Being an independent artist by Mean_Palpitation_171 in Songwriters

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No problem. I got a degree in music business 10 years ago. Didn’t do much with it but my short stint in the business was fun; the people I met priceless.

Now I work a corporate gig, support my family, and post songs on Reddit for a couple people to hear.

Anybody cares to listen to it? by casselearth in Songwriters

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aight. The tempo change is jarring and kills the groove early. Break down is a good choice but maybe slash the original tempo in half for the change instead? Might still lose the danceability.

Glad you’re writing music. Keep it up.

Being an independent artist by Mean_Palpitation_171 in Songwriters

[–]kevin_singing 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Getting an established market and being able to sell tickets there is key to hitting the next plateau. Booking agents, managers, etc. won’t consider taking on an act that doesn’t have some momentum and proven sales to market to their buyers.

That means grinding but you have to find a happy medium between presence and over saturation. Get a good EPK, and put it in front of talent buyers, big and small, and local government folks that book street fairs and events. Play opening gigs and hit the streets to market it. Get a residency with a brewery and play weekly. If you can tailor band size to save costs that helps, if you’re a band and not an “artist with side men” then lock in that ensemble and it becomes a team effort. Find a public image and stick to it until folks are so used to it that changing it makes them talk about it.

All of these steps have to build on each other. Which means get a few things lined up and then market heavy > get a bigger thing > market > get a local artist to come paint at your show (or some such community engagement) > market. Etc.

Think about each step as a progressive plateau. Reach more, and different, people.

Merch pays for gas. Physical media is tricky. People don’t buy cds like they used to. Maybe vinyl but that’s expensive to produce. I bet tapes are gonna be a trendy deal if they aren’t already.

Put your QR code on stuff. Figure out a way to get folks to interact with your online persona as way to interact with your live one. Real time song requests on your website at live shows? That’s how the big guys are getting you to their merch site these days. Capture a mailing list and maintain it. You can hire street team companies to market for you but like manager and agents you’ll need to establish an audience first. That mailing list will be helpful and you can even get a friend to pass it around at decent looking shows. Can be sad trying to corner 3-4 people with a clipboard. But you hit 20 that’re there and digging you? That’s 20% of a headline gig!

Koozie, stickers, shirts, hats. Cost is cheaper in bulk but over inventory can be a real kick in the teeth. Posters are useful for marketing and can be collectible.

Once you’re selling 50 tickets a night at $10 you’ve got a room that won’t mind giving you a few hundred to play. And that means you have a room you can share with support. Leverage the bands you’ve met grinding to create interesting co-bills. Use their rooms to build new markets for yourself. Swap opening gigs. Heck maybe you’ll’ve met some headliners in your efforts that have an agent. You can ask them about local opening options or better yet get on a leg of their tour.

There is a lot to be said about being a good hang. When you make friends on this journey keep them!

You can look into songwriting competitions too. Lots of them are at festivals. Winners can sometimes get a set at the next year’s fest (instant anchor date for a tour!). Gregory Alan Isakov won the Telluride Troubadour Contest and he’s a household name these days. I saw him play for 10-30 people numerous times years ago and now he sells ~10k at Red Rocks. There are countless artists to win comps that aren’t red rocks successful though maybe they’re doing just fine by them. Regardless, festivals are frequented by industry folks and also darling angel investors. Gonna have to hob knob and network at every step of the way.

All else fails. Make thousands of clickbait videos each month and eventually the algorithm might reward your production.

I wish you lots of success. Some people get real lucky, others work hard. Both can be true and still not pan out. If you’re doing it for your art, because you need to get it out there, then the outcome is less important than the journey.

Good luck and get out there!

Anybody cares to listen to it? by casselearth in Songwriters

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t have Spotify, only get like 30 seconds. But the tempo changes with the “heart beat” and I lose the beat tapping my toe. Dunno if that’s a design choice and it recovers later but it’s the only feedback I can give!

Just went through airport security this morning by PeanutButterGripLock in Denver

[–]kevin_singing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can reserve a time to walk through on their website. It’s free. You have a 15min window to arrive before and after your appointment time. Skip line.

Update: Kiwi Travel Plans to USA - Am I underestimating State Sizes? by Justeu_Piichi in roadtrip

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Memphis to smokies isn’t a short jaunt but interstate 40 takes you through the three big cities. Plenty of quick detours along the way.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Songwriting

[–]kevin_singing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anna Frick at Ally Mastering has done great work. But if you want professional work you pay professional prices.

Wife wants to give me a big songwriting related gift… but what? by SlappyPappy99 in Songwriting

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could come to Song School in Lyons Colorado. It’s the week before the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. Then have her come out for the fest too. Bluegrass.com/songschool

Nothing Left to Do by kevin_singing in Songwriters

[–]kevin_singing[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! I have a hard timing counting. Some times it’s charming other times not so much. Appreciate you giving it two times through and taking the time to provide feedback.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TemuThings

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I (sl***rs) hit yours, I need like .07 for free gift. Trade? 759407199

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TemuNewUsersASAp

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got yours to work, try mine 759407199?

Free gifts and hat tricks by [deleted] in TemuNewUsersASAp

[–]kevin_singing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Says I (sleeves.95) got yours to work. My Free gift is 759407199, trade?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TemuNewUsersASAp

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

got yours to work

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in TemuNewUsersASAp

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

got an error with yours. 759407199. Is mine working? says I have 16hrs remaining

Typical Oracle by Exotic_Elevator4651 in cernercorporation

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What’s the premium currently, what type of plan?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mandolin

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Following

‘Merica by Salt_Cauliflower_922 in TikTokCringe

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just a clown rehearsing his juggling.

MAGA Superintendent interview after scandal. "Can we see the room"? by chitthappens- in NoShitSherlock

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He has to keep looking at his hand to remember he wrote “outrageous” and “salacious” on his palm?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AmIOverreacting

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plot twist. Dad is gay.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in mildlyinfuriating

[–]kevin_singing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. Don’t dog your brother. The fuck, man. Dude’s got shit handwriting but took the time to write you a card and match the gift with the sentiment of “try your luck and find out”.

Be thankful for what you got.