Chapter 13: Is the Music Business Not A Business?

Posted by admin on April 9th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

My band and I are playing a gig in Harrisburg Pennsylvania tomorrow night.  In line with my last post about hard work etc, I thought I would shed some light on some of the non-musical aspects of this business that are REQUIRED for success.  This is why artists have managers, so they don’t have to focus on all these details, but here is a taste of just the logistics aspects of what is needed to successfully put on one electric show out of town.

Here is the reason why I’m posting this: If you want to be a successful artist you have to understand that you are not just a musician, you are an entrepreneur.  Period.  End of Story.  And part of being an entrepreneur is dealing with the business side of things…and part of that is dealing with details and logistics.

Events Checklist for Zach Maxwell Music

Equipment:

o Guitar

o Amp

o Effects pedal board w/

o Power strip

o All power adapters

o Guitar chords

o Capo

o Guitar picks

o Extra batteries

o Extra guitar strings

o Microphone (if needed)

o Microphone stand (if needed)

o Microphone cable (if needed)

o Guitar stand (if needed)

o Stool (if needed)

o Computer

o Computer charger

o USB chord for iphone

o Blue Snowball microphone for recording show

o Phone

Merchandise

o Box of CD’s

o Newsletter mailing list

o Pens and markers for people to write their info on

o Business Cards

o Cash box

o Starters cash

o Other merchandise

o Banner

o Download cards

Clothing and Misc:

o Stage clothes and shoes

o Washed and Ironed if needed

o Travel clothes and shoes

o Headphones

o Hands free device

o Overnight clothes (for overnights)

o Toiletry kit (for overnights)

o Leathermen

o Lighter

o Dog food for Samson (on overnights where he comes)

o Leash for Samson (on overnights where he comes)

Venue Logistics

o Confirmed time for Soundcheck

o Confirmed Yes or No for soundboard recording

o Confirmed backline

o Drums or Bring your own (BYO)

o Bass Amp or BYO

o Guitar Amp or BYO

o Keyboards or BYO

o PA system or BYO

Travel Logistics

o Vehicle

o Aux cable for music in car

o Address of venue

o Directions

o Phone number of venue

o Estimated travel time

o Cash to pay band

o Reservations for Hotel (overnights)

o Expense Sheet

This has been a busy week in terms of rehearsals and preparation for our first electric gig (we have many more to come, check out the Live Shows tab) so I will be back next week with story updates.

Chapter 10: What I’m Learning from Tom Jackson

Posted by admin on March 23rd, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Tom Jackson separates the reason that we (musicians and music lovers) do music into 4 “M’s.”

The Music       The Message       The Money       The Me

I’m going to talk about the “Me” because I’ve always had an issue with the “me.” A part of me has always felt like it’s self indulgent to be a musician or an artist. Like “who am I to think that I can/should/deserve to do this?” Anybody else ever feel like that?

Well, what Tom said is that the “me” could either one of two things. The first “me” is the “ME…” the look at “ME.” The “ME is performing so clap for ME.” We all hate this “me,” and this is not the “me” that he speaks about. The “me” that he speaks about is the “me” that has always known, that has always felt that I am here to do this…that my love for music is so deep it must be my calling and in order to honor the gifts that I was given by the Universe, or God if you don’t have a problem with that word, then I have to DO SOMETHING about it!

I used to think that I was selfish for thinking that I could be a world-renowned musician because I thought that everybody’s dream was to be some kind of performer if they really could choose anything. Wrong.

When lived in Colorado, I met a guy who told me his dream in life was to climb the 7 highest peaks in the world, and that he had already tackled 4 of them, K2 included. I thought about the fact that this dream was the apotheosis of what he thought was dream worthy…his ultimate goal in life, to climb all 7 peaks.

Now, I would never want to do that. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in mountain climbing. Skiing down a mountain, yes please. Climbing up a mountain. No fucking way.

My point is obvious: not everyone dreams about the same thing so maybe there’s a reason for why we have certain dreams, desires or callings in life: because that’s what we are supposed to do! We dream about it, yearn for it, desire it because we are supposed to have it!  Me! Me me me me me is supposed to be doing this because that’s what fulfills my hear the most!  And the truth is is that if I didn’t do my hearts calling, I would be cheating God so to speak, or cheating my life; turning my back on that which gives me the most fire and most fulfillment.

So thank you Tom Jackson for reminding me of “Me.”

More coming…