Knowing the If, When, and How of Hiring a Manager

18-Jul-2018 By Josey Dunbar

Knowing when hiring a manager (and whether or not to hire one at all) is right, can be a tough call for artists…

When deciding what’s right for your band, it’s important not only to weigh the obvious pros and cons, but also to consider the methods of attracting and choosing the best manager for your individual group of artists.

Step One: Consider the Pros of Hiring a Manager

1) Experience

Managers can provide outside knowledge of the music industry for your band. Whether you’re an up-and-coming group or have years of experience preforming, hiring a manager will provide knowledge that can prove to be essential when dealing with hosts, venues and sponsors.

2) Third Party Ear

In addition to providing knowledge of the industry, managers can also serve as a third party perspective when disputes arise within the band. Having an unbiased opinion can help to resolve budding conflicts between artists.

3) Concentrate Vision

Hiring a good manager can also be a perfect way to narrow in on a brand for your band and develop a solid vision for your group’s future.

Step Two: Consider the Cons of Hiring a Manager

1) Money

Managers aren’t free nor are they cheap. If your band is going to end up losing money or barely breaking even by hiring a manager- maybe consider holding off for the time being.

2) Loss of Artistic Freedom

It’s no secret that a band loses the total control they started with when they decide to hire a manger. Though releasing some control may prove to be beneficial for the musician’s future, you must decide if the end goal is worth it.

At the end of the day, hiring a manager is an investment that only you can deem worth the expense and risk.

But the important decision-making doesn’t end there; after deciding if a manager is the right move for your band, it’s time to decide how to attract and choose the right one.

Step Three: Attracting a Manager

After deciding to find a manager for your band, you’ll learn the first step in finding the right one is to not look. No you did not read that sentence wrong—don’t go looking for a manager; the right manager will come looking for you.

With that said, there are certainly methods of speeding up the process.

1) Growing Your Fanbase

The more buzz there is around your band, the more managers will know who you are and where to find you. To learn more about growing your fanbase check out “How To Hook the Super-Fans.”

After you attract managers who embody the same vision you have for your group, don’t be afraid to give them some control while still maintaining your own individuality, of course.

Maintaining some control of your own booking and touring can be made easy for those who choose to hire a manager and those who fly solo through youbloomConnect. Learn more at youbloom.com

youbloomDublin 2018 Music Summit & Festival – Press Release

14-May-2018 By Robert Loustaunau

youbloom, the global music event, is returning to Dublin this Summer.

Now in its sixth year, youbloomDublin thrills fans and the music industry with aspiring artists getting the opportunity to play showcase gigs with free-of-charge access to the youbloom Music Summit.

The youbloomDublin 2018 Music Summit

The youbloomDublin 2018 Music Summit which is open to everyone, is an industry conference offering emerging talent the chance to network and learn from top level music connections and experts. The festival will be taking place at the headquarters of one of youbloom’s sponsors, IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organisation) on June 2nd. The day-long conference will range from themes of industry knowledge, legals, songwriting, and Spotify with keynote presentations like: “A Sea of Gray Hats – How to Use the System to Change the System” by LA industry legend Ted Cohen.

There will also be a panel discussion, “How To Write A Hit – Inspiration or Perspiration,” led by Steve Lindsey of Elevate Music as well as 3 Masterclasses, “How to Get the Most Out of Spotify,” hosted by Peter Astedt and “Managing your career in the 21st century music industry” with Pete Holidai. Full Summit details.

Meanwhile, in the city centre, youbloom brings over 60 artists to the stage. Free gigs will take place in The Underground, JT Pimms, The Mercantile and Berlin D2. Artists have traveled from across the globe to perform over the June bank holiday including Tanjier – Concreto (Brazil), D-Day, (Ireland) – Danu5ik (England), Katie Gallagher (Ireland), Georgia & The Vintage Youth (England), The Finns (Ireland), Emmanuel Nwamadi (England), Luke Clerkin (Ireland) and BoW (Austria). Catch all the details!

Indie artists take on the Bloom Main Stage in Phoenix Park.

Last year over 120,000 people graced the gates of the Phoenix Park, enjoying the best in homegrown food, drink and culture. Stunning performances from Aine Cahill and David Keenan in 2016, uplifting pop from Lavengro in 2017 and the well loved music of The 4 of Us will give you a hint at the type of talent we put on the main music stage at Bloom. This year, feisty folksters Corner Boy and the inimitable duo Don Baker and Rob Strong will sparkle in the sonic sunshine on the main stage in the Phoenix Park. We also have a host of unsigned talent just waiting to be discovered.

For more info, check out our FAQ, or shoot us an email at: customersupport@youbloom.com

Want to see more more of what youbloom has done and who has played with us in past years? Check out youbloom Though the Years.

Corner Boy. Photography by: Michael Duggan Photography.

You’ve Been Writing Song Lyrics Wrong

08-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

As musical styles progress and change with the times, one thing is for certain, writing song lyrics continues to play a vital part in what sets artists from being good to being considered a great. So for those of you currently in a creative drought, here is some advice from a few of the greats.

Jimi Hendrix on Artistic Liberties with the Facts

“Imagination is the key to my lyrics. The rest is painted with a little science fiction.”

–Jimi Hendrix

Many artists pigeonhole themselves by believing that every word written must be 100% accurate to their lives and story they are telling. Of course, speaking from your own personal experiences is vital in creating meaningful music. But the point is to get your message across in the best way possible. Sometimes, this might involve a little science fiction.

Dolly Parton on Throwing Yourself into the Process

“It’s therapy. It’s fun. It’s creative. I love getting on a big writing binge and staying up a couple days working on song and knowing at the end of those two or three days that I’ve created something that was never in the world before.”

–Dolly Parton

If this is your passion, don’t be afraid to throw yourself into your work. The stories of artists writing a hit song in 5 minutes’ time, on a napkin, in an airport is incredible! But most great songs come from hard work, dedication, and focus from the artist. This mean sitting down and wrestling with a song until it feels right.

John Mayer on Speaking Your Own Truth

“I hope that what it comes down to at the end of the day is that people believe that I believe what I’m singing. It comes down to being believable.”

–John Mayer

Authenticity is key in songwriting and producing. This may seem strange since the first piece of advice was to stretch the truth in the songwriting process. Don’t be confused, there is a difference between writing a nonfiction story to produce a personal truth, and writing a meaningless song for the sake of staying on trend. Be true to your artistic endeavors and creative process because the song will thus come across genuine to the listeners.

Now go on and be inspired to create and then when it comes time to perform, remember to sign up for youbloomConnect to get the chance to connect with your fans and other artists to grow not only your fan base but your connections in the industry. To get more information on how youbloom can help you book more gigs across the world and have the chance to play at #youbloomLA and #youbloomDublin, follow the link: http://www.youbloom.com/

House shows are the New Frontier of the DIY

02-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

There’s a new way to get your band out there: house shows.

Playing local clubs and venues is certainly a must for any emerging band. But the networking opportunity that might spring from throwing house shows is something not to sleep on. It might seem counter-intuitive that playing a house show is more fruitful than a local club. It’s not, and here’s why.

It’s Cheap

Playing a house show is a great way for your friends and fans to save a ton of money. No cover charge or overpriced drinks to deter potential guests! Sure they are going to want to drink, but let guests bring their own beverages. And everybody knows that a six pack from your local store is cheaper than a tall boy at a bar. And most importantly, it lasts longer. More people are encouraged to come, have a good time, and spend the few bucks they saved on some merch.

You’ll Definitely Fill the Room

Second, unless your marketing skills are extraordinary or you are playing your hometown, your band is definitely going to have a better time playing in front of a house show audience than a half empty room at a club. And if your band is coming up in the club scene, check out our tips on how to ace those live shows. It takes practically nothing to gather 50 people to a house party, the only thing you have to say is “Hey, there’s a house party”. You won’t even have to add “Bring your friends”. That’s a given.

It’s Easy

Third, you are way more likely to build a fruitful relationship with other bands at a house show than at a local club. A party is a familiar environment, even for someone who’s somewhat of an introvert or just doesn’t know anyone else except their bandmates.

It’s a lot easier to go up to someone and chat at a house party than at a club with loud music playing, people sticking to their friend groups, and bands always busy loading their gear or getting lost at the bar.

In an era where DIY is king, house shows must be queen.

youbloom is all about helping bands build relationships in unexpected places. If you could see yourself hosting a show in your own space, check out youbloomConnect to see what we can do to connect you to a CityRep and a band near you.

Luca is a freelance writer, blogger, musician and songwriter. Born and raised in Italy, his passion for Rock n Roll made him move to London where he lived for one year and gained a certificate in Songwriting from ICMP. Luca relocated in NYC in 2014 to pursue jazz music and liberal arts at the The New School from which he graduated in December 2017. Luca currently resides in Nashville, TN.

How to Make Money as a Venue Owner

24-Apr-2018 By Robert Loustaunau

Whether you’re re-branding your old bar as a buzzing music hub or just getting into the game, the question is always, how do I make money as a venue host?

It really comes down to two things: 1), How you negotiate cost with artists and 2), booze sales.

Selling drinks is pretty straightforward. Estimating the potential cost-benefit of an unknown artist on any given night, is not. Here’s a few things you’ve got to know if you want to make money as a venue host.

A Flat Rate

Photo taken at youbloom Dublin Music Festival

For the indie artists that can’t promise a surge of fans, a flat rate is often in their best interest. This will guarantee the band they’ll get paid an agreed upon amount, regardless of ticket sales.

The number they’re asking for should be entirely based on the draw they can bring in. Remember the part about how important it is your selling beer? The concern over flat rate is not whether or not they’ll make you rich at the ticketing booth. It’s whether or not they’ll be keeping your barbacks busy.

You have to factor in operational costs, what similar acts are receiving in the area, and projected earnings. Don’t be afraid to turn bands away if you believe they’re asking for too high a price – Bands have money-making rules of their own to follow, and making friends with the local talent is not worth it if your venue can’t sustain itself.

Claiming the Door

Bands with a following will often want the opposite from their undiscovered counterparts. Instead of a flat rate they might demand 100% of the door sales as payment. These artists are anticipating their paying fans will follow them in.

If you’re not quite as confident as the band is about their ticket sales, be honest with them. Offer them a percentage of door profits for their first time at your venue. A door split of 80/20 with the artist taking the majority is not uncommon with lesser-known talent. Then, use that first night’s profits as a reference point. If the band brings in the audience they anticipated, you’ll feel more secure promising them 100% of the door next time around.

Stay in the Loop

d2.6_mh1464952221722.jpg While at times it may feel like that dive-bar down the street with the open-mic night is your competitor, this does not have to be the case. It pays to build a relationship with other venue owners.

To make money as a venue, hosts can provide each other valuable intel on the local talent: who’s worth hiring, how they conduct business, and what their draw really is, compared to what they’re asking for. Checking a band’s concert history on a hub like Pollstar is a good way to “feel out” what type of pull they have had in cities similar to yours.

Know your Market & Differentiate Yourself

An ideal crowd is packed with fans of a venue, not of the band playing. Get an idea of who your target show-goer is, and build your venue to draw them in. A venue that is consistently hosting artists of a particular style will build trust among fans, and promise a consistent stream of attendees even when the headliner is unknown.

Even though it can be tricky straddling the sidelines of a music scene, many third-party fan club ticketing platforms have sprung up to make it easy. While ticketing companies like Live Nation/Ticketmaster and Eventbrite partner with venues to pull in appropriate acts, they often disproportionately serve big-name acts. Meanwhile, weighty surcharges are enough to turn away potential concert-goers from seeing smaller talent.

For this their are splatforms like Songkick, Artist Arena, and youbloom Connect which link venues with lesser-known artists that are better tailored to a venues style and atmosphere.

Fan-club ticketing companies like these allot artists a percentage of tickets (usually 8 – 10%) for them to sell directly to their fans. Unlike the larger ticketing companies that make their revenue off hefty service charges, fan-club ticketing brands usually take their share from the artists’ profits at generally lower rates.

Giving artists a hand in their own ticket sales increases selling incentives for the bands. Companies like youbloom Connect have raised the stakes by also allowing fans to sell tickets, increasing selling power for the venue in exchange for discounted tickets. Plus, hosts get more security of a show’s success from increased pre-sale tickets.

Get Creative

While getting your bar or venue up and running feels mostly like a numbers game, there are also creative steps you can take to bring in some extra cash.

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As I’ve mentioned before, your ability to move booze will always be the staple form of income, but expanding your amenities to include a food menu will do more of the same. And you don’t have to get fancy – becoming locally-renowned for your bar’s half-pound blooming onions is a milestone in itself.

Finally, make your space rentable. More than ever, people are looking for a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that can double as a work-space, or be rented out for company retreats, rehearsals, or a recording studio. Platforms like youbloom Connect work for these types of events, making it easy for you to choose from a variety of acts that suit whatever private event you’re hosting.

By knowing how to properly negotiate with bands, and by innovating your space to draw a loyal niche of show-goers, you’ll be able to make money as a venue at a sustainable rate; and beer, don’t forget about selling lots and lots of beer.