Recording Artist Advocate: The overly talkative waiter…

Have you ever had a waiter that talks too much? They want to appear friendly, but it usually just comes across as someone trying too hard. The only thing keeping you from saying, “I don’t really care” is the thought of what they would do to your food.

You can tell that they aren’t picking up the social cues that make up a conversation. They just talk, and talk…

In an interview it’s hard not to do the same thing. You’re asked a question and just talk till they ask another question. Instead, try to treat an interview like a conversation. You definitely want to get in your plugs for shows or a new project, but use conversation skills like eye contact, expression, and pauses. You can build tension with a pause and relieve it with a knowing smile or unexpected answer. The best can even turn a hostile interview into something good for themselves and the interviewer. Make them look good and they’ll usually take good care of you.

I saw a 70’s TV star being interviewed by someone who was trying to make him look old and out of style. The interviewer was almost saying, “When was the last time you did anything relevant”. The guy kept his cool, even seemed to relaxed a little. He said, “You know so and so. We worked on his project together.” He started turning the interview around as if to say, “You are relevant and plugged in, and we know a lot of the same people.” He did it so well the interview seemed like friends talking by the end.

Also, he said just enough to make his point, used eye contact and was friendly. He treated the interviewer as an equal and never lost his cool.  

Practiced speech comes across better than trying to wing it. As musicians, you have a lot of down time, so practice interviewing each other like you practice playing. All practice makes you better and a good interview can be a great boost to your career.

Recording Artist Advocate: Old and new…

The old model for musicians was to write good songs and play for the right people to be discovered and get a record contract. Then you played the part of a “Rock Star” till they were through with you. There were a lot of one hit wonders. Some artist had long careers. But most were around for an album or two before fading away.

The lessons from those artists with long careers are still relevant in today’s music industry.  

First, their music connected to their audience. The most successful spoke to the larger population and wrote the songs that defined their times. They were good business managers, or hired good ones. They made the most out of their fame. That is, they made as much money as they could, from many sources, while they could.

In the past the record labels made the most money and artists came and went. Today you are your own record label.

Even in the past there were artists who took control of their careers. Ray Charles created his own company to manage his recording rights and booking. Elvis had management offices at Graceland.

It’s been done before. You can do this now!

But, don’t fall for the lie that rock stars can just do whatever they want; sleep all day and wait for the offers to roll in. You’ll work hard and you’ll work a lot. You’ll have to make hard decisions. You’ll have to plan and then change your plan. Make the most of the time you have.

Know you’ll do a lot of things wrong. That’s how you learn to do them right.

Don’t let drugs or alcohol or someone’s selfishness derail you. Be careful who you hook up with. It’s hard to tour with someone back home calling and texting; trying to get you to come back. If the person you’re with isn’t behind you, move on.

Play everywhere you can, but don’t play somewhere if it doesn’t fit who you are, or if it doesn’t feel right. Trust your gut.

Watch what you say on social media. If in doubt, don’t hit send. If you choose a side politically, you’ve turned your back on about half your audience. Your views will come through in your music, but be subtle. You don’t have to hit people over the head.

On the other hand, if you play to a niche audience, go all in. (I’ll do another article on that)

Keep at it. One day you’ll look up and realize you’re living the life you wanted.  

Recording Artist Advocate: Your filter...

I want to expand on what I wrote last week when I encouraged you to dig deep and put into words what you are, so that you can make certain you’re on the right track.

I talked to an executive who said he was progressing in his job but hit a wall. He just couldn’t advance into management. One of the higher-ups came to him and said he needed to make some changes.

He was told to think out every action to see if that’s what an executive with their company would do. After work, even though he was on his own time, he would be representing the business. How he dressed and acted then was just as important as while he was at work. From his clothes and car and how he carried himself, it all mattered all the time.

He began to study himself and compare that to the image of a successful professional in his industry. He was back on track within a year. Now he’s the president of the company.

He didn’t just have to jump through some hoops to impress his bosses… who he is now the boss over. He had to “be” a manager in the eyes of everyone he met. Before long putting him in the big office was just a formality.

So, what do you want to be? How does that person act? What do they say? How do they move through a crowd? How do they connect in an interview?

Study the people who have made it and compare that to the image in your mind of the person you want to be. Now go about being that person, weather you’re playing to a few people or a stadium.

Recording Artist Advocate: Leaving your mark…

The pyramids let us know something about the people who built them. They were brilliant mathematicians and they were great at building complex large structures. If not for the pyramids, would we even care about those people? It’s the same thing we did when Mount Rushmore was carved out of a mountain in South Dakota. Even though it looks good now, the carving was made so that it will still look good after a thousand or more years of erosion. Both of these monuments are like a message from the past saying, “We were here. We were smart. We were good at doing hard things. We were pretty cool.”

What do you want to say that will outlive you and may even speak to future generations?

Really think about that. It’s not about trends or something that will be out dated in a few years. Are you fair? Are you strong? Do you have a strong belief or faith? Write it down. Look at it in a few days and rewrite it. When you get it right put it on your mirror or write it on the wall where you see it every day. That is the filter everything has to go through. When someone comes along asking you to be something else, you can say, “That doesn’t fit with who I am… or that exactly fits who I am.”  

It’s you, and it’s what will be remembered about you if you consistently do it.

I have my own filters in my personal and professional life. It keeps me focused and usually out of trouble.

But, it doesn’t do you any good if you don’t know yourself, or if you don’t apply your own.

So take the time to do it and then use it. Your life will be better and you will be happier.

With that focus you’ll write better songs too.

Recording Artist Advocate: Mix it up…

There was a building at MIT that housed the people they didn’t have room for in the regular campus buildings. It was the place they put you till room opened up in the department you would eventually be working in.

Building 20 was a catch-all for different people from different disciplines.  The modern “Hacker Culture” is attributed to a group housed there. Researchers from different disciplines intermingled and shared information without even meaning to.  

It’s not unusual for people in these very rigid disciplines to cluster together and never interact with people outside their circle. We do the same thing. How many people from outside work or your band, or gigging do you interact with?

The scientists from Building 20 had more innovation and more patents than any other group. It turns out that a mechanical engineer can learn something from a nuclear scientist. Or hackers can learn from the ROTC.  

Apply this in your own life. You may feel your brain shutting down at the thought of reading a blog about business, but you can learn something there that will apply to your career. Advertising principles, especially the psychology behind advertising, will definitely apply to how you present your band to your potential fans.

There is a “Non-Traditional” Business School here in Texas that hosts students from major companies, entrepreneurs, public speakers, churches, writers, non-profits, entertainers, musicians and painters… really anyone who needs to communicate better. I look forward to their “Monday Morning Memo”, and almost every time come away with something that will help my recording studio or the artist I work with.

Google Wizard Academy and sign up for the once-a-week e-mails.

Also go to TuneCore’s site and sign up for their music business specific reminders.

In the time we usually waste online you can learn something that will make you more money!