I’ve written plenty of 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 keep in my backpack … Read more
I’m going to be launching a new effort and am looking for artists and those who work in the music industry to interview/be featured. If you’re interested, please send an email to info@laststopbooking.com with the following: Name:Contact Phone:Website:Social Media handles/websites: Role in the music business (artist, producer, entertainment lawyer, etc):Your best tip for aspiring/independent musicians:If … Read more
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: You should also have an emergency road kit with extra … Read more
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 of using Linkedin as a professional musician: Like anything else, the content on there should be taken with a grain of … Read more
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: Often times, there should be a distinct amount of confidence … Read more
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 the 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 booking … Read more
One of the best ways to practice is being able to make use of both your hard music skills as well as the soft music skills simultaneously through the use of music scales. Major scales, arpeggios, and music exercises can help further skill with an instrument while developing harmony recognition and deeper melodic understanding. To … Read more
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 … Read more
It’s no secret that often in the world of 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 … Read more
Note: I’ve taken a break from the blog for some time to focus on my trademark case that went to the Supreme Court (read the article about it via Rolling Stone here) but I’m going to be posting articles regularly for aspiring artists. Next month, I’ll be launching a new podcast dedicated to the music industry…so … Read more