I meet too many aspiring musicians who tell me they’re just waiting for that lucky break for the world to discover their talent. In the meantime, they’re usually the same folks watching every episode of American Idol instead of booking gigs and selling tickets. To me, luck means ordering a drink at Starbucks at the [...]
Music Management Skills: Get Others Involved
December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
While revising the site’s “About” page, I realized that it’s been a while since I wrote about one of the most important skills for a music manager to develop: the ability to rally and display support. Bands often get stuck on bookings because talent buyers hate to coordinate shows directly with artists. It doesn’t help [...]
Announcing my fifth music business book: “Audience Supported.”
December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I’m so excited to tell you about the launch of my fifth music business book, “Audience Supported.” I started writing about the music business when I was still working as a public radio producer. My then-girlfriend, now my wife, took me out to a neighborhood bar that was packed to the gills with an audience [...]
All new editions of spinme.com music business books in 2011.
December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Thanks to Lori’s help and to a much easier schedule since moving into Center City Philadelphia, I’ve got the road map for all new updates to my series of music business books in 2011: Grow Your Band’s Audience (“Tenth Anniversary Edition” / v4.0): February 1, 2011 Music Management for the Rest of Us (v2.0): March [...]
Giving yourself the space to shine.
December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Pamela Slim writes that it’s easy for creative people to fool themselves into thinking that their strengths can overcompensate for environmental variables. Have you ever watched yourself spiral downward with something that’s usually a cinch? It happens to musicians and to artist managers all the time. It’s tempting to want to get into the music [...]
Scoring Big on the Secondary Concert Ticket Market
December 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jay Frank and I were chatting not long ago about concert ticket pricing and margin for large touring acts. He and I have both managed bands, booked bands, and booked venues, so we’ve seen this from both sides: Nearly every venue contract sets revenue share based on a fixed set of ticket prices. (For instance: [...]
