Recording Artist Advocate: It's not about talent, always...

You play and practice. Put together a tight set list, and try to put on a good show. Heck, a great show. But people who don't play as well, or even write as good make a lot more money.

What is the difference? What sets the high earners apart?

The most successful performers are entertainers. In addition to everything else they truly surprise and entertain and basically work their asses off in front of a crowd.

But they do more.

Surprise is good. I've talked about how your brain loves to be suprised and how you can open your audience up and really get in their heads. Do all that, but you still have to do more.

OK. I won't drag it out anymore. You need to attract an audience. That's the bottom line.

It's bodies through the door or tickets sold or downloads or views. That's it. If you can deliver an audience you will get paid.

So look at yourself. Look at your band. Do you stand out or blend in? Does the crowd root for you or do they even know you from the rest? Find that connection and use it to build an army. That's what it takes.

Reach out to them and thank them for joining. "Send us an e-mail telling us where you saw us play and we'll send you an mp3"or "Send in your pictures showing how great a time you had at our show" Do things that only visitors to your website (and their friends) can know about. Gain their loyalty and don't let them down. Create the club they want to be a part of.

What could you do if just a thousand people really liked your band?
What if it was ten thousand? or 50?

Are you starting to get the picture?

Recording Artist Advocate: An Exclusive Club...

I overheard some dads talking about their sons and their sports teams. It wasn’t the sort of talk I expected. They talked about how each son had to grow as a person as they got better at their sport. More than just learning the nuances of the game, they talked about how humbling it is to do everything right and still loose. It was how their sons reacted to those set-backs that made them proud. They also talked about kids who didn’t handle things so well.  

As a musician you will have good days and bad days. It’s how 
you react to the bad that sets you apart. An immature artist will 
look for someone to blame and throw fits. It can destroy a band.

Be realistic. If someone was consistently going to the wrong 
chord or coming in late, decide if you need to practice together 
more or if you need a new person in that position. 
If it was you having a bad night, do the same thing. 
You can spend all your energy blaming someone else 
or you can man-up and work on getting better. 
When you’re immature it’s the hardest thing to do, but 
working through it is the best choice you can make.

There is a very obvious dividing point between someone who 
plays an instrument and an artist you’d want to work with. 
The immature member of a band stands out and is like a 
heavy weight the rest of the group has to drag along. 
But, when you get a group of artists together that have 
gotten past that, there is no limit to the success they’re capable of.

Hold yourself to that higher standard. Don’t make excuses. 
Own up to your skill level and work on improving. Do the same 
with the rest of the band. Hold each other to that standard. 
The immature part of you will fight at every step. Push through 
and you can go from being just alright to being great!

It isn’t easy. Some people will never let go of their childish 
impulses. They will only make excuses. Get as far away from 
them as quickly as you can. Don’t let them drag you down.

You can be the artists successful people want to work with. 
You can be the band people want to hire, and at a higher price. 
Pros want to work with people like themselves.

It's a pretty exclusive club for good reason; 
the people who make it don't stop working to get better.  

Recording Artist Advocate: So Gay, or Straight, or Whatever…

Recently, I talked about appealing to your audience and really connecting with them. They change as they grow and you do too. Some artist follow and some lead their listeners. They only have so much time to give you, so you better make it count or they’ll listen to someone else.

It’s a delicate dance because you don’t want to push them away 
but you don’t want to be thought of as pandering. 
My advice has always been, “be yourself”. That is; know who 
you are and find where you can connect with your audience. 
There are universal themes that transcend ideology and politics 
so I’ve always advised artists to explore in those areas.

But…

If you’ve decided to be in a niche market, you better be all in. 
There are a lot of niche markets where the niche is so narrow, 
there are only a few bands doing that music. 
It’s a small slice, but they get all of it.

If you go to white power rallies and want to get on stage 
you better be the most racist person there. 
If there is a gay genre of music, and I think there is, 
you better be super gay.

I’m not equating these niches. I’m saying that a niche audience 
wants to be validated by someone who they can connect to. 
You better be real or they’ll reject you.

That reminds me; does anyone remember when Ellen Degeneres 
had a TV show? Not the daily talk show. It was a situation comedy 
at night. As in life, the character she played was gay. 
The writers made the mistake of focusing on that one thing. 
It just got old and the show fizzled out.  

Ellen found success when she showed that she was 
a complete person who can connect with a wide audience. 
She could have gone the other way and filled a niche, 
but I think she made the better choice.

If you’re quirky, that’s OK. Be yourself. But be 
the quirky person people can still relate to. 
Then you can blow em’ away with your talent.  

Between a niche and relatable, I choose relatable.  
But you have to choose for yourself.

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!  

Recording Artist Advocate: We are all together Coo coo ca choo...

This is really a follow up on my last post.

The people you want to come to your shows and buy your music 
have more choices than ever. In fact they have so many choices 
they're likely to be overwhelmed. And it's not just what band 
to follow. Every category you can think of has more choices. 

And those choices define them. 

Imagine a skit where one character says, “I’m a skateboarder, 
so I like this thing.” 
Then another character says, “I’m a straight A student, so I like 
this other thing.” As simple, and confining, as that sounds, 
it’s pretty much spot on.

The fan you want looks in the mirror and sees something 
very specific. Their choices reinforce that image. 
Especially the people they give their attention to.

When you know yourself and own it, people who feel the same 
way will be comfortable being your fans.

Here is where I think artist get into trouble. Just like the fans, we are 
full of contradictions with a wide range of emotions. If you are too 
specific or just focus on one aspect of yourself you will miss your 
chance at a broader audience. Artist can start out good but 
whittle away their audience the more they say.

Another mistake is to go the other direction and try to ride the waves 
of changing public tastes. If you are so very current today, 
you’ll be out of style tomorrow. 
So don’t chase something that can’t be caught.

When your fans look at you they see something of themselves. 
They need you in their swirling, changing world. 
You’ll grow and mature and they will too right along with you. 
As long as you stay relevant to them, you’ll never lack 
for work, shows, and sales.   

Recording Artist Advocate: And promote some more…

A band went on a short tour. The newest member made videos. Lots of them. Random videos when they passed into a new state or when one of the band members got sick from bad road food. For a month or so they had a huge online presence. The videos were fun but also sad... basically everything that really happens with a band on the road.

As new people saw them at shows and searched for them online, 
there was a lot for them to find. 

But then the tour ended so did all the posts. That player had been 
hired for the tour and joined another band. 
None of the members kept up the posts. 

If you don't have one person keeping your online presence going, 
you should at least rotate those responsibilities through band 
and crew members. One is going to be the perfect fit.

When you are completely sick of it is just about the time fans will 
start really liking it. 

You've heard that you should dress like the job you want. 
That ethic applies to your music career too. Present yourself as 
the successful band you want to be. 

I'm not saying you should put on a fake front, but think about 
how you want people to remember you and play up 
the best parts. 

Think about this too; with all the choices someone has, if you 
want to be one of the bands they like you have to win that slot. 

Know yourself and know your audience. They only have 
so much attention and time. Show them why 
they should give you theirs.

Recording Artist Advocate: So "Political"...

Should you be political? It all depends. Do you want to be popular for a few years or for much longer? If today is all you think about than by all means be political. If you want a longer career I wouldn't push it.

Bands that made their mark being political in the Bush years are strangely 
quiet about Obama doing the same things. 
They can’t even bring themselves to complain about all the 
spying going on.

Now I’ve done it. I’m definitely on a list now.

But my point is that there are artist who don’t push a political agenda and 
they are able to appeal to their audience anyway. Also, and I hate to 
say this, but things change fast. As much as we want to think we have 
a strong opinion, it can change in a short time.

I’ve been searching for the South Park episode about the new kid who 
is “political”. I think they even sang a song about it. I can’t seem to 
find anything on it, but the point was that they didn’t like him. 
I think if you are too political they won’t like you either. 
At least don’t be known for a political view that will seem outdated 
in a few years.

Obama girl isn’t relevant any more. I think that proves the point best.

Recording Artist Advocate: like the other one...

I’ll bet a psychiatrist could read these posts and know my 

mental state from week to week. I’ll bet you could look back on your song writing and do the same thing.

Artists tell me the hardest thing is not getting into a rut. 
Especially if your audience responds well to a certain song; 
you want to write more like that one. But, the best show 
or set list has a lot of songs that sound different. 
Style, emotions, tempos, and intensity.  

It used to be that albums and CD’s were listened to like a set list. 
Artists still sweat over what songs to put in what order. 
If all the songs sound the same it’s a very hard job.

Most likely you can’t be objective… 
OK, no one can be objective. 
You have to find someone who can be. 

As you develop relationships with industry people, be willing 
to listen. They hear a lot of bands and have seen a lot of artist 
come and go. You can learn a lot from them. 
Ask questions and really listen.

Within your chosen style or music genre there is room for variety. 
Take advantage of it and all your songs won’t sound the same.

Recording Artist Advocate: Love Stinks...

Well, it can smell pretty funky. A successful working musician spends 

a lot of time practicing and gigging. Then you have calls to make, booking, and other business. When everyone else is playing, you’re working. 

You’re the soundtrack to their play. It can be extremely hard on a relationship. 

I’ve heard artist say they just want to get successful enough to hire people so they can have their lives back.

If you’re in a relationship, be patient and hope they are too. If you have 
the same goals you can get through it. If you don’t… at least be willing 
to make a clean break. If that doesn’t work you can always write 
a song about it. Bad relationships do seem to make for the best songs.

If you're not in a relationship, don't be in a hurry. Things tend to 
work out. There, that's some great wisdom.

So it’s Valentine’s Day. Hope you have a show tonight 
and you really do well.

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.

Recording Artist Advocate: Use video to sell music...

You need to be using YouTube to promote your band… 

but probably not like you think.  

I need to take a step back to explain.

Advice for your career can come from anywhere. 
Business advice will apply to your career, but it may 
apply to relationships or anything else in your life.  

So:

I was reading the Monday Morning Memo 
http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/  from Wizard Academy,  
and Roy Williams said that businesses that have a lot of YouTube videos 
are able to answer their customer’s questions and solidify a buying 
decision even before the person contacts the business. 
We know it’s true because we all do it. 
You search for information on the internet before you do anything else. 
We don’t want to be “sold” anything. We are just looking for information.

So how does this apply to you or your band? Think about the questions 
people ask you when they get you on the phone. Could you do a very 
quick YouTube video to answer that question?

Then do it and put it up. 

Make sure there is a way to contact you during the video, and put up more 
videos as the ideas keep coming to you.

It’s not the only thing you need to do, but it is one thing you must do.

Excuse me. I have to take the same advice and get busy making some 
YouTube videos for Rough Wood Recording Studio.