What NOT To Do When Your Band Plays Live
Ever see a really great band mess up a really great opportunity by blowing a really big show? Happens all the time. In fact, it doesn't have to be a big show. Some musicians go out to their first gigs, alienate everyone, and struggle to get booked from there forward. How does it happen? Simple things like showing up late to soundcheck or hitting the bar too often before hitting the stage will do the trick. Don't let it happen to you. Avoid these five little things next time your band plays live and ensure that you get a return invitation.
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Opening Band Etiquette
Being the opening act can be just the trick to gaining new fans and new music industry supporters, but only if you stick to a certain set of unwritten rules. Most of these rules come back to one point: you're a guest here. The headlining act has more invested in the show - in every sense of the word - so you have to let them do their jobs. Yes, that means your soundcheck may get squeezed and that your set may be a lot shorter than you'd like. You may not always love everything that goes into the being the opening act, but remember to keep your eye on the bigger picture of what you're trying to accomplish. Not sure how to play the game? Keep these opening band etiquette rules in mind.
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Playing Live 101
Got a big show coming up this weekend? That means your fan base could seriously swell in the next 72 hours or so - at least as long as you make the most of your gig. What can you do to ensure your shows go well? Turn up ready to play, for one thing, but everything from having a mailing list ready to playing nice with the promoter and venue counts. If you're new to the live circuit, check out these concert tips in Playing Live 101 to make sure your event goes off without a hitch.
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3 Things I Learned in My Music Business Classes
What are students in music business degree programs really learning? Here, a current music business student shares three things, in her own words, that she has learned in her music business classes. What do you think of her lessons? If you're a music student, how do these things match up with what you're learning? Read on and share your thoughts!
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5 Ways to Deal with Stage Fright
For the vast majority of people, stage fright is part of getting on stage. Most people experience some edginess while they are waiting to perform, and even though you may learn to take it in stride, it may not ever completely go away. For many, that kind of stage fright is annoying but manageable. However, for other musicians, stage fright is downright crippling. You don't have to hang up your musical ambitions because the thought of getting in front of an audience makes your knees weak. If your pre-show jitters are really full-blown panics, seek professional help to develop ways of combating your fears. Once you know you know have the tools to calm your anxiety, you'll feel less anxious about playing. No matter what your level of stage fright, these five tips will also help you cope.
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How Long Should My Radio Edit Be?
When you're ready to enter the wonderful world of radio, one of the first of the many questions that are sure to spring to mind is how long the song you're pitching to radio should be. The answer pretty much depends on where you're sending it. Gone are the days when commercial radio stations are playing Stairway to Heaven-esque epics - well, except the stations that still actually play Stairway to Heaven - so if you're targeting pop radio, you'd better keep it brief. College radio will give you a little more leeway. Get more details here and read on the learn more about radio:
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Bands 101
Bands. They're not as easy as they look. From finding a place to practice to finding a way to get along on the road, it takes a lot of work to make your band go for the long haul. Don't just grab some friends with some instruments and hope for the best. If you really want to make your band your job, follow these tips in this Bands 101 guide for help. Does you band have some ground rules that help to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts!
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Music Industry Quick Tip Collection
We're used to talking about your long term goals in the music industry, but what can you do today - like, right now - to get your music career rolling? The collection of music industry quick tips are easy and fast ways to give your music ambitions a boost. Browse them and put one of them into action today!
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Should Music Be Free?
My music promotion class discussed this question a week or so ago: is recorded music really just a free promo tool to that should be used to promote live shows? Their answer: unanimously, unreservedly - yes. That is certainly becoming the norm in this day in the music industry, but is that a good thing? When - and how - did recorded music become so invaluable to music fans? Well, let me tell you about another class discussion. The question this time was, "what are you looking for in the artists your PR company will work with?" The answers, in order:
- Swagger
- Fanbase (social media)
- Talent
As soon as they put talent third on the list, they were like, "wooooooooooow." Here here. From there, a debate (ok, it was really more like another discussion) ensued about whether a diminishing requirement for talent has devalued recorded music and made it more dispensable for fans - younger fans in particular. Now, there is surely fantastic music being made today, but generally, are our standards too low - or too far off-base - to let the good stuff get through? In other words, where is today's Aretha Franklin? She probably can't get anyone to listen.
In any case, I'd like YOU to weigh in the class discussion and share your thoughts about the value of music and making a living in today's music industry. Should recorded music be free? Why or why not? Are we really looking for swagger instead of talent? Share your thoughts!
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Age and The Music Industry
This topic is always one of the most hotly contented on this site - how much does age matter in the music industry? My take is that it depends. Some genres are very age-sensitive. Pop music is almost always a young person's game. Making your first rap album at 50 might be difficult as well - though maybe easier if you got a start when you were younger. In folk music, if anything, age can be advantage. But what do you think? Does age really matter in music - and should it? See what other reader have said and share your thought and your own stories of how/if/when age impacted your musical ambitions.
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