Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Branding Yourself

Searching the bookstore shelves for information on branding, social media, and networking, I came upon one book that encompassed all those topics and MORE.   Branding Yourelf by Erik Deckers and Kyle Lacy has given me a wealth of ideas on developing my brand and promoting my musical services.  With
this book, you get  practical advice on using various avenues to reach people with your message, products, and skills.   The book goes far beyond the subtitle: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself.  You not only get ways to use Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, but there are ideas on launching your brand, old school networking (person to person), blogging, getting published, and public speaking.  Branding Yourself (Que Publishing) has the stuff you need to know as a freelance musician to position and promote yourself in the digital age.






Monday, August 22, 2011

Play Music For A Living Seminar Now Available for Fall 2011

College Music Departments:  Further Your Students' Success 

A solid music education is a great start.   You need some additional knowledge and skills to “live the freelance life.”

You’ve taught them to play beautifully.
They've learned to avoid parallel fifths in chorale writing.
Thanks to you, discussing  Beethoven’s Late Period is a breeze.
But do your students have the knowledge to play music for a living?

I can help.
After leaving the steady paycheck life (as Visiting Artist at a college) and moving to the Dallas area, I quickly realized that my idea of becoming a freelance musician was going to be more challenging than expected.  I did not give up.  
This was before cell phones and internet access.  Few people owned a fax machine.  You made a demo TAPE.  A bulletin board was...a bulletin board.  It was harder to gather and send information, but I began to read, network, and get hired.  I learned a lot by trial and error.  There was quite a bit of error ...but I emerged wiser (with some some good stories).
With over two decades of experience as a successful freelance musician and entrepreneur, l want to share my knowledge with others who have the desire to live the freelance life.
The “Play Music For A Living” seminar gives aspiring musicians practical information on such topics as:
  • Exploring Your Options
  • Working With An Agent
  • Contracting Musicians
  • Salesmanship
  • Networking
  • Ethics and Etiquette
  • Social Media and Your Web Presence
  • Branding
This fast paced, enlightening, and inspirational session provides the kind of information that aspiring musicians need to find their place in the gigging world.
To book the “Play Music For A Living” seminar, call me at 800-272-2249 or email: markshelton@verizon.net .

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Music Contractor

  • A church musical wants to hire a string section for Easter
  • A touring show is coming to town with a skeleton crew of musicians and
    needs four horn players and two percussionists
  • An event planner has a client with a request for brass fanfares for an awards ceremony
In all of these situations, the services of a music contractor will be helpful.  Early in my freelance career, I realized that there was money in taking on the responsibilities of contracting musicians.    
You need a bunch of names and numbers of good, dependable musicians.  (See the previous post!)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Names And Numbers / The Pool Book

Collect and organize names and contact information of musicians and music related services—ALL instruments / ALL styles…I have received more than one call for a BAGPIPER !  Get names of players, P.A. and backline rental companies, studios, folk music clubs, agents…
There are a number of reasons why you need this info:
  1. Contracting / hiring other musicians for projects
  2. Subbing out a gig
  3. General networking (“I can take this job if I can just get three more mikes.  Wait a second…I got that guy’s name that I met last week.  He told me that he rents out his gear.”)
  4. Developing your reputation as a “Good Guy/Gal.”   If you get the call and can’t play the gig, give out some other names and numbers.  (Include the phrase, “Tell ‘em I sent ya.” )  Everyone involved will think you’re swell and someone might return the favor.
My “old school” three ring binder with its many names and numbers was nicknamed “The Pool Book.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Gig-Getting Tools

Selling yourself as a musician is hard enough.  
Some tools and knowledge can make the hunt a little more tolerable and fruitful.


Sales management software   Don’t try to make your own homemade spreadsheet version.  Invest in some software (I use Goldmine.) and you will be able to find contacts, see what you quoted, set alarms to remind you to call back on a certain date, and much more.  It’s worth it!
A phone headset  You are going to be sitting at the computer using that aforementioned software, making calls, and entering data.  Keep your hands free to take notes on the computer, scribble a phone number, or practice flute fingering patterns while you talk to the client.


Sales technique book(s)   There was a point at which I knew that to be a successful freelance musician, I was going to also be a salesman.  I eventually realized that I needed some help.  There is no shortage of books that can give you simple steps to improving your sales pitch and closing speech.   One of my favorites is Selling For Dummies by the great master, Tom Hopkins.   As I write this post, the book is within easy reach behind my desk chair.   Packed with easy to understand tips, this book can hone your gig getting chops.

Monday, August 15, 2011

The Power of "Thank You."

People remember gratitude.
Expressing thankfulness seems a bit rare in our present society.    It’s a good way for you to stand out from the herd and get hired again.  After the gig is over, find the person that hired you, look ‘em in the eye, shake the hand, and say, “Thanks for the call.”
After you get home, send a thank you note.  Not a text.  Not an email.   Send them a handwritten note and toss in your business card.  . I print my thank you notes from my computer so that the front of the card has my picture.  That way, the recipient can make sure to connect who I am and remember me for the future. 
You only need about a few sentences written on the card and you are on your way to being a good memory.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

It's Quick And Easy...To Ignore

I’m talking about email and texting.  It is sometimes more convenient than calling on the phone.  It is safer than getting a rejection in real time.   It is also quick and easy for the receiver to ignore and delete.

I have sometimes emailed and tried to feel that sense of accomplishment that I really DID something when I knew deep down that my missive could have been stopped by a spam filter, deleted based on the subject line, or skimmed and trashed.
The phone takes more guts and usually gives better results.   In sales, you want to CONNECT and build rapport quickly.  If you cannot meet in person, the old fashioned telephone ranks a close second.
All that stated, there are times when the only way (or proper way) to reach someone is by email…you’ll know those times.   When phoning is acceptable and available…GUT UP AND MAKE THE CALL.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Skills And Knowledge

Good tone and technique on your instrument are obvious prerequisites to playing professionally.
There are other things that can make you more marketable and keep you in the game.
Here’s a partial list:
Strong sight-reading
Knowledge of a variety of musical styles
Improvisation
Transposition at sight
Ability to read chord symbols
Ability to play from a lead sheet / fake book
Playing by ear
Singing background
Creativity
Biz Sense (including Ethics and Etiquette)
Salesmanship
Thick Skin
All of these need not be resident in a musician in order to play professionally.  As I stated, these are the kind of skills and knowledge that might make you more desirable to contractors, agents, music directors, etc…
Do you have any to add to the list?

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Biz Card & P.O. Box


Get a business card.  Quickly! 
 
Do not delay by waiting to hire a graphic artist to design something worthy of inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art.   Go ahead and get an inexpensive card while you wait for your appointment with Vincent Van Monet.  If the quick / down and dirty cards get you even ONE gig, it might  pay for the uber-artful version.
Be sure to include ALL your phone numbers, an email address and/or web presence, and a mailing address.   Some of the jobs that you will play will be paid by mail.  You want to make sure that the paymaster has your correct address.  
I strongly suggest that you rent a Post Office box and use that for all your business. 
  • If you move within the area, your business address remains the same.
  • Your checks come to a secure box.
  • It  just looks more professional.
Get a business card.  Give ‘em away.  Get gigs.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Make A List

When you're ready to start hunting for gigs, make a list.

Make a list of what you CAN do to make a buck with your music.   (Not just what you WANT to do !)  You might need to sub in a polka band along the way to that dream gig as a six figure clarinet soloist.

Brainstorm the list.  Get creative.  Once you've exhausted your brain and have the ideas on paper, look at the list and rate the ideas according to the money making potential. 

$$$ Best Paying
 $$  Medium Money
   $  Low Bread

Rework the list and group your ideas according to the pay possibilities and delete anything that you just won't do or probably won't work in your geographic area.

This list will get you started and focused on making contacts and using you time wisely.  Try to invest most of your time and effort  in the $$$ and $$ categories but don't be afraid to check into the $ category. (Some of those might be a networking opportunity.)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Welcome To The PMFAL Blog

Welcome   
  • You might be a college music student deciding if the freelance life is for you.
  • You might be a freelance musician searching for more info for finding gigs.
  • You might be someone in a day job with a yearning to cut loose and fulfill a dream.
After a couple of decades at this, I think that I can help you!

When I landed in the Dallas area after leaving the steady gig world...it was a tough grind figuring out how to make a living as a freelancer.   Through the years, I've learned a lot through colleagues, books, agents, bandleaders, websites, and the school of hard knocks.  I'm ready to share some of my info and I hope that you'll comment and share some of your advice.

Here's to the freelance life!

My Professional Life In 40 Seconds

The first six years after undergrad school:
  • Band director (public school)
  • Graduate teaching assistant
  • Artist in Residence at two community colleges
  • Adjunct percussion instructor at a university
THEN...I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area with the idea of becoming a freelance musician.
  • Didn't know how
  • Long period of trial and error
  • Still working on it
I can help you...Stay tuned to the blog !