case 28
Today, we talk about 3 common mistakes that many of us make that ends up hurting us: burning bridges, acting self-entitled, and blaming others. Related: Episode 72 - 6 Phrases That Make You Sound Like a Diva
Today, I answer questions about the most common myths in regards to touring and booking. If you feel pretty good about all of these, then check out this article I wrote to help you for the next stage: How to Get More Pay for Live Gigs. You might also check out episode 52, How to Negotiate Better Performance Fees.
Today, we focus on six key things that every musician should know but they don't teach in music school.
Here are six things that you should know that aren’t covered in curriculum:
- How to Pitch Your Music: Pitching your band is one of the most important lessons to not only get your career started, but to sustain it. It’s the foundation for networking, booking shows, getting press, working with sponsors, and creating new fans. Check out: Episode 9 - Perfecting Your Pitch Episode 10 - Getting Venues to Respond Episode 51 - The Science of Persuasion
- How to Treat Other Bands: The music industry is a business that is all about relationships. Bottom line: don’t be a diva and don’t treat other bands like crap. . Learn the unspoken rules of how to treat a touring band.
- Don’t Play too Often: I understand that when you first launch a band, you want to play out as often as possible. However, there are dangers to overplaying. Learn to walk that fine line so you don’t end up annoying promoters or getting burnt out.
- How to Handle Your Gear: More specifically, you should learn how to lift heavy objects properly. Between hauling amps, merchandise, and other gear, there’s a lot of potential for injury. While you are at, get yourself some good ear plugs and protect your hearing too. My personal favorite are these from Alpine (they're less expensive but more comfortable than several other pro grade brands out there).
- Go With the Flow: When you are touring often, it’s inevitable that something will go wrong. Learn how to deal with the situations and make the best of things when they do. Prepare for emergencies, such as the vehicle breaking down (you might even consider taking some basic auto repair lessons). Try revisiting your interband agreement or learning how to deal with conflict as well.
- Learn the Right Things: We all want an easy solution: a nice record label deal, a headlining music festival slot, a viral video, etc. but these things are overrated. Don’t expect someone else to make your music career for you. Focus on the right things and build your career the right way.
This week, we focused on bringing new, creative perspectives to standard music business best practices. Check out the episodes here: 78 - If Your Music Career Was a Food Cart 79 - Two Cent Video Strategy That Will Get Your Priceless Engagement 80 - Why Every Artist Needs Timers on Their Contracts 81 - How to Find New Audiences Through Market Segmentation 82 - Interview with Greg Wilnau
Today we speak with Greg Wilnau of the Musician Monster podcast and 1k With Music. Learn specific strategiesfrom his Live Show blueprint: musicianmonster.com/blueprint Greg has 5 specific steps for making money: 1) Have a clear goal 2) Set up home base (test market) 3) CD Donation strategy (lead market) 4) Direct people to the merch booth 5) Announce a special offer from the stage Recommendations: Books: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Brand Like a Rockstar by Steve Jones Apps: Headspace (Meditation Made Simple)
Market segmentation involves breaking down a broad audience into a smaller subset of customers. You can divide along demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and/or psychographics (values, lifestyles, interests, etc.). The more that you can segment a market by narrowing it down while still having an audience large enough to offset any investment, the better. Today, we focus on how this is done.
If you're like most people, you scroll past the terms and conditions sections of most software, 3rd party apps, and social media. When it comes to music agreements like licensing deals, content you upload to other platforms, and recording/distribution deals, this is an even more serious mistake. Here's why you should be calendaring review dates for your contracts and how to make it as painless as possible.
A simple 4-step strategy that you can use to drive more engagement on your videos. 1. Identify a cause and pledge two cents (or more) per view, comment, share, and like. 2. Tell your personal story of why you're supporting that cause 3. Ask fans to submit their own causes, organizations, or campaigns to support 4. Film and share content with the donation being made as proof of performance (and to celebrate!)
What if you took on the mindset of running a food cart and applied it to your music? Adopting best practices and approaches in other industries often unlock new creative energy for our own work. In today's episode, we explore an exercise that will help you develop a new outlook for your own business prospects.
A recap of this week's best ideas: remembering your purpose as a musician and learning how creating a target and list can unlock your creativity in new ways. This week's episodes: 71 - The Guide to Performing Rights Organizations: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC 72 - 6 Phrases That You Make sound Like a Diva 73 - Hacks for Productivity: Finding Time in Unexpected Places 74 - 5 Things You Can Learn From Your Day Job to Apply in Your Music Career 75 - How to Deal with Conflict in The Band 76 - Interview: Finding the Life Mission of the Artist with Ed Roman
In today's episode, we speak with multi-instrumentalist and multi-award winning artist, Ed Roman. Resources: More about Ed: www.edroman.net www.facebook.com/edromanmusic www.twitter.com/specialedroman Books:Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist Don Miguel Ruiz - The Four Agreements Watch Ed Roman's lyric music video for "Red Omen:" [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxT1NV2YvJY[/embed]
Every team, group, and organization experiences conflict. Bands are no different. When it comes to dealing with different personalities and expectations, it's important to have some healthy ways of dealing with differences in place. Today, we talk about some specific measures you can take to address any problems that may come up. Resources: Episode 24: Creating an Interband Agreement
Whether you have a day job or side hustle, it's a good idea to take note of what skills you're building and to think about how you can leverage those abilities in your music career. Today, we'll talk about 5 common skills learned at most jobs that you can start thinking more deeply about. Want to build more skills? Check out these resources: Udemy Skill Share Coursera
If you're often feeling like you don't have enough time to invest into your music career, these 11 productivity hacks will help you develop a more efficient schedule. If you have a tip that you want to share, let me know @SimonTheTam
We all know a few artists who have a ridiculous sense of self-entitlement. And though they might take themselves very seriously (and maybe a few of their fans too), the rest of us will laugh behind their backs. In today's episode, we talk about 6 phrases that artists often use that inadvertently make themselves sound like a diva. We'll also talk about what you should say instead.
If you're a songwriter, publisher, performer, or all 3, then you should be familiar with PROs. But what are the differences between ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC? Can you join more than one? What about Sound Exchange? In today's episode, we cover the basics and what you can do to make sure you're not leaving money on the table. Resources: ASCAP BMI SESA Sound Exchange
This weekly recap is more like two week recap. Here's what we covered since our big roundup of best ideas: Episode 57: Social Media Listening Tools Every Musician Should Be Using Episode 58: How Often Should You Play? 6 Drawbacks to Playing More Shows Episode 59: The Best Ideas of March: Merchandise, Digital Marketing, and the Interviews Episode 60: Hacks for Using Linkedin in Your Music Business Strategy Episode 61: The Unspoken Rules of How to Treat a Touring Band (for artists) Episode 62: Discussing Finance for Musicians with Scott Statton
Episode 63: 6 Things You Can Do for $100 That Will Help Your Music Business
Episode 64: How to Make Music Business Contacts
Episode 65: 5 Unexpected Places to Promote Your Music
Episode 66: How to Manage Expenses for Musicians
Episode 67: 50 Revenue Streams for Musicians part 1
Episode 68: 50 Revenue Streams for Musicians part 2
Episode 69: Interview - How to Authentically Connect with Audiences the Jeremy Parsons Way
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jeremy Parsons grew up soaking in the sounds of Texas music in the dancehalls of the Lone Star State. Jeremy was always a fan of music, but it wasn't until his later high school years that he discovered his knack for it. Driven by his passion, he taught himself to play the guitar and began to write and perform music. Over the past decade, Jeremy has played all over the U.S. and in Europe, including numerous venues in Texas. Pulling from the example of Texas performance artists, Jeremy loves to interact with his audience. He captivates the crowd with his genuine personality, unique humor, and heart-felt love of his occupation. Jeremy draws from his personal experiences to create songs that are keenly perceptive and meaningful. His current single, "Burn This House Down," paints a poignant picture of heartbreak and acceptance that still remains relatable. This song will stick with you long after your first listen. The song is currently in the IndieWorld Country Top 40. **Resources:** **Recommended Gear:** Composite Acoustics (carbon fiber guitars) Snark Tuning pedal Snark tuner (clip on) Behringer standard D.I box Amazon Basics Portable Mic Stand (tripod) **Book:** I Lived to Tell It All - by George Jones **Best small purchase:** Selenite stone Black obsidian stone To help with "Musician schedule," try: Multi-Vitamins and Minerals The Wild Cow vegan restaurant in Nashville
50 revenue streams for musicians to inspire you to think more creatively about how you can earn a sustainable income. Are you receiving every dollar that you're able to earn? Resources: Future of Music's 45 Revenue Streams for Musicians Performing Rights Organizations: ASCAP BMI SESAC More ways to earn money: Sound Exchange royalties Film Musicians Secondary Money Fund Sound Recording Special Payments Fund SAG AFTRA YouTube Partner Program Patreon National Endowment for the Arts IRS 1023 EZ form (to apply for nonprofit status) Previous Episodes: Episode 3: How to Get Sponsorships (part 1) Episode 12: Crowdfunding Your Way to the Top Episode 13: Interview with Shanna Germain on Kickstarter Episode 22: How to Get Sponsorships (part 2) Episode 62: Interview with Scott Stratton of Finance for Musicians
50 revenue streams for musicians to inspire you to think more creatively about how you can earn a sustainable income. Are you receiving every dollar that you're able to earn? Resources: Future of Music's 45 Revenue Streams for Musicians Performing Rights Organizations: ASCAP BMI SESAC More ways to earn money: Sound Exchange royalties Film Musicians Secondary Money Fund Sound Recording Special Payments Fund SAG AFTRA YouTube Partner Program Patreon National Endowment for the Arts IRS 1023 EZ form (to apply for nonprofit status) Previous Episodes: Episode 3: How to Get Sponsorships (part 1) Episode 12: Crowdfunding Your Way to the Top Episode 13: Interview with Shanna Germain on Kickstarter Episode 22: How to Get Sponsorships (part 2) Episode 62: Interview with Scott Stratton of Finance for Musicians
To create a sustainable income, you have two parts: income and expenses. Today, we're going to focus on 5 big ideas for helping you manage expenses as a musician. Resources: Financial literacy quiz 5 Free Online Classes to Improve Your Financial Literacy Budget for Musicians (by Savvy Musician)
Today, we talk about 5 unexpected places that you probably haven't considered to expand your music's reach. Remember, it's about injecting as much creativity in your outreach efforts as you would your music!
It’s no secret that often in the world music, it’s more about “who you know” than what you know. The industry generally favors pre-existing relationships, whether you are looking for a venue, a sponsor, a review on your new album, or a slot at SXSW. Like it or not, networking can often make or break an act. So let's talk about two big ways you can expand who you know. Resources: Article: The Difference Between Push & Pull Marketing Episode 8: SMARTER Goals Episode 60: Hacks for Using Linkedin for Your Music Business Strategy Favorite books on sales/networking: Jeffrey Gitomer - The Sales Bible Jeffrey Fox - How to Be CEO & How to Be a Marketing Superstar Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends and Influence People
You can easily spend $100 on strings, picks, or sticks. You could even buy a cheap electric guitar. While many of those things are important, how can you create a long term investment for your music career? Today, we talk about 6 specific things you could invest in instead.
Resources:
Music Business Library (my recommendations for books you should read: Guerilla Guide to the Music Business (2nd edition) Welcome to the Music Business: You're F**ked! All You Need to Know About the Music Business (9th edition) What They'll Never Tell You About the Music Business: The Myths, the Secrets, the Lies (& a Few Truths) Six Figure Musician: How to Sell More Music... Music Marketing: Press, Promotion, Distribution, and Retail How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements: Get Funding for Bands, Non-Profits, and more! Music Business Hacks
Merchandise you can pick up for cheap: Stickers from Sticker Guy! Buttons from Busy Beaver Buttons Stuff you can make merchandise with Inexpensive screen printing kit 1" Button Maker Kit
It's tax season, which means you should be thinking more about your finances as a musician. Today, we speak with Scott Stratton of Finance For Musicians and talk about some best practices for accounting, writing off expenses, what to expect with changes in the tax code, and how you can make more with your money.
Resources:
More about Scott/Finance for Musicians
Scott's book: Your Last Five Years Making the Transition from Work to Retirement
Book recommendation: The Elements of Investing
Best small purchase: The Instant Pot
Most musicians aren't leveraging Linkedin as a serious tool for hacking the music industry. Stand out from the crowd by learning how to make the most of this social media networking media channel. And if you'd like to connect with me, you can do so at www.linkedin.com/in/simonstam.
Our second month is over! For March, we covered a lot of big ideas, but I wanted to highlight some of the most important ones in building a sustainable music career: maximizing revenue from merchandise, hacking social media and digital marketing, and one favorite thing from each person interviewed this month. It's also my birthday so if you'd like to be extra nice, you can leave a review of this podcast! Episodes Referenced: On Merchandise: Episode 31: How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers Episode 39: 8 Tips to Help You Sell More Merchandise Episode 47: Email Marketing Hacks On Social Media/Digital Strategies: Episode 29: When Should You Boost a Post? Episode 47: Email Marketing Hacks Episode 57: Social Media Listening Tools Every Musician Should Be Using Interviews: Episode 34: Gayle Skidmore Episode 41: Phillip Broussard Episode 48: Dez Cadena of Black Flag/The Misfits Episode 55: Adam Gonsalves of Telegraph Audio
When it comes to play out, it's just as much about quality as it is quantity. Yes, booking agents and festivals find it important for you to playing often, but if it's the same market all the time, it isn't doing you any favors. Instead, consider a new strategy for booking... Resources: Episode 2 - How to Book Better Shows Episode 17 - Breaking Into New Markets Episode 23 - Booking SXSW and Other Festivals
In this episode, we cover 5 essential marketing tools that every musician should be using to help listen to social media conversations, monitor their brand, and to research for their craft. Please see below for links to each of them: Google Alerts: Google Alerts is a basic way to discover when a website is posting about you. However, it doesn’t capture everything and it certainly doesn’t cover social media or most blog sites. Still, it’s a good, automated, entry-level way to get some feedback about any kind of search query emailed to you. Sign up at www.google.com/alerts (if you want instant results, mark “as-it-happens” under “how often”). Hootsuite/TweetDeck: Both Hootsuite and TweetDeck offer some tools to consolidate and manage your social media accounts. You can also add search columns that are scanning Twitter in real time. Not everyone who tweets about you will be using your hashtag or tagging you so this is a convenient way to spot what is being discussed and reply immediately. Icerocket: Icerocket specializes in blog searches. Their “big buzz” option also captures activity on Facebook, Twitter, and image sites such as Flickr too. It’s free, easy to use, and does not require registration of an account. Social Mention: Social Mention collects aggregated data across multiple platforms. You’ll see results from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, photobucket, etc. and there are some basic analytics that help you determine if the sentiment is positive or negative, how many different sources are active, etc. It’s also free and doesn’t require registration. Topsy: Topsy is similar to Icerocket and Social Mention; the main focus is around social media, especially multimedia and blogs. You don’t have to register, but you do have the option of creating an email alert (it ties into your Twitter or Facebook). If you want to get a free 30 day trial to Sprout Social, the professional social media listening and scheduling system that I use, click here.
In today's episode, we cover some of the biggest ideas from the week as well as answer one of your questions: how to get a record deal? Review the episodes from the week: Episode #50 - Supplies Every Merch Bin Should Have Episode #51 - The Science of Persuasion Episode #52 - How to Negotiate Better Performance Fees Episode #53 - Songwriting Secrets from Max Martin Episode #54 - Hacking Interviews: How to Interview Better (and get more from them) Episode #55 - Interview: Audio Engineer Adam Gonsalves on Mastering Typhoon, Elliot Smith, and More
Today, we interview mastering engineer Adam Gonsalves of Telegraph Audio and talk about hit indie records, the importance of mastering in finishing your studio project, and geek out on favorite pieces of gear. Resources: Favorite gear/studio Adam recommends that you invest the most possible into conversion and monitoringConverters: Weiss Engineering DAC1 Mk-3Forssell Technologies MDAC-4a Monitors: Dunlavy Audio Labs SC-IV/A TC100 and ATC110 Kleimein Hommel 0-300 and 0-300a Books: Amy Chua - The Triple Package Daniel Levitin - This is Your Brain on Music - Kenneth Pohlman - The Fundamentals of Digital Audio Affordable Headphones: Xiaomi Pistons Earbud headphones
When it comes to being interviewed for your music, do you have a plan? How are interviews supporting your music goals (besides exposure)? In today's episode, we provide some media training to musicians. Learn how to get more out of every press opportunity!
The elusive Swedish pop hit machine behind Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, NSync, and countless more songs, Max Martin is starting to open up about his process and his life. We talk about some of his ideas for creating great music. Check out the full Di Weekend interview here. Resources: 6 Steps to Songwriting Success by Jason Blume (book) Songwriters on Songwriting (book) The Chord Wheel (tool/book) The Addiction Formula: A Holistic Approach... (book)
Like all artists, you've probably wondered how to get better pay for your hard work. In today's episode, we talk about the compensation structure of performances: door deals vs. guarantees, and how to get more from either one. Resources: Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Episode 8: SMARTER Goals Episode 30: Hacks for Booking College Gigs
In this episode, we talk about the Science of Persuasion. These are principles that determine how people make decisions. Applied correctly and ethically, you can help influence others positively: improve sales/support, have more success with negotiations, and tell your story better. Watch the video for more: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdCzN7RYbw[/embed]
In today's episode, we talk about the supplies that every merch bin should have, including some of the non-obvious stuff that can revolutionize how you approach selling merchandise at shows! So get ready to create that shopping list! Below, I linked to my recommendations on my favorite products (including the best deals), so check these out! * A banner (retractable or hanging vinyl style) * Portable lights (battery powered and stronger ones with a long extension cord) * A locking cash box with change * Binder clips and hangers with swivel heads for the shirts * A roll of painter’s tape and Gaffer's Tape * Markers and pens * Display equipment (folding shelves, CD display, etc.) * Blank sheets of paper * Price tags or sign * Mailing list signup * Extra Square card readers * Scissors, pliers, and a basic tool set * Table Cloth * A set of bed sheets (to cover the table when you are away) * Hand sanitizer (let’s face it, some venues are gross)
Less obvious but important things: * Laminator - You can create tour ID placards for your road crew, price tags, price sheets, QR code display with an email list sign-up or Facebook page, etc. They’re cheap, easy to use, and very handy. * Button maker * Silk Screen Kit - handy for limited runs of custom merchandise * Rolling Tool chest - Our band loves things with wheels, especially things that stack. It makes load out much faster. I use this Stanley rolling tool chest to hold all of our merchandise. It also sometimes doubles as a stage riser or merch table. * Projector - You can make a dramatic merch display in a dark venue.
I'm back in town from SXSW! Today, we provide our weekly recap on the best ideas that you should review or focus on. Check out: 43 - Why Every Musician Should Have a Post-Show Game Plan 44 - How to Work a Crowd 45 - The Pareto Principle in You Music Business 46 - How to Protect Your Music Through Copyright Registration & Copyright Myths 47 - Email Marketing Hacks 48 - Dez Cadena of Black Flag/The Misfits talks Rick Rubin, Duff McKagen, & Punk Rock
In today's episode, we sit down with punk legend Dez Cadena to talk a bit about his decades of experience touring in punk bands Black Flag and the Misfits, as well as other steeped in rock n' roll history like Duff McKagen (Guns n' Roses), Ramones, and more. Check out Dez's new band, Mister Stratosphere on Facebook and Soundcloud Resources & Recommendations: Gear: Fender Stratocaster USA edition Gibson Les Paul Gold top Gibson Flying V "I like guitars for their own personality" Books: Catch 22 - Joseph Heller No Commercial Potential: The Saga Of Frank Zappa The Real Frank Zappa Book Small purchase: Laurel & Hardy - The Collection (21-disc Box Set)
How can you get the most out of your email? Through two main efforts: acquisition and execution. In today's episode, we talk about some unspoken best practices that can truly help you grow and get the most out of your email list. Resources: Ep 40: Strategic Philanthropy for Your Music How to Upload an Email List to Facebook Email Marketing for Dummies (book) Email marketing services: Fanbridge MailChimp Emma
Protecting your music through copyright registration is one of the most important things that you can do for your music. It's inexpensive, easy to do, but very misunderstood. Listen to today's episode to learn how you can protecting your art! Resources: Electronic Copyright Service (register your works electronically) Registering a Copyright FAQ Intellectual Property attorneys who can help you with registration: Ron Coleman McNamer and Company Kohl Haver (Swider Haver)
What is the pareto principle and how can you use it for your music career? Tune into today's episode to learn!
Today, we talk about specific tactics on how you can better work a crowd. This includes modeling the flow of your set after theatre as well as being more engaging with the audience by improving your banter. The Slants' light box video: [embed]https://youtu.be/ugl33ZVfLr4[/embed] We use Freytag's Pyramid as an example of building momentum:
What is a post-show game plan and how can you use it to revolutionize your music career? Find out what all successes do after their "main event" and how you can apply those same lessons to your tour dates.
What are the parallels between the music industry and the TV show shark tank? In this week's recap, we talk about the best ideas that you can apply to get you ready for the big moments in your career (including getting on Shark Tank). Episodes: #36 - How to Book a Band Tour, Step by Step #37 - Band manager, publicist, booking agent, lawyer: who to hire and when? #38 - How Artists Can Use the Scientific Method to Hack Their Careers #39 - 8 Tips to Help You Sell More Merchandise #40 - Strategic Philanthropy and Your Music #41 - Interview: How Phillip Broussard Uses His Finance Background to Hack the Music Industry
In today's episode, we speak with Navy veteran, business maven, and John Mayer inspired blues-pop artist Phillip Broussard. Check out his work: Facebook (official page) YouTube page Bandcamp Resources: Favorite Books: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Richest Man in Babylon - George Samuel Clason Gates of Fire - Steven Pressfield Best small purchase: Pushing the Envelope: The Small Greeting Card Manufacturer's Guide to Working with Sales Rep (book) Favorite piece of gear: Fender Standard Stratocaster (in white)
What is strategic philanthropy and how can you use it in your music business? Today, we learn about creating partnerships with non-profit organizations so you can raise the profile of your music while doing some good for the world. Example of a Facebook live video of our own "Tiny Desk Concert" t ACLU headquarters: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX9vIsZyRiA&t=2s[/embed] Resources: Finding an Organization: Charity Navigator Charity Watch Nonprofit organizations I support: ACLU APANO Liberty in North Korea Trevor Project
The two ways of increasing revenue from merchandise are increasing profits and decreasing expenses. However, sometimes it simply means just selling more product in general. Today, we go over 8 simple tips on how you can start selling more merchandise right away - as well as give a review on what you could be doing better.
Resources:
Inexpensive graphic design work:
Fiver
Upwork
Merch display:
Grid cube storage shelves - compact, modular display. I use 4 of these kits to make big displays for our merchandise.
LED battery powered clip on light - I suggest getting 4 of these
Deluxe aluminum clip light - for outdoor night shows, good for hanging onto popup tents
Credit Card Payment processing services:
Square (Point of Sale)
PayPal card reader
Other episodes on merchandise:
Ep. 26 - How to Calculate Return on Investment from Merchandise
Ep. 31 - How to Get Better Pricing from Merch Suppliers
You might remember the Scientific Method from your high school days, but what you may not realize is that it can unleash your music business potential. Here are the 8 steps of the Scientific Method: 1. Define the problem 2. Research/observe the problem 3. Form a hypothesis 4. Conduct the experiment 5. Analyze the results 6. Form a conclusion 7. Publish/share results 8. Test it again
Resources: Social Media Lab The Scientific Method for Entrepreneurs (6 Step version)
As your music business grows, you'll need to consider expanding your team beyond just your core band members. The four most important people in your career that can help you take things to the next level include a manager, a publicist, a booking agent, and an attorney. Today, we talk about who they are, what they do, how much they cost, and when you should consider hiring one. Resources: Music Manager Database Directory of Managers and Booking Agents McNamer and Company (entertainment attorney) If you need an IP attorney (for trademark or copyright registration), Ron Coleman is the guy who helped me win a Supreme Court case unanimously.
Today's episode provides an overview on one of the most important parts to your music career: touring. There's no question that touring is one of the most effective ways of building a regional or national following, however, it should be done strategically and methodically. Resources: How to Book a Tour for Your Band, step by step (article) How to Book a Tour (summary version) The Touring Musician: a Small-Business Approach to Booking Your Band on the Road (book) Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch
#34 – Lessons Learned from Writing 2,200 Songs and Touring 100k Miles with Gayle Skidmore: An interview with the Netherlands-based singer-songwriter, Gayle Skidmore. #33 – 5 Big Tips That Can Save Your Tour - Tips to save your gear, sanity, and health while on the road. #32 – How Bands Can Create Reaction Videos to Get More Views: How you can hop on this new trend to make some new fans #31 – How to Get Better Pricing From Your Merchandise Suppliers: Ways to save money on one of the most important revenue generating so you can earn more with every sale. #30 – Hacks for Booking College Gigs: Best practices on breaking into this lucrative market #29 – When Should You Boost Facebook Posts?: - Inquiring minds want to do. How can you make the most of your social media? Today's activity: review the top hints of the week and how you can apply them in relation to your goals
Gayle Skidmore could be described as a serial songwriter, a nonstop touring machine, and one of the most talented singer-songwriters I've had the pleasure of knowing. She's won multiple awards from the San Diego Music Awards, including Best Pop Album and Best in Pop, as well as De Best Singer-Songwriter van het Groene Hart in The Netherlands. She's a master of 22 instruments and has 21 releases under her belt (at the time of this podcast). Check her music out at www.gayleskidmore.com Books recommended by Gayle: Tennyson: PoemsThe Prophet by Kahlil Gibram Best inexpensive purchase: Columbus Washboard Watch Her Newest Music Video for "Pale Ghosts" here: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY3yVHfin78[/embed]
There’s a lot of great advice out there about how to book a tour but I haven’t found many things about how to survive on tour. Today, I talk about 5 big tips that can help you endure the dangers of the road. Resources: Episode 5: Staying Healthy on Tour Episode 19: Stuff Every Musician Should Carry Recommendations: Steering Wheel Locks: Full Werk T-Shaped Car Lock for Vans & SUVs The Club Steering Wheel/Pedal Lock Disklok Large Full Steering Wheel Cover + Alarm Locks for the Trailer: Trailer Hitch Pin Lock (Class I-IV) Universal Hardened Steel Trailer Lock (fits all couplers) Hidden Shackle Puck Lock Cashbox: Steelmaster Locking Cashbox
Have you noticed the growing trend of reaction videos? They're funny and sometimes emotionally moving but more importantly, they're addicting. In today's episode, we'll talk about how can bands incorporate reaction and response videos in their own music marketing - just like Rich Brian did, who now has almost 90 million views on his YouTube music video, which was powered in part by the massive reactions on this reaction video: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KMBELyZ_sM[/embed] Resources: How to Make a Reaction video (tutorial) Skittles Super Bowl Live video
It's pretty well known that colleges are a great market for musicians to make some decent money. But how do you get in and how can you make the most of the experience? In today's episode, we talk about common approaches like using NACA or other organizations as your entry point as well as some hacks that you can use to create your own path. Either way, it's worth checking out if the college market is right for you. Resources: National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) - website Association for Student Government (ASG) - website US College and University Directory - website Perfecting Your Pitch (Music Business Hacks podcast) How to Book College Gigs as an Indie Musician - article How to Get Booked to Speak at Colleges - podcast
With the ever-changing algorithm that is showing less and less of your content to your Facebook followers, it's tempting to just boost your way out of the problem. But is it worth it? What about Facebook ads? Today, we talk about paid social media strategy for Facebook strategy, go over some best practices, and how you can improve your music marketing game. Resources: How to Advertise on Facebook: The Complete Guide (article by Hootsuite) Facebook Advertising for Bands: Boost vs. Ad (Sonicbids blog) 40 Ways Bands Can Use Social Media to Increase Engagement at Shows (article) Books to help you win at social media: Going Social Music Business Hacks Likeable Social Media Crushing It
A recap of where we are 28 days after launching this podcast, including some of the best ideas from the month and where we're going next. Today is the last day to enter the giveaway. Just leave a review on iTunes to enter the contest and win a set of books/consultation (plus it's the best way of supporting this podcast), so please do it right now :)
An interview with Victor Franca, one of the partners and lead engineer at Track Town Records in Eugene, OR. Resources & Recommendations: Must-have microphones: AKGD112 kick drum microphone AKG 414 C414 XLS microphone Home studio goods: Portable vocal recording panel Wedge & Bevel acoustic foam kit Bass corner foam absorber kit Books on recording: Modern Recording Techniques Home Recording Studios: Build it Like the Pros Best buy for recording under $100: Focusright Scarlett Audio Interface More about Track Town Records: https://www.tracktownrecords.com/ More about Victor Franca: https://www.victorfranca.com/
Have you ever stopped to calculate your true ROI on your band's merchandise, music, and products? Have you incorporated the idea of turns so you have a better idea what moves more quickly? Here's how you can apply the best practices from a retail business to your music merchandise. Resources: The Ultimate Guide to Music Merchandise (article) Marketing ROI Formula
There are a few ways to make sure you get to open for a major artist in town. Today, we'll talk about the options that you have available and the pros and cons of each. Resources: Ep 3: How to Get a Sponsor part 1 Ep 22: How to Get a Sponsor part 2 Ep 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Also, don't forget to leave a review on iTunes!
It’s good to set realistic expectations over each other’s duties as well as having a plan on how money, responsibilities, debts, and things will be divided. What if some band members believe that merch should only be sold to get gas money but others believe some things should be given out to promote the band? What if someone has a lot of friends and takes up all of the guest list spots? Who will handle social media and promotion? Some simple communication, especially things in writing, can save a lot of heartache on the road. Resources: Interband Agreement Template IP Attorney: Ron Coleman Entertainment Attorney: McNamer Law
If you've ever wondered how to book SXSW and if it's even worth the trouble, money, and energy to get there, you definitely need to take a listen. Then, create a decision making metric to help with all future music career related decisions. Resources: 3 Decision Making Models Used by Warren Buffet and Jeff Bezos
Today's episode is on beginning the sponsorship conversation. If you’ve done the preliminary work of making your brand attractive to sponsors, developing your niche market, and identifying sponsorship prospects with the most potential, then you’re already off to a great start. Those steps are the foundation on which your sponsorship campaign is built. The more carefully you work each of those areas, the more effective you will be in securing sponsorship.
Resources for today:
How to Get a Sponsorship or Endorsement - book How to Get a Sponsor pt. 1 (Episode 3)
Company Researching Tools:
Hoover's One Source Business Information Duns & Bradstreet Vault Corporate Information Linkedin
Cool tools:
Norbert Linkedin Sales Navigator for Email Also, if you want to connect with me on Linkedin, click here!
This week, we covered a couple of big ideas but they can really be summed up in one theme: it's all about value Episode 15: How to Get on the TED Stage - Being consistently on delivering value to relevant communities can open incredible doors. Episode 16: Hacking Yelp for Your Music - The power of creating a fan biography can lead you down unexpected paths Episode 17: Breaking Into New Markets - You can pair up ingenuity with proven traditional methods to develop new markets for yourself. Episode 18: The Surprising Benefits of Transcribing Your Own Music - The soft and hard skills of musicianship will determine if you'll be a world-class performer or not. These exercises seem simple but will stretch you in amazing ways. Episode 19: Non-obvious Stuff Every Musician Should Carry - My favorite 8 things that every touring musician should bring on the road. Episode 20: It's a Long Way to the Top if You Wanna Rock with Eric Stuart - My conversation with Eric Stuart features a lot of great content and shows the power of dedication, hard work, and humility. The takeaway: find new, creative ways to add value to someone today
Brooklyn born and raised singer/songwriter Eric Stuart is a special blend of talent. He has successfully combined the world of music, voice acting and directing for many years. Besides starring in hit shows including Pokémon (Brock, James) and Yu-Gi-Oh! (Seto Kaiba), Eric has toured with such rock legends as Peter Frampton, Ringo Starr, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro Tull, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Dave Mason, Julian Cope, Dave Davies, John Entwistle, Steve Howe, The Alarm, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Jeffrey Gaines, and The English Beat. Show Notes: Introduction song - My Love Can Change That by Eric Stuart Band (01:30) - A typical day in the life of a musician-voice actor (03:00) - The Pros and cons of being a full-time musician (03:30) - Daily habits: always have a guitar nearby (05:20) - When should recording a demo happen? (08:00) - How Eric broke into the recording industry (13:30) - Favorite tools, gear, and habits (16:35) - Catching the attention of Ringo Star (19:35) - How gratitude pays off big time/Why set lengths are important (21:35) - What every opening act needs to know (25:00) - Favorite books (27:30) - Best small purchase/investment (30:00) - Favorite failure (34:00) - Best advice for young, driven musicians and producers (37:07) - Upcoming Projects Resources and recommendations: Music making App: Music Memos by Apple Amp: Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Amp: Toneville Amps Guitar: Reverend Manta Ray HB Guitar: Fender American Telecaster Book: The Encyclopedia of Rock n' Roll Book: The Catcher in the Rye: All in One Edition by J.D Salinger Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie Lifestyle: 14" Jumbo Nonstick Cooking Wok Lifestyle: Instant Pot Programmable Cooker More information: Eric Stuart's website Audrama Productions
What are the tools that every touring musician should have them with at all times? Tools/Gadgets to check out: * Hydro Flask Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle * Po Chai Pills * Vigbagnia Garment Packing Envelope * Snark SN5X Clip-On Tuner * Ampeak 750W Power Inverter * Anker Portable Charger Powerbank * Loquat Syrup * Dude Wipes (for face, not toilet)
Do you have some tour must-haves? Tweet your recommendations to @SimonTheTam or email them to Simon@musicbusinesshacks.com Other Resources: Episode 5: How to Stay Healthy on Tour Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch
Transcribing your music involves translating everything from a piece of music that is performed to written form. It's dictation for music. Action items for today: - Start with a song - Adding variation to a transcription - Transcribing music from a different artist/genre Resources: Software: Transcribe! from seventhstring Software: Amazing Slow Downer by Roni Music Software: Avid Sibelius 8 First (notation software) Book: Contemporary Eartraining - Level Two: A Modern Approach to Help You Hear & Transcribe Chord Progressions, Modal Scales, and Key Changes Book/tool: Standard Wirebound Manuscript Paper (Music sheets)
Looking at the traditional methods of making new fans as well as new and unexpected ways of making new fans. How do you measure the return investment? How can leverage old school methods with unconventional ideas? Resources: Episode 2: How to Book Better Shows Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch Book: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell How to Fund New Audiences Through Market Segmentation (article)
Have you ever thought about using Yelp as a viable social media platform to sell music and get more fans to your shows? That's right, Yelp. The food sharing guide. 3 Actions Steps: 1) Define your audience (write a fan bio) 2) Find the communities of the super fan 3) Create a list of engagement opportunities in those communities Recommended Resources: Book: How to Sell Without Selling Book: Jab Jab Jab Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk
The TED stage has a certain clout of prestige in our society. But how do you get there? Today, we talk about how delivering value with consistency can earn opportunities like the TED and TEDx stage. As someone who has appeared on the TEDx stage over a dozen times, I can assure you: this works. Activity: Reflect on this - what is your greatest idea to share? Then, find events to share that idea. Resources: Video: Pitching Your Way to the TEDx Stage (TEDx talk) Book: TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson Book: Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo How to Get Invited to the TED Stage and What to Do When You Get There (article) 7 Essential Tips to Prepare for a TED Talk (article)
A big week of big ideas! This recap goes over: Episode 8: SMARTER Goals - Your goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely, involve everyone, and revisited often. They will affect where you go more than nearly anything else. Episode 9: Perfecting Your Pitch - How do you pitch your music? Episode 10: How to Get Venues to Respond - The specific best practices for improving open and response rates from promoters Episode 11: Find New Sources of Inspiration - Ideas about how you can get new ideas for your songwriting Episode 12: Crowdfunding Your Way to the Top - Building support for your work en masse Episode 13: Kicking It with Kickstarter Record Breaker Shanna Germain - An interview with Shanna revealed some great tips for any artist to use for building more support for their work
An interview with author and crowdfunding success story, Shanna Germain. An award-winning writer and editor, she has published more than 350 stories, novellas, novels, articles, essays and books. She is an Associate Fellow at the Attic Institute and has taught classes in writing, publishing, media and photography at a wide variety of places. She is also co-author of Kicking It: Successful Crowdfunding from Stonebox Press Show Notes: Introduction: song - From the Heart (instrumental) by The Slants) (04:26): Why use Kickstarter instead of other platforms? (07:57): The pros and cons of working with collaborators (09:24): How to use stretch goals to raise extra money (13:15): The momentum cycle with crowdfunding campaigns (13:45): How to avoid failure (15:37): The make it or break it point in a campaign (20:22): Using a tool like BackerKit (21:00): Budgeting/goal setting (22:28): Best practices for creating backer rewards (24:36): How to provide incentives so people give more (31:35): The typical day/routine for creative work (37:28): Most influential books (40:00): Best Advice for a Young Creative Resources: BackerKit Crowdfunding Resource Kit Book: Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKeeBook: Swimming Sweet Arrow by Maureen Gibbon Book: A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver Book: Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver Book: The Lure of Dangerous Women by Shanna Germain
Everything you need to know about Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other sites. Whether you are raising money or crowdsourcing for ideas, we talk about the best practices to apply in campaigns. Whether you decide to launch a campaign or not, it's a good idea to learn about these concepts and lessons that you can apply to your career. Resources: Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking TED talk The Art of Asking: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer (book) Kickstarter Success Stories (podcast series by John Lee Dumas) How to Create a Successful Kickstarter Campaign (blog)
Today, we talk about how you can continue to get inspiration for your music. We focus on two main action items: - Create an Idea Book - Learning to Write Stories - See What's Selling, Then Do Something Else Resources: - The War of Art: Break Through the blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles (book) - 6 Steps to Songwriting Success (book) - Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebook - amazing for songwriting ideas! - Pilot FriZion Ersable Pens (for your reusable notebook) - 30 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Music (blog)
If you're having trouble getting venues to respond to your messages, you need to listen to this episode. We'll go over 7 key tips in improving your booking email response rates as well as activities you take on today. Resources: How to Book Your Band's First Show (article) How to Book Your Band's Tour, Step-by-Step (blog)
Imagine you had an opportunity to directly pitch your music to the record label of your dreams - what would you say? Today's episode focuses on one of the most important skills needed to advance in the music industry: pitching your music. We talk about best practices and specific action items that you can take today for improving your pitch. Resources: Pitching Your Band (blog) Derek Sivers/Ariel Hyatt on creating the perfect pitch (blog/video)
"If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time" - Zig Ziglar How you can make goals SMARTER: S - Specific M - Measurable A - Attainable R - Relevant T - Timely E - Everyone R - Revisited (often) Additional Resources: How to Create SMARTER Goals For Your Music (blog)
Our very first weekly recap covers the launch of the Music Business Hacks podcast, including some of the ideas from: Episode 1: Welcome to the Music Business Hacks podcast - how artists can carve out a consistent, daily time for achieving their music business goals and selecting the best types of goals for a career in the industry. Episode 2: How to Book Better Shows - What does "better" mean? It's not just the venue, but also the relevance of space to your audience. Episode 3: How to Get a Sponsor part 1: Creating Partnerships - Redefining "sponsorship" from a one-sided relationship to a partnership. Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse. - My argument for why bands shouldn't waste time practicing and how they can make rehearsals more productive. Episode 5: How to Stay Healthy on Tour - A large part of the battle on the road is staying in peak performing condition. Episode 6: From Sweeping Floors to Smashing Success with DaRealWordSound - An inspirational conversation with DaRealWordlSound on creating a hustle, building a community, and developing healthy habits for success.
Our first weekly industry interview is with DaRealWordSound, AKA Elwin G. Williams, III. He is known for his eccentric flow, hardcore nerdcore beats, and his big heart. He's toured with artists like Del The Funky Homosapien (Hieroglyphics), The Artifacts, and Slightly Stoopid, and more. Show Outline: Introduction - Song: New You by DaRealWordSound (03:48): What a Typical Artist Work Day Looks Like (06:00): Pre-show Routines (08:00): Freestyle Exercises at Shows to Engage the Audience (10:10): Learning to Work in a Studio/Breaking Into the Industry (18:50): The Qualities that Set the Pros Apart (31:10): Most Life-changing Books (36:50): Best Music Business Investment (42:50): How Possible Failure Can Turn Into Success (45:00): The Power of Building a Community (49:05): How You Can Be Ready for the Big Moment (58:02): Advice That Every Artist Should Ignore Resources: Book - Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Book - Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell Book - Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson Book - Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work by John Maxwell Book - Music Business Hacks by Simon Tam Book - The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell Podcast - Revisionist History For more information on DaRealWorldSound: http://darealwordsound.com/
In today's episode, we focus on some basic but important guidelines for staying healthy while on tour. From eating properly to the type of exercise you can do while in a van, these habits will help you feel better on the road. Action items: * Learn basic stretches and exercises * Create a tour grocery shopping list
Resources: * 8 Things Every Touring Musician Should Carry * 8 Ways to Exercise While You Commute
Perhaps the biggest impact on your live performance is how you approach practices and rehearsals. In this episode we focus on: * The difference between practicing and rehearsing * 3 Essentials for making your rehearsals more often * Why you should rehearse just like a live show * Rules for rehearsal
If you like this episode, be sure to share it with someone who needs to learn how to rehearse more effectively!
Have you ever wondered how to get money and products to support your tour, album, and other music business efforts? I today's episode, we spend some time redefining what it means to get a sponsor and focus on building genuine partnerships so that these relationships are sustainable and more rewarding. Your MBH activities today: * Create a contact database of potential sponsors * Create a Sponsorship Proposal
Some additional resources: * How to Get Sponsorships and Endorsements book * How to Get Your Band a Sponsor * How to Get Your Band a Sponsor pt. 2 * How to Ger Your Band a Sponsor pt. 3 * The Top 3 Reason Why Your Request for Sponsorship Will be Rejected
Learning to book shows is one of the most essential skills for any performer. However, no one teaches how to do it and there isn't really any set, consistent method. Today, we'll focus on advancing your bookings by helping you rethink what we mean by "better" shows, how to find the right venue, and what you should/should not do. Some additional resources for you: * How to book your band's tour (step by step) * Where you should be touring/performing * How to book SXSW and is it worth it? * How to Book Better Shows (original article)
Do you have 15 minutes to spare? If you want to spend more time doing something for your music career and less time waiting for opportunities to arrive, then you'll want to subscribe to this podcast. This isn't the usual weekly guest interviews that focus on the backgrounds or set of lucky circumstances of other artists. This is not a collection of long winded, general ideas about the music industry. With Music Business Hacks, I focus on inspiration, information, and application. Every episode breaks down something specific about advancing your career: booking, networking, sponsorship, crowdfunding, improving rehearsals, etc. and it is paired up with 1-3 specific actions that you can take that day for improvement. Think of it as your recipe book for music business success: everyday, you can cook up a new concept by spending 15 minutes of dedicated, focused time. At the end of the week, you'll get a deep dive interview with a guest to explore other concepts and perspectives, then get a weekly recap. This is a daily podcast - if I am asking you to commit 15 minutes a day, I'm going to record/edit/publish everyday too. I hope you'll consider subscribing and leaving us a review. If you want the book, you can order it from Amazon here.
Welcome to the Music Business Hacks podcast! This episode introduces who this podcast is for, what will do, and how you can be entered in to win a book + consultation package just for sharing your thoughts!