Music Tip No.1
Treat it like a business.
Most, if not all artists, start out making music or writing songs simply because it is what they enjoy and want to spend most of their time doing. Similarly most people involved in the business side initially do so for fun and follow their passion for music.
Once you have, or aspire, to any level of commercial success, you must however pay some attention to organising yourself properly, just like in any other business. Failure to do so will, in the future, risk acrimony and failure. Even if your luck outweighs your judgement in this respect, lack of organisation will at best lead to loss of earnings. So treat it like it's your business.
Here are some key points that should be addressed at the outset:
1. Have a permanent address for mail, and a phone that works. If you are living in temporary accommodation, see if you can use someone else's address (parents, relatives, friends, or subscribe to a mail box) so that important mail, including cheques do not go astray. If you have a habit of spending hours on the phone with friends, consider buying a second pay as you go mobile phone for important incoming calls. When you do use voicemail, personalise the message, speak clearly and positively. Then put this information on a business card and carry them at all times – you never know when you will bump into someone unexpectedly.
2. You must get a basic web page up and an e-mail address. This only needs to contain the principal info about you or your group and can be done very inexpensively. One quick and easy way is to install a bizmo on your front page from the start. Using the bizmo will save you hours trying to build out sales and info pages. Also put this information on the business card. Go to: www.thebizmo.com.
3. Try and get a meaningful domain name. If it can be your stage name, your own name or your business name, so much the better.
4. Open a separate bank account. Keep your domestic finances separate. This will make accounting easier and can prevent a lot of future arguments.
5. Keep your phone/address book up to date and keep a separate copy of it somewhere safe. As your career develops some of this information is irreplaceable – don't lose it. When people offer you their business card, ask for two, they will be flattered. Put one of them somewhere safe as additional back up.
6. Be polite and enthusiastic to everybody – even the Inland Revenue, it works. Enthusiasm is infectious and it's free. We will come back to this one, particularly when we discuss how to get the big hitters on the phone when you need to.
Next time – Stay independent, or sign your life away.
While we have a running selection of useful hints and tips already mapped out, we welcome questions, comments and suggestions for subjects to be covered. Hell, we even welcome folks telling us they think we've got it wrong... we love a good row! But seriously, anything you want to ask, then ask away.... musictips@rockandindie.com
On a related note...
Lets make a note or two about what NOT to do...
DON'T: Get to the venue late, and then moan that you're not getting a proper sound check. Time doesn't stop and wait for you, even if you're a rock god.
DON'T: Get there on time, and then stress everyone else to breaking point by taking 90 minutes to sound check for a 30 min set! By their very nature, gigs in small independent venues are run very tight on time and money. When you're a rock god and playing your own headline tours, then the crew will dance to your tune. Until then, it's the other way round.
In connection with the above... DON'T: Piss off the sound guy! You must make him your best mate on the night. Be nice, be polite, buy him a pint... it'll be the wisest couple of quid you'll spend that night. The sound guy is in a position of complete power and can make or break your gig. He's your new best friend.
DON'T: Slag off the venue/promoter/sound guy/ bar staff/punters, until... you're in the van speeding away from the place! They WILL remember you if you do. Again, although it's extremely hard sometimes, just be nice to everyone, and it will start to pay dividends as you progress as a band.
DON'T: Slag off the other bands that are playing on the same bill. ESPECIALLY if it's their home turf and you're the visiting band. If the promoter is smart, knowing you're the out-of-town band with no mates there... he'll have booked in a couple of local bands with a good crowd to ensure he makes money on the night. Whether you like them or not, those other bands are doing you a favour by dragging their crowd along. Besides, what's the point of having a crowd in front of you, if you then alienate yourselves by slagging off their mate's band??? Duh! Oh and... if there's a shared rider... don't take the piss and drink the other band's beer as well as your own.
DON'T: Trash the fuckin dressing room if there is one! It may seem like the rock n roll thing to do, but... it ain't. Again, you're just putting promoters off from ever booking you again, and you can ill afford to pay for redecoration to cover up the huge cock you've drawn on the wall in permanent marker. If you do, that's just a chunk of money you could have spent on your next studio session.
Promoters, sound guys, band managers, venue staff/managers... anyone that deals with bands, c'mon... send us your 'pet hates', the things that bands do that REALLY piss you off. Lets see if we can generate a 'gig etiquette' system for all to abide by.. bloodybands@rockandindie.com
