Making a Living in Your Local Music Market

by Weissman, Dick

• ISBN13: 9780793595624
• ISBN10: 0793595622
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-01
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corp

Summary

You can survive happily as a musician, composer and songwriter in your own local music market! The newly revised and expanded edition of this book will show you how. It includes detailed analysis of the latest regional music scenes that have developed; an extensive new section (written by Ron Sobel - vice president of ASCAP in Los Angeles) on opportunities for musicians and composers in developing and selling music in new mediums including the Internet, Greenhouse Channels, Theme Parks, and Desk Top Films; info on how music distribution and retailing is changing to meet the challenges of the 21st century; and many more essential tips. Also features a new appendix and a helpful Resources section after each chapter.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xiv
Can a Musician Make a Living outside the Major Music Centers?	p. 1
Finding the Right Place	p. 4
Developing and Packaging the Product: You!	p. 4
Tips for Composers and Songwriters	p. 8
The Multi-Dimensional Musician	p. 8
Financing and Marketing CDs and Tapes	p. 10
CDR Formats	p. 10
CDs vs. Cassettes	p. 12
Dealbreakers	p. 13
Other Opportunities in Local Markets	p. 15
Resources	p. 16
Getting It Together: Developing Your Talent	p. 18
Getting the Group Together	p. 21
Starting a Band	p. 22
Equipment	p. 26
Resources	p. 32
Taking It to the Street: Packaging Your Talent for Potential Buyers	p. 34
Making Demos-Audio Tapes	p. 35
Making Video Demos	p. 37
Stylists	p. 39
Publicists	p. 40
Sample Press/Promo Kits	p. 40
Resources	p. 47
Selling Your Act in Places You Never Dreamed Of	p. 48
Booking Yourself	p. 48
Setting a Price	p. 49
The Alan Remington Pricing Formula	p. 50
Booking Agints	p. 51
Personal Managers	p. 55
Business Mangers	p. 56
Other Creative Opportunities	p. 57
Other Sources of Employment	p. 58
Artist in Residence Programs	p. 59
Resources	p. 67
Developing Versatility	p. 68
Teaching	p. 70
Private Teaching	p. 71
Sample Pieces at Medium Skill Levels	p. 74
Resources	p. 76
Making Use of the Union and Other Organizations	p. 77
Radio and Television Commercials	p. 79
The Musicians' Union As a Source of Work	p. 81
Making Contacts through the Union	p. 83
Arts Concils and Grants	p. 90
Specialized Casual Work	p. 92
Resources	p. 93
Expanding Your Recording Opportunities and Developing Skills	p. 94
Jingles	p. 96
Hiring A Sales Representative	p. 101
Writing to Pictures	p. 101
Final Thoughts on Advertising and Film	p. 103
Resources	p. 104
Working in Multiple Contexts	p. 105
Working for "The Door"	p. 107
Contracts	p. 108
Leaders and Side Musicians	p. 109
Resources	p. 110
Producing and Marketing Your Own Record	p. 111
Record Distribution	p. 111
Singles	p. 114
Getting a Record Deal	p. 114
Producing Your Own Recording: Finding a Producer and an Engineer	p. 115
Recording Formats: Cassettes, Compact Discs and Vinyl	p. 117
Mastering Records	p. 117
Budgets	p. 118
Financing Your Project	p. 120
Choosing a Studio	p. 120
Hard Disc Recording and MIDI	p. 122
Time Lines	p. 122
Promoting and Selling Your Album	p. 123
Publishing and Performance Rights	p. 129
Resources	p. 129
Polishing Your Skills	p. 130
Studying Music	p. 131
Sight-reading	p. 132
Songwriters' Organizations	p. 133
Improving Your Skills As a Songwriter	p. 135
Resources	p. 137
Making Inroads on the National and Regional Scene	p. 138
Regional Geography	p. 139
Making National Contacts As a Songwriter	p. 140
How to Access Artists from Your Home	p. 141
Making Publishing Contacts by Mail	p. 143
Small-time Publishers	p. 143
Contacting Music Publishers in Person	p. 144
Demos	p. 145
Tip Sheets	p. 146
Performing Rights Organizations	p. 146
Accessing the Major Songwriters' Organizations	p. 147
Music Print Publishers	p. 148
Summer Music Festivals	p. 149
Resources	p. 150
The Urge for Going: Staying or Leaving	p. 151
Personal Managers with National Clout	p. 153
Finding a Manager	p. 154
Agents	p. 155
Other Paths to a Record Deal	p. 155
Music Business Attorneys	p. 156
Staying or Going Summary	p. 156
Going, But Coming Back	p. 157
Money Isn't Everything	p. 158
Living outside the Mainstream	p. 159
Developing Local and Regional Music Scenes	p. 161
Resources	p. 161
Playing Music Part-Time	p. 162
The Life of the Symphony Player	p. 165
Specialized Performing Groups	p. 166
Songwriting	p. 167
Performing Full Time, Part of the Time	p. 167
Dedicated Amateurs and Semi-Professionals	p. 167
Technology, the Composer and the Schools	p. 168
Musical Literacy	p. 169
Where Do You Fit In?	p. 169
Resources	p. 170
The History and Development of Regional Music Markets	p. 171
Detroit	p. 171
The Philly Sound	p. 172
New Orleans	p. 173
Memphis and Points South	p. 174
Miami	p. 176
Atlanta, Macon and Athens	p. 176
San Francisco and the Bay Area	p. 177
Boston	p. 179
Austin	p. 179
Minneapolis	p. 182
Chicago	p. 184
Portland, Oregon	p. 185
Other Scenes	p. 186
Local Markets Ebb and Flow	p. 187
Resources	p. 191
Seattle and Denver: A Tale of Two Cities	p. 192
Seattle	p. 192
Recording Studios	p. 194
Personal Managers, Agents, Etc.	p. 194
Live Music	p. 195
Other Aspects of Seattle Music	p. 195
Record Companies	p. 195
General Ambiance	p. 196
Can It Continue?	p. 196
Denver -- Some Would Rather Be in Colorado	p. 196
Resources	p. 200
The Music Business In Canada	p. 201
Staying or Going	p. 202
Government Aid	p. 204
Factor Awards	p. 205
The Canadian Record Market	p. 206
Festivals	p. 207
Performing Rights	p. 207
More Aspects of the Music Business in Canada	p. 207
Resources	p. 208
Songwriting Income	p. 209
Blanket and per Program Licenses	p. 210
Legal Controversies	p. 210
Some Tips to Local Composers	p. 211
Common Fallacies	p. 211
Resources	p. 212
Music and Technology Futures	p. 213
Short Term Technological Hurdles	p. 214
Copyright Protection	p. 214
Electronic Commerce/E-Cash	p. 215
Bandwidth	p. 215
Music on the Internet	p. 216
Online Retailing	p. 216
Web Pages	p. 216
Internet Cybercasts	p. 217
Greenhouse Channels	p. 217
The Evolution of Traditional Music Distribution	p. 217
Beyond the Internet	p. 218
The Store Strikes Back: Retail's Revenge	p. 218
Themed Environments	p. 219
Desktop Filmmaking	p. 219
Architectural Entertainment	p. 219
Final Thoughts	p. 220
Resources	p. 224
Afterword: The Global Marketplace	p. 225
Organizations	p. 228
State Arts Councils	p. 228
Regional Arts Organizations	p. 232
Canadian Arts Councils	p. 232
State Humanities Councils	p. 233
Young Audiences	p. 237
National Arts and Humanities Councils	p. 239
Arts Organizations Dealing with Special Populations	p. 239
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Groups	p. 240
Unions and Associations	p. 243
U.S. Locals of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM)	p. 243
Songwriters' Associations--U.S.	p. 244
Songwriters' Organizations--Canada	p. 246
Performing Rights Organizations--U.S.	p. 247
Performing Rights Organizations--Canada	p. 247
Other Music Business Organizations	p. 247
Education	p. 250
Degree Programs	p. 250
Schools Offering Musical Instrument Repair Courses	p. 251
Publications and Bibliography	p. 252
Music TradePapers	p. 252
Songwriter Tip Sheets	p. 253
Magazines for Songwriters	p. 253
Radio Tip Sheets	p. 254
Regional Publications	p. 254
Magazines: The Best and Most Interesting	p. 255
Books: The Top Eight	p. 258
Audio Engineering	p. 259
Computers	p. 259
Cultural Study of Music	p. 259
Film	p. 260
Legal and Economic Matters	p. 260
Copyright	p. 260
Commercials	p. 260
State Arts Councils	p. 261
Music Business in Canada	p. 261
Music Business In General	p. 261
Music Industry Careers	p. 263
Personal Management	p. 263
Promotion-Concerts and Records	p. 263
Publicity	p. 264
Radio	p. 264
Recording	p. 264
Record Production	p. 264
Songwriting and Music Publishing	p. 265
Studio Work	p. 265
Women in Music	p. 266
Musical Styles	p. 266
Directories and Other Publications	p. 267
Miscellaneous Books for Musicians	p. 268
Instructional Audio and Videotapes	p. 268
Promotional Tools	p. 268
Alternative Radio Lists	p. 268
Music Print Publishers	p. 269
Biography	p. 270
Index	p. 273
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.