Author: Egbert

Cover bands tend to get a bad rep, certain musicians look down on them thinking there really isn’t that much to them besides learning to play someone else’s chord progressions and mimicking another band’s stage persona. And yes, that sounds completely uninspired and boring, and it also doesn’t accurately reflect the reality of most cover bands. In reality, cover bands have to carefully study the source material experiment how much of their own twist they can add to it (jury’s still out on whether a cover should be an exact replica or can deviate from the original), still work on their stage presence and the cohesion of the band as...

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Once you’ve booked a show, the most stressful part is making sure people will actually show up to hear you play. In fact, it can be the most nerve-wracking part of the entire ordeal. While there are no guarantees, there are smart ways to play around so that you do everything in your power to get people into your show: Invite Another Band Unless you’re participating in an American Idol type of deal, don’t view other bands as your competition. Doing a show with another band is a great way to expose your music to an entirely new fanbase without doing extra work. Think of it as unpaid advertising. What’s...

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When you’re making a living off of art, be that painting, dancing, or creating music, waiting for inspiration is not an option. Any artist will tell you that yes, inspiration is very much real and there will be moments when you will feel more compelled and inspire and the work will come out without you even trying. But that doesn’t mean you get to sit and rest on the days that it feels like you can’t even get a note out and you can’t even imagine writing a new song. When there’s no inspiration, you still need to be making music. The process of writing and composing a new song...

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Now that practically anyone can set up an account on YouTube or Vimeo, it makes sense for bands to make videos for their songs. It’s an opportunity for people to find them, and if the video is entertaining enough, it will convert a lot of people into fans and maybe even go viral. People are more visual than ever, so visual content adds another layer of value to whatever you put out. They’re a nice little extra to have for any artists, and with good quality cameras being available for accessible prices, it’s not that hard to put out a great music video. Still, as a first timer, it’s important...

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Kickstarter has said that only half of the projects in the site get fully or overfunded. The other half completely fails or thoroughly underperforms. Some will say it’s a matter of popularity, that the more famous you are, the more likely you’ll get completely funded, but in reality, as we saw in Part 1, fame isn’t the end-all-be-all of crowdfunding. Finding backers has a lot to do with planning ahead, being smart about your resources, and understanding that it’s not asking people for money in exchange for nothing, but about giving them value. Here are the things you have to keep in mind: Have a Community Your community is what...

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Singers have the most delicate instruments out there, with improper technique and bad practices, they can lose it forever or create serious health problems that can permanently affect their abilities. Vocal cords can’t be replaced, and a loss voice can’t be immediately fixed during a live performance. Scare tactics aside, singers -amateurs and pros alike- need to develop safety habits to avoid as much damage as possible. When you’re in a band, it’s easy to get caught up in all taking care of absolutely everything except for your voice. There are instruments to plug, songs to promote, and gigs to get to, so your cords get nothing besides a warmup....

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The internet has changed a lot of things in the music industry. It’s easier than ever for indie acts to get their music out into the world, there’s money to be made through streaming, bands can be closer than ever to their target audience, and artists can make and distribute their own material without having to wait for a label. One thing that hasn’t changed though is that recording and distributing an entire album still requires a lot of time and money, even if it’s being done in a home studio and costs are kept at a minimum. Having the tools to record is just the first step. Recording sessions...

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At this point in the history of humanity, it’s easy to think everything has been pretty much said and done. That’s a disheartening thought, especially when you’re searching for your own sound. It’s exactly the kind of motto that will lead anyone down a path of copying favourites and not daring to go beyond what they already know. And yeah, sometimes being the copycat works, but more often than not, success and recognition requires finding a unique sonic language that makes you connect with others and stand out. It’s easier said than done. Finding your own sound takes a lot of time and effort. There really isn’t a shortcut or...

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There are four words that everyone in the world has said at least once in their lifetime: “let’s start a band”. Bands look like a lot of fun from the outside, there are the live gigs, and being adored by fans, and making a living with your closest friends through sheer talent. While all of that can be true, there’s also a lot of hard work involved. Fame and recognition don’t just happen, there are a lot of elements that have to work in perfect harmony for things to work out, and the first step is actually getting serious about it. So if you really want to start a band...

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Being a musician is, more often than not, a thankless job. You put out amazing music for the world to hear and enjoy, but you hardly ever get more than an enthusiastic thanks. And sure, the recognition is great, and nothing beats the feeling of creating a song that you’re proud of. The thing is that recognition and pride don’t exactly pay the bills. Every musician needs to figure out how to make a profit. Some might say that it’s just too hard to do so in the music industry unless you’re signed by a label. The reality is that yes, it’s really hard and it takes a lot of...

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