Newsletter for Independent Musicians

Visit the Indie Music Store for Independent music cds and free legal MP3 downloads. Sell your cd here.

March 14, 2006

How To Make It

By: Ben Ohmart (Assistant Editor)


Here's my top 10 on what you can do to make yourself a little living in this madhouse of music competition:

1. work on it everyday. Life is like a muscle, you don't use it, you start seeing the fat, you have to work harder the next day. Music is the same way. If you don't write, promote, practice, whatever else, everyday, you're an idiot. And you're just asking to be passed over. If you're one of those people who talks a lot or has to wait for inspiration, guess what just might happen?

2. plan your life. It's not going to take the fun out of life, it's going to give you a future. Make goals. Without goals, you have no reason to get things done. Unless you're one of the highly motivated that doesn't have to be told rule #1. And you're going to feel so good crossing things off your to do list. It will be an orgasm.

3. get specifics. Don't waste your time with cruddy little lists like this one. Get specifics from people. Names, dates, emails, phone numbers. Network until you're blue in the feet. If you need motivation, that's 1 thing. But stop listening to people who don't say much. They may have a lot of words, but don't wait them to cut to the chase. You cut in. Ask questions. Contacts are the heart of any business. Music, alas, is 1 2.

4. use what you've got. Do lots of email and web surfing if you're low on funds, to contact people, put your music up, whatever. Or if you have a stupid aunt who works at an office supply store, ask her for favors. To do promotional copies, make business cards, etc. See if your friends are artists, djs, have t-shirt businesses, just be creative with what you and your friends can do. Money is scarce.

5. don't quit. I've met tons of slackers on the web that just fade away after a lot of promises. These people either weren't serious to begin with or ended up like that. You've seen crap on tv, you've heard crap on the radio. Why? These shitters didn't give up. Confidence. You'll be told you're shit many times. Question is: do you listen to them or your own inner demon?

6. don't wait. If you want to play live, start. Waiting for time, money, mother to die, well it's going to put your life on hold. Get thee to a local bookstore, make them give you a gig. You won't sell a cd without gigging (to your dad maybe), and you won't gig without getting out there.

7. get investors for a cd. If you're gigging, you're passing up lots of cash if you don't have a cd. Nowadays you can get 500 cds made without jewel cases for $500. Don't have the bread? Get your friends, family, mafia connections together and sell them a piece of your ass. Say you'll pay them back plus %5. You will eventually, AND make a profit. And you'll feel so much better when people really Want your tunes.

8. quit comparing yourself. You're never going to sound like the other guy because he's the other guy. Be yourself. Do it yourself. You're the one you can trust most.

9. collaborate. There are lots of good writers out there. I'm 1. Ask some friends or strangers to join you writing a couple songs. Teams are great. Plus you'll have an extra player to push your stuff. Worked for the Beatles.

10. watch out. You'll be offered a contract soon enough. Make sure you understand it, ask people to read it, don't sign your bike and mobile home away. And be selective in what opinions you listen to. And hone your knowledge so you can tell the shit from the good stuff, whether it's music, facts, groping groupies, etc. And stop reading and go DO.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home