The Benefits of Touring

05-Mar-2017 By Ryan Stable

Touring can be one of the best or one of the worse things to happen to an artist. It will either make or break you. Bands can get noticed while touring, or they will break up. There are many things bands need to know before touring. The biggest one is to make sure you are going on tour with people you can deal with and who can deal with you. You will be stuck with them for weeks and even months in a small van, or even a tour bus.

Networking while Touring

When on tour, you can find plenty of people to work with who will help you out. You’ve just got to be nice to them and treat them with respect. Even if they aren’t the greatest to you, still try to be kind and respectful and it might turn them around. They will definitely remember that when they have to work with you again and will help your shows be better.

Becoming friends with bands on tour will help out a lot. They can help you get shows in their towns and in return, you can help them get shows. Trade offs are always great to do. Local bands already have fans going to their shows and becoming friends with the ones you’ll be playing with will help you have people willing to see you when in town. Become friends with them before asking for favors, though. You actually want to have a friendship and bond with these people. Talk to them on FaceBook or Twitter before going on tour to get to know them.

Everyone you work with on tour is important for how it will go. Get to know the promoters, sound guys, and anyone working the venues. Learn their names and remember for the next time you play there. They will be impressed and more willing to help you for future events. They will also talk you up to other venues and promoters and help you get more shows in the area, and possibly in other cities as well.

Details of Touring

Everyone always skips over the details because they just want to get out there and start doing things. The details are always what screws people. You want to know about everything you can before you get on tour so that nothing is a surprise. Always get together before going out to figure out personal things and business things.

Some venues give out contracts before booking and band, and some of those have very specific details you need to know. It tells you if and how you’re getting paid, the equipment they have there and what you need to bring, guest lists, etc. There’s one thing that most artists don’t look at before booking multiple shows at once and that’s if a venue has a distance limit for shows. Some venues don’t want you to book another show near them for a week that’s about 10 miles away. That’s just an example, but it could be more time and a wider radius. You always want to know if the venue expects you to sell a certain amount of tickets, otherwise they will most likely charge you for the left over tickets you couldn’t sell. I’ve noticed a lot of venues in bigger cities tend to do that and aren’t always upfront about that.

Before going on tour, you want to have a meeting with everyone in the band to figure out things. You want to make sure everyone agrees on a budget and what that money will be used on. You might not always get the money you’re expecting at shows, so you really shouldn’t rely on it. Everyone should be able to split it evenly and help out with things. Have an itinerary showing when everyone needs to be at the venue, when loading is, when you’re playing, etc.. It should also have the contact numbers of everyone (band members, promoters, venues, driver if you have one) and emails for the venue. You all want to also are on a set of ground rules. Everyone may think that they know each other well, but someone will have some pet peeve that will get to them too much and might make things tense among the group.

Booking hotels and finding places ahead of time is always great. Once you have the shows set, you know when and where you’ll need a place to stay. You can ask fans or friends/family in the area, but if they don’t get back within a week or two, move on. You don’t want to get stuck last minute trying to find a place. I went on a small tour with a band once and they kept telling me that they had people who were going to let us stay there. The day we get the city, they tell me they haven’t heard back from anyone and that we might have to find a hotel. Well, every place was having some kind of conventions going on and only had expensive rooms left. We ended up finding a hotel last minute, but you don’t want to get stuck in the kind of mess.

Map route before leaving. It helps you figure out how much time it takes to get from one place to another and will be easier to plan things around travel time. It also helps to keep you from getting lost if you can’t get internet on your phone for google maps.

Going on tour can be a great thing. Get everything done ahead of time, talk with the rest of the members and take care of yourself. You don’t want any surprises and you want to be able to fix anything if something goes wrong. Don’t rely on others with everything and make sure you and the rest of your group can take charge if need be. Always know where everyone and everything is and how your equipment is being taken care of. The tour should go well if you at least do those things.

This is a gust post by youbloom contributor Michele Enouch

Michele Enoch is a music business graduate from Musicians Institute who has managed and promoted bands for years. She is now working on her photography and helping performers advance in their career. Her passion has always been music and she is exploring all aspects of the industry. Michele appreciates all kinds of music and seeing music in all kinds of environments. She enjoys crocheting hats and toys, reading and writing mystery and horror stories, taking pictures of everything she can, food from around the world, and adorable animals. She is always on the look out for anything new and exciting.

How to Keep Your Child Interested in Musical Study

03-Mar-2017 By Ryan Stable

Want to know How to Keep Your Child Interested in Musical Study? Today, we’ll teach you simple steps involved in keeping your child’s attention in their music books.

Most parents want their child/children to learn something unique or significant during their early childhood age. This is because retainment and deep appreciation for new musical studies are best when taken at a young age.

For instance, parents who want their children to take up ballet lessons start at the very early age of three years old. This is because the earlier you start, the more flexible you are and the easier your bones can adapt to the training.

One of the most common paths is M usical S tudy. In music, kids who start to learn instruments at a young age tend to improve their motor skills more such as finger and hand coordination movements. Thus, giving them more accuracy and precision when playing an instrument (Concordia University and the Montreal Neurological Institute).

On The Side Note

However, do note that kids have their unique skills and interests. While a piano might work for one, for another the guitar might be more suitable. Taking into consideration their personal interests would help them discover their talents.

Forcing your child into playing a particular musical instrument might only cause them to experience “toxic stress.” This is due to an increased cortisol production. Cortisol is a stress hormone which can negatively affect a child’s brain development.

Today, we will be giving you basic tips on how to keep your child interested in the musical study.

What To Consider When Choosing An Instrument to Learn

#1 Your child’s capabilities and preferences.

Personally, I think this is the most important factor to consider when your child will be choosing his/her instrument for the first time. Taking things by his pace, capabilities, and interests will help keep him/her in that field.

Your child’s abilities and innate skills will partly help him/her decide which instrument to learn. At an early age, I decided to learn the piano because I realized that my hands couldn’t keep up with the guitar or drums.

Nothing beats a natural passion and appreciation for music. This will fuel your child’s determination to learn more about music and his/her particular instrument. Unless you want to play tough love with your child, then you can try imposing a musical instrument to him/her.

However, beware that this might get you into several fights and tantrums.

#2 Your budget for your child’s music study.

Now, the musical education isn’t just all about preferences. Your child might be hell bent set on learning a particular instrument, but is your wallet ready? If you want your child to be committed to an instrument, be prepared for its possible expenses. Such as music lessons, instrument maintenance and buying the device itself.

Save up as early as you can.

On the other hand, this is not related to budgeting at all. However, it’s also an important factor to consider. Is space readily available at home? If your child decides to play the drums or a piano, is it going to be fit at home?

#3 Do you like the instrument yourself?

Can you stand listening to that instrument all day long as your child practices? If you think you’re not fond of that particular instrument, then at least try to develop an appreciation for it or your child’s efforts to learn it.

He/she will need emotional support and encouragement from you in learning that instrument. So it is important that you show attentiveness to him/her.

Tips On How To Keep Your Child Interested in Music

You might’ve already read about the many benefits of learning music, especially at an early age. Here are a few tips on how to keep your child interested in music.

#1 Pay attention to your child.

It’s imperative that you pay attention to your child’s passion for music. Be his/her number one fan. Be involved and be interested. Keep track of their learning, but not in a prying way. Show unconditional love and support, so they know you care about their passion.

Who knows? Maybe your child could be the next Mozart or Beethoven?

#2 Enrol your child in a private lesson.

This might be a little pricey, but if it can help your child focus more, then this might be worth it. Private lessons can have a lot of benefits.Children tend to shy away from experimenting and asking questions when they are integrated with other kids.

They might even be scared of making mistakes in front of other kids which can affect their confidence and self-esteem.

#3 Make practicing fun.

Even without his/her tutor, you can still motivate your child to continue practicing by making it more fun. You can start by watching him/her practice. Or if you know how to play the instrument, personally guide him/her.

Doing some sort of game or quiz bee-ish practice with rewards or incentives after might also do the trick.

#4 Engage your child in music education as early as possible.

We already listed down reasons how starting young can make significant changes in your child’s learning capability. Starting young will help them develop deeper love and appreciation for music.

But then again, this doesn’t mean that you should force your child. A gentle nudge will do.

At the end of the day

Some kids do not need any encouragement at all as they find themselves attracted to music at an early age on their own. It’s still up to your child which branch of the arts he/she will commit to. What’s important is your support for their passion. Remember that that’s what makes a future prodigy in music.

How to Keep Your Child Interested in Musical Study is a guest post by Mark Harrison.

Mark Harrison is a professional guitarist from MusicalStudy.com. His blog is an online resource center dedicated to providing knowledge about music and musical instruments, focuses specifically on guitars. And Mark loves to share his knowledge with everyone.

Top 5 Email Marketing Tips for Musicians

27-Feb-2017 By Ryan Stable

Email Marketing for Bands – Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, has been the primary marketing tool of musicians to grow their network and promote their name. These platforms are taking off but as an up-and-coming independent artist, you also have to take advantage of other marketing strategies that could do great for the success of your career. One of which, is the commonly neglected, e-mail marketing.

Why is Email Marketing for Bands Important?

Facebook and other social media networks can give you access to millions or billions of fans but only e-mail marketing can provide you with the control over your connections. Therefore, build your e-mail list and begin promoting your music.

Grow Your Email List and Promote Your Music

Design Your Website with an E-mail Sign Up Box

Email marketing for bands start with your website. Your music website should not only have your artist’s details but it should contain information that will help you convert visitors into fans. Therefore, design your website with a sign up box to collect your visitor’s e-mail addresses.

Place it in a prominent area on your page or design it as a pop out so your visitors will immediately see it once they visit your site.

Generate an Effective Call-to-Action

Your e-mail sign box should be accompanied with an effective call-to-action. This short introductory phrase should invite and persuade people to submit their e-mail addresses to your list.

It is also ideal that you introduce the benefits of their subscription like getting regular music updates, concert dates, news, and other exclusive surprises.

Send Gifts to Subscribers

Aside from generating call-to-actions that convert, surprise your visitors with free and exclusive gifts in exchange of their e-mails. You can send them personalized items like posters, Bluetooth speakers, or wristband; or electronic files like a short video of your behind-the-scene rehearsals, a downloadable file of your music, and so on.

Through this, you are giving your fans a fresh and insider look of your life and activities as a musician.

Advertise at your Merch Booth

Do not only use your merch booth to sell your items but utilize it to gather more e-mail subscribers from fans and people who attended the event. Place a signage in a noticeable area of your booth and invite them to sign up.

Or announce it on-stage after your performance. It’s also a good idea to assign someone from your team to go around and collect e-mail addresses from the crowd.

Write a Compelling Blog post

An engaging and informative content can help you grow your e-mail list. The more compelling your story is, the more your readers become interested to reading your succeeding posts. Therefore, add an e-mail sign up box in your blog post area to turn your readers into loyal fans.

And once you have gained more e-mail sign ups, make your promise to send them informative, entertaining, and fresh news about your music. And never try to spam them with promotions and non-sense agenda. Or else, they will hit the unsubscribe button.

Top 5 Email Marketing Tips for Musicians is a guest post by April Alen.

April Alen is a content and social media Manager of the popular SpeakStick brand. SpeakStick creates innovative waterproof bluetooth speakers to aid the burning desire of music lovers and enthusiasts to listen to music whenever wherever. With this goal in mind, we invite you to be a part of our community of music lovers and to Set Your Music Free.

How to promote your music and get clients as a songwriter

24-Feb-2017 By Ryan Stable

How to Promote Your Music – It’s really frustrating, right? You are a songwriter and you write really good songs. People who have listened to your songs such as your friends and family tell you that you have the talent for writing awesome songs and lyrics. But the problem is that you have not been able to get clients to hire you to write songs for them. And this is giving you sleepless nights and leaving you frustrated.

The simple truth is that if you do not know how to promote your music and let people know about the services you offer, then no one will hire you. It’s that simple…

In this article I will be showing you some easy ways on How to Promote Your Music and get clients as a songwriter.

You need to niche down and dominate it in order to get clients as a songwriter

Before we get started on the tips to market yourself, there is something very important you need to know about. That is you need to pick a niche and then dominate it. By this I simply mean, picking one genre of music and becoming a master there. You do not want to be known as that “music songwriter”, instead you want to be known as that jazz or country or rock music songwriter.

By picking a niche and dominating it, you become the go to guy when clients need lyrics in that genre of music. This gives you an edge and helps you stand out amidst the many songwriters out there struggling to get by and will allow you to get clients as a songwriter.

You need to go digital to get clients as a songwriter

Thanks to technology and the internet, with a website and written content you can reach millions of people everyday. So you need to take advantage of this opportunity. Start by getting a blog and provide value for your fans and audience.

The keyword here is “value”. You want to provide so much value for prospective clients that they see you as an expert and the go-to guy when they need your services. Also by having a website and a blog, you can upload samples of your writings and lyrics that people can download and assess your work.

Most importantly, you can begin to build a fan base by collecting email addresses on your website and giving then tips and advice that they can use to stay in touch with you and your brand. By building your fan base you have an army that will spread the word about you to their friends and increase your reach.

You need to embrace social media to get clients as a songwriter

Social media is probably the hottest thing right now. If you are looking for the fastest way to spread your name and become known then you need to jump on the social media bandwagon.

By having social media profiles on the major platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), you can easily get heard by a lot of people. Just imagine that recently Facebook announced that they have about 1 billion active users on their platform. That’s really huge if you ask me and you do not need that amount of people to become successful. All you need is a way to reach some of those people, preferably within your local community and build up your fan base.

By posting your lyrics and songs you have completed online, you get to have people connecting with you and your brand. Maintaining a social network presence is one of the most time effective strategies that you can employ to get yourself known and attract paying clients to your business.

Get out there and network to get clients as a songwriter

This is one idea that a lot of people find very difficult. Most people (myself included) would prefer to sit in my house and do all the interactions by mail or by phone. But unfortunately, this does not work very well.

As a songwriter trying to get clients, you need to be ready to meet people and do a lot of networking. Now I am not advising that you travel around the country just to network. You can and should start small by meeting people around your community.

One phrase that I like so much is “It’s all about who you know”. While this might sound like a cliché, it is absolutely true. You need to keep your ear to the ground and go out and network with people in the same industry as you.

One thing you need to know about networking is that you want to avoid coming across as a needy or offensive. Think about what you can offer to the other person even before you pitch your services. This way the relationship is more of a win win situation than a needy one.

Pick someone and develop them to get clients as a songwriter

This point is all about working with an upcoming artist and providing lyrics for them. The advantage of this is that you get to flex your creative writing skills while using the artist as a stage to project your lyrics.

The truth is that when starting out, you are going to find it a little difficult to get noticed by the big boys in your industry. The best way to get on their radar is to have an upcoming artist who you can easily work with sing your lyrics. This way you are not just pitching them lyrics, you are also showing them a complete work and how your lyrics sound with instrumentals. This helps you become recognized as an expert and someone that they actually want to work with.

Conclusion

Promoting yourself is crucial to your success and will help you get clients as a songwriter. It is probably more important than stage performance or understanding song theory. The truth is that if nobody knows you, then nobody hires you. So unless you are a songwriter simply for fun, then you need to take the points discussed in this article very serious.

How to promote your music and get clients as a songwriter is a guest post by Uche Ibe.

Uche Ibe is a passionate singer and blogger as www.welovesinging.com. He enjoys teaching people how to sing and helping them become better singers. You can connect with him by visiting his blog or sending him an email.

10 reasons you can’t hit the right pitch

23-Feb-2017 By Ryan Stable

As a singer, you absolutely need to hit the right pitch. If you have a hard time with pitch, learning to get it right will lead to a noticeable improvement in your singing voice. Luckily, problems with pitch often come down to a few simple issues that are quite easy to fix. Here are ten potential reasons why you can’t hit the right pitch.

Poor Posture

Bad posture is easy to fix, but it takes time to get used to standing up straight to the point where if feels natural and you do it without thinking about it. At first you will have to keep reminding yourself to do it. But even just standing up straight for a moment, you will immediately feel the difference. Breathing becomes easier and your confidence improves, too, which leads to the next point.

Poor Confidence

A lack of confidence has a strong impact on your singing voice. It weakens your voice and makes it virtually impossible to sing in tune. Adopting a good posture helps confidence quite a bit, but you also need to believe in yourself and your ability.

Tension

Carrying a tune becomes impossible if your mouth, tongue or throat are tense. Try to loosen your singing muscles by massaging your cheeks and stretching your jaw. Ten to fifteen solid yawns will often do the trick, since they not only stretch the jaw, but also the vocal cords.

Incorrect Tongue Position

If your tongue is in the back of your throat, it prevents your vocal cords from vibrating properly. You want to keep it forward in your mouth, with the tip touching your bottom teeth. I have a number of exercises on my site to help you position your tongue properly.

Exhaling Too Quickly

If you exhale to quickly, your pitch rises. You need to control your breathing to stay in tune. This is a very comon reason why you can’t hit the right pitch.

Using The Wrong Voice

Singing makes use of a head voice and a chest voice. If you can’t hit the right pitch, you have to use them both correctly. For example, when singing vowels, you want to use your head voice to keep the tone from going flat.

Song In The Wrong Key

We often think we should be able to sing every song out there, but that simply isn’t the case. If a song is not in your key, you won’t be able to hit the notes. You might be able to bring it up or down a key, but if not, it’s just not your song.

Yelling Instead Of Singing

Singing too loudly is a common problem. A lot of beginners think they have to yell to project their voice, which might be why they can’t hit the right pitch. A higher volume does not equal a more powerful voice.

Difficulty Matching Notes

This is a bit more difficult to overcome than the other issues, but certainly not impossible. All it takes is practice. Have someone play notes for your then match them with your voice. Keep practicing until you can get them right every time. If you do not have someone to play notes for you, there are online keyboards available, like this one.

Focus On The Wrong Frequencies

Often beginning singers will mistakenly focus on the overtone or undertone, instead of the main tone. Naturally, this a reason you can’t hit the right pitch. If you can, try changing the volume of the overtones and undertones, so you can hear the main tone more clearly.

If you can’t hit the right pitch, it is highly likely you are committing several of the errors on this page. Pick one issue and work on it until it is fixed, then move on to the next one. You should see some improvement almost immediately, but it will take a bit of work to get to the point where you are nailing the pitch each and every time. I know you can do it!

10 reasons you can’t hit the right pitch is a guest post by Camila Rabin, a music teacher who recently started the blog musicaroo.com.