Perhaps the biggest impact on your live performance is how you approach practices and rehearsals. Many artists use the two terms interchangeably even though there are some differences. Practice is usually what is done individually, it is the work that is prepares someone for a rehearsal. It’s used to improve your technique, musicianship skills, and ability … Read more
This post is taken from a chapter of my newest release, Music Business Hacks. Please enjoy! When I was in business school, I often learned more about the subject from business owners (and running one myself) than the instructor. Usually, the people out in the field have a different perspective. With the music industry, you have … Read more
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 … Read more
How often should I post on Facebook? How often should I tweet? How many videos should I upload to YouTube a month? It’s interesting that more people ask about the quantity of their social media posts rather than the quality of that content. In the world of social media, the quality of the idea (not … Read more
Do you have 15 minutes to spare? If you want to spend more time doing and less time reading, this is going to be your kind of book. This isn’t the kind of cover-to-cover manual on the music business where you have to figure out how to apply vague concepts to your career. No, this … Read more
Market segmentation involves breaking down a broad audience into a smaller subset of customers. You can divide along demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) and/or psychographics (values, lifestyles, interests, etc.). The more that you can segment a market by narrowing it down while still having an audience large enough to offset any investment, the better. Broad … 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 for using Linkedin as a professional musician: Like anything else, the content on there should be taken with a grain of salt. … Read more
This is a draft excerpt from my new, forthcoming book about turning your music into a full-time career. Each the end of each chapter, I also offer up specific activities that can put these ideas into action. I’d love to hear any thoughts or feedback below! One way to grow your music’s reach is to … Read more
Author Zig Ziglar was often as saying, “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Your music career is no different. Unless you have a target that you are reaching for, you’ll just continue down random pathways hoping to get somewhere. How will you know what successful looks like if you haven’t defined … Read more
A songwriter’s songwriter, Gayle Skidmore has an ethereal and magical quality about her music that will capture your heart. Gayle Skidmore is a Grammy-balloted artist who has been performing and touring in the US, UK, and Europe for over a decade. Fresh off a brand new release, Sleeping Bear, she also just secured the title of Best … Read more