The Business of Music

Your income from music can take a big boost if you supplement performance with private teaching. Here is a book from Chuck Andderson fir the private music teacher.

The Private Music Teacher's Guide

The successful private music teacher needs a teaching philosophy and psychology, knowledge and organization of music, and the business skills of marketing and finance. It is fundamentally a business of self employment and as such, requires the attitudes and energies of an entrepreneur.

Hard Copy Book & PDF: $29.95 - Buy Now

MORE INFO and samples...

A collection of music business tips and tricks collected over the years from various sources such as other musicians, magazine articles, books, and the web. For a gigging musician or band. Aspiring or not.

• Preparation
• Demo Tape
• Promo Goodies
• What To Bring
• Press Kit
• Traveling Tips
- Goodies to take on the road.
• Estimating Costs
• Finding Musicians
• Find a Gig
• Web Resources
• Musical Instrument Insurance
• Copyright Info
• Music Law
• Tax Tips
• Books
• Booking Information

Have a demo tape or already released CD available at all times. This should be a part of your "Business Package" that you carry around at all times. The performers that get the most gigs are not always the best musicians but for sure have or are the best promoters.

Best song first - Cut out long solos, long intros and endings, repeated choruses, etc. Have a truncated version ready. (3 minute, 5 minute , 10 minute...). Note: I actually have a demo for my solo (accompanied with custom backgrounds) performances that is only ten minutes long and stuffs in 12 songs to showcase the variety. This has been well received. For the jazz trio that I'm in we have a 12 minute demo with 4 standards. No long solos, trading fours, drum or bass solos, etc. Save that for the gig.

Custom Demos - Be able to create any type of demo requested.

Record for Lowest Common Denominator Format - Make sure cassette will playable in a car radio. And, not a good one at that. Record it with the hottest levels possible, leave off noise reduction, and use "compression". A lot of professional recording studios have a 5 inch car radios speaker that use to listen to the mix. The studio that I record at has three separate speaker systems to listen to the mix. And, I always leave with a casette to play in the car.

The Art Of Recording By David Liebman. For singers, vocalists, drums, bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, piano, keyboard, organ, saxophone, trombone, trumpet harmonica. A wealth of practical no-nonsense tips based on 25 years in the recording industry. Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced. Book. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz. (REC) See more info...

Professional Presentation - Have casette shells labeled or printed and J-cards. Print the J-cards on the face, spine and flap as well as the cover. Also print additional information inside. PRINT - DO NOT HANDWRITE. Presentation is everything.

Canned business letter. Letters of introduction and thank you letters for after a gig can go a long way towards presenting a very professional image. Remember you performance image is NOT you business image. Save the rock'n'roll image for the performance.

With a Kinko's in almost every town it is very easy to look professional. After establishing an image in you promotional materials its very easy whip up something in a short time when the need arises. With my letterhead and logo established I was able to whip up a three fold flyer for a weekend gig on Thursday nite, run down to the local Kinko's and I picked it up Friday afternoon. And with desktop publishing doing your own collateral materials is simple. I would stress the you search out a graphic artist and writer to help you out. You don't have to spend a lot and maybe can count on friends. Just remember you usually get what you pay for. Check with other artists and see what they do.

I have found out that next to my Macintosh the next best thing I ever did was get a DAT machine. I've been able to just about everything myself.

Any little goodie that promotes you name or business. Example can be as standard as the tried and true t-shirt, or any number of novelty goodies like key chains, mugs, pencils and the like. Your local quickie printer will have access to all these goodies.

Remember to track how well one promotion does over another. Draw your ideas and management techniques from the business community. There is no difference in how you promote yourself or band that how any product is promoted. You find you target market then tailor your marketing to that market.

Im my previous life I worked for a direct mail insurance company as an art director and before a mailing was made to a list of millions. A smaller test of three different packages (they where called "kits") was generated and tracked. The one with the most response was the winner and rolled out to the list of several million.

Here is a link to: musicians.about.com

Besides the obvious. Bring a spare everything. Guitar, Amps, Mixer... And have all ready to go when needed. You need to deliver what you sold.

Create a check list. Just like a pilot you can't step out and get what you need in the middle of a gig or flight ;-)

Photo(s) - Establishes your image and serves as your press photo. 8 X 10 black-and-white prints. Print name and contact information in photo. Give photographer credit. Print lots and distribute freely.

Press Clippings - If you have 'em, use 'em. Format to fit your press package.

Biography - Keep it short and interesting.

Demo - Include the right tape for the occasion.

Business Card

Press Folder - Handy place to keep all the press kit stuff.

A check list of stuff to take on the road.

A triple A ( AAA) membership is a worthwhile investment for the traveling musician or band.

The Gigging Musician How to Get, Play, and Keep the Gig. Book (not sheet music). Size 5x9.2 inches. 158 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (330740) See more info...

Guide To The Road For The Touring Musician By David Liebman. For singers, vocalists, drums, bass, guitar, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, piano, keyboard, organ, saxophone, trombone, trumpet harmonica. The experience of playing on the road in an important survival manual for all musicians. Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced. Book. Published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz. (ROAD) See more info...

• How-to-Books - Not how to play books. But books related to you equipment. (Sound, Amps, Repairing your guitar, etc...)
• Recording Equipment - Small portable recording device to record your ideas. Doesn't need to be fancy.
• Resource Books - Phone/Fax numbers of resource where you are going. Clubs, Studios, Musicians, etc...
• Metronome, Drum Machine - For practicing.
• Ear Plugs - Especially for loud venues. This applies more to rock'n'rollers.
• Dolly or Hand Truck - You never know how far you'll have to truck your equipment. One trip in is the goal. This is really good when you're in a "not so safe" area for a gig.
• Maps - Noting knowing where to go. This is where the AAA membership can help.
• Contact Information - Phone numbers of someone to contact regarding the gig.
• TIPS FOR TRAVELING SAFELY WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - link

Estimating what to change for your services is one of the hardest things to do. A little research can go a long way to helping you establish your fees. Set your fees and stick with them. But - remember fees are negotiable. Just become a better negotiate so it's not you that is always budging. Remember money is but one part of the equation, you can adjust the time, barter for some goods and services that you might need. Be creative!

Check with fellow musicians and see what the going rate is for the same type of work you are doing. Have a rate sheet available on request. This will present an image that some thought has gone into this and your not making this stuff up on the spot. And, be willing to negotiate. Once you get a gig it is a lot easier to get follow-up gigs.

Note: Add 50 to 100% for New Years Eve.M/p>

If you're like me this is the hard part of the music business. Being a salesman ;-(.

The Gigging Musician How to Get, Play, and Keep the Gig. Book (not sheet music). Size 5x9.2 inches. 158 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (330740) See more info...

Finding Gigs resources and articles

• Ultimate Concert and Club List - http://www.ubl.com/concert/clubs.html
• GIG Magazine - This is a great mag that I ran across in Borders Book Store and have put on my list of must have source of information. They have on online presence at Gig Mag Online.
  • Ringing in the Dough by Debra Davis. This article takes about how the holiday season can be a gold mine for a musician.
• The Wedding Music Information Source - www.nuwebny.com/wedmusic
• gigtrak.com - gigtrak.com

Listings of Jazz Festivals around the world

• musicians.about.com Jazz Festivals
• all about jazz Festival Guide

• The Art of Finding Band Members by Cliff Suttle. This is a great article with tips and guidelines for finding the right musicians.
• Craig's List - philadelphia.craigslist.org

  Find your Craig's List location on this page and go from there.

• The Musician Search Site - www.musiciansearch.com
• Musicians Contact - www.musicianscontact.com

There are lots of books about the music industry. On of the best that I just picked up for making it as a professional musician is: Making Money Making Music by James W. Dearing

		The Touring Musician: A Small Business Approach to Booking Your Band on the Road Buy It!!! Great book on organizing a jazz tour.
		How To be Your Own Booking Agent by by Jeri Goldstein Buy It!!! A Performing Artist's Guide To A Successful Touring Career. Great book on booking your own gigs.
		The Self-Promoting Musician : Strategies for Independent Music Success by Peter Spellman Buy It!!!

The Art of the Solo Performer
www.soloperformer.com- Buy It!!!

There is also the Business of Music books that have been revised over the years that give one lots of information on the music business.

Amazon.com is a good place to find books on the business of music. A quick search on "making it in music" books turned up over 300 titles. Here is the link: Business of Music

How to Make Money Performing in Schools
Buy It!!!

Making Money Teaching Music
Buy It!!!

How to be aWorking Musician
Buy It!!!

Loads of books on the music business.

Teaching Guitar (An In-Depth Guide to Making a Living as a Professional Guitar Teacher) Written by Jody Fisher. For guitar. Format: reference book (with CD). With instructional text, instructional photos and musical examples. Reference. 95 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Alfred Publishing. (AP.22916) See more info...

Breakin' in to the Music Business Book (not sheet music). Size 6x9 inches. 276 pages. Published by Cherry Lane Music. (2508650) See more info...

Music Publishing The Real Road to Music Business Success - 5th Edition. Book (not sheet music). Size 8.5x11 inches. 208 pages. Published by Artistpro. (330567) See more info...

The Complete Music Business Office Book (not sheet music). Size 9x12 inches. 96 pages. Published by Mixbooks. (330445) See more info...

All You Need to Know About the Music Business - 5th Edition Book (not sheet music). Size 6.4x9.5 inches. 444 pages. Published by Simon & Schuster, Inc. (331238) See more info...

Confessions of a Record Producer - 2nd Edition How to Survive the Scams and Shams of the Music Business. Book (not sheet music). Size 7.3x9.3 inches. 276 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (330857) See more info...

Get It in Writing The Musician's Guide to the Music Business. Book (not sheet music). Size 8.7x10.8 inches. 352 pages. Published by Hal Leonard Corporation. (330239) See more info...

Hot Hits, Cheap Demos The Real-World Guide to Music Business Success. Book (not sheet music). Size 6x9.25 inches. 180 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (331116) See more info...

How to Make It in the New Music Business Book (not sheet music). Book only. Size 7x9.13 inches. 288 pages. Published by Watson-Guptill. (331374) See more info...

Networking Strategies for the New Music Business Developing Successful Relationships in Today's Music Industry. Book (not sheet music). Size 7.4x9.2 inches. 246 pages. Published by ArtistPro. (331884) See more info...

The Future of the Music Business How to Succeed with the New Digital Technologies. Book (not sheet music). CD-ROM only. Size 7.2x9.25 inches. 270 pages. Published by Backbeat Books. (331301) See more info...

The Truth About the Music Business A Grassroots Business and Legal Guide. Book (not sheet music). Book only. Size 7.25x9 inches. 626 pages. Published by Thomson Course Technology. (331878) See more info...

The FJH Studio Organizer By Peterson-Heil / Inabinet. For All. The FJH Piano Teaching Library. A wonderful tool for any studio music teacher. Level: All. Book. Published by The FJH Music Company Inc. (FF1294) See more info...

A Business Guide For The Music Teacher By Beth Gigante. (Refferences,Texts,Miscellaneous). Piano. Music Book. Published by Neil A. Kjos Music Company. (WP155) See more info...

Instrument Repair For The Music Teacher Band/Orchestra (Instrumental Texts). Published by Alfred Publishing. (286) See more info...

Music Studio Policy Teaching. Schaum teaching aid (Music teacher's organizer: extra pads). Published by Schaum Publications, Inc. (40-39) See more info...

Music Teacher's Companion: A Pracical Guide By HARRIS/CROZIER. For book. Published by ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). (ABRSM219X) See more info...

Harmony Central, has a Bands page that is intended to give musicians and bands some help in the areas of Getting Heard/Publicity, Getting Gigs, Copyrighting Your Work, Trade marking You Band Name, etc. This page has loads of links.

all about jazz (www.allaboutjazz.com)

• Artist Promotional Services

New England Conservatory of Music

• Music Career Informational Handouts

Getting Heard/Publicity

• What Every Musician Should Know About Self Promotion - link

Copyrighting Your Work

• Here are links to documents from the U.S. Copyright Office:
  • Circular 01 - Copyright Basics
  • Circular 50 - Musical Composition
  • Circular 56 - Copyright for Sound Recordings
  • Circular 56a - Copyright Registration of Musical Compositions
• 10 Big Myths about copyright explained

  An attempt to answer common myths about copyright seen on the net and cover issues related to copyright and USENET/Internet publication. - by Brad Templeton

  This is a very good article dealing with copyrights.

• Copyright Duration - link
• Copyright Kit from Ducks Deluxe
• Are You a Copyright Criminal? by Dave Zielinski - link
• Kohn Music - Kohn On Music Licensing, a free resource for anyone who has questions about Copyright Law and Licensing Music for use and distribution over the World Wide Web.
• One of the BEST explanations of copyrights by Tim Berens

Getting Gigs

• Tips on Booking Yourself
• Cruise Ship Gigs - www.proship.com Or call 1-888-4-PROSHIP (477-6744)
• Free Music Classified Ads - link

Insurance

• Heritage Insurance Services, Inc. - www.heritage-ins-services.com

  826 Bustleton Pike, Suite 203, Feasterville, PA 19053
  FAX: 215-322-5854, 1-800-289-8837

• Clarion Associates, Inc. 1-800-VIVALDI (848-2534) - www.clarionins.com
• Music Pro Insurance - www.musicproinsurance.com

  MusicPro Insurance for musicians including instruments, equipment, studio, tour, composer's liability, travel accident and health.

Music Law

• Music Law Offices - Michael McCready www.music-law.com

Taxes

• Tax Tips for Musicians www.knab.com/tax_tips.htm