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April 1, 2013 at 6:45 am #4718
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
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April 1, 2013 at 5:43 pm #10361
Hi Pete
Thanks for the link. This collage is in my city so I was intrigued. After over 40 years “in the biz” as Player, audio tech, lighting, staging, management, even tour bus driver I have a few hints of my own.
1. Be careful what you wish for. Every job has elements that may not be first apparent. eg. do you want to live in hotel rooms for most of your life. Can you miss weddings, funerals etc. to be on the road? My longest tour without going home was 1 year 8 months.
2. Enjoy what you do. I know this seems obvious but nobody wants to work with negative people.
3. The times they are a changing. The biz has changed alot in my life. A label contract and royalty revenue use to be the way, now your music is more of an advertizement to get you live performances. Home recording has nearly dried up session work so collaborating ‘on spec’ has become very important.
4. Always consult an Entertainment Lawyer before signing anything. Seems like an expensive thing to do but worth it. Tieing up your rights can kill your career. I’ve seen people sign thier “synchronization rights” to manager, labels etc. because they don’t know what they are! (these are royalties paid for the use of your music with videos, TV, and movies and can be VERY lucrative) It is common to bargain a percentage of your rights for a contract but be very careful. Always have a reversion clause that returns rights to you after a period of time or inactivity.
5. Most important thing is to always play like your playing to a full house. You never know who is in the audience even it there is only 2 people there.
6. Get a book and make a contact list of all the people you play with, club owners, managers, hotels you stay in,even good/bad resturants etc. It really is who you know.Good luck Gordo
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April 2, 2013 at 1:57 am #10367
@ChordGuy wrote:
Hi Pete
Thanks for the link. This collage is in my city so I was intrigued. After over 40 years “in the biz” as Player, audio tech, lighting, staging, management, even tour bus driver I have a few hints of my own.
1. Be careful what you wish for. Every job has elements that may not be first apparent. eg. do you want to live in hotel rooms for most of your life. Can you miss weddings, funerals etc. to be on the road? My longest tour without going home was 1 year 8 months.
2. Enjoy what you do. I know this seems obvious but nobody wants to work with negative people.
3. The times they are a changing. The biz has changed alot in my life. A label contract and royalty revenue use to be the way, now your music is more of an advertizement to get you live performances. Home recording has nearly dried up session work so collaborating ‘on spec’ has become very important.
4. Always consult an Entertainment Lawyer before signing anything. Seems like an expensive thing to do but worth it. Tieing up your rights can kill your career. I’ve seen people sign thier “synchronization rights” to manager, labels etc. because they don’t know what they are! (these are royalties paid for the use of your music with videos, TV, and movies and can be VERY lucrative) It is common to bargain a percentage of your rights for a contract but be very careful. Always have a reversion clause that returns rights to you after a period of time or inactivity.
5. Most important thing is to always play like your playing to a full house. You never know who is in the audience even it there is only 2 people there.
6. Get a book and make a contact list of all the people you play with, club owners, managers, hotels you stay in,even good/bad resturants etc. It really is who you know.Good luck Gordo
Thanks Gordo
Have you read Donald Passman’s book.
http://www.amazon.com/Need-Know-About-Music-Business/dp/1451682468
I’ve read his older print, but his new one I haven’t read yet. I think in today’s business world the musician has got to understand the business rules whether seen or unseen and that needs to be with a good entertainment attorney. Donald as you know is well known, but has been known to take a cold call. Like you said, you never know who is in the audience.
It’s interesting to hear that you’ve been in the biz. Like to hear some of your hair razing tales.
What do you think of keeping the publishing rights at all cost at the beginning of signing a contract with a manager . I think many musicians sign over them rights to a manager?The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
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April 2, 2013 at 9:21 pm #10371
Hi Pete
Hadn’t seen Donalds new book but I’ll pick up a copy for sure.I spent most of my life in the music biz. Did alot of tech work, the money is better unless you fall in the small minority of stars and even then they still have money problems. eg. Willy Nelson, Dion Warwick, Elton John etc. etc.
Publishing rights are commonly barganed with Record Labels, tieing them up with a Manager is not usually a good thing. This could tie you to him for life. Managers already want from 10% to 50% of gross for performances, endorsments etc. and usually get a few points from record sales. They make more money than anyone in the system, and do the least work. Idealy, if you set up your career and they approach you, you have a good bargaining position.
If you approach them it is the old, “I can take a chance on you but I will need”.ALWAYS self publish your material before anything you do as a writer. If you are writing now join ASCAP (American Society of Composers and music Publishers) or BMI. I think there are still a few others out ther too.
If your music is not registered it may not belong to you long. Sending a registered letter to yourself, with the songs, and leaving it unopened will NOT work. This is a common myth. Publishers get a royalty equal to a writer, this is often refered to as a 50/50 split but is really a seperate payment. You may sell your writers rights outright but try to retain a few points if your able to.
I met a lady who was a hostess in a restaraunt, taught herself to play ukelele and has sold dozens of songs.As for tales I have a few. Will start a topic with a couple.
Gordo
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