It pleases me to share that over the last 6 months I've consistantly Paid the Rent with money exclusively generated by my Rock. Most months I barely made it, by as little as $1, but the Rent was paid and I didn't get evicted. Here's how:
Do What You Say, and Say What You Do
I accomplished most of the goals set in the first installment of this blog. going back to October 2010, I did indeed:
Humilty: I asked for advice when I needed it, and my Grandpapi never fails to lead me in the rite direction (as seen in the January post)
Do the Rite Thing: Many business owners and entertainment types in 2011 would disagree with this policy, but up to this point it has worked in my advantage. Everytime that I've helped out a friend in music, regardless of the immeadiate pay off, its always paid off.
Know Your Value and Stick to It: This is one of the trickiest parts, but also the most important. You can't demand $1000 from a club owner unless he knows he's going to add a zero to the end of that figure on his revenue. On the other hand, once you know that you can deliver profitable results for the bar, you need to make that known and get your fair cut also. When youre starting out, 'Oat Meal is Better than No-Meal." But at some point, you have to take it to the next level and establish your value.
Be Unique: My band achieved these goals by playing songs that other bands either don't think to play, or are unable to play. This has attracted enough attention to pack the house multiple times per week, which in return gives us the leverage we need to get paid.
Diversify: I've spent a lot of time playing as a 'hired gun' or just a 'volunteer gun' in 2011. Some these projects proved to be an absolute waste of my time and gas on a Paying the Rent level, others went over better but just didn't have the long term potential that I saw in my own group. Unintentially, each group I've played with has lead to meeting interesting people, making more friends, and having a larger pool of connections that inadvertantly helped to progress Post Trauma. On months we're my band had only 1 gig, being a Hired Gun paid the Rent.
Time: I found that when I really buckled down and gave Post Trauma my full and undivided attention, things really started coming together and the Rent was getting Paid. Time dedicated to The Boring Stuff (booking, promotion, ect) pays off a lot more than being good. (See my post on Rebecca Black)
Serve the Audience, Not Yourself: Even on nights were there were only 10 people, I played like they were the 10 most important people in the world. Don't crank it to 11, Mr. Spinal Tap, because that makes your audience deaf, if they bother to stick around. Save the face melting guitar solos for later in the night, once you've already won them over. Your original songs are like green beans to a toddler, you have to trick them into liking it, otherwise they'll just puke it up all over your nice jeans.
Get off the Couch: Did you see the last episode of Family Guy? Do you know who got voted off the island? How about that epic game winning play on Monday Night Football? If you answered yes to any of these, you are in the wrong business. Rocking takes a lot of time, the time that most Americans spend in front of the television, and then some more beyond that.
Now that I've Paid the Rent with my Rock, and will continue to do so, its time for the dawning of a new era...The Rest of the Bills
P.S.- If you have suggestions or connections to help me pay the Bills with my Rock, please, don't hesitate. I thank you all for your support.
Do What You Say, and Say What You Do
I accomplished most of the goals set in the first installment of this blog. going back to October 2010, I did indeed:
- Earn enough leverage at Branagan's to negotiate double the pay
- Focus on my original band, Post Trauma. This seemed like one of the least lucritive avenues at the begining of this adventure, but time and effort have now made it the most profitable. So much to the point that I actually had to give up the Branagan's gig to play better paying gigs with the band.
- "And finally, I just need more fucking paying gigs." I logged in more hours doing The Boring Stuff, (booking, promotion, ect) and what do you know? More paying gigs.
Humilty: I asked for advice when I needed it, and my Grandpapi never fails to lead me in the rite direction (as seen in the January post)
Do the Rite Thing: Many business owners and entertainment types in 2011 would disagree with this policy, but up to this point it has worked in my advantage. Everytime that I've helped out a friend in music, regardless of the immeadiate pay off, its always paid off.
Know Your Value and Stick to It: This is one of the trickiest parts, but also the most important. You can't demand $1000 from a club owner unless he knows he's going to add a zero to the end of that figure on his revenue. On the other hand, once you know that you can deliver profitable results for the bar, you need to make that known and get your fair cut also. When youre starting out, 'Oat Meal is Better than No-Meal." But at some point, you have to take it to the next level and establish your value.
Be Unique: My band achieved these goals by playing songs that other bands either don't think to play, or are unable to play. This has attracted enough attention to pack the house multiple times per week, which in return gives us the leverage we need to get paid.
Diversify: I've spent a lot of time playing as a 'hired gun' or just a 'volunteer gun' in 2011. Some these projects proved to be an absolute waste of my time and gas on a Paying the Rent level, others went over better but just didn't have the long term potential that I saw in my own group. Unintentially, each group I've played with has lead to meeting interesting people, making more friends, and having a larger pool of connections that inadvertantly helped to progress Post Trauma. On months we're my band had only 1 gig, being a Hired Gun paid the Rent.
Time: I found that when I really buckled down and gave Post Trauma my full and undivided attention, things really started coming together and the Rent was getting Paid. Time dedicated to The Boring Stuff (booking, promotion, ect) pays off a lot more than being good. (See my post on Rebecca Black)
Serve the Audience, Not Yourself: Even on nights were there were only 10 people, I played like they were the 10 most important people in the world. Don't crank it to 11, Mr. Spinal Tap, because that makes your audience deaf, if they bother to stick around. Save the face melting guitar solos for later in the night, once you've already won them over. Your original songs are like green beans to a toddler, you have to trick them into liking it, otherwise they'll just puke it up all over your nice jeans.
Get off the Couch: Did you see the last episode of Family Guy? Do you know who got voted off the island? How about that epic game winning play on Monday Night Football? If you answered yes to any of these, you are in the wrong business. Rocking takes a lot of time, the time that most Americans spend in front of the television, and then some more beyond that.
Now that I've Paid the Rent with my Rock, and will continue to do so, its time for the dawning of a new era...The Rest of the Bills
P.S.- If you have suggestions or connections to help me pay the Bills with my Rock, please, don't hesitate. I thank you all for your support.
Well done man. But please don't neglect your blog. You have an audience here too.
ReplyDeleteDiggin these blogs... grandpapi always knows best!
ReplyDeleteWell said Billy! And good advice for anyone pursuing a dream! Keep it up! Anne :D
ReplyDeleteThank you for your support Anne, Bernie and the rest of my new friends here. You have a valid point Bernie and I'll do my best not to let y'all down. Rock on.
ReplyDelete