Recording Artist Advocate: Know Your Worth...

Everybody’s selling something. Some sell fear. Some sell hope. Some promise success. What are the people who hire you trying to sell?

Musicians are some of the most lied to and preyed upon people around. When you consider the time it takes to become a good player and performer, and measure that against pay… well, don’t do it or you could get depressed.

It’s alright to work for cheap when you get started. Research every successful band and there was a time they had to do it too. They weren’t very good at first. But, they got better and the pay got better.

A record label executive told me bands go a long time working for very little and are always surprised when the pay goes from hundreds a show to thousands. They get so used to working for cheap they almost don’t feel like they deserve the increase. But you do.

Watch the door and watch the bar. You’ll know when the venue makes money. If it’s corporate work, you already know they’re doing well enough to hire you. Bottom line; you are worth your asking price… probably a lot more.

So, be aware of what they’re trying to sell you. Know when to give something and know when to stand your ground. A negotiation doesn’t have to be confrontational. Know your worth and you can get paid accordingly.   

Recording Artist Advocate: Starting Small...

Everyone has to start somewhere. Don’t be embarrassed when you play small gigs for tips. If you’re a new performer that’s what those shows are for. When you’re developing your “chops” there is no shortcut. In a year you will be able to look back and see how much better you got. Give it a few more and you’ll be in a whole different league.

The problem is that we see young performers and think it was an overnight thing. It wasn’t. Even child stars start very young.  

It’s always several years of hard work to get good at anything. If you are not willing to put in the time, you should hang it up now. But if you are willing, you will stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Let’s face it; people are generally lazy and want it all now. But that’s not how it works. To get really good at anything takes time. Put in that time. Even when the other people you started with get discouraged and loose interest… keep working.

There will be people who fall away. If they don’t have the same drive they can easily drag you down. I’ve heard successful artists say that your biggest hindrance to your success is yourself. After that it’s the people around you. That’s true. The least motivated member drags the band down to their level.

As you progress, you will find other people like you. Join their band or get them to join yours. Get enough people together with the same drive and motivation, and you can achieve anything.

Recording Artist Advocate: Industry Knowledge...

There is a wealth of information on the internet, obviously. That’s how you found this blog.

If you have a question about almost anything, the answer is just a search away.

Here at Rough Wood Recording we’ve been encouraging artist to use TuneCore for years. In fact Tune Core was brand new when our first artist started using them to get access to iTunes. Since then they’ve added so many more online music stores, iTunes is just one of many.  

One of the great things about TuneCore is the advice they give artist. You don’t have to sign up with them to get at it either. Check them out; www.tunecore.com

If you want to know how to make more money and not hand it all over to a manager or label, definitely dig in and read everything you can. At least you’ll know what they’re talking about.

There is an old expression, “It’s not what you make. It’s what you keep.”

Do things right, and you’ll make more money. Make enough money and the major record labels will notice you. Then, when they start coming around, you’ll be able to bargain from a better position. Some artists have found that they can do better as an independent. A major label deal may just mean more hands in your wallet.

Recording Artist Advocate: Your Publicist...

Has this ever happened to you?  You get interviewed and then read the blog or article and they get it completely wrong.  It's as if the writer was at a completely different show. 

There’s a way to fix that:  Write your own articles and press releases.    

Don’t trust a stranger with your image and risk them getting it wrong.

That’s why smart people hire agents. If you can’t afford an agent, don’t worry; you can be your own.

There was a time when reporters or bloggers wanted to create their own content, but with the constant demand on them for good content they appreciate the help. As long as you follow some basic journalistic guidelines, you‘re likely see your release printed exactly the way you wrote it.

Search out the reporters and bloggers. It’s easy since their bylines almost always have a contact number or e-mail address.

You already craft songs. How much easier is it to write up a short story about the night, the crowd, and the energy… all the things that made the show great! The more you do it the better you’ll get. Read the stories and blogs to get a feel for style, and send out your own releases.  Always include links to stories about your band on your website.

While you’re at it, describe how the other bands did. Make the reader wish they’d been there too. Reporters and bloggers need content. They want to stand apart from all the rest. Get good at this and they’ll look forward to the stories you send in.     

You put so much into your music and stage presence. Don’t leave it up to a stranger to tell your story? Do it right. Do it well. And you control your image.

Recording Artist Advocate: Writer's Block...

Some songs seem to come all at once while others are hammered out over years. I’m excited to be present when inspiration strikes, but more often it’s a slow, labored process. A few times I have been able to offer an outsider’s view asking what the artist is trying to say or otherwise getting them out of their head to move the process forward.  

Here are some things artist have told me works for them.

 As songs are usually stories set to music, the methods an author uses to move forward work equally well for songwriters. One of the best is to write from the end, or write with the finish in mind.

Another is to stop thinking about the song, what rhymes and such, and just start fleshing out the characters in the story. Change gears and start writing the back story. What is their past? Why are they here? What is going to happen next? What does it mean? The best actors do this instinctively.

That reminds me… your brain does that all the time. If a song or a photograph represents a moment in time, your brain writes a “before and after story” to put it into context. A shadow intruding on a picture can change the whole narrative. Think about that with a song. A line out of context could change everything. Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it’s subtle.

Have you heard a song years later and realized it meant something completely different than what you remembered? With the intervening years of life experience, what was subtle is not anymore.

When you give the story or characters a life of their own, the rest of the song (or story) may write itself.

Some songs are like cotton candy; sweet and fun, but disappear fast.

Make your songs go deeper and they may become a part of the soundtrack of a generation.