Saturday, October 8, 2011

Coping With Change In The Music Biz

The music world changes at a pace like never before.   As I look back over my years as a freelance musician, I marvel at how technology has changed the business.  
  • Records and cassettes to compact discs to digital downloads
  • Drum machines that were once feared are now embraced
  • Hard copy press kits are going the way of the dinosaur in lieu of an electronic version
  • Sheet music can be sent by email right after you are hired for a gig
How well do you handle change?  Did your "steady gig" just get reduced to "occasional?"  Has that agency that you depended on suddenly changed direction?  Have you been asked to use a piece of gear that made you uncomfortable?


I highly recommend checking out Who Moved My Cheese? by Spenser Johnson. 

As musicians, it is important to understand that change occurs and that there are ways to anticipate, cope, and re-invent.   Who Moved My Cheese? provides great insight and suggestions about dealing with change.  

It helped my head!

One of the most challenging questions from the book is:
What would I do if I was not afraid?

Monday, October 3, 2011

Advice For Your First Recording Session

Preparation and attitude are certainly key ingredients in the professional musician world (including the recording world!).
Producer, engineer, and owner of Brilliant Recording (www.brilliantrecording.com ), Aaron Brown offers some suggestions for your first (or any) recording session:

An Engineer's Advice For Your First Studio Session
Having worked in studios for the past 15 years, I have picked up a few things that will help your very first studio session go smoothly.

1. Preparation
    Ask the producer if they have a demo of the song(s) you are going to play.  Doing some homework ahead of time shows initiative and a willingness to work hard, even if you are not extremely experienced in the studio.  Try to get a feel for the style that you will be playing so that you can make the right choices on instruments to bring.  In addition to your instruments, add these items to your list of things to bring:
    -Pencil and paper
    -In-ear monitors
    -Tuner
    -Metronome  
2.  Arrive early to set up
    This demonstrates a professional attitude to the client from the very beginning of the session.  There is nothing like the feeling of running late, having to set up in a hurry and then trying to keep it calm, cool, and collected once the recording begins.  Avoid all of that and show up early.
3. Attitude (It's your sound, not mine)
    You will start getting callbacks the quicker you realize that you are playing on the project of someone else..and not your own.  Attitude is key.  No one wants to work with a know-it-all, no matter how talented they are.  Be there ready and willing to help them convey THEIR message in the music.
4. Simple is always better
    If you have a hard time pulling a lick off while you are practicing on your own, more than likely you will not be able to make it happen when recording it.  Stick to things you are comfortable with and if the producer wants the bombastic, he will ask.
5. Have fun
    Music is fun.  You should always try to keep the atmosphere laid-back and stress-free.  If you are having fun, more than likely everyone else in the session will as well.