Every Friday, we will will be featuring a new crew feature to give an insight in to what we do in the music industry. Touring crew members are some of the most underrated people in the industry, but without them, the show would not go on. From the tour manager to tour photographers, every role …
We all remember the crazy videos from our favorite bands at house parties or out in the woods creating a show! There are plenty of stories of the old punk days in the desert where bands brought generators into the middle of nowhere, and just partied! This was the purest for of the art form …
We are friends with a lot of Australian Bands, especially myself. I have worked with or hung out with Deprivation, Recoil VOR, and the King Parrot lads and I were texting when I was just out with Recoil VOR. Not to mention all the ones I just know. So when Dan, of the mighty Bok …
Being able to draw in your local area is something to be proud of, as it is difficult in this industry to get recognition. However, if that is all you do, then you will go nowhere in the larger picture. The problem that I see with most bands is that they feel that since they …
We caught up with Patrick and Jeramie of The Absence at their show at Rooster’s Roadhouse in Alameda, CA. After being pushed off of MetalBlade Records, the band went into DIY mode. The band put together a self-booked US Tour, as well as a show in Mexico. The music industry is seeing the reduction in …
Our good friends in Recoil VOR have been doing it DIY for a decade, and with their newest album released today Sleep for the Masses (you might even see Jeff in their music video at some point), we wanted to catch up with our buddy Wade McKay from down under. So I know you guys …
One of the most abundant sights at SXSW is bands handing out free copies of their music on CD. Problem is, since most SXShow-goers are tirelessly walking around all day, the last thing people want is something they have to carry around. Especially when it’s something that’s not pocket-friendly — like CD’s. Luckily, there’s a more convenient …
Being on tour for weeks or even months at a time is no easy endeavor. But if you also suck at packing your suitcase, you can end up taking a lot of van space that could be put to better use. In fact, the art of efficient packing is so lost, it necessitated a book …
We’ve long talked about how merch sales will make the most money for your band in the Internet Era. Not only does merch have a bigger profit margin than CD’s or MP3’s, but it also allows you to keep offering new stuff to your fans on a regular basis — even in the absence of …
Touring is the most important thing you can do as a band. However, it also is the most costly in terms of wear on the band and money. Nevertheless, there are a few crucial tips that can help you make it out of a tour healthy, happy, and alive! I’m gonna go over a few …
Underground musician RJD2 knows a thing or two about longevity, having been a professional artist for over a decade. Though he started out in hip-hop, RJ has since moved onto playing and touring with a full-fledged live band. Naturally, he has picked up a bevy of knowledge along the way, which he shared with Pitchfork …
Ever been at a show, seen an awesome shirt, but didn’t have the cash for it? As a fan, this can be a let-down — but as a musician, it’s lost money. Well, those days are now over! If you have a smartphone, you can now take credit cards at your tasty pig parts merch …
We always tell artists to be as self-reliant as possible — which includes booking your own shows! However, with most cities, the average musico probably won’t have the slightest clue about what venues to play or whom to contact about doing so. Usually, this results in bands hiring a booking agent (who usually have other …
We’ve professed our love for Kickstarter here before (and crowdsourcing funds for your band, in general) so you don’t have to rely on a record label advance. And indeed many bands have successfully used Kickstarter to fund their albums, tours, and even new gear. But, as much as we love it, there’s one little problem with Kickstarter — you can only …
When it comes to tracking guitars, most players — including myself a few years ago — usually rely heavily on a cab (or a wall of cabs), serious head power, and several mics on each cab (typically two SM57‘s and a MD421). But in the mid 2000’s, I noticed many guitarists using laptops as preamps …
If you decide to record in a professional studio, it is important to be as prepared as possible to save the most money! If you don’t have the knowledge to DIY your recording in your own home studio, there’s nothing wrong with going to a professional studio. However, make sure that you have every thing …
I get a lot of musicians asking me about what they should do next or what they are missing from their band operations. I figured that it might be a good idea if I put a basic blueprint together of things you should have down to effectively pursue your career in music. This is not …
It is always great to talk with artists about their feelings on the industry and what they are doing to advance and succeed. I had a chance to speak with Obe Babakhan of Until We Sleep and ask him about his thoughts… Hey Obe! I wanted to thank you to take time to talk …
Considering how more and more of a band’s revenue nowadays revolves around selling merch, it’s a good idea to diversify your band’s merch stash beyond the usual t-shirt and patch selections. Luckily, the good folks at Unified Manufacturing offer awesome merch ideas like iPod skins, flag pennants, and even cassette tapes (so kvlt!) for the …
One of the last legitimate lines of defense we see for record labels these days is the notion that they can help your band go on tour. If you can’t scrounge together the connections to book your own shows or the finances for a van and some gas money, a label supposedly helps you with …
There is something that every artist needs to understand and fully submerge themselves in: You have to know the business of music! These days — to be DIY — you have to stay ahead of the game, working harder and researching more. You can’t think of yourself as simply an artist, because this is a business …
Guitarists, have you ever wanted to get a great quality pedal, like an overdrive or delay? But when you priced what seemed to be the best corporate branding had to offer, you were looking at anywhere between $150-$200 and upwards of $250 for “branded” boutiques? Last week, I sat down with DIY boutique pedal-maker Walt Cannoy …
To read part 1, click here. Laying a Foundation We have witnessed a revolutionary change in modern recording in the last decade: the ability for anyone to have access to affordable means to record a song from the convenience of their own home. Despite that, one big challenge that remains is achieving a commercial, studio-quality …
The days of simply being an artist have long gone, and yet I still see a lot of bands not taking a more business-like approach to their company (band). Then there are the others that have naturally taken various roles besides being just the musician, driver, and/or merch seller. Then finally, the situation where bands …
When it comes to adding third-party plug-ins to your recordings, there is abundance. Many are over-priced and out of reach for most musicians. Relying on successful branding, Neve, Pultec, etc., companies like Waves and Universal Audio charge premium prices for digital “replicas” of classic outboard gear and may require the purchase of additional hardware to …
In today’s industry, artists do not have the luxury of being on the front line of a blossoming new movement, where bands and artists are getting signed “right and left” like those that came before us. I am not saying they had it easy — because they earned every bit of fame and fortune — …