40 Ways Bands Can Use Social Media to Increase Engagement at Shows
If you’re a musician, you’re probably using social media in some way to promote your music, invite people to shows, and stay in touch with your fans. We do this so often, we end up going through the motions of engagement without thinking about how the activity affects our SMARTER goals or how we can […]
Music Business Hacks podcast & free consulting/books!
I’m very excited to announce my brand new podcast, Music Business Hacks! The music business hacks podcast is a daily show for the musician who wants to revolutionize their career with information, inspiration, and direct application. During the week, you will learn about specific things that you can do to take steps for your music business. […]
Set Design for Touring Bands
Many bands don’t think of set design unless they’re touring large venues on a regular basis. Even then, some only go as far as putting a large backdrop or banner. However, touring acts have the ability to kick things up a notch by applying some creativity, lessons from theatre, and special effects from magic shows […]
8 Things Every Touring Musician Should Carry
I’ve written plenty about travel tips in the past, from articles on saving money to hacking fly out shows. Today, I wanted to provide some recommendations for specific gadgets, tools, and things that every road warrior should have. Aside from the obvious (extra strings, quality cases, etc.), these are some of the things that I […]
How to Keep Your Tour Bus/Van Properly Maintained
If you are going to be doing any kind of extended touring, it’s important to do some basic maintenance and preparation on the vehicle to prevent any unexpected breakdowns. Some of the basic things that you can check on your vehicle and/or trailer should include: Tires: Inspect all tires (including spare tires) to make sure […]
4 Strategies for Using Linkedin in Your Music Career
Linkedin is a social networking site that has a specific focus on careers, education, and industry networking. It also happens to be a site underutilized by musicians. Here are some of the key benefits for using Linkedin as a professional musician: The opportunity to network with people directly involved in the music industry Access to […]
How to Work a Crowd
When you are on stage, your main goal isn’t to play a good set, to sell records, to overcome nervousness, or to impress someone in the industry. Your main goal should be entertaining the crowd. You can entertain a crowd in a number of ways: Performing well Adding creativity and spontaneity to the show Interacting […]
Right Now: Free digital copy of Music Business Hacks
Until December 12th, the Kindle version of my book, Music Business Hacks, is free to download on Amazon.com! Please check it out here! It is designed like a “recipe book” for music business: each short chapter is designed to inspire a different 15 minute activity for you to work on each day. It covers everything from […]
How to Create a Music Business Filing Cabinet
Are you collecting valuable articles and information about the music business? Do you keep a record of every press mention or post about your band? Maybe there are just interesting articles about art, marketing, social media, current events, books, or other content that can help fuel inspiration for a new song or teach you how […]
How to Build Your Music Business Contact List
It’s no secret that often in the world music, it’s more about “who you know” than what you know. The industry generally favors pre-existing relationships, whether you are looking for a venue, a sponsor, a review on your new album, or a slot at SXSW. Like it or not, networking can make or break an act.
Here are my favorite tips:
Last Stop Booking 