Author: Egbert

What do improv and jamming have in common? Really a lot more than one might originally assume. Improv is kind of the jamming of the acting world, there’s a lot of players involved playing off of each other’s skills rather than following a set script. That’s why during your next jamming sessions you might want to incorporate some lessons from improv even if you’ve never done it before. Don’t Say No Even if you’ve never ever done anything even remotely related to improv, chances are you’ve heard is all about saying yes. That is, when an actor gets some information, they aren’t supposed to reject it, they have to say...

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A session musician backs other musicians, either while recording on a studio or during a live performance. They don’t have to be part of the official band and they don’t have to be exclusive with a specific performance (unless, of course, all parties want exclusivity).  Session musicians are the freelancers of the music world. If your dream is to become a full-time musician, this is a career path you should consider carefully. Becoming a session musician can offer a lot more stability than being part of a band and also lets you play very different styles and settings. Here’s what you should do to get started. Have Samples Ready You’ll...

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Congratulations on landing that audition! It’s time to get to work! Getting your foot through the door is just the first step. You need to be ready to dazzle once you enter that room. This is what you need to now to make sure you give an awesome impression during your audition. Be Honest About Your Skills Are you really at the level of the band? Sometimes it’s hard to accept that you need a little more practice and experience, but it can save you from making a fool of yourself or leaving a bad impression. This is when you have to be really objective and assess the level of...

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Every musician wants to live off of their music. The best way to do that is by getting a record deal, but as everyone knows that’s easier said than done. There’s no magic formula to getting signed by a record label, but there are a couple of things that you absolutely must do to get started. Work Hard on Your Music No record label is going to sign you if your music is not the best it can be. Whether you are a solo artist or a band, you need to master what you do. Nowadays there are a lot of new acts coming out each day, so having a...

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If a great song is heard by no one, does it really exist at all? Existential questions aside, promotion is important. In fact, knowing how to promote your music, is as important as having great music in the first place. Luckily, in this day and age promoting your music is pretty easy and free if you know what you’re doing. Go Social but not Spammy You probably already know you have to be on social media to get noticed. What you need to learn (or maybe be reminded of) is that you can’t be using all your social channels for selling or promoting your music all the time. That’s spammy...

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There comes a time in every successful band’s career when it’s time to ask: is it time to get a manager? The answer is never simple. While a manager can make your lives easier, a bad deal can hold you back and potentially end your career. So before you even start phishing around for a manager, ask yourselves these questions to figure out if you really need one. Is This Just a Hobby? No one should be spending money on a manager for their hobby. It’s ok if, for the time being, music is your side gig. Everyone needs to pay the bills and day jobs can leave very little...

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Acoustic sets are great for a lot of reasons. For one, they let you connect to your audience in a really intimate setting. They also let you showcase your talent without anything that might distract from your skills. But, they can also be horrible. We don’t want to make you nervous, but an acoustic set requires as much work as a regular show. Being stripped down to the basics means you have to work extra hard to keep your audience interest and your songs flowing. Here’s what you can do to make it happen. Get Creative You’ll need to get creative in more ways than one. First of all, the...

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Every musician wants to get their music out there. The easiest way to do so is by recording songs and putting them out on the internet. Thing is, that’s not nearly as easy as it sounds. Renting a recording room and getting a producer is insanely expensive, especially for those just starting out. It makes much more sense to set up a home recording studio. But then, another problem arises: how can you set up your own recording studio on a budget? Well, it’s all about planning ahead, knowing why you’re recording, and keeping the eye on the ball. Know What You’re Recording Before you even reach for your wallet,...

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Jamming sessions are usually associated with jazz. They’ve always been an essential part of the genre since its very beginnings. But jam sessions can actually benefit players in every genre. You don’t need a sax player to partake and you definitely don’t have to be part of a jazz band to do it. In fact, every band should have a band session every now and then regardless of what they usually play. Jamming is a great way to connect to your more creative side, get to know your bandmates, and explore new sounds that you might not be able to play with within the confines of whatever genre you usually...

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Every now and then we all here a certain kind of story. Someone uploaded a couple of videos of their songs to YouTube or SoundCloud or whatever, they got discovered, and they were offered a record deal and an amazing gig at a huge venue. And sure, that happens once in a blue moon, but it’s not really something musicians should aspire to. Getting your music out there requires work, finding a venue that will have you requires work, getting to open for another act requires work, and, of course, being paid to play a party, requires work. The probability of some random person coming up to you and asking...

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