Hi there, parents of a music major. You are, by now, quaking in your shoes, wondering what good this major is, and how will they ever find a real job. As an ardent follower of all the newest trends and buzzwords that the current crop of MBA's throw around, I can assure you that if done right, … [Read more...]

There's a movement afoot by even really established artists to start booking themselves as opposed to using regular agents. I'll get to this in a second, but first things first. I'll need to repeat some things from earlier posts just because they're that critical, and they tie in to what the … [Read more...]

Let's forget about your value as a creative human being, that's immeasurable. You're the apple of your parent's eye, your teacher's and all your friend's. What we want to examine is the actual monetary value that you bring to the table. How do you enhance a venue, or an audience's pleasure? I'm not … [Read more...]

Eventually it had to happen. Everything you've done so far has resulted in happy audiences, happy venues. You're fielding offers, or venues actually get back to you when you submit. It's possible even an agent is trying to sign you up. Good for you. Now don't screw it up. There are mostly … [Read more...]

The best thing that's ever happened to the music business is the internet, the laptop, and the cell phone. (See if you can guess where this might now be going.) The worst thing that's ever happened to the music business is the internet, the laptop, and the cellphone. This doesn't take a degree in … [Read more...]

This is stuff you really should have learned in kindergarten, or stuff your parents have been harping on for your whole life. Somehow, either because they're your uncool parents, or you've simply become too cool for school, you've ignored. You're a creative musician, you don't need no stinking' … [Read more...]

Assuming you now understand where you as an individual musician now stand in the circus that is live music, you're a lot more ready to approach a venue and achieve some positive results. Again, remember the basic needs of promotion: good video feeds on youtube, active social media page (we'll get … [Read more...]

There is a new movement with musicians where they're starting to eschew agents and represent themselves. This can be a good thing, as many agencies are either too large to effectively promote a young artist, and some are too lazy to really get on the phone and call. Few do the slightest bit of … [Read more...]

… [Read more...]

Sure, technique is important, but, in the grand scheme of life and education, it's pretty low on the scale. The single most important thing any parent wants for their kids is to not let fear rule their decisions or choices. Comedian and actor Jim Carrey, of all people, gave one of the greatest … [Read more...]