The Formula is Simple, Execution is Difficult
What’s the key to success?
Jack Conte says it best: “Make great stuff, find people who like that stuff, and hang out with them.” (Listen to interview on Music Business Podcast here.)
The formula is simple; the difficulty is executing it.
First, the 10,000 hours idea is a reality. It takes a long time to get talented enough at the craft. But talent doesn’t guarantee success, and no one can guess how many hours it takes to gain momentum and a fan base. Right?
Also, this isn’t simply a numbers game of trying to accumulate tons of subscribers, likes, views…Conte points out how some Youtube Creators with one million subscribers might make $2000 per video on Patreon, but then another creator with 5000 subscribers makes four times as much. What’s the secret?
It’s the strength of the artist’s community, the uniqueness of the art, the person behind the art, etc. Things difficult measuring.
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I also appreciate how direct Conte is with addressing the negative press over his Medium article addressing the touring loss last year. He wasn’t even asked about it, but mentioned it at the end of the interview.
There were are so many devils in the details about the way the music communities reacted to that blog last year, especially the DIY or punk scenes.
Punk bands couldn’t recognize how their experiences and criticism weren’t really comparable, how solo artists or duos must pay quality session players, especially on tour of this magnitude. So many DIY musicians using couch surfing couldn’t recognize this either.
Yet the road-warriors musicians weren’t surprised how that tour was a loss, and many might not have been criticizing but just acknowledging reality: the music business is a constant dance with numbers.
If your expenses are high, if pay for your owing lighting rig but only doing some club gigs, if you aren’t moving merch numbers as expected, if some club gigs might be 300-400 capacity but the drive is hours between locations, this type of tour won’t profit.
That’s not a criticism, it’s just a dance with the numbers we all must do. It’s why having income diversification is important for musicians.
Plus, it’s the same dance I do at a smaller level.
Last week, my Ford Escape with 250,000 miles broke down on my way to a gig. It was bound to happen. (Gig Life Haiku: Instagram)
This week, I had to made a big choice: Do I chance a $500+ repair (that might not fix the car) or replace the car?
But before that choice, I had other choices: The choice to accept gigs must be worth the miles to get to them, and I know that my first tour put on some miles that weren’t worth it!
The tour dances we do are difficult.
I really hope Jack and Nataly tour again soon.
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