Keeping a regular practice schedule is hard. I’m one of those people who genuinely loves to practice, and I still find it hard to keep up a regular schedule. Life, work, and business get in the way far too often – it’s important to take a step back and realize that ultimately what you’re aiming…
In my most recent post, I talked about the process I used to make demos. I’m lucky enough to have amassed a healthy arsenal of recording gear, and I have a penchant for spending my hard-earned dollars on more stuff. That being said, the only reason I have more gear now is because I make…
We all know and understand the importance of a well-run and well-maintained mailing list. As a musician, you’re always working at getting people out to shows, and a mailing list can have a huge impact on your attendance. If you ever decide to run a crowdfunding campaign, you’ll need a mailing list. If you want…
Note: This guide has relevant parts for both vocalists and music producers. For any bits you can’t personally do yourself, please refer the advice to your chosen beat maker or vocalist. Making demos is an important part of writing and creating music. In fact, I consider it to be a skill as valuable as writing….
Showcases are super important for indie artists. In fact, bands big and small showcase all the time – pretty much everyone has someone they want to impress! Organizing a great showcase is a bit of an art form. Some bands/managers know how to set up a showcase just so, and they can really make an…
If you’ve been ever to a music conference like SXSW, CMW, NXNE, or similar, you’ll know exactly how overwhelming it can be. There are often hundreds of artists in attendance, and they are all doing exactly what you’re doing. Then again, you’ve probably heard stories of bands getting noticed or signed at these conferences while…
Besides playing music, the best part of touring is exploring new cities. Have you always wanted to go to New York, Nashville, or Newfoundland? Well, you’re in a band, so go ahead and book yourself a tour! At the end of my days, if nothing else I will have seen a lot of the world….
Radio isn’t dead. No matter what people say, getting on the charts has huge implications for your career. As an indie artist, college radio should absolutely be a part of your marketing plan. College radio stations are dedicated to playing new music and they spin music commercial stations simply can’t, due to their need for…
Are you looking for a way to kick up your practice game? At times practice can feel stagnant and progress futile. But if you start recording yourself regularly, your practice will be forever changed. Over the years I have had many teachers tell me to record myself and listen back, but it took a while…
Something I’ve learned while on the road is that the best time to plan for the future is right now. Traveling around the country gives you the unique opportunity to meet people you wouldn’t normally meet and make personal connections you wouldn’t otherwise make. While I’m on tour, I find it’s a good time to…
Sure, you’re an indie artist now, but what about in five years? 10 years? Will you still be completely independent? At some point you’ll (hopefully) have too much on your plate do it all yourself. Generally speaking, your team will be built slowly over the course of many months/years. Indie artists spend a great deal…
Short answer: no. Long answer: definitely not. What we’re going to do today is look at what I consider to be the greatest social media myth of all time – and debunk it. Then, we’re going to look at a few artists with very effective social media personas and see what we can learn from…
Believe it or not, when my band goes on tour, we make money. It’s not a lot of money, but we certainly come out on top. This is a result of a couple years of groundwork and less profitable tours, careful planning, and grants. It’s also the result of being able to manage our finances…
In 2015, I received my first offer for management. It was a very exciting development, and I was looking forward to exploring this new aspect of my career… then I saw the contract. What was in there surprised me and at times – even horrified me. I’m an independent musician, and my entire salary comes…
It’s important to know what you’re getting into when you start a publicity campaign. Whether you’re working with a publicist, hitting it DIY, using a marketing agency or otherwise, you want to get your money’s worth and you need to make an impact. This means you need to put in some effort. Having worked with…