I’m frustrated when I notice a mid-sized level acts neglect to mention their local openers for their concerts.
So you need the extra ticket sales, but you can’t share a tweet, a link on your website, a mention in your newsletter that a local act is opening the show?
I just noticed this for one of my Michigan friend’s show this month, who is probably going to outdraw the headlining act. I know, I know. It comes with the territory of being undiscovered. It’s known as paying your dues.
But it’s also a reminder that sometimes it’s more fruitful strategy for us undiscovered artists to work with other undiscovered artists!
* * * *
PS: I’m playing a cool concert in West Michigan with Frances Luke Accord, New Years Day!
Workshop: “How to Book 1000 Gigs, DIY”
Musicians and songwriters, I’m hosting a workshop about the music business titled, “How to Book 1000 Gigs, DIY”
I’m hosting a workshop January 3rd at my Dixboro Guitar studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Buy a ticket here. Cost is $10 to attend. Very limited seating. Includes a PDF eBook of tips (emailed December 31st), pizza and coffee.
This is an opportunity for us to kickstart our new year with strategies. Topics I’m covering include:
DIY touring, house concerts, stream/sales, selling merch on the road, promoting techniques, current music trends, and most importantly, staying organized like a business. I’ll be an open book about my 4+ years full time music, too.
Related show
During the PVSG challenge in 2013, one of our song prompts was “accidental hero.”
Inspired by Rita Dove’s poem, “Rosa,” I decided to break the song structure and worked through quatrains of Rosa Park’s fateful day in December.
I hope my turn of phrase in the song is clear; she isn’t painted as an accidental hero in verse four; rather the action of the fingerprinting cemented her deliberate role in the Civil Rights Movement of 1960s, a woman who trained at Highlander to take a role in civil rights.
Textbooks often misconstrue that Rosa Parks was tired when she refused to take a different seat; she was tired, tired of “giving in.”
Demo:
“December 1, 1955”
old look
passengers
third stop,
asking her
window seat,
lighting rod
better make it light
left them awed
forty-two,
in fifty-five;
chapter six,
$10 fine
police report,
fingerprint
hero made
by accident
midnight
clean flame
one phone call
reclaim
boycott
tenderfeet
sacrifice
take a seat
Touring tip: Find a day job that travels
A DIY musician always needs more money, and more time; yet the biggest challenge for the touring songwriter is quitting the day job to hit the road, losing the dependable income.
What if the Internet can help replace your day job, and go with you on the road?
Kathleen Farley, the owner of the label Maisonneuve Music, uses uDemy to teach online classes. I wish I had more examples of musicians using the Internet to not only promote their music, but replace their day jobs.
(Have any examples? Email me at polarvortex.songwriting.game@gmail.com)
One thing I declined to do was teach online courses, which don’t pay well; but a musician who teaches online courses can take the classroom on the road with a laptop, and a diversified income creates a stronger band.
The Internet isn’t only a way to promote or sell your music, but it’s also an opportunity to replace that day job that funds those recordings, videos, and tours.
Tip for teaching musicians: uDemy.
Nick Drake’s post humorous success
When Nick Drake released his last two albums (1969 & 1972), neither sold more than 5,000 copies on initial release.
Now, every month, his music has close to a million listeners on Spotify alone.
Pink Moon was recorded in three late mornings. He was previously disappointed in his previous albums (that I think are great) because he felt his compositions were lost under the production. So he did a solo, acoustic record. The guitar is partially out of tune. His label had no idea he was even doing it. The imperfections are abundant; which makes it even more beautiful.
Nick Drake died on Nov 25th, 1974, thinking his music was a failure; now, his art is a success.
It’s sad he’s not here to see how his music has outlived him; but he’s decisions with Pink Moon reminds us to aim to make music that makes us content, to trust that instinct of your vision.
We can’t measure success only by sales; but just maybe, our music will outlive us a bit.
