Recording Artist Advocate: 4 Powerful Words

I was having lunch with members of a successful regional touring band. The conversation turned to road stories and the best and worst venues. The difference is hardly ever the stage, sound system, or crowds, but the venue’s management.

The bands manager received a call saying this band was extremely unprofessional and just about everything else to trash them. Fortunately, the band and their management have a great relationship with excellent communication. Also, the manager is savvy and had this guys number. He’s constantly talking with other venues as well, and it doesn’t take long for news to get around.

I’m proud to say that the bands manager stuck up for his band based on his experience with them. Then he said the best thing he could and it totally took the wind out of the guy’s sails:

He said, We will miss you.  

Everything the bar manager said was to get a concession from the band with future bookings as his bargaining chip. The band’s manager took the power back. He was nice about it, but he wasn’t going to let this guy get away with trashing his band.

Until that guy is gone they won’t book there again. When you think about it, that will likely be very soon. Bars change managers more often than roadies change their underwear. OK, that’s not fair to roadies, but you know what I’m getting at. The best part of the story was that they booked into that bar’s competition soon after and sold the place out.

It’s a symbiotic relationship and you have to keep that in mind when someone tries to puff up and make you think they have all the power. Yes, you need them, but they need you too. Don’t take this as license to be a jerk. But don’t be a doormat either.

Recording Artist Advocate: The Power Stance. Have you heard if it?

Instead of watching another cat video, spend your time online learning something that will help you be more successful. The TED videos are great. Find  “Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are”

She shows how your body language changes your hormone levels and even how that affects how people perceive you. The take-away is that you will be perceived as being more successful, and because of that you will be more successful.

It also brings to mind stage presence and how that will make you a more successful band or performer.

I know someone who was encouraged to take dance lessons. Not that he was going to dance on stage, but it helped him move better on stage. It works!

So, even if you just become more aware of yourself and how your own body language communicates to others, that knowledge can make a huge difference in your success.

That is, if you put it to use.

Recording Artist Advocate: Get the most out of your time in the recording studio

Owning a commercial recording studio, I want to bill as many hours as I can. This isn’t a hobby.

But I consider myself an advocate for the Artist recording with me, so I hate to see you waste time and money. I also don’t want you resenting me when you pay, feeling you didn’t get your money’s worth.

So, how do you get the most out of your time in the recording studio?

The main thing is to come to the studio ready to perform. Have your songs practiced up and your instruments ready. Guitar slingers need to have extra strings. A drummer needs good heads and at least a drum key. Don’t be the guy who says, “Yea, I’ve been needing to change the tubes in my amp for a while now.” Or the drummer who admits his snare sounds dead but says, “I thought you would replace those hits anyway.”  You pay for all that time fixing those tracks.

Session players always have a note pad and pens so they can chart or make notes. Do the same for last minute changes and improvements.

All day sessions will wear you out if you don’t bring snacks. Also bring plenty of water. By the time you’re thirsty you are already getting dehydrated. There is a lot of talk about pineapple juice being good for your vocal chords. Honey and whiskey can open up a vocal too. I’ve seen it.

We have a kitchen/dining room so the rest of the band can take a break while vocals are being re-sung, or a solo is perfected. Some of the best times have been around that table hearing stories.

If you have the money to use the studio as a practice space, that’s great… fantastic even. Some artists work that way and turn out amazing records. But if you’re like most folks I know, come ready to capture your music in its best form. Let’s show the world what you have to say and make it sound as good as your favorite bands… maybe better.

Recording Artist Advocate: Stay relavent

Have you ever really liked a band and then as they become successful their music just gets… not as good? Or all their songs are the same? Or they piss you off by how much they’ve changed?

I think one reason is that they have a lifetime of experiences to write about at first and their songs are great. Then when life consists of playing and promoting their music, they run out of material.

There is another thing that I think contributes to this, the struggle to be successful. It’s from that struggle that the best material is born. When things are hard, when relationships come apart, when you really hurt – that’s when you feel things with the intensity to write the best material. Artists going through their lowest times have written even the best or most inspiring songs.

When all your bills are paid and everyone wants to be your friend and your living the dream playing to bigger and bigger crowds, where is that stress that produced such deep material?

Unless you want to write songs about the struggles of finding good investments, or how frustrating it is to keep a good personal assistant, you need to find a way to stay in touch with real life. Or the life of the people who will be buying your music and coming to your shows.

Even becoming a successful regional touring band is a life very far removed from normal. Do we really need another song about life on the road? Really?

I ask successful artists how they write from a perspective their audience can relate to. One answer I get a lot is to talk to them. Work the merchandise table and the meet and greets. Instead of talking all the time, ask questions and really listen. From real people with their real stories come some real great songs.

You can do this with your online presence too, but face-to-face is better.

Finally, realize that you can reveal as much or as little of yourself as you choose. Don’t let an interviewer pin you down if you don’t want to reveal something. You can say, “I’m not political.” Or, “I don’t know enough to have an opinion on that.” It’s not that you are playing a character or being artificial, but you can keep parts of yourself and your personal life private. This is especially true if that would create distance between you and your audience.  

Try to live with open eyes and take in experiences like you did before. And keep writing.

Recording Artist Advocate: Good gear matters

A friend with a music store told me we are in the middle of a guitar renaissance. He said the quality is better than it’s been in years and even medium priced guitars are being made very well.

But, when I asked him if the high end guitars sound better, he said, “Oh yea, far and away better.”

I’ve recorded a lot of acoustic guitars. Even with great American made tube and ribbon mics, you can only do so much. When a super high end guitar comes through there is definitely an improvement in sound.

It applies to all instruments. The starter drum set can only sound so good no matter what heads you put on it. A great set will cost more and sound so much better.

Cymbals may be the best example of price to quality. Cheap cymbals almost always sound like trash can lids. The expensive ones are that way for a reason. When the hair on the back of your neck stands up or you get goose bumps you know you’ve got the right ones. Drummers, you know what I’m talking about.

Get the best gear you can afford and play it till it’s a part of you. Guitar legend Bugs Henderson told me, “It’s in your fingers man.” and he was right. You bring out the best your instrument is capable of. So if you want to sound the best you can, you need the best quality instrument you can afford.