DO THE BIZ
Don’t sign contracts without reading them completely and having a lawyer review them with you. Don’t jump into working with anyone until you have done your “due diligence,” meaning you have researched their experience, accomplishments and reputation. –Glenn T. Litwak, attorney, Jan.
Have a concise, well-executed and thrifty plan. Do not spend money until there’s a return. Oftentimes, [artists] want to throw gasoline on the fire; they get a little spurt, but then all the money’s gone. –Kevin Day, President, Skyrocket Entertainment, Feb.
Know what you own…whether they are written lyric and music compositions or audio/video recordings. Have an accurate and up-to-date record of what you have rights to and interests in, including all versions that might qualify for their own individual copyrights, both for the composition and the sound recording. –Jennifer Cohen, POBA | Where the Arts Live, May
[To] attract a booking agent, [artists] need basic tools: a recording, a website, an EPK and a performance video. It’s also nice if they have a team around them to help out, like a manager, publicist and attorney. But, most of all, they must be pro-active––they have to work at it and have some idea of what they want. –Barbara Collin, founder, agent, Collin Artists, June
Be careful: becoming a personal manager does not require getting a license or state certification—anyone, from a used car dealer to a snake oil salesman, can be one—so proceed with caution. There are managers in the business, and there are damagers. Watch out for the damagers. –Bobby Borg, author, June
If you want your music placed, do your homework. It’s a “Cardinal Sin” not to know anything about the supervisor or their projects…Know something about the rights involved and how money is made, especially with Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC). –Tess Taylor, President, National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP), Sept.
Do [your] homework and know the type of music used on a TV show, movie or commercial. Know what kind of projects I work on. If you haven’t seen my shows, your pitch will fail. –Nora Felder, President, Picture Music Company, Sept.
There are a lot of people pitching songs for synchronization and companies not as reputable as others. Questions to ask when you’re interviewing somebody to place your music would be, “Do you take publishing or do you take a fee for a placement?” Nobody should take publishing unless they’re a publisher. –Carianne Marshall, Partner, Songs Music Publishing, March
It’s a much different world once you go with a major label. You’re usually working with a bigger budget and more money, which is a nice thing. But at the same time it’s a lot less personable and a lot less finessed. –Alex Gaskarth, All Time Low, April
The first and most important step in running your band’s business is to accept the fact that it is a business. Producing music is your band’s creative work. Selling that music is a business venture. The members should agree ahead of time how the business will run, how revenues will be distributed, what happens if one or more members leaves the band and, lastly, what type of entity structure is the most appropriate for your situation. –Kory Klein, CPA, Nov.
— Networking —
Learn the technical side so you can speak to engineers in a language they understand. Grasp the way people in the industry speak so that you can talk to A&R guys. When you communicate in their own language, they respect you more; they’ll give you more and in less time. –Alex da Kid, producer, owner, KIDinaKORNER, Feb.
Do your research. Find out who Weather Report is. Find out who Steely Dan is. You have to know your bands. Kids come out of school and they may be amazing players, but many of them don’t know their history. –C.J. Vanston, producer, composer, Nov
Come to the [festival and conference] panels. So many bands just show up and play their gig and party and never go to the panels. I am apt to go to the shows of people that come to the panels, plug the band, get mentored and are there to further themselves. –Allison Shaw, Manic Monkey Management, March
Utilize ALL of your friends and acquaintances to further your career and, specifically, to get gigs. Be kind to those you meet on the way up—they may get a gig for you later, and help you when and if you are on the way down. –Paul “Chico” Fernandez, drummer, April
While the music industry is constantly changing, an old-fashioned gesture like [a handshake] can go a long way with a company when you’re first introducing yourself to them…or to keep an existing relationship going. –Justin Emord, Love and a .38, May
Instead of looking at what “you can get” to further your career, look at how “you can give” to other people. You will be relieved of any expectations and instantly earn 10 more awesome points. –Kosha Dillz, artist, March
