By Mark Grove
This post is basically a primer on how to approach bands you want to open for, create joint ventures with them and make more money doing something you love! And that's being a paid musician.
Yeah, most of you won't make the cash of the A-List musicians but you can actually make a good living as a musician if you approach bands, create great value for them and work on forming joint ventures. Now, I don't talk about this in the article, but how to approach indie record labels and get the deals you want. As well, getting paid a half decent buck and forgetting the bullshit so many managers and agent tout. It's not that tough guys, and you don't need to have an internet presence to make money with your band. I think the net's over rated in that regard. Old school ways of making money with your band are coming back even more these days.
If you want some help just email me at: mdgrove@inbox.com
I keep on harping about playing for free and giving away your best material. Literally giving away the kitchen sink. Well, at least giving away your Mother -in-Law who hates you being a Musician.
The Realization:
The realization is no one knows who your band is--at least not yet. If your lead guitarist isn't the greatest thing since the Shred Master's Like Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, or Blues Guru Derek Trucks. Chances are you'll have to play for free for a while.
Mean while, play those Jam Sessions weekly even though you hate it like a passion sometimes. Open for other bands for free, and come out with a 3 or 5 song EP and give it away for free.
For free? what in the hell are you talkin' bout Mark?
Yes, free.
If you structure your band as a business when you first start out, you can actually write off the free CD's as a promotional business item expense. You may live in Canada, United States, South America, Asia or Europe. If you have a Liberal government that encourages indie music business, you'll be able to write off those expenses.
Work on writing more songs for your bands and other bands, and practice your ass off and give away songs on your bands website.
Giving Value Interviewing Band's:
Offer to interview other band's in your genre and set up audio and video podcasts of those interviews on your website. This creates MASSIVE VALUE for other bands. Keep playing regularly opening up for other bands. Then start asking for money.
Because, if a club booker only offers 50 to 100 bucks for opening or even head lining because of low attendance, work out a deal with the club booker and put that money in a bank account. Preferably, in a high interest ING Direct account. If you have a 3 piece band that money is useless to each member, other than a little spending money. Hardly worth it.
But you could take the money and use it in the business online or paying for gas to gigs, and writing that off as well.
Besides giving value to other bands think about how to create value for your band.
Creating even more Massive Value for other bands:
Set up videos and podcasts of other bands interviewing them on different aspects of the music business such as guitar and gear tips, music business, getting booked, recording-- what ever.
These can be free to musicians and eventually used as how to material in E-books for even more value to musicians.
Now, Going back to opening up for musicians. Offer to start round table discussions at clubs with the headlining acts and interview them, and have fans turn out as well.
This can be done before or after gigs. Keep on playing gigs and asking to open for other bands. This also gives you leverage with high paying gigs by creating value for clubs, bands and your fans.
You have created so much value with your free stuff, musicians will wonder, if your free stuff is this good the stuff like interviews, CD's, and how to E-books I have to pay for, for musicians must be incredible!
This little tip will help your band insurmountably when you become a headliner and start touring.
But keep on creating value for other bands by continuing to give away so much value that you create fans of musicians, music industry people and your fans most of all.
Mark Grove mdgrove@inbox.com
Yeah, most of you won't make the cash of the A-List musicians but you can actually make a good living as a musician if you approach bands, create great value for them and work on forming joint ventures. Now, I don't talk about this in the article, but how to approach indie record labels and get the deals you want. As well, getting paid a half decent buck and forgetting the bullshit so many managers and agent tout. It's not that tough guys, and you don't need to have an internet presence to make money with your band. I think the net's over rated in that regard. Old school ways of making money with your band are coming back even more these days.
If you want some help just email me at: mdgrove@inbox.com
I keep on harping about playing for free and giving away your best material. Literally giving away the kitchen sink. Well, at least giving away your Mother -in-Law who hates you being a Musician.
The Realization:
The realization is no one knows who your band is--at least not yet. If your lead guitarist isn't the greatest thing since the Shred Master's Like Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, or Blues Guru Derek Trucks. Chances are you'll have to play for free for a while.
Mean while, play those Jam Sessions weekly even though you hate it like a passion sometimes. Open for other bands for free, and come out with a 3 or 5 song EP and give it away for free.
For free? what in the hell are you talkin' bout Mark?
Yes, free.
If you structure your band as a business when you first start out, you can actually write off the free CD's as a promotional business item expense. You may live in Canada, United States, South America, Asia or Europe. If you have a Liberal government that encourages indie music business, you'll be able to write off those expenses.
Work on writing more songs for your bands and other bands, and practice your ass off and give away songs on your bands website.
Giving Value Interviewing Band's:
Offer to interview other band's in your genre and set up audio and video podcasts of those interviews on your website. This creates MASSIVE VALUE for other bands. Keep playing regularly opening up for other bands. Then start asking for money.
Because, if a club booker only offers 50 to 100 bucks for opening or even head lining because of low attendance, work out a deal with the club booker and put that money in a bank account. Preferably, in a high interest ING Direct account. If you have a 3 piece band that money is useless to each member, other than a little spending money. Hardly worth it.
But you could take the money and use it in the business online or paying for gas to gigs, and writing that off as well.
Besides giving value to other bands think about how to create value for your band.
Creating even more Massive Value for other bands:
Set up videos and podcasts of other bands interviewing them on different aspects of the music business such as guitar and gear tips, music business, getting booked, recording-- what ever.
These can be free to musicians and eventually used as how to material in E-books for even more value to musicians.
Now, Going back to opening up for musicians. Offer to start round table discussions at clubs with the headlining acts and interview them, and have fans turn out as well.
This can be done before or after gigs. Keep on playing gigs and asking to open for other bands. This also gives you leverage with high paying gigs by creating value for clubs, bands and your fans.
You have created so much value with your free stuff, musicians will wonder, if your free stuff is this good the stuff like interviews, CD's, and how to E-books I have to pay for, for musicians must be incredible!
This little tip will help your band insurmountably when you become a headliner and start touring.
But keep on creating value for other bands by continuing to give away so much value that you create fans of musicians, music industry people and your fans most of all.
Mark Grove mdgrove@inbox.com
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