JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum What does this mean to us

Like the other Bill (Clingon) said, I feel your pain.

It was Van Gogh, I believe, who cut off his ear. He was a painter, remember, so the loss of an ear didn't affect his painting. (It may even have made him less able to hear criticism.) It'd be akin to me cutting off my nose--wouldn't affect my ability to play or write music, and (a plus) I wouldn't be able to tell if the music stank. The moral may be that sacrifice for your Art is good--but sacrifice the virgin you don't need.

I have run into just about all the things you've mentioned. I just try to find ways to do them cheaper. Even I can tell the difference between a home recording and one produced in a studio--but I ain't goin' to Nashville to do the studio thing. I'd rather find a local guy who's got good equipment and a good ear--especially if he's young and hungry and wanting to make a name for himself. I can get good deals that way.

I think the press kits are a good idea, too--but again, it's not necessary to spend a lot of money. I found a book at a thrift store called "Expose Yourself"--it's a how-to-get-gigs manual for working bands, published in the '70s--and I refer to it as kind of a Gig Bible. It said what ought to be in a press kit, and also in the "Joe is Great" brochure that's supposed to be part of the press kit. No problem--I used to be in the graphic-design business. (Keep that in mind, anybody who needs this stuff.) So I have music business cards, and the brochure, and the promotional photo (designed by my daughter) that can double as a poster. I do my own CD labels, too.

I used the press kit for the last festival gig I solicited--and yep, it was exactly what they wanted. You simply have to act like you know what you're doing. (I think.)

Next step, I guess, is the foray into self-publishing. I'll try that this year. I'd hoped that between now and Pineyfest (and maybe at Pineyfest) I could pick up enough information to have a shot at acting like the Big Boys, without (again) having to spend the money. And anything that works is replicable. Tools can be used by anybody.

Billvis, I didn't mean to take over your thread--sorry. I was just trying to be reassuring. I think among a bunch of us in this outfit, we've got the tools to make it without having to make monstrous investments.

I still think the money in the music business for an unknown like me is in live performance (especially for me, with the demographic I appeal to); CD sales are going to be at best the "gravy" off the gigs. I realize that's not going to be the case for everybody. But I wasn't planning on giving anything away when I drop off CDs at radio stations (I didn't even do that with the college radio station); they already pay fees to ASCAP and BMI as a cost of doing business, and all I'd accomplish by waiving royalties would be (I think) to come across as hungry. I think it's important to be as professional as possible.

That was a good thing you did for that rapper kid, by the way. I hope he acts on it.

The Artist Formerly Known as Moonless Joe