Cutting through the controversy.

I recently read an article about why Jack White's label Third Man Records sells limited edition releases on Ebay, and I was struck by the number of commenters who called this "greedy." Why is it greedy to tap a revenue stream, and why do so many people think that the only true artist is the one who is starving? This truly boggles my mind. What do YOU think? Read the article and discuss.

Playin' the Judgment Day blues.

What?!  You're still here?!  Yeah, me, too.  But then, I never put too much stock (i.e, any) in end of the world prophecies...it's bad for business and it damages morale.

Let's each raise a glass, shall we, to many more years of music, joy and life.

Playing is, like, work.

I wanted to share this video that I stumbled across today.  A very talented friend of mine was recently complaining that a lot of people think that musicians should be playing for the love of it, not the money...as if somehow money cheapens the creative process or some ridiculous balderdash. The process of becoming a professional musician is a difficult metamorphosis, due to that attitude.  In this video, Scott Clark says that a lot of time and effort goes into what he does that isn't seen and doesn't pay in dollars (practice, chasing down gigs, practice, making flyers and promoting gigs, practice, and more practice).


TheFreewayLife- Scott Clark from FREEWAYarts on Vimeo.

I have long felt that the need to make a living as a musician ought to be just as respected as the need to make a living as a plumber or a teacher.  If it truly were only socially acceptable for a musician to "do it for the love" and then work a side job to eat, you'd be seeing and hearing a lot less quality music out there.  As someone who has a side job and other necessary distractions, I don't have much time (as in, hardly any!) to rehearse any more.  I have no time to gig, tour, or travel.  However, I love that there are musicians out there who are dedicated to keeping their craft honed so that I can have the privilege of hearing them do what they do so well--and I don't mind paying for that service.  I don't begrudge them their money, because their music makes me happy.  It's like an essential nutrient to me.

The career choice to become a full time musician is definitely not for the faint of heart; it isn't an easy way to make a living.   The bottom line is that if the musician wants to eat, he'd better be open to playing for money.  That said, there is no doubt that--as obnoxious as the business can be--in the long run, he is doing it for the love...because he can't imagine doing anything else.

The Inaugural Post.

Welcome to the inaugural post for my brand new web log, Indie Career Tips.  The purpose of this blog is to compile, analyze, and evaluate the different services and methods by which an independent artist may market and promote their brand.  I also intend to discuss current trends that may be in the news, as well as legislative action that may affect independent artists and the music and publishing industries as a whole.  My core target audience will include those independent musicians and writers (because they share many of the same issues) who create, market and promote their own material, as well as their personal support network.  This can also be a resource to those who want to develop their own independent record label.

Both the music and the publishing businesses are in a constant state of flux; the internet and digital marketing have changed everything!  For example, a musician no longer needs to have the support of a major record label (or any record label, for that matter) in order to enjoy a career, and an author can self publish and do very well.  The trick, of course, is to find the correct avenue for exposure.  The downside to all of this, arguably, is that the market becomes saturated with poorly crafted products, leaving the consumer to filter through a lot of "trash" in order to find something valuable.  I believe that the people we already know are the filters that will make this process easier, using social networking tools such as Myspace, Facebook, ReverbNation, for example, to share our work with others.  These nearly instantaneous word-of-mouth tools can reach many people in a relatively short amount of time for almost no cost.  Additionally, popular blogs can play important roles in the filtering process; a good review from a trusted blogger can boost an artist's exposure exponentially.

So...this is a new frontier, so to speak.  For the first time ever, the playing field is leveled in a way that anyone with the time, the product, and the drive to succeed can have a legitimate chance to do so, and on a shoestring budget.  How amazing is that?!  I look forward to delving into all the ways that this objective can be met, including what NOT to do, whenever that is relevant to the discussion.  I invite feedback and participation in the discussion as we all learn from and support one another in our respective endeavors.