| So wait, you're telling me I don't have to go to a | | | | tech articles and features for DIY (doit yourself) |
| recording studio to record a CD anymore? So hold it, | | | | artists. I also subscribe to Electronic Musician and Mix |
| hold it, you're telling me I can sell my album through | | | | because I run arecording studio. I read the New York |
| my computer? Now you're really pulling my leg--you | | | | Times, Rolling Stone, The Village Voice andthe local |
| say people can hear my songs on their phones!?! | | | | free Arts paper. There are also a ton of web-based |
| Well, yes that's all possible. And we all know that, | | | | newsletters out therelike indie911.com, Just Plain Folks |
| right? Right? If you don't, you'remissing out in more | | | | (jpfolks.org), CMJ ( and theoccasional letter from |
| ways than one. Too many people who are artists | | | | CDBaby's founder Derek Sivers. |
| performersdon't know what they can accomplish | | | | What types of things you keep current on largely |
| with today's technology or even where to goto find | | | | depends on your interests, but it'salways good to be |
| out about it all. There are plenty of opportunities to | | | | aware of things outside your usual artistic tastes. Be |
| improve technically andartistically with the use of a | | | | aware oftrends and different styles of music if only |
| few doo-dads. I am constantly impressed by | | | | to borrow from what you like. I'm not abig fan of |
| what'savailable in the tech world for musicians. I just | | | | hip-hop, but I read the occasional article and watch |
| recently purchased a little box thatcan control my | | | | the videos on MTV2just so I know what's going on |
| DAW (the computer I use to record) from another | | | | and to hear the new sounds that these producers |
| room so I don'thave to run back and forth when I | | | | arecoming up with. |
| record myself away from the computer. AMAZING. | | | | I once read an article (in Rolling Stone, in fact!) about |
| But, I wouldn't have known about it if I wasn't | | | | Bruce Springsteen and how hewill go to a music store |
| keeping current. | | | | and buy a bunch of CDs of all different types of |
| A growing artist doesn't live in a cave. On a certain | | | | music justso he can keep abreast of the sounds that |
| level we already know thatbecause there wouldn't be | | | | are out there. You can hear the results ofhis findings |
| much to write or sing about if we did. But to truly | | | | on The Rising where he uses a lot of Arabic rhythms |
| excelwe need to be challenged by our peers, to be | | | | and Rai singingstyles. |
| part of a community that will supportus in our artistic | | | | Musicians also need to keep up on the business world |
| endeavors. When I was performing regularly in NYC I | | | | and know how to go aboutmarketing their music. I've |
| was on theperiphery of an incestuous group of | | | | read some great articles on marketing from Derek |
| musicians that haunted the clubs on the Lower | | | | Siversof CDBaby and also from the IndieBible and |
| East Side. They played in each other's bands and | | | | they all talk about looking for theunexpected place to |
| went to hear their friends whenthey knew the | | | | put your music. I've recently become acquainted with |
| audience needed some boosting. It was great to be | | | | Flashmovie developers who need music and |
| a part of thatcommunity and to be able to make | | | | producers of web-based info material whoneed |
| connections with other musicians that ultimatelyhelped | | | | underscoring music for their CD products. after |
| me with some of my own projects. | | | | working with two producers, |
| So what to do if there isn't a ready group of | | | | I've started to create a library of short loops that |
| musicians to hang out with? You haveto go out and | | | | are ideal for those applications. |
| find them, sometimes virtually. At the very least, you | | | | So if you're an artist, stay 'in tune' with your |
| find out whatthey're doing! I subscribe to a variety of | | | | profession. Lawyers and doctors andteachers do it. |
| magazines and newspapers from which Iget info on | | | | They go to conferences and read professional |
| upcoming concerts, trends, tech news, etc. And of | | | | journals. Why shouldn'tartists do the same? Find a |
| course there is the | | | | community and communicate. Read everything (even |
| Internet with its various newsgroups and websites. | | | | theads, it's where I first read about that box I |
| The one publication that I feel isof greatest service | | | | bought) and listen to more than just thestyle of |
| to the independent musician is The Performing | | | | music you play. I'll be interested in hearing about the |
| Songwriter | | | | discoveries youmake--and the music you |
| ( This is a wonderful monthly magazine that | | | | create--when you do! |
| hasfeature articles on top musicians, easy to read | | | | Cheers! |