Archive for July, 2008
The Power Of Networking In The Music Industry
“It’s not what you know it’s who you know!”
I know that we’ve all heard that saying thousands of times but at the end of the day, when you’re dealing with the music industry it does comes down to who you know doesn’t it?
I would even go as far as saying that your circle of contacts is like bank currency. Having a lot of people that know who you are is always a benefit, not a hinderence.
Here is an example of the power of having a good network around you.
Not long ago I got a call from someone who wanted to find out if I was available to play bass with their band. I declined on their offer due to not having the time to take on another project but, I did give them the number of someone else I knew that would fit the bill perfectly.
That day, that band found a new bass player.
That particular experience got me thinking about the power of networking. I worked out that all of my dealings with the music industry is based on who I know.
People like working with others whom they trust will do the job they want them to do or like recommending others for jobs that they can’t tackle themselves.
I was proud of myself when I heard that the band found their bassist through one of my contacts. I was glad to help someone out.
That’s what networking’s really all about though isn’t it? Helping people?
For anyone who is just starting out my advice is to seek out as many people and go to as many functions and gigs as you can. Immerse yourself in the local music scene.
The more people that know who you are, the more opportunities that will open up for you.
Become the squeaky wheel that gets all of the oil. Have that belief in yourself and dont be afraid of asking questions and attaining knowledge.
One thing that you don’t do however, is that you get to know people for what they can do for you.
Get to know them for who they are as a person. Others can spot your deperation and insincerity a mile away and that is a real turn-off.
Personally I am chuffed when someone asks me for advice or just wants to have a chat about how things are going for them, but only if they are genuine about it.
A great place to start networking would be at open mic nights. I happen to run one myself at the Daniel O’Connell Hotel (165 Tynte Street, North Adelaide) on Wednesday nights from 8:30pm. Feel free to come along and pick my brains.
When you’re at the open mic really get yourself involved, just walk up to someone and say “hi”. Everyone is there for the same reason so there is some common ground to talk about.
Another place to get involved is at a Music Managers Forum meeting or contact your local music or songwriting association. Make yourself known to a few music shops in your area.
The opportunities to expand your circle of contacts is virtually endless.
Remember, the more you network the more you will be known and the more you are known the more work you will get.
In time your little black book of names will become your greatest asset.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: music business, music marketing, music promotion, music management, indie music, music industry, independent music, corey stewart
Getting Quality Gigs Not Quantity Gigs
“Treat your fans like gold because without them, you dont have a career”
Indie music bands and artists want the same thing as their record company sponsored contemporaries. A crowd to play in front of.
It took me a while to realise that it’s not how many shows you play but how many people come to them that’s important.
I’m not sure what the indie music business is like in the US, Canada or the UK when it comes to playing gigs as I have not been there (yet) but I know in Australia we still have venues that pay guarantees for bands to play.
This is great because you know exactly how much you are going to be paid at the end of the night for the service that you are providing.
What it can also do is lull you into a false sense of security by thinking that the more shows you play the better off you are.
That maybe true if every show that you play has a guarantee but what happens if you have to charge at the door and you haven’t cultivated a fanbase as yet?
I learnt this lesson pretty quickly. Let me tell you a little story.
In 1994 I moved from Adelaide to Sydney to further my music career and had the opportunity to get my own band together with a couple of really good players.
For the first time it was up to me to get the gigs as I considered myself pretty good with the “gift of the gab”. With that in mind I went out and got a lot of gigs for the next three months.
I was buoyed by the fact that I was part of a “working band” but I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. It ended up that the band was basically paying to play and we were losing money. FAST!
Because I spent all of my efforts in getting the gigs I forgot to develop a strategy to actually get people to the gigs. When we did play shows we didn’t have a mailing list to communicate with our audience about future gigs.
I then realised that the most important thing was not how many gigs you played but the amount of people you played to. Very soon after this realisation I started a mailing list and started to cultivate a fanbase.
Every gig or performance that you do needs to have some sort of reason behind it. As soon as you start saying to yourself that the gig is just there to do then you are not doing yourself (and your audience) any favours whatsoever.
It’s pretty lonely up there on stage when you have to charge money at the door and there are only three people (besides the band and a couple of mates that you let in for free) in the audience.
Think of every audience member as someone who can bring along at least five friends to the next show. Make every gig count. Focus on the quality, not the quantity.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, independent music, music industry, music business, music marketing, music promotion, orangutang music, corey stewart
Indie Music Industry – The True Meaning Of Indie
Indie seems to be the ‘buzz’ word at the moment.
I came across this cute and clever article by Bob Baker putting across the meaning of ‘indie’ in a slightly different way and I just had to show it to you guys. Its a bit of fun but the message is still very clear.
We hear the term “indie” bounced around a lot these days. It’s become quite a trendy word (although some of us have been preaching about it for more years than most). So, let me ask you …
What’s your definition of indie?
Many people think of it as a reference to a musician, small record label or film company without an affiliation with a major corporation. That’s true, but I believe it has a much deeper meaning than that.
(By the way, “indie” is an abbreviation for “independent.” The “ie” at the end is the proper spelling, as opposed to “indy,” which is usually a reference to Indiana or Indianapolis — as in the Indy 500. There’s your grammar lesson for the day 
I think of indie in much the same way I think of the term “guerrilla.” It’s more than a simple, surface-level reference to your financial backing. I believe it’s a state of mind and a way of life you must bring to your entire pursuit of music.
The best way to explain my angle on this is to use an acronym. So here’s my definition of I-N-D-I-E, with every letter standing for a separate concept (and I didn’t even use the word “independent,” which was tempting considering I had two I’s to work with).
I – Inspired
To embrace the indie frame of mind, you must be inspired.
You have to know in your gut that music is what you are meant to do. You must become energized when writing, recording and performing your music. Hopefully, this is something you already experience fully, without having to force yourself to feel that way.
When this kind of natural inspiration comes over you, it’s a sure sign that you’re on the right path. And you will need this desire to carry you through the ups and downs of pursuing the independent music path.
N – Nontraditional
Indie musicians don’t mind learning about what has come before, and they are happy to listen to the “rules” that others say are required to have a successful music career.
However, the smartest indie artists keep their minds flexible and constantly ask questions about how the supposed “rules” of the past really apply to them. They actually develop a mindset that seeks out the road less traveled. And when they spot a good idea that’s off the traditional path, they fearlessly go after it without apologies.
D – Determined
Successful indie artists are fixated on their goals and determined to reach them.
They still leave room to veer from the original plan, when needed, but they are steadfast in their desire to produce more and better music, reach more fans, sell more CDs, etc. With this attitude, obstacles become short-term learning experiences along the road to higher levels of success.
I – Innovative
Being an indie means thinking outside of the proverbial box and looking at fresh opportunities from every angle.
It means not promoting yourself the same way a thousand other acts have done it. It means being resistant to knee-jerk marketing tactics and open to new ideas and overlooked avenues for exposure.
E – Empowered
Indie musicians don’t wait for someone or something else to come along and rescue them.
They don’t pray for a “lucky break” or to “be discovered.” They know to the core that the power to succeed with their music resides inside of them. And they understand that it’s their mission to tap into that personal power and use it to share their music with the world.
Let’s recap my definition of INDIE:
I – Inspired
N – Nontraditional
D – Determined
I – Innovative
E – Empowered
Print this article and pin it up where you’ll see it every day.
Being INDIE has nothing to do with what company you are or are not affiliated with. It has everything to do with how much you take control of your own life and take steps to build the kind of music career you deserve.
Bob Baker is the author of “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook”, “Unleash the Artist Within” and “Branding Yourself Online.”
He also publishes The Buzz Factor, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds.
Get your FREE subscription to Bob’s e-zine by visiting The Buzz Factor today.
I really liked the way that INDIE was used as an acronym.
It sums up my feelings about what the term ‘indie’ means to me. If one word could be used to describe the driving force behind the indie music industry it would be “EMPOWERMENT”. Think about it
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: bob baker, indie music, music business, music industry, music marketing, music promotion, independent music, orangutang music, corey stewart
Indie Music Industry – Knowledge Is Power
Too much information is much better than not having enough.
If you are going to create a career for yourself in the global music industry, first you must understand how the industry works.
Here is probably the most important music industry tip you’ll ever recieve:
“Join up and subscribe to every indie music industry and DIY band promotion email list, newsletter and resource that you can get your hands on and read everything that you recieve”.
I really mean it when I say that too much information is better than not enough.
If something you joined up or subscribed to is not giving you the information that you need then you can just opt out or un-subscribe.
Read what you recieve, make notes, ask yourself if it’s relevent for you and where you live. Integrate the information into your life.
The only way to gain this knowledge is by research, and having intimate knowledge of your local music scene and becoming very active in it. Here are some ways that you can do this:
1. Start reading the music magazines in your area.
Local street press is an invaluable tool in letting you know what is going on in the local industry. Generally these magazines have features/interviews with local bands, a gig guide (great for targeting where to play), industry news and so on.
2. Go and see some local bands.
Check out your competition (I mean that as a figure of speech the most important thing about a healthy indie music industry is the community that builds from the music and the people who play it), introduce yourself, get out there amongst it all and immerse yourself in the vibe.
Get familiar with the places these bands play at and know who to talk to when it’s your turn to play there.
3. If there are music associations where you live, join them.
Seek out anything that supports indie music on an association level and join up.
If it costs money to do that then do it (generally its not an expensive exercise). Joining these types of associations instantly gives you a sense of community and solidarity. Also the amount of information you will gain about your local area will be huge.
4. If these local organisations have websites then bookmark them.
Need I say more on this topic. Most websites for offline organisations offer more to online users.
It pays to be an active online user. One advantage that comes to mind is the fact that you are able to participate in forums and messageboards which, in time will become powerful DIY marketing tools for you.
You got to start somewhere and the best place to start is with your own local area. As you expand your knowledge base you will work out ways to further your career and hopefully a snowball effect will start.
This website/blogs purpose is to help you on your journey by providing you with information to make informed choices as to where you want to go in this indie music industry.
If you have any questions you can always contact me.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music industry, music management, music marketing, music promotion, independent music, corey stewart
You’ve Got To Wear Many Hats In This Music Business
There is no magic formula for success in this industry.
Lets face it, being independent means that you’re going to have to be wearing more than one hat to survive. You are going to have to do a lot of things yourself and at the same time build a team around you and your music.
I’ve always believed that the music industry as a whole is much, much more than just getting a band together, playing gigs, recording a CD and then (hopefully) getting signed by a record label in which case you live happily ever after.
Getting on in this industry is all about diversification, multi-skilling and not putting all you eggs in one basket.
Whatever you want to call it, it means that you are going to have to get used to wearing different hats.
I hear a lot of musicians say that they want to just concentrate on the art and have someone else (loosely termed a ‘manager’) do all the other stuff.
Well, unless these musicians have the ability to convince a manager who has a well respected and proven track record to take a punt on someone who’s totally unknown and unproven then they are living in some sort of musical fantasyland.
I’m sorry but it just doesnt work that way.
Being independent is a choice, being independent is a way of life, a way of doing things. It’s embracing the fact that it’s all up to you to make things happen.
It’s about giving yourself back power and control over your own affairs.
Being independent shouldnt be a scary proposition. There are lots of resources around including this website/blog to help, guide and light up the path of whoever wants to explore it.
I myself, am in the same position as you. I realise that the global music industry is huge and that there is room for everybody to have some sort of a go, we just need to find the spaces.
I also realise that having belief in what you’re doing and being open to learning as much as possible about the industry then putting it all into action are the keys to moving forward.
For me, the answer to the question of what seperates the artists that ‘make it’ from the artists that don’t is “you’ve got to be business savvy”
You got to be prepared to wear many hats. For example:
The Agents Hat – Calling up venues for gigs
The Promoters Hat – Putting up posters and handing out flyers
The Publicists Hat – Putting articles or gig details into street press
Being an independent artist is all a matter of balance.
We straddle between two worlds, the ‘artistic’ and the ‘business’ worlds. How far we go in this industry seems to be determined by how well we marry the two worlds together to form a whole.
If you need any help with these matters you can always contact me.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music management, independent music, music marketing, corey stewart
Indie Music Industry – You Got To Believe In Yourself
“Whether you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you’ll be right everytime.”
The only thing that matters at the end of the day is the amount of belief that you have in yourself and the music you create
Let’s face it, without that belief, you don’t have a career.
I have been involved in the music industry for twenty years however, I’ve only really belived in myself over the past five years and in that five years I’ve achieved much more than the fifteen years preceding that.
I don’t remember that moment when I finally climbed up the top of a mountain and put my flag of belief into the summit but I remember the feeling of knowing that it was okay to be doing what I am doing and, most importantly, it was okay to be ME.
I can’t tell you how to believe in yourself, only you can do that but I can tell you that if you are lacking in belief then you are not alone.
We live in a world that is not overly tolerant to artistic endeavours. I mean just the other day I had someone ask me at a party.
Q – “What do you do for a living?”
A – “I am a musician”
Q – “Oh, that’s nice. So what is it that you really do?”
That really threw me back. I was initially insulted but I proudly answered that being a musician was my ‘real job’.
We as musicians are always being told that we:
1. Can never make a living out of a hobby
2. Need something to fall back on
3. Should go and get a real job.
If you do have a day job, fantastic.
I’m not telling you to give it up all I’m saying is that when you have belief in yourself and what you do any decision that you make is made for you only, not to please well meaning friends or family.
Be proud of what you do but don’t be too proud to not take advice from people that have trodden the path that you’re about to take.
Use this website/blog for instance to ask any question that you want. I will only give you encouragement because I have been there myself.
Always remember, no matter how many articles you read, how many courses you take, how many bands you play in or how many gigs you do, you can’t get others to believe in you unless you start believing in yourself.
Starting today, go and look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you deserve to be a musician and that you are not going to feel guilty about it.
After that its time to go forth and ROCK (or country or punk or whatever you do)!!!
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music marketing, music management, independent music, corey stewart
Indie Music Industry – Why Be Independent?
Who needs a major label anymore?
With the major labels focusing on quick returns rather than artist development and the advent of downloading music online, the traditional record company/artist relationship has become blurred to the point of being obsolete.
Nowadays, being independent has real advantages…
How many times have you heard or read somewhere that the internet has changed the face of the music industry forever? Personally, I’d love a dollar for everytime I heard it.
However, it’s true and there are a couple of reasons for this:
1. A traditional record company/artist relationship is optional and not a necessity. You can do your all music sales and band promotion online cutting out all of the ‘middle people’.
2. Websites can turn an artist with a local audience into an artist with an international audience. As the internet is not ‘owned’ by any one entity the playing field is a lot more even.
A really great example of an artist that is doing it independently and (doing very, very well out of it thank you) is Ani DiFranco.
Ani and her record label Righteous Babe Records have been kicking it against the system for many years now. Personally I think that Ani is the best example of how an indie music artist can have total control over their career and be a roaring success at the same time.
Her example has inspired me.
I read somewhere that by 1996 Ani had her own warehouse, about eight or nine full time staff and her music sales were nudging over 500,000 units (in which the profit goes to her company not to some multi-national). I found these facts very impressive.
To me, being an independent artist means that you’re the one driving the bus and being in control over your own affairs.
A lot of talented artists and performing songwriters around the world are at this very moment waiting for that knock at the door, the opportunity to ‘get discovered’.
What’s likely to happen is that these same people will spend their creative lives being very, very disappointed.
If you are reading this and feel that this is you, consider this. Where do you think you would be if you managed your career yourself rather than wait for someone (or some company) to do it for you?
There are many, many sites online that are there to help you take control over your career by spreading practical information about band promotion and the indie music industry as a whole.
Take advantage of these sites. Go to as many as you can and learn. Become inspired to take control over your indie music career. It’s the only one you’ve got.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: ani difranco, indie music, independent music, music industry news, music industry resource, music promotion, music marketing, music business, corey stewart
Orangutang Music – What Is It Anyway?
The Global Music Industry is a HUGE place
My name is Corey Stewart. I am a Singer/Songwriter/Musician from Australia and owner of Orangutang Music.
This is my way of helping independent songwriters and musicians get seen and heard online. I like to think that Orangutang Music helps independent musicians to help themselves.
No matter where you are in the world.
This website and music business blog is first and foremost, my way of showcasing what Orangutang Music can do for you.
I also want it to be a hub of relevent music business information gleaned from my own experiences or from my online research so we can all make some sense of this huge global music industry that we’ve chosen to be involved with.
Whether you’ve just stated out on your independent music journey or, you’ve been in the scene for years, you would’ve noticed that the global music industry seems like a large machine churning out artists and bands of all types and genres.
With the advent of the internet, music from all over the world has now a forum in which to present itself. It’s an exciting time to be independent at the moment.
Trying to pinpoint information on items of interest in the fields of music promotion, music marketing, music management and independent music can a very daunting task.
Hence why I created Orangutang Music.
I wanted a music industry resource that can help out as many artists, bands and musicians as possible. This is also an attempt by me to learn more about an industry I love to work in so lets all learn together.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the blog posts that’ll be coming your way in the near future. Who knows, what I put on this site may contain the exact information that you’re looking for.
Have a look at the services that Orangutang Music offers you and contact me if there’s anything you’d like me to do to help you, help yourself.
If you’ve anything questions that you want answered or, you have an article idea that you want me to follow up on or, have an article that you want me to include on this site, just let me know and we will work something out.
We are all in this music industry together, always remember that.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music management, independent music, orangutang music, corey stewart
Lights, Camera, Action!
Yes I know it’s taken a little bit longer than anticipated however, the Orangutang Music website and Music Business blog is now ready to go.
I was kind of hoping for a July 1st launch but as life gets in the way sometimes it wasn’t meant to be.
As of now I will be adding Orangutang Music news and Music Business content to this site on a regular basis so make sure you come back often.
I promise you, there will always be something new to see.
Until next time,
Corey Stewart
Orangutang Music
Keywords: indie music, music business, music promotion, music industry, music management, independent music, orangutang music, corey stewart
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