MUSIC 101
So, do you like music? Do you fancy a career in the music business? Well, before you set out for world domination why not have a read over the finer points of what it is to be in the business some call ‘show’.
WRITE
Bands write songs, so write some songs. Every new song you write is a progression, so try not to be too precious. Write them in bedrooms, kitchens, garage, rehearsal rooms. Iron Maiden’s only UK number one was written by Bruce Dickinson while he was on the toilet. Some people sing melodies into their phones to remember them, others write them down. You never know, so just write. It doesn't have to be perfect and maybe it never will but get it out there and you'll find out.
REHEARSE
Once your songs are written they’ll need to be rehearsed, by a band or on your own. So find somewhere to do this. Garages, bedrooms, kitchens, churches or rehearsal rooms. Pick a time that suits every member of your band or project and rehearse on a weekly basis or, if you can, more often. Rehearsal time is when bands come to life. Practice your vocals through a PA, try out new ideas for songs, play your setlist and time it. See what works. Sometimes it does actually work to just 'jam'. The best thing is that nobody can hear you in a practice room so try anything. Remember to make time to practice on your own. Every musician always wants to be better at their instrument and the only way to do that is to practice and never give that habit up.
NETWORK
Go to gigs, chat to people, go to the Oh Yeah Centre, talk to people, chat with bands, ask, tell, be polite, give out numbers, email addresses and websites. Give people CDs. Invite people to your gigs. Get in touch with people online, it has never been easier. If you don't ask, you don't get. Ask for advice. But always, ALWAYS be polite. People like to help other people but only if they are polite. Make friends, not enemies. Networking is one of the most important skills a musician or songwriter can have. In this business it is more often a case of WHO you know, not WHAT you know.
REHEARSAL ROOMS
Oh Yeah Centre – 028 9031 0845
Half Bap Studios
King Street Arts Centre
Jam Live Studios
Rinky Dink Rehearsal Studios
Graham House Rehearsal Room/Recording studio
Churches/Garages/Bedrooms
BUSINESS
Try to have regular band meetings. That way, everybody knows what is expected of them and it will be easier for all of you to pull in the same direction. Any grievances or ideas can be aired here. Whilst it would be nice if all businesses were democratic, it is not always possible so be prepared to discuss everything and always be prepared to compromise. If money goes in and money goes out, it's a business so make sure everybody knows where they stand. Set deadlines, make plans. Remember – if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
If you're starting to bring in money then consider starting a band bank account or business account. Even register as a business, there are plenty of advantages to this.
Register your songs and performances with IMRO or PRS. If you're recording or gigging more often you should sign up with PPL as well, there is money to be made with these associations so get on it sooner rather than later.
And if all of that seems too much then perhaps consider findings yourselves a manager. That's not someone who you can boss around though, that's someone who, ideally, would be bossing you around. Be aware that said person will be taking a percentage of your earnings but that person will also be working hard for your cause on your behalf.
GEAR
In order to get your sound, you will need amps, guitars, drums, keyboards, samplers, whatever it is that makes your sound. It is imperative that musicians have their own instruments and equipment. It is also imperative that musicians look after their equipment so get a guitar case, get drum cases, buy guitar strings (or, if you can’t afford strings then simply put your old strings in a pot of water and boil them, they’re stainless steel, they’ll be fine and will sound as good as new). Never, ever underestimate the importance of good jack leads. The single most important piece of equipment any musician can have is a tuner. Get one or live to regret it. And make sure the batteries are up to scratch too. Check for bargains on Ebay or Gumtree, ask around. If you show up at a gig and need to borrow something, just ask. Most people are happy to share but make sure you ask and ask politely. A good band needs good equipment, nobody wants their amp to burst into flames in the middle of a gig….
GETTING GIGS
Everybody has to start somewhere. Go to gigs, meet people, ask bands if you can play wih them, ask venues if you can play there, ask the person behind the bar, ask the person selling merch. Some venues can be hired for free (Auntie Annies do this regularly). Sign up for a ‘Battle of the bands’. Sign up for showcases. All ages gigs. Gigs in your local pub. House parties. Give out your email address or a contact number. Get to know other bands and artists, advice is everywhere if you ask. Email venues, promoters and other bands to ask if you can play. People on Facebook and Twitter are always looking for bands or artists, get in touch. Be wise about it though, if you play in a metal band then asking to support a pop band would be a waste of everyone’s time. Know your limits also, some things may be out of reach but that’s ok. ALWAYS BE POLITE – the people you meet on the way up are the same people you’ll meet on the way down.
There are plenty of places to play in Northern Ireland, sometimes just asking a venue or promoter could lead to something wonderful. And if not, why not put your own gig on?
Radar Belfast
Volume Control
Oh Yeah Centre
Voodoo
Limelight
The Empire
Nerve Centre
Black Box
Culture Night
Pavillion
Lavery's
Menagerie
McHugh's
PLAYING GIGS
This is a long one so I’ll put these in point form. Is that ok? Of course it is.
- How will you get there? How will you get home?
-Be on time. In fact, be earlier than that.
-Bring your own gear (Never, ever assume that you can use the other bands equipment unless you have arranged this prior to the gig).
-Be polite to the crew , they were there before you and will be there long after you finish.
-Be polite to the soundperson, they can make you sound awful if they decide to.
-Be polite to the other bands. Yes, even if you don’t like their music. It’s called ‘networking’.
-Stick to your stage time.
-If you are told to play for 30 minutes then play for 30 minutes, not 35. Playing for too long makes everybody’s job more difficult.
-Always thank the promoter, the audience, the crew and the soundperson from the stage. Keep it short and sweet though.
-Most people don’t care about the stories behind your songs, forget the story, just play the song.
-Don’t take too long between songs, it’s your own time you’re wasting. Say thanks, tune up, carry on.
-Just because you’re ‘in the band’ doesn’t mean you can park outside the venue, nobody likes parking tickets.
-If you have merch, set it up early and make sure it is staffed at all times. People do still steal things y’know. Display your prices and HAVE A MAILING LIST.
-Soundperson permitting, it should take no more than 30 mins for each band to soundcheck. If it takes longer you’re doing it wrong.
- Sometimes you can leave your equipment in the venue and pick it up the next day. I would advise against this as things sometimes go missing but if stuck it can be handy.
MONEY
If you're in a position to do so, it is wise to discuss payment with the promoter or manager before you actual agree to the gig in question. The amount you ask for is of course your own decision but don't allow yourself to be too out of pocket. Best not to ask for ludicrous sums of money until you are going to draw enough of a crowd to justify it, the promoter or venue don't want to make any more of a loss than you do. The amount you agree before a gig is known as a guarantee, the theory being that you will be guaranteed that amount.
Usually, someone will approach you after a gig to give you your money. If this doesn’t happen then you should speak (politely,of course) to the promoter or the manager of the venue. You won’t get paid for every gig but if you DO get paid then be sure to spend it wisely. Petrol, rehearsals,recording demos, merch, CDs, plectrums, guitar strings, vans and amps all need to be paid for. It is a business after all…. You should always make the most of these opportunities as well. Get some t shirts printed up, get some badges and above all else get some CD’s. While we’re on the subject….
RECORDING
So, you’ve written some songs, played some shows and saved some cash, what next? Record those songs, that’s what. But hold on, are you sure you’re ready? In a modern recording studio, time = money so make sure you are prepared, rehearsed and absolutely certain about what you want to achieve before you go start recording. Make sure your gear is up to scratch and make sure everybody knows the songs. Sounds simple doesn’t it?
That’s because it is. Preparation will make the entire experience far more enjoyable for everyone. Once you are prepared, rehearsed and have enough money to pay the people who will be recording you, you will be ready to record. But where? Try these -
Or if you can’t afford to go into a studio, why not record your songs yourself? Many bands record with Garageband, Logik, Pro Tools or even Cubase on a laptop or a PC for next to nothing. Plenty of people also record at home so, again, talking to people might provide you with the opportunity to demo or record for free. Quality is everything though, if your recording isn't up to scratch it might do more damage than good.
PHOTOGRAPHY/ARTWORK/DESIGN/MANUFACTURING
Once you receive your master CD, it is strongly advised to do two things.
1. Copyright your work. “But how?!” I hear you cry. Simple. Get a copy of your recording (not the master copy, you want to keep that safe) and post it TO YOURSELF. I know, it sounds odd but it works as proof of legally copyrighting your work.
2. Keep your master CD safe. You’ll only originally need it for duplication as it is the best copy of your work.
3. Same goes for digital recordings, email it to yourself.
THE OTHER STUFF
So you’ve got your recording. But whether it’s a single, an EP or an album, it will need the following things.
-Artwork – Do it yourself or hire a designer, give it a name. Everybody uses photoshop these days don't they?
-Photos – Hire a professional, the difference will be noticeable and it’s money well spent as your pictures can also be used for press packs, online and press articles. With regard to the actual shots themselves, be creative, nobody needs another ‘urban wasteland’ photo shoot….
-CDs – In order to sell your CD you’ll need to duplicate it. There are plenty of places to do this but prices vary so do your homework. Always remember to put your contact details and copyright info on the CD.
-MP3s - Bandcamp is free to set up and you can sell from there, no reproduction costs either.
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Carrie Davenport
Luke Joyce
Bradley Quinn
Tony Webster
Again, there are more than listed above so ask around, see what works. Sometimes even a friend with a camera and photoshop can do an excellent job too. One piece of advice - be creative. Nobody needs ANOTHER band photo of some guys stood in an alleyway or a subway....
PRESS PACK
A press pack is essentially a description of your band and its history. It shouldn’t be too long, nor should it be too short. You don’t need to include your band’s entire history, just quickly explain what has bought you to where you are now. Mention your influences too, does’t hurt and it gives a reference point for whoever is seeing or hearing your music for the first time. Keep any press clippings to put in there too. First impressions are everything. If you give off the wrong impression (in your bio, your photos or at a gig) then you might turn potential customers or employers off your product before they have even heard a note. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t write a joke book either. It’s a question of taste. Be tasteful.
WHO SHOULD I SEND MY STUFF TO?
You want to be on the radio don’t you? If so I would suggest uploading your best track to the BBC Introducing Uploader. Here -
If that doesn’t satisfy your airplay needs, try posting your CD with your press pack to local radio stations and press companies. Here is some advice that may seem common sense – know your audience. This applies to all parts of marketing your work but particularly so when dealing with radio stations. If, for example, you play in a heavy metal band and you decide to send your stuff to BBC Radio Ulster, there would be little point in sending it to every show on the station as not all shows will play that type of music (Hugo Duncan won’t play it but Across the Line might), so find out which shows you would like to get played on and send your press packs and CDs accordingly. This goes for emailing press, radio and online as well of course.
Radio
RADIO ULSTER
ACROSS THE LINE
RADIO FOYLE
BLAST 106
COOL FM
CITYBEAT
U105
Q NETWORK
Press/Online -
AU MAGAZINE
PANIC DOTS
CHORDBLOSSOM
THE LIST
GO BELFAST
THE THIN AIR
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
SOUNDCLOUD
BANDCAMP
There are far more places than that to send your work but it’s not a bad place to start.
ONLINE
Most business these days is conducted online. Emails, websites, social networking (there’s that ‘networking’ word again) are how we all consume information these days. Remember MySpace? It still exists but it probably isn’t the platform of choice for most musicians these days. Making your own website is quite easy if you use a site like WordPress but even at that, a website isn’t strictly necessary. Think of your favourite artists, how do they communicate with you and their other fans?
Get your own personalised email account. From there, start working on the usual online standards – Twitter, Facebook pages, Youtube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud. All of these are perfect for building your online presence and best of all, they’re all free. Be sure to update regularly (not too regularly) and follow the usual online rules. BE POLITE, BE POSITIVE.
Having a few well recorded songs, a tight live set, a solid online presence and a good press pack is as good a place as any to start your musical career.
Here are a few handy websites that may also help -