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Michael Gallant

How To Ace The Music Audition – Ten Tips To Make You Shine When It Counts

by Michael Gallant May 10, 2012

Regardless of whether you’re auditioning for the biggest pop act in the world or the smallest band that nobody outside of a five-block radius has heard of, treat all auditions with the same level of rigor. "If you can’t be professional on a small scale, then you can’t be professional on large scale," says Kern Brantley, bassist for Lady Gaga. "If you come into a wedding band audition wearing the wrong clothes and hitting wrong notes, you’re going to do the same thing when you get the chance to audition for a super star. Use smaller gigs as dress rehearsals for bigger auditions that may come up." Read more.

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Musicians and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) — How to Practice Hard and Stay Healthy

by Michael Gallant April 10, 2012

Musicians and Repetitive Strain InjuriesHave you ever heard serious musicians likened to competitive athletes? It’s a worthy comparison in many ways. Just like world-class swimmers or football players, dedicated musicians spend years training, honing their technique, and practicing hours a week so when the time comes, their skills are sharp and their focus is tight. And, just like athletes, musicians can get injured doing what they love. Read more.

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Press Kit Fundamentals – Press Release Writing Tips

by Michael Gallant March 15, 2012

Whether you’re announcing an exciting new collaboration on your latest album, or telling the world about that great festival gig you just booked, every artist’s marketing strategy needs to include a plan to spread the word to press, booking agents, promoters, club owners, music industry, and ultimately, fans. Enter the press release, the all-powerful written announcement that broadcasts the vitally important 5 Ws – who, what, where, why, and when – on your big news. Read more.

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11 Improvisation Tips to Help You Make Music in the Moment

by Michael Gallant February 21, 2012

11 Improvisation Tips to Help You Make Music in the MomentWhether you’re turned on by Phish jamming through the night, Miles Davis conjuring wistful melodies in space, or Stevie Ray Vaughn wailing something nasty, you just can’t argue with the fact that skillful improvisation is a powerful thing. Read more.

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Tips for Surviving and Thriving on Tour

by Michael Gallant January 18, 2012

Taking your music on the road is a great way to reach new audiences, see the world, and hopefully have a grand adventure — but any touring veteran will tell you that it’s not as easy as it looks. From maintaining peace amongst band members and staying healthy, to dealing with substandard accommodations and endless hours in transit, spending time on the road can present unique and unforeseen challenges. Read more…

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Press Kit Fundamentals – How To Write A Compelling Artist Bio

by Michael Gallant December 12, 2011

Samson MicAs creative and expressive musical artists, we’d like to believe our music speaks for itself. It does, of course, but a well-crafted artist bio is still a necessary part of your press kit and promotional efforts. In addition to giving the reader a glimpse into your musical career/journey/accomplishments to date, an engagingly written band bio can increase the chances of your music getting heard, whether you’re approaching music journalists for press coverage, creating an electronic press kit, or just trying to draw in casual visitors to your website. Read more…

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12 Tips for Writing, and Selling, Great Jingles

by Michael Gallant November 10, 2011

Everyone has experienced it before — you see an advertisement on TV and three weeks later, you’re still humming the same catchy melody that playfully urges you to buy a soft drink, bring your car in for a new muffler, or change insurance companies. Such is the mysterious art of jingle writing.

Crafting words and music for the sole purpose of selling a product can be lucrative, creatively challenging, and fun — but how do you make the jump from indie songwriter, musician, artist, or producer to trusted messenger of a company’s brand? What do you do once you’ve actually landed your first gig writing commercial ad music? Read more…

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Holiday Gigs – Christmas music and holiday songs make for unique opportunities

by Michael Gallant October 4, 2011

If every other song you hear on the radio is something like “Little Drummer Boy” by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, Hall and Oates swinging through “Jingle Bell Rock,” or the Trans-Siberian Orchestra shredding up their reinvention of “Carol of the Bells” — chances are that the holiday season has begun. Read more…

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Taking it to the Streets – Busking Tips From Veteran Street Performers

by Michael Gallant September 21, 2011

Performing to an appreciative audience doesn’t always mean having to pitch a venue, schedule a gig, and pimp it far and wide. In fact, many skilled and experienced musicians choose to take their tunes to the streets, playing to informal audiences at train platforms, thoroughfares, and parks everywhere. Read more…

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Building Hip Hop Beats: 9 tips from multi-platinum producer Johnny Juice

by Michael Gallant July 27, 2011

On a casual listen, tracks by Jay-Z, Tupac, or KRS-One might seem simple in construction – charismatic rhymes riding a driving, repeating drum groove. But if you’ve ever tried building hip hop beats on your own from the ground up, you probably already know that producing something propulsive, gutsy, fresh, and original is not such a simple science – so where do you begin? We brought in one of the genre’s founding experts to offer some advice. Read more…

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Using virtual instruments: Eight home recording tips to make your tracks sing

by Michael Gallant June 23, 2011

With multi-track recording programs like GarageBand, Pro Tools, and Logic becoming nearly ubiquitous amongst tech-savvy musicians, it’s easier than ever to take your own music all the way from first inspiration to finished audio file without leaving your room. But just because these high-powered tools are available, it doesn’t mean we all know how to use them well. Read more…

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10 Music Licensing Tips: How to get your music ready for Film and TV

by Michael Gallant May 24, 2011

If you’re like many independent artists trying to get your music heard far and wide, you might dream of having your music licensed for use in movies and TV shows. Music placement can indeed be a potent career booster — when it comes to visibility, credibility, and getting paid — but it’s a tough world to break into, and many talented artists don’t know where to start. To that end, here are some tips to help you get your house in order before you ever talk to a music supervisor on the phone — so when that precious licensing opportunity comes, you’ll be ready.Read more…

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Recording Your Live Gig, Pt. 2: 9 Affordable Gear Options

by Michael Gallant May 5, 2011

In “Recording Your Live Gig, Pt. 1: 8 tips to get the most out of your live recording,” we talked about strategies for making outstanding live recordings – and now we’re back with equipment recommendations to help you get the job done. From smaller and less expensive options through to inclusive, high-end rigs, here are some ideas that will introduce you to the plentiful recording options available. Read more…

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Recording Your Live Gig, Pt. 1: 8 tips to get the most out of your live recording

by Michael Gallant April 13, 2011

Laying down your tastiest tracks in the studio is one thing – but what if you want to capture the raw spontaneity and audience energy of a live gig? Live recordings can be a real challenge, even for the most ambitious DIY indie artist, so here are eight tips to help you capture the vibrant tracks you need. Read more…

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