Dress the part: Choosing the right outfit for the gig
When you take the stage, the music comes first — but wearing the right outfit can play a small (or not so small) part in helping you give a performance your music deserves. Read the post.
live show
Mirror, mirror: How watching yourself perform can elevate your music
Watching yourself in a mirror while you perform or practice can help you elevate your music and performance, so find opportunities to gaze while you play and learn from what you see. Read the post.
The strange and wonderful world of live music gigs
Heartwarming stories, insane stories, tragic stories — anyone who has spent a life playing music has them. Whether a performer, manager, roadie… live music gigs are too unpredictable for there not to be some weirdness. Read the post
How to make a detailed input list for your live shows
An input list should include every instrument, DI, and vocal that’s part of your stage set-up. Here are some tips to help you put together an effective input list with minimal headache. Read More.
The details your live sound engineer wants to know
Think you’ve told your live sound engineer everything he needs to know for your big gig? Don’t forget these important details. Read More.
Set yourself up for success with an accurate stage plot
A well-crafted stage plot – customized to the lineup and tech needs of your band – can go a long way towards setting yourself up for success once you hit the stage, especially for a multi-band event. Read More.
Being a musician for hire: how to make it as a freelance side-musician
Whether contributing backing vocals, laying down beats, or anything in between, playing the role of a musician for hire can be complicated. Here are some tips to help you make it. Read More.
Five fixes to improve your chances for success as a singer/songwriter
If you want success as a singer/songwriter, I already know these five things need to be addressed without even seeing your show. Read More.
Want happiness in your music career? It’s never too late to learn.
You’ll love Jewel’s story because it’s incredibly inspiring. You might also hate it, because it will leave you with zero excuses in your pursuit to find happiness in your music career. Read More.
Will this gig help you reach your music career goals?
When working toward your music career goals, the big question I want to focus on is: “How do I know if a gig is worth playing?” Read More.
Give your fans a live music performance to remember
It takes more than just great songs and great performances to get people excited about your music career, especially when you’re just starting out or you want attention in a competitive city like Los Angeles, New York, or Nashville. A musical artist must produce a live show experience that excites the audience and reinforces its brand. Read more.
7 creative ways indie artists can spend their money (when they’ve got money to spend)
Most indie artists don’t have a lot of money in the bank, but if you’re going to spend your valuable savings, there may be alternative (I.e. less obvious) investments you can make to enhance your music career. What follows are seven ways to spend your money when you’ve got money to spend. Read more.
Another awful music gig
In “Tales of the worst music gigs ever,” we shared a handful of on-the-gig horror stories and lessons learned from them. While those stories were all wrenching in their own rights, here is one from New York bassist Dmitry Ishenko that stands in a category of its own. Read more.
The Super Bowl halftime show wades into controversy
Updated January 2019. Solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the fraught politics of professional football, and a missed opportunity to feature Atlanta hip hop have created controversy for the Super Bowl LIII halftime show. Read more.
Tales of the worst music gigs ever
Every musician has stories of the best gig ever, that performances where the music, the crowd, and the stars aligned. Then there’s those other times when nothing goes right. Gear explodes, drunks attack, people vanish… But even the worst gigs can be valuable learning experiences. Read more.