PART 4
GETTING AHEAD-----INTENSIFY YOUR STUDIES
In an ideal world, the day would end when “musicians” find
themselves unprepared at gigs or jam sessions, only know one or two styles
of music, proceed to overplay, play in the wrong key or can only play a few
cliche licks over and over.
For example, how precise is your rhythm? Can you keep perfect time with a metronome
or play 3/4 over 4/4? If you cannot keep time with a metronome, how can you
expect to keep time with a band and be a “groove master”? When
you hear a melody, can you play it immediately back on your instrument? When
you bend a note, is it completely in tune throughout the entire bend?
I find it interesting that the most interesting musicians (i.e., Adler, Wonder,
Levy, Weltman, Gallison, Toots, etc.) all play a secondary instrument. What
does this mean? Consider broadening your musical horizons by learning another
instrument. The ability and benefits of reading music and of ear training on
another instrument cannot be overstated. You will be glad you did. Remember
that Toots Thielemans got his first professional musical opportunity not by
playing the harmonica, but by playing guitar for George Shearing. Had George
Benson only played guitar and not sang, where would he be today? Use all of
your gifts and give them all.
Are you achieving your growth potential? If not, why not? Sometimes, only 10
minutes a day can change your life. A journey of a thousand steps begins with
ONE.
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GROWTH
Don’t pass up any opportunity for growth. We should adapt to everything
instead of demanding that everything adapt to us. We cannot afford to miss
anything. Necessity is the mother of invention but don’t wait to change
until you are forced to change. As Kenny Werner says in his great book “Effortless
Mastery”, (to paraphrase), we must practice as if we were studying to
do the high wire act - one mere mishap and the tightrope artist would fall
to his death. Total concentration and discipline with assignable goals.
In other words, our practice must be as intense and concise
as that of an airline pilot or any other exacting occupation, says Kenny. Do
not take your practice time for granted. I find the best time to practice is
to wake up early and do it before my head gets full of "World" stuff,
or just before I go to sleep. Studying 10 minutes a day is better than one
hour a week. If you are having trouble practicing, just tell yourself you are
only going to play for five minutes and watch what happens then. You may not
be able to stop (thanks, Kenny, for this idea-you can find his book, “EFFORTLESS
MASTERY at amazon.com).
When you are practicing, keep this thought in mind at all times.
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty
to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."
Helen Keller (Thank you Randy Fuchs for this contribution)
Make your practice periods as focused and efficient as you
can.
CAN’T FIND A PARTNER, USE A WOODEN CHAIR
In the “old days”, it seemed that it was easier
to find musicians to jam with and gig. Nowadays, everyone seems to be too busy
making a living to hang out. This absence of interactivity makes it that much
harder for musicians to become accomplished. If you cannot find any musicians
to interact with, use electronic devices like the AKAI RIFF-O-MATIC (or software
equivalent), online tutorials, BANDINTHEBOX, a drum machine, midi files, karaoke
tracks, instructional CD’s/DVD’S/videos and your home recording
studio to make practicing fun. You can pick up a cheap four track digital studio
(with reverb) for a few hundred dollars.
Another effective technique for organizing rehearsals
with busy musicians is this—Get the gig first and then rehearse the
band. If your band mates know that they are rehearsing for a specific gig,
it can be a lot easer to get everyone together to practice. Visualize the
destination.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES- seek and you will find
There are many gigs for the enterprising player, if you can
put together custom shows for alternative venues. Coffeehouses, bookstores,
condominiums, hotels, vacation resorts, busking locations, old-age homes, foster
homes, cruise ships, condos, nursing homes, bar mitzvahs, bookstores, rehab
centers, preschools, schools and perhaps even prisons and half way houses all
are potential clients. Contact your local trade associations, your day job
or chamber of commerce local and offer to play for their events. You can even
combine your music with an educational partner to create your brand of “Edutainment” (education
mixed with entertainment).
FOR EXAMPLE--I am in an “edutainment” program
with Lanny Smith (www.earthman.tv). We have created a pep rally for the environment
and have performed our environmental concert in front of a quarter of a million
elementary students in the last several years with our 7 piece live band comprised
of local session musicians. We have a children's version and an adult version
and also do this show at the music festivals in South Florida. We are partially
funded by government grants and the Musicians Trust Fund.
Go to your local music store and offer to be a teacher of your
instrument and help them conceptualize a marketing plan. Offer to give an in
store seminar on your instrument and let them advertise this free introductory
lesson/seminar to the city. Encourage them to advertise this in their promo.
CHARITY EVENTS
Be on the lookout for any charity events in your city. If you spot one, contact
the activity director and offer to provide your entertainment for free. Keep
in mind that they may turn you down because they feel music might distract
from their business. You can reassure them that your ensemble is accustomed
to playing at low volumes and would add to their event.
FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL
One of the new rules is this- Just because an industry or market does not utilize
or emphasize live entertainment, it doesn't mean they are not potential clients.
Create a custom concept and be useful to society. There is a direct correlation
between the enhancement of your skills and finding the markets to apply them.
We must be of service to society and help others to get what they need if we
hope to be successfully happy.
Blackie Shackner says, "Just being a great player AIN'T
ENUF' You've got to follow the money trail. ... And if it means a Bar Mitzvah
or a supermarket opening ... don't be proud ... Keep working ... It all comes
in handy in the long run." Be original yet commercial
Keep in mind that opportunities whisper. Be aware of the hidden
and overlooked opportunities and accept any chance to grow and become experienced.
Besides, it may be the friend of a friend of a friend that leads to the open
door. Talk to those around you and learn to enhance your communication skills.
Seek to learn and not just to explain or noisily justify your existence. Everything
you do and learn will come in handy one day.
REACHING YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS
Commercial conformity can create a stepping stone to your larger musical dream.
Always keep your goals in mind as you focus on the present. It can be an exercise
in futility to ask for a record deal if you have not taken all the steps to
this and paid your dues. How can we ask for more if we do not utilize what
we have?
BACKGROUND OR CENTER OF ATTENTION?
YOUR STAGE PRESENCE DECISION
At some point, you will have to make the conscious or unconscious
decision to be a background musician who performs without much physical fanfare
or to be the star that holds everyone in rapt attention. The choice is a personal
decision for you to make. Yo-Yo Ma and John Entwistle (bassist for the WHO)
are superb musicians who are successful without jumping around on the stage
because they have undeniable charisma. On the other extreme, KISS used to fill
buckets (that were labeled “fire”) with confetti and throw them
at the audience for attention. Elvis and his hips, Ozzie and his bird head
meal, Janet Jackson and her “wardrobe malfunction” on TV, the Chilli
Peppers with their third sock, anything to get and retain your attention! Unfortunately
shock sells and the bar is getting higher. I hope that you can find ways of
entertainment without sacrificing your morals and the morals of others. I believe
we are all role models whether we know it or not.
The more exciting show you produce, the more commercially successful
you can be. For example, Harry B. is a master showman and he performs the harmonica,
entertaining year-’round. He is possibly one of the busiest harmonica
players in the world and does not sing or play another instrument on stage.
Why? He plays masterful, exciting music and has a big show that makes his audience
laugh, cry and reminisce. I once asked him why he wore a huge diamond ring
(not sure if it was real or not) on his left hand. He told me that he wears
it so that the reflected light would shine off of his harmonica. In other words,
keep a balance between "show," as well as "music".
Learn some great showstoppers songs. Perhaps perform a classical
piece performed to a boogie rhythm. Have you ever seen Rod Piazza jump on the
bar and play solo harmonica for ten minutes with sunglasses? Saxmen playing
on their back, acoustic bass players playing bass in unimaginable ways, guitarists
playing upside down, setting their instruments on fire, etc, you know what
I am talking about. Be entertaining and commercial, but don’t forget
the integrity of the music. Always be careful not to risk hurting anyone or
using fire in a way that is not accordance with local fire regulations. Don’t
risk your career or your life on a stunt.
There is an invisible wall between you and the audience. You
must break this down. If you can make the audience laugh, cry, dance, sing
or feel, you are half way there. Talk to the audience between songs, introduce
background info on your songs, welcome individuals by name in the audience
and take requests. On your break, go into the audience and thank at least three
people for coming.
One of the most effective and least utilized of attention getting
techniques is simply going out in the audience with your wireless mike while
you are singing or performing. Yes, it is cheesy, yes it is a form of “pandering”,
but IT IS EFFECTIVE. Just because you may not like it, your average listener
will appreciate that you have walked over to them, even for five seconds, looked
them in the eye (wink!!) and moved on. The ladies swoon and the guys will respect
you that you stopped by, but kept moving!! And for the small minority that
does not like it, do not give them your time of day. Do not let them dampen
this experience for the majority who will remember you fondly for this.
BACKGROUND MUSIC GIGS- playing for the love of it
Though you prefer to be the center of attention, there is one
tremendous benefit of having an ensemble that performs background music- you
can play many more places that normally would not have music. There are many
events for which background music is required. I enjoy these performances as
I am “paid to practice” and get a chance to perform more artistic
music. I like to say that, at these background gigs, if they notice you, you
are playing too loud!! Just kick back and play for the love of it!!
THE ONE HIT WONDER
Do not let the show overshadow your music unless this is what
you specifically want. Find a way to be artistically commercial to become the
whole package. Most people listen with their eyes and want all of their senses
to be entertained. And since most people have seen it all, you may be tempted
to go over the top. Don’t fall for this trap in which many of today’s
most successful musicians emphasize shock and sex only to pander to the lowest
of all demographics and intellects. Record companies love to manipulate artists
into demeaning situations in order to keep them under their control as it is
easier to sell “image” than it is to sell “music”.
Record companies love to coerce the artist to comprise their integrity because
shock sells and it preferable for a company to make huge profits from the recoupable
expenses from inexperienced bands than it is to nurture a band until it matures
(and make more demands for higher percentage). The one TV show you never want
to be on is VH-1’s “Where Are They Now?” Pay careful attention
to the quality of your music, image and money handlers.
GRATITUDE AND OPPORTUNITY
Ask yourself how many opportunities you have had to gladden
your heart but turned down? Don’t pass up the tiny shells that may contain
the pearls, the sand that becomes diamonds and a neighbor can be your best
friend. A single bird in the hand is worth two birds in the bush. Aspire less
for the record deal and aspire more for the skills and experience that are
associated with the deal. Become the person that you want to meet.
To every problem there is an answer. It may not be the exact
answer your ego wants, but it may very well be the answer that is required.
As the Rolling Stones sang, quite succinctly, "You can't always get what
you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." Pretty
wise stuff from such young lads! Being thankful for everything opens the door
for miracles to enter.
CONSIDER- A sailor sees not his destination for a full 99 percent
of his journey. Keep the course and stay centered though you may be weary.
Visualize your desired outcome and see it fulfilled. But be prepared - we cannot
control the exact arrival of our destiny (destination). So therefore, be thankful
for every opportunity and every breath of air you breathe because you never
know when your ship has come in and you don’t want to be hanging out
at the bus station when it does. The tools for your solution are closer than
you think.
Instead of only wishing for that record contract, concentrate
on getting the gig at Joe's Pizza Hall, mastering the intricacies of your instrument
or any other fine "smaller" accomplishments until your "ship" comes
in. Learn some martial arts, volunteer and improve the relationships you have
with your friends and family. You must initiate internal change for outside
change to occur. If you are bored, it is a sure sign that you must have some
type of lesson that is yet to be learned.
In a state of preparation, recognition and cultivation of small
opportunities grow into large opportunities. Many acorns fall to the ground,
but few of them become trees. How fertile are your seeds? Be grateful for everything
because even discomfort and discontent can
be the blueprint for positive change.
We all have more blocks to our dreams than we realize. Find
your blocks to love and life and knock them down.
REPUTATION AND INTEGRITY-- YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSETS
Tend to your reputation for it is the road to your success. When it is damaged,
it can take years or decades to repair. Reputations can be created instantly
by first impressions as it is said that first impressions last forever. When
someone looks at you for the first time, there are hundreds of unconscious
evaluations that the person will process about you. They will look at your
smile, complexion, shoes, clothes, neatness quotient, hair, body language,
voice, etc and arrive at a first impression that can take just a few seconds
and last forever. This perception is combined with your reputation to make
or break a relationship.
Therefore the need for integrity, good social skills, cleanliness,
humility and optimistic outlooks are your tools since our reputation is what
people are actually buying. Can they trust you to fulfill their expectations?
Your talents plus professional experience and perception equal your reputation.
Build your reputation through solid experience instead of convincing and coaxing
words (B.S.).
SELLING IT
Always have a product for sale. Even if you do not have the resources to go
into a studio and record a state of the art CD, there are ways around this.
You can record your live performances, edit them and release them on a CD.
I have a friend (michaelbianco.com) who records his gigs on min disc and prints
up CD copies and liner notes at his house before every gig to sell. He has
11 CD’s of original and cover songs for sale. He tells me that his cover
CD’s outsell his original CD’s so do not let the excuse that you
are not a songwriter keep you from taking this important step. If you want
to license the cover songs on your CD, go to songfile.com.
You can also do an acoustic cd with a friend or two at the
house. There is no reason every musician should not have a CD for sale. It
is your calling card and serves to legitimize yourself.
Make sure the CD cover is clean and professional. Print up
t-shirts, tank tops, or any merchandise with your name, logo and contact information
that you can sell or give away free for promotion.
YOUR DEMO CD- LESS IS MORE
Make sure your demo CD is short and to the point. For example,
my CD audio demo is comprised of 12 song highlights, each no longer than 60
seconds. We are trying to “close the deal”, and not entertain a
busy executive inundated with other projects who may be holding our fate in
his hands. Once they determine they like the song, you have accomplished the
job. Let them move on to the next song. Demos should be excerpts of songs,
not the entire selection.
Oftentimes, I do not send my demo CD and promo package to a
prospective client. I just refer them to my web site. I hope you have one,
with a professional bio, sound samples and current song list. Try to keep the
web address to “yourname.com” and make sure your email address
is simple and impossible to misspell. Forget those overly creative and confusing
web and email addresses. Keep it simple.
HELPFUL HINTS AND COMMON SENSE
+ Keep a checklist of your fears that you have always wanted
to overcome and goals that you have always wanted to reach, but were too fearful
to do so. Check them off as you progressively reach for your dreams.
+ Find a way to be useful to society (and get paid in this
process). Are you ready to pay the price, however? Do not expect to get if
you are not willing to give (what it takes).
+ Remember that success is not just musical talent alone. Add
wonderful dashes of wisdom, personality, business smarts, positive attitude
and luck.
+ Forgiveness plays a tremendous factor in success and happiness.
Don’t burn your bridges. Being fired from a gig or other loss can be
the best thing for you in the long run. For example, being excused from a gig
can show you what skills need to be improved or help you to look for a much
better job. Being dismissed from a gig can be the best thing ever to happen
to us as one closed door leads to an open door with the right attitude.
+ Cultivate optimism and find the love and understanding
in every moment. Live your life not solely in dreams, but in experience. Arise,
waken and throw out (or fix) everything that is not healthy or does not function
in your life garden. Commit random acts of kindness. Practice living the truth
in everything you do and say and cleanse your body and mind so that you can
hear your heart when it speaks. Walk the talk. Don’t rely on telling
anyone how good you are- just show them so that they can make their own decision.
Become a “magnet” instead of a “shovel”.
+ Ask yourself if your life is any better than it was 2
or 4 years ago. If not, it is time to make some changes because your best years
can be in front of you, if you are ready, willing and able.
+ Don’t blame the world or others for your lack of money,
experience or happiness. Your thoughts and subsequent experience will determine
your direction. Attitude determines your altitude. Change yourself before asking
the world to change.
If your phone is not ringing, it is a sure sign something needs to be perfected.
You can wait to get lucky or do something about it now.
+ It is never too late to try to clear up past debts or
repair broken relationships. It will help you immeasurably. Trust me on this. Don’t
let your emotions keep you from moving ahead or swerving haphazardly down the
road.
+Don't give in to the depressing state of mind which occurs
when your mood or self-esteem is determined by how well your GIG, how much
money you have or how a specific event transpired. Don’t be on the emotional
boat that rises and falls with every tide. There will always be someone in
worse shape that has triumphed over adversity. Find a confidence that radiates
from a sense of permanency and love. Once all is realized through your preparation,
and progressively achieved goals, the GIG can be the outcome of your universal
mojo - a self-fulfilling prophecy to the transcendence land of your dreams.
+Money is not the goal. It is a byproduct, a barometer of how
much we are being of service. Find out what you would do for free and find
a way to get paid for it.
+ It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a few
seconds to destroy one.
+ KNOWING AND DOING ARE TWO SEPARATE PROCESSES. It is not enough
to know these things and not do, and it is not enough to do and not know. We
must know AND do. I know lots of cooks that know lots of recipes but cannot
bake a great tasting cake that will sell. Or else, they just cannot seem to
finish baking one single cake. Just doing tells the story better than any words.
We are forever in the development and refining skills in our
life. When the learning stops, we stagnate and die.
Whatever it is, I hope these concepts here will help you on
your personal and illuminating journey.
Best wishes.
Randy Singer
www.randysinger.com
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