The Musician and Money

A lot of talk is brewing on a musician's forum I frequent. Musicians are complaining about not being paid for their gigs at bars. Musicians are wanting to be paid for their time.

There's nothing wrong with an artist WANTING to make some money. But there is something wrong with the way many are going about it. Let's face it, most musicians aren't going to make millions. Unless you're in that top 1%, you probably have a day job and only dream of being a full time musician. But when I go to a bar to check out your band and the only other people there are friends and family and...you want to be paid, you need a reality check. BIG TIME.

Sorry, but an A&R rep from a major label probably isn't going to discover you in a dive bar and offer you a deal. Furthermore, just because you have a myspace page doesn't add to your legitimacy.

If you are a musician and you want to "make it". It is UP TO YOU to make that dream happen, not your fans, not your label. You may not have the skill set for this because you're used to playing music, not marketing and selling. But here's the thing. In this day and age you must must must become a business person FIRST and a musician SECOND.

Here are the top skills you must master to make it out of the "starving artist" lifestyle. (and you should learn these skills, because you're better than that!)

1. Sales 2. Marketing 3. Connecting with Fans

If you can get a strategy for these three area, I guarantee, your odds of quitting your day job increase 200%. So get out of those dead-end bars and enroll in a sales class already!

Here are a few other resources to get you going: Digital Music Summit lecture on successful business models for musicians

Using social media to grow your fanbase

The Depths of Pain

Music is one of the methods by which one can express an incredible range of emotions. One of those is sadness and pain.

Having recently been through a breakup, I've been using music to help me through the rollercoaster of emotions. From sadness to anger, it's all there. I'm sure there are people who get through things using other methods, but for me music is the best expression. Since I'm not a musician I have to find the bands and singers who say the words for me.

Metal music covers every emotion imaginable. For sadness, one of the best expressions is found in "November Rain" by Guns 'n' Roses. Slash's screaming guitar solo is a heartbreaking cry of anguish. Axl's lyrics express pain and loss. I've been listening to this song to help me process the grief.

Anger is covered by numerous bands. Metallica's album "Kill 'Em All" is pure anger. The aggression and fury pouring from both the music and lyrics is cathartic. Static-X and WASP also bring the fury. Loud volume is a requirement when listening to these songs.

There's even hope to be found in some music. Nobody brings the party like AC/DC. It's impossible to feel sad when listening to something like "Back in Black" or "Let There Be Rock". "Back in Black" in particular has the up-yours attitude that focuses on life rather than death. Metaphorically it speaks to me as affirming survival through loss.

Judas Priest in particular covers the entire range of emotions. From the hopeful "Heading Out to the Highway" to the sadness of their cover of "Diamonds and Rust", they've got it all.

Once again, I'm saved by metal.