Its inspirational to know you WANT to play shows. BUT, You need to go FIND THEM! No one knows where you want to play besides you. Not even your manager, wife, girlfriend, your mother, grandma, sister, brother....etc. Besides, you need to start networking for yourself, meeting the people in the industry, make friends, get on their bill, be an opening act....
What ever happened to your Hot List? Open Mic List? Have you been filling those out? Have you been accomplishing those goals? Why should you expect anyone to get you gigs when you haven't gotten any for yourself? Right now, you are just learning the music business. This is the time for you to really start learning it. In one year from now, you should be able to look back and say WOW, I have accomplished all of that, and be able to look back at all you have learned. You should be able to say, "I know how to do that". Because you are just learning, you should not have any expectations for anyone to ever hand you anything. That comes much later in your career; and that is ONLY if you are strong enough to stick to this career. Why do you think it is the 1% that actually makes it? Its because THAT 1% are the only ones that stuck with it for years and years and years because they LOVE it. Your mentality needs to NOT be "I want to be rich, famous, and do whatever I want". It should be, "I want to be successful personally, professionally, and continue to learn and growth within the music business regardless of what comes along with it."
If you are struggling with this, you need to learn to ask for help. Stop pretending you know everything and reach out to your coach, mentor, or close friends that are in the business. You need to start building a team and if you don't have anyone to support you, you are basically on your own.
Nikki Gavs
Entertainment Manager/Coach
Reply
I am finding it difficult to find artists that actually play for the music now-a-days. I am not saying the “working” artist doesn't do a few charities, or plays for a smaller fee every once in a while, but if I haven’t heard of them, what makes them so special to turn down gigs? I speak from experience when I book bands for venues. I try to fill in time for showcases and get people out to be introduced to newer audience members rather than their own. What is mind boggling is that even though you bring in a draw, those are the same people at every show, right? Give or take a few newbies, but in reality, if you are not booked for the entire year or even playing on the radio, on the billboard charts, cameo in a national awards show, on the bill for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, or any major showcase tours like those, or touring with a major artist/band, I don’t know who you are and to me, you need exposure. That one venue might make or break your fame.
The other thing is bands charging for their gigs. What is the big deal for a door charge to see LIVE entertainment? I mean, when you go to a bar, club, pub or venue, you have to pay for a drink or a game right? But all there is to do is just that. Going to see a band play is LIVE entertainment and that is more than just sitting around and getting drunk. Music soothes the soul, so why not fork over five bucks to support the local scene in music, and not to mention a cheap price for entertainment. A band or artist SHOULD be paid for their services. Whether its door sales, tickets sales, flat pay from the venue, regardless, they are the entertainment and they deserve some compensation for all they do.
In reality, the bands should NOT care if they are paid to play in every situation. Their time will come if they are serious enough. I know some big artists and bands that are just so grateful and humble to just be playing music that despite the fame and fortune they are appreciative to have fans and have a life surrounded by music. On the flip side, the fans should be willing to sacrifice one beer’s worth of cost to give to the band for trying to entertain them for 3-5 hours at a time.
With all that said, if you want exposure and gain new fans, any opportunity is a great opportunity.
Reply
To hear David Grohl be himself is so fantastic because he is such a normal guy, yet, perceived as a music “god”. He has such a great sense of humor and it really made people, well I’ll speak for me, feel comfortable and almost like I knew him or was speaking to him on a personal level. Of course this makes me love him more!
Anyways, the main things I have learned from his speech was this: The musician comes first. Finding your voice is the only thing you can call your own. The dedication comes from wanting it so bad you never stop trying to reach your goal. Doing things yourself teaches the artist in you how to make things happen. There was no right or wrong because you do it the way you know how. The REWARD: Doing It Yourself / Learning to change / Open mindedness / Chance / Be Yourself / Don’t let anyone take that away from you. Don’t lose that passion. Stop comparing yourself to others. These are key elements to a musician. Not the fame, not the money, not even the popularity. What all this means is that a musician has a choice to have the freedom to do things their way, at their level and make it in the business.
This is the same knowledge that Fame Wizard provides and it has been absolutely inspirational as well. They offer tremendous support, direction, and professional guidance to be a do-it-yourself artist. I believe in Fame Wizard because they have been there. They know that the hard work and dedication a musician puts into themselves, all comes down to your freedom and it is worth it. So I trust them.
Taking it back to Mr. Grohl, he is a prime example of a DYI artist. Not because you save money, or because he didn’t have anyone to record with. But because he learned how to do it all from the desire to learn, to find out what he needed to do to make things happen. This is an inspirational and motivational speech because it encourages the DIY musicians to focus on the goals and how to get there without waiting for anyone else to do it for them.
Oh and one more thing, I kinda like Phil Collins ;)
NOW WATCH!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efv0Y5Fs7m4&feature=player_embedded
Reply
Something that has been on my mind for some time is the importance of localization. What I have learned in this business is the most important thing that starts off any musicians’ career is the local community. The people, the town, the businesses, the scenery, the music…it molds a person to understand their roots, their heart, and their soul. When someone doesn’t have a hometown, they could be lost, or yet, not have the definition of themselves. One of the most important things for my clients is to support the local musicians as much as they possibly can. Find ways to participate in charities. Learn to engage in the local colleges and universities. What we want to do the most is represent where we came from, where all artists came from, and unite us in the success and dreams that we all desire. We want you all to know that Aurora is our team, our family, and our home and damn proud!
Reply
Gremlen Management / Blog
You Want to Play Shows??
Its inspirational to know you WANT to play shows. BUT, You need to go FIND THEM! No one knows where you want to play besides you. Not even your manager, wife, girlfriend, your mother, grandma, sister, brother....etc. Besides, you need to start networking for yourself, meeting the people in the industry, make friends, get on their bill, be an opening act.... What ever happened to your Hot List? Open Mic List? Have you been filling those out? Have you been accomplishing those goals? Why should you expect anyone to get you gigs when you haven't gotten any for yourself? Right now, you are just learning the music business. This is the time for you to really start learning it. In one year from now, you should be able to look back and say WOW, I have accomplished all of that, and be able to look back at all you have learned. You should be able to say, "I know how to do that". Because you are just learning, you should not have any expectations for anyone to ever hand you anything. That comes much later in your career; and that is ONLY if you are strong enough to stick to this career. Why do you think it is the 1% that actually makes it? Its because THAT 1% are the only ones that stuck with it for years and years and years because they LOVE it. Your mentality needs to NOT be "I want to be rich, famous, and do whatever I want". It should be, "I want to be successful personally, professionally, and continue to learn and growth within the music business regardless of what comes along with it."
If you are struggling with this, you need to learn to ask for help. Stop pretending you know everything and reach out to your coach, mentor, or close friends that are in the business. You need to start building a team and if you don't have anyone to support you, you are basically on your own. Nikki Gavs Entertainment Manager/Coach
Reply
Playing Music for the Music
I am finding it difficult to find artists that actually play for the music now-a-days. I am not saying the “working” artist doesn't do a few charities, or plays for a smaller fee every once in a while, but if I haven’t heard of them, what makes them so special to turn down gigs? I speak from experience when I book bands for venues. I try to fill in time for showcases and get people out to be introduced to newer audience members rather than their own. What is mind boggling is that even though you bring in a draw, those are the same people at every show, right? Give or take a few newbies, but in reality, if you are not booked for the entire year or even playing on the radio, on the billboard charts, cameo in a national awards show, on the bill for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, or any major showcase tours like those, or touring with a major artist/band, I don’t know who you are and to me, you need exposure. That one venue might make or break your fame. The other thing is bands charging for their gigs. What is the big deal for a door charge to see LIVE entertainment? I mean, when you go to a bar, club, pub or venue, you have to pay for a drink or a game right? But all there is to do is just that. Going to see a band play is LIVE entertainment and that is more than just sitting around and getting drunk. Music soothes the soul, so why not fork over five bucks to support the local scene in music, and not to mention a cheap price for entertainment. A band or artist SHOULD be paid for their services. Whether its door sales, tickets sales, flat pay from the venue, regardless, they are the entertainment and they deserve some compensation for all they do. In reality, the bands should NOT care if they are paid to play in every situation. Their time will come if they are serious enough. I know some big artists and bands that are just so grateful and humble to just be playing music that despite the fame and fortune they are appreciative to have fans and have a life surrounded by music. On the flip side, the fans should be willing to sacrifice one beer’s worth of cost to give to the band for trying to entertain them for 3-5 hours at a time. With all that said, if you want exposure and gain new fans, any opportunity is a great opportunity.
Reply
Dave Grohl Keynote, SXSW 2013
To hear David Grohl be himself is so fantastic because he is such a normal guy, yet, perceived as a music “god”. He has such a great sense of humor and it really made people, well I’ll speak for me, feel comfortable and almost like I knew him or was speaking to him on a personal level. Of course this makes me love him more! Anyways, the main things I have learned from his speech was this: The musician comes first. Finding your voice is the only thing you can call your own. The dedication comes from wanting it so bad you never stop trying to reach your goal. Doing things yourself teaches the artist in you how to make things happen. There was no right or wrong because you do it the way you know how. The REWARD: Doing It Yourself / Learning to change / Open mindedness / Chance / Be Yourself / Don’t let anyone take that away from you. Don’t lose that passion. Stop comparing yourself to others. These are key elements to a musician. Not the fame, not the money, not even the popularity. What all this means is that a musician has a choice to have the freedom to do things their way, at their level and make it in the business. This is the same knowledge that Fame Wizard provides and it has been absolutely inspirational as well. They offer tremendous support, direction, and professional guidance to be a do-it-yourself artist. I believe in Fame Wizard because they have been there. They know that the hard work and dedication a musician puts into themselves, all comes down to your freedom and it is worth it. So I trust them. Taking it back to Mr. Grohl, he is a prime example of a DYI artist. Not because you save money, or because he didn’t have anyone to record with. But because he learned how to do it all from the desire to learn, to find out what he needed to do to make things happen. This is an inspirational and motivational speech because it encourages the DIY musicians to focus on the goals and how to get there without waiting for anyone else to do it for them. Oh and one more thing, I kinda like Phil Collins ;)
NOW WATCH!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efv0Y5Fs7m4&feature=player_embedded
Reply
Localization
Something that has been on my mind for some time is the importance of localization. What I have learned in this business is the most important thing that starts off any musicians’ career is the local community. The people, the town, the businesses, the scenery, the music…it molds a person to understand their roots, their heart, and their soul. When someone doesn’t have a hometown, they could be lost, or yet, not have the definition of themselves. One of the most important things for my clients is to support the local musicians as much as they possibly can. Find ways to participate in charities. Learn to engage in the local colleges and universities. What we want to do the most is represent where we came from, where all artists came from, and unite us in the success and dreams that we all desire. We want you all to know that Aurora is our team, our family, and our home and damn proud!
Reply