From: katelyn
2008-09-09 17:05:16
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To: katelyn
2008-08-26 13:36:33
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| | <p class="MsoNormal">There is a debate that comes up from time to time regarding music and business. There are some who believe that musicians should care about music, and that's it. For them, the other parts of running a band: promotion, distribution, strategic thinking of future goals, money, and similar activities are all distractions from what really matters. We disagree.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">There is a debate that comes up from time to time regarding music and business. There are some who believe that musicians should care about music, and that's it. For them, the other parts of running a band: promotion, distribution, strategic thinking of future goals, money, and similar activities are all distractions from what really matters. We disagree.</p> |
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| | <p class="MsoNormal">In reality, if you really care about your music, and believe in your band, you will take the business part of your band seriously. We also think that borrowing from successful business techniques and terminology and applying it to music, or a band, is the quickest way to make you successful. Why ignore or reinvent these ideas?</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">In reality, if you really care about your music, and believe in your band, you will take the business part of your band seriously. We also think that borrowing from successful business techniques and terminology and applying it to music, or a band, is the quickest way to make you successful. Why ignore or reinvent these ideas?</p> |
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| | <p class="MsoNormal">Starting from the beginning, let's be clear about the key concept: A band is a brand. It should be known for a certain level of quality, and be distinctive compared to its competitors. It should have a logo, and a name that matches the music that you're trying to promote. You also probably have products: recorded music and branded merchandise. If you're a live band, you sell services by performing at live shows for fees. If you like songwriting, you might also sell services of writing songs for other people for money, or perhaps as a promotion.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">Starting from the beginning, let's be clear about the key concept: A band is a brand. It should be known for a certain level of quality, and be distinctive compared to its competitors. It should have a logo, and a name that matches the music that you're trying to promote. You also probably have products: recorded music and branded merchandise. If you're a live band, you sell services by performing at live shows for fees. If you like songwriting, you might also sell services of writing songs for other people for money, or perhaps as a promotion.</p> |
| - | <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> | + | <p class="MsoNormal">Once you start seeing the band in this way, you might start considering new ideas for how to make it more successful. In this Survival Guide, most of the main topics that we discuss are based on thinking of a band in these terms. For example, you have products and services that you need to promote, and distribute to customers, which are two of the major sections of The Survival Guide.</p> |
| - | <p class="MsoNormal">Once you start seeing the band in this way, you might start considering new ideas for how to make it more successful. In this Survival Guide, most of the main topics that we discuss are based on thinking of a band in these terms. For example, you have products and services that you need to <a href="http://indiebandsurvivalguide.com/wiki/page/Promoting_Your_Website">promote</a>, and <a href="http://indiebandsurvivalguide.com/wiki/page/Distributing_Your_Music">distribute</a> to customers, which are two of the major sections of The Survival Guide.</p> | + | |
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| | <p class="MsoNormal">In the end, the most important thing about a brand is name-recognition. This is one of the hardest things to build, and one of the most valuable things that you can have in a business. Many of your business activities are going to be aimed at enhancing your name recognition and exposure, besides finding ways to get your music to fans.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">In the end, the most important thing about a brand is name-recognition. This is one of the hardest things to build, and one of the most valuable things that you can have in a business. Many of your business activities are going to be aimed at enhancing your name recognition and exposure, besides finding ways to get your music to fans.</p> |
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| | <p class="MsoNormal">There's another aspect to thinking of the band as a business which has to do with keeping your own band members involved and excited about the band. You need to have successes, which involves setting and achieving goals. No matter what the endeavor, people are not usually willing to continue working on a project unless they feel that it is going somewhere. Note that you can define success in many ways. For some, it's playing out regularly at bars, or breaking into a new venue. For others, it's getting 100 people to hear your band. And another might have a goal of getting a song on college radio. All of these tangible things are within reach, and will help get you traction for your band, and keep your band members excited.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">There's another aspect to thinking of the band as a business which has to do with keeping your own band members involved and excited about the band. You need to have successes, which involves setting and achieving goals. No matter what the endeavor, people are not usually willing to continue working on a project unless they feel that it is going somewhere. Note that you can define success in many ways. For some, it's playing out regularly at bars, or breaking into a new venue. For others, it's getting 100 people to hear your band. And another might have a goal of getting a song on college radio. All of these tangible things are within reach, and will help get you traction for your band, and keep your band members excited.</p> |
| | <p class="MsoNormal">If you do consider your band a business, we suggest thinking about the following:</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">If you do consider your band a business, we suggest thinking about the following:</p> |
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| | <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;">· <b>Money</b>: Make sure that there are clear understandings between the band on how money will be handled. This includes money that's contributed by band members for expenses, and how to distribute income. Depending on how much you make from the activity, especially if you are a full-time musician, you should also talk to an accountant for the proper way to deal write off expenditures and deal with income.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;">· <b>Money</b>: Make sure that there are clear understandings between the band on how money will be handled. This includes money that's contributed by band members for expenses, and how to distribute income. Depending on how much you make from the activity, especially if you are a full-time musician, you should also talk to an accountant for the proper way to deal write off expenditures and deal with income.</p> |
| | <p class="MsoNormal">· <b>Goals</b>: From the outset, you should have an idea of your short term goals, and perhaps your longer term goals as well. If you find that you don't share the same goals in the band, it can cause problems. It's best to have short, just-out-of-reach goals in order to keep the band motivated, and to make sure that you can continue moving forward.</p> | | <p class="MsoNormal">· <b>Goals</b>: From the outset, you should have an idea of your short term goals, and perhaps your longer term goals as well. If you find that you don't share the same goals in the band, it can cause problems. It's best to have short, just-out-of-reach goals in order to keep the band motivated, and to make sure that you can continue moving forward.</p> |
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| | <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Even if your goal is not to make money at all, and instead, you only want to get your music heard by the most people possible, this idea of considering your band a business is still useful. You are faced with the same problems of distribution and promotion, even if you charge nothing for your products and services. In the rest of The Survival Guide, we will discuss more about these topics with an understanding of looking at the problems faced by bands using this point of view.</p> | | <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2">Even if your goal is not to make money at all, and instead, you only want to get your music heard by the most people possible, this idea of considering your band a business is still useful. You are faced with the same problems of distribution and promotion, even if you charge nothing for your products and services. In the rest of The Survival Guide, we will discuss more about these topics with an understanding of looking at the problems faced by bands using this point of view.</p> |
| - | <p class="MsoBodyTextIndent2"> </p> | + | <p class="MsoNormal">When you perform or record music, be a musician and remember that music is played, not worked. We're not suggesting that it be otherwise. But when you think of making things happen for your band, think business. Your music deserves nothing less.</p> |
| - | <p class="MsoNormal">When you perform or <a href="http://indiebandsurvivalguide.com/wiki/page/Recording_an_Album">record</a> music, be a musician and remember that music is played, not worked. We're not suggesting that it be otherwise. But when you think of making things happen for your band, think business. Your music deserves nothing less.</p> | + | |
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| - | <p style="text-align:right;" class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="../../../../wiki/page/Your_Website"><b>Next: Your Website: Your Band's 24/7 Ambassador</b></a></b></p> | + | |
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