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…
In the right hands, money is a valuable tool for furthering a worthy vision. In the wrong hands, money is little more than a means to an end. The problem (or prospect) isn’t with money – it’s with the individual using it! Some have a lot, and some have a little. For those that have…
A lot of guitar teachers tend to teach their beginner students how to play three-finger open chords in their first lesson. Don’t get me wrong – sometimes this can work. If the student is astute and hardworking, they might be able to use this experience as a launching pad to learn other skills and techniques….
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…
It’s hard not to see the big-picture possibilities as a musician. We are living in the information age, and that means you have access to a virtually endless supply of resources, not to mention people. Interested in building a worldwide audience? The opportunity is definitely there. But before you get too carried away with your…
When it comes to lead guitar, there are certain techniques you need to master. Whether you’re trying to learn your favorite guitar solo, or you’re looking to add some flare to your band’s songs, if you don’t add any feeling to your lead playing, you’re not going to come off sounding like a pro. “Feel”…
In the past I’ve written about booking effective shows and promoting shows, but I have yet to cover how to make the most of a show once it’s booked and publicized. I’ve found the key to making my shows effective is knowing what you want to accomplish. I only play shows that have a purpose….
As you begin to delve into the world of scales, you might feel a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of different scales in music, many of which aren’t immediately applicable to the musical situations you’ll likely find yourself in, especially as a beginner. But you probably won’t know the difference between what matters now…
I was taught how to swing in my Grade 7 jazz band. Of course, being an avid music fan, I had listened to lots of music with swing, but up until that point, I never had a name for it. Perhaps you had a similar experience: swing was explained to me as triplets with the…
If you’re in the music industry, then odds are good that – at one point or another – you’ve expressed the need for more time. Although there’s no way to increase the number of hours in a day, it is possible to automate more of what you do and free up more of your time…
Unless you’re exclusively a jazz guitarist, odds are there’s going to come a time in your journey when you’ll need to learn string bending techniques. Even if you’re a complete beginner, you’ve probably heard lots of examples of string bending in the music you love: the intro to Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”, the solo…
Depending on where you live, grants can literally make or break your career. I live in Canada, where grants are abundant and in high demand. Having written several successful grant applications for myself and for other artists, grant writing seemed liked a relevant and worthwhile topic to discuss. You may have heard this from others,…
The music you create can be used in a variety of different ways. Most musicians focus on making money with their music, and for good reason. But you can also use your music as a promotional tool to create a buzz, build your email list, or to grow your following. If you aren’t interested in…
Are you new to string skipping? Are you looking to assimilate new techniques to include in your repertoire as a guitarist? Want to test out the cool new strings you’ve just bought? The amazing thing about a seemingly simply technique like string skipping is that it can go from easy and simplistic all the way…
Working with publicists is really fun and rewarding, especially when they’re good at what they do. Getting calls for interviews is very exciting and having your name mentioned in the media can do wonders for your career. However, there seems to be some myth and mystery surrounding what a music publicist actually does and what…