There’s this band I know. I met them at a conference, and they seemed cool. I gave them my card. Big mistake. First, they added me to their mailing list without asking. This was a faux pas, but I let…
Category
Tips
Starbucks Eyeing MP3 Downloads
Looks like Starbucks is moving closer to offering digital music downloads through their Hear Music program, allowing customers to load MP3s directly onto portable players, in addition to CD sales and on-the-spot CD burning: “A lot of our customers are…
How To Break An Act
Abrasive-yet-insightful music industry commentator Bob Lefsetz knocked one of the park a few days back with his post, Breaking An Act. A must-read, even if half of it is just plain common sense.
There’s More Than One Kind Of Gig
Ahem. Check, one two…check… ::thump thump:: Hi. I’m Scott Andrew, singer-songwriter guy from Seattle, and as Joe already mentioned, I’ll be a guest blogger on spinme.com for the next few weeks. I’ve never been a “guest blogger” before, so this…
Band Practice Without the Funky Aroma
Apparently, folks are now using Skype to telecommute to band practice. Track these topics:
Music Miracles and the Power of Intention
Kathy writes about the “miracle” she experienced when a documentary producer contacted her to use one of her tunes in an upcoming television special about Hurricane Katrina. I believe wholeheartedly that we create our own luck and our own opportunities.…
Productivity for the Practicing Musician
Scott Andrew spills the beans on his music productivity process, including getting clear on why you’re playing certain gigs, and how to combine useful tools (like Yahoo! Calendar and thick notebooks) to keep on top of your booking pipeline. Track…
Why your fans aren’t getting your e-mail.
There’s an interesting new trend in spam protection that impacts the results you could be getting from your e-newsletters. I often encounter bands that, desperate for attention, add folks to their mailing lists without permission. Ideological issues aside, there’s a…
Making It Easy for Folks to Talk About You
We have talked about this on more than a few calls. Audience members go for “high concept.” No matter how you’ve positioned your music, it’s always going to be easier for folks to talk about you in the context of…
Only the CD Matters
Clients and members tend to gasp at me when I tell them that radio stations and music supervisors have a habit of separating compact discs from jewel cases and the rest of your lavishly produced press kits. That’s why, as…
Getting to gigs is getting expensive!
Whether you’re coping with higher gas prices for your ailing van, or concerned that the flight you’re taking for your west coast tour might leave you stranded, it’s tough to factor travel expenses into the equation for booking. Keep these…
Throw More Pots
Zane’s great post, excerpted below, is a great reminder that you’ve got to DO something to BE something. I spent a lot of time this week working with clients that wanted to unhook themselves from the fear of… something. I’m…