The picture above is The Who with legendary music promoter and agent Bill Graham
I felt I should repost this article again because a lot of musicians I meet still think that they should talk about business when they meet another musician,agent,manager or label head. No!!!!!
You have to develop a relationship first. No, I'm not getting all weird or anything. Lets say you want a label deal with a well known indie in your town. If you learn all you can about them and ask questions about their label, and be interested in what they do, your chances of success can be better than the best band around.
Especially if you create some of value beyond your material which may be great. If not your chances of success are few and far between. Learn everything you can about a label deal and the indie you're seeking out. Interview the label head, A & R rep and publicity people. Interview other artists who are on their roster as well. Seems like a lot of work. But if all you do is say here's my CD and come out and see us at our gigs,
well, the world won't be beating a path to your band's door.
You don't have to become friends of the record label, but you do have to create value,value,value. Your band can help a label more than you think. Read the rest of this short article and if you have questions, contact me. mdgrove@rock.com
By Mark Grove
I felt I should write another article on what the music biz is all about and what to do when going to jam sessions, concerts, watching a band or going to music seminars and workshops.
If all you do is talk about gigs, making money and the business of making music, you'll be doomed! Business should be your last priority or thing on your mind.
Not many musicians, agents, managers or music biz people try to build lasting friendships which build a foundation of trust and honesty.If you do any of that and decide to talk about music business at a later date, then I'll be interested.
When I go to jams I find most want to talk about making money. Then I'm put off.If you talk about how you love playing blues with other jammers,and are working on a song for an upcoming jam--I love it!
Every Musician is eventually trying to get a deal backing up other bands, label deals and doing sessions for other musicians. If you are that musician trying to get a deal--talk about creating value for other bands for free. Yes that's free.
In my last article on Pushing The free Line for other musicians, I talk about writing articles for other bands and musicians.Write songs for them and do sessions for free as well. Creating massive value for free and doing it out of the goodness of your heart will help you gain points with other musicians like crazy.
If all you talk about with me is business or how shitty the economy is I'll walk. I also have an article on how the shitty economy is an opportunity to make money as a musician.
If you Have a crappy home life with the wife and the kids and don't do anything to make it better, that says something about you as well. Create value for other bands, open up for other bands for free as well--then you have my undivided attention.
Creating value and just talking about music and being positive as a person will keep you in the game building solid relationships in the music business.
mdgrove@rock.com
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