Top 5 Reasons it's GOOD to be Indie!

Yesterday Dana and I recorded an interview for an internet radio show (more info to come on that when available), and it got me to thinking about why it's so great to be an Indie artist right now. So, I decided to come up with MY top 5 reasons it's good to be Indie.

1. There are no RULES: As the Majors have shown us over the last few years, there's really no plug and play, guaranteed formula for success in the music industry anymore. The old way of doing things is dead, especially for us Indies. The standard approach of write music, play shows, build following, get radio play, land record deal, doesn't have to be the path to success anymore. We're only limited by our creativity and our willingness to explore new ideas and forge new trails.

2. Everything you need is at your fingertips: Never before has it been so incredibly easy to make music, record music, and reach and audience with your music. Of course this also means that competition for an audience has increased, making it more important than ever that we be all around better performers with a stronger business savvy. Only the strong will survive.

3. Labels are no longer necessary: Besides funding, what are you looking for in a label? Most labels these days don't put a lot of effort into artist development, and most Indies (myself included) are reluctant to give up creative control to the money men. Unless you just want the bang that having some money behind you could make, there's really nothing that a label offers that an enterprising artist or band can't do for themselves. In this day and age of internet connections, there's really no need for middle men. Why give up your control? Why make money for others?

4. You control your pace: With the increase of internet exposure, it's possible to reach more of an audience without having to kill ourselves on the road, as much. Not to diminish the need for touring, but it is so much easier to build our fanbase now through virtual means, allowing us to choose the pace of our travel, as well as our growth.

5. Releasing music is FREE, or damn near: With the accessibility of quality home recording equipment and the ease and popularity of digital media, we can release as much material as we want, at virtually no cost. Even some Indie labels are embracing the "Digital Only Release" trend. If the majority of our sales are going to come from download, why put the money into CD duplication? If it's for a physical product to sell at shows, there's always drop cards. I'm sure that we could all find better uses for our money than to be laying in a stock of CDs that people are not buying, right?

So, anyway, that's my top 5 reasons. Drop me a note and tell me why you think it's awesome to be an Indie.

Later,

Are you truly Passionate about your work?

Do you really, I mean REALLY, love what you do? Do you have an unequaled passion for how you spend your time each and every day?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if we really do have that passion. I know I have my moments of thinking, "what the hell am I doing?", but I recently found out that I know exactly what I'm doing, and more importantly, why.

Taking a bit of time away from your pursuits every now and then makes you realize what you've got. It makes you realize how much of a passion you really have for what you do. Or, conversely, it could make you realize that you've just been wasting a boatload of time on something you couldn't care less about. Either way, you've learned some very valuable information.

Also, if you're in a position where you feel you can't take any time off, what so ever, than you definitely need some time off. Step away, even if it's just for half a day and center yourself. You'll probably see that you were overworking yourself on something that really requires better effort instead of more effort.

Take a little time for yourself. You'll be miles ahead.

You Can't Do It All

Okay, so maybe that's a misstatement. Some of us CAN do it "ALL", but not all a the same time.

The past few weeks have shown me that, despite my strong desire to do so, I can't focus on all of my ideas at one time. I'm a multi-tasking MOFO these days, but there still gets to be a level that I reach where things start to suffer. So, I'm just saying that sometimes it has to be okay to back burner something for a bit. Don't have to totally give it up, but prioritization needs to rule, right?

We've got a lot going on here at Serious Vanity these days, and it's certainly a full time job. So, some of my side projects and hobbies have suffered a bit and I think that I'm just going to have to be okay with that. At least for the time being. Why? Cause I want to succeed with what I'm doing here. I want to turn Serious Vanity into the business I know it can, and should, be.

Focus is the key and I'm there.

Now, on a side note, this is our 14th Birthday this week! Yep, Serious Vanity Music has been around for 14 years. If you're not following our FB or Twitter pages, I'll link them below. We're doing a 14 day Birthday Bash sale. Keep an eye out for our deal of the day. It should be coming to you shortly!

Facebook:
Serious Vanity Music
Serious Vanity Records

Twitter:
Serious Vanity Music
Serious Vanity Records

Social Media and the Numbers Game

Okay, so I just did a bit of a purge on my friends list over at Facebook. Why? Was it because I've had some sort of falling out with people? Nope. Was it because they offended me? No, not that either.

The fact is that I have a tendency to add people in good faith. Especially if they don't come off as being some sort of cam whore. So, in the course of things, I've added several people who pester me every day with the same request to join their group or "like" their page.

Now, we all have our agendas in life, and we all have our motivations, but if a person ignores my page suggestion, you bet I'm not going to pester them with it again the next day.

You see, Social Media will lose it's magic, the thing that makes it work, so long as people continue to approach it as a numbers game. It's really about interaction and building relationships, not seeing who can get the biggest following. You know, I'm not perfect in interacting with everyone on my lists, but I put in the effort. Just like any other thing in life, or in business for that matter, it's the quality of our lists, not the quantity. It's what we can do for the people we interact with on a daily basis, not what they can do for us.

Come on people! At least have other interactions with people if you're going to bombard them with requests every day. It's the Social thing to do!

What happens to detractors?

If Leaders lead, and Followers follow, then what happens to Detractors? I guess the simple answer is that they get trampled under the movement.

In every movement there is only room for leaders and followers. The people who try to throw a monkey wrench into our plans, the ones who try to trip us up or bring us down, need to be treated as stepping stones. Trample them. Show no mercy. Beat them down and leave no doubt that they are nothing in the grand scheme of things. Movements can't be bothered with Detractors, and neither can those within the movement.

Of course, Detractors come in many forms too. Family or friends that want to keep us at a certain point in our lives (consciously or un-consiously), critics, rivals, or even just some unhappy asshat that likes to stir trouble. We, the determined, don't have time for Detractors. They are a detriment to our mission, our goal, our movement.

I know, you're going to say, but "family and friends"? Yep, love'em all you need to, but they have a choice. They can follow, they can get out of the way, or the can get trampled under the movement.

We can't let anyone stand in the way of our dreams, and as Artists, our dreams are all we really have. They're all we really are.

Unwavering determination

It's funny how many ways that our goals in life get challenged. Seems like every turn brings another little barrier to walk around or step over or bust right through. I can't say that it upsets me anymore, really. It's just part of the process.

The important thing is to keep my eyes on the end goal, the pure vision, of what it is that I'm doing in my life. What my destiny is, even if it's a self imposed one. It may be a modest vision, but it is mine and I have to follow it with an unwavering determination.

I guess, truth be told, that there are little challenges like this in every aspect of what we do in our lives. The trick is learning to not be phased by them. Just step back for a minute and look for the quickest and most efficient way back to our path. Whether it means going around them or through them, the important thing is getting back on with the task at hand in the quickest way possible.

When it comes to our achieving our dreams we have to learn how to be machines. Well oiled, fast, nimble, and strong, because you never know when we'll have to sprint, dodge, jump, or bust trough what pops up in our way.

One thing is for sure, stopping and giving up are not options. We're artists and we'll never be happy if we do.

There's no more IDEAL time than RIGHT NOW!

It's true. There will never be a more ideal time to launch our new projects, record our new album, book our next show, or take over our next town or city, than RIGHT NOW!

A lot of times, as artists, we spend time looking for our opening. We try to build the perfect beast and then frustrate ourselves when it never seems to see the light of day. We toil for our perfection. We destroy ourselves over tiny details that just don't seem to come out right. We fixate, obsess, and dwell.

I do anyway.

So, I'm making the conscious decision to say "Fuck it!" and just make the most out of what I've got.

My new band, Tailhook Echo, the one I've been working on for the past two or three years, finally starts rehearsing this next week. I love the songs, I love the sound, I love everything about it, so long as I don't dwell on the little things. But I'm going to launch it and let it be what it is. I have to trust that others will see in these songs, what I see in them. That they will hear what I was feeling when I wrote them. That my art will translate in a way that speaks to others. But, dammit, I have to put it out there for myself. As long as I like it, and my bandmates like it, then I trust it will speak to others as well.

In the words of Sir Richard Branson: "Screw it! Let's do it!

Daily Creativity

It's a busy life, you know? Sometimes daily life just gets in the way of creativity. It's not always easy to fit in time to play guitar or drums or whatever we play. It's not always the right moment to put that pen to paper and write that next great song.

It's vital that we do though.

I've gone through HUGE dry spells, where I've just not wanted to do any of it. I've let the business side of things here, the voice over recordings, or the hunt for more clients, keep me from doing what I love best. Being creative. It's not fair to our artist side to deny ourselves this outlet. It's the way to early retirement from our biggest dreams.

I'm finding that if I set aside a little bit of time each day, and just let myself be free to create, it comes in waves. Big, crashing waves. Sometimes enough to overwhelm, but always good stuff.

Leave room for creativity. It's what makes us who we are.

Plant Your Seeds and Move to the Next Row

Yep, just like in gardening, business is a plant and wait prospect. Not saying that you don't do the tending, such as weeding out the bad prospects, or nourishing the good ones, but once we've picked the spot and planted the seed, it's just a matter of waiting for it to grow.

The size and quality of your crop is dependent on the work you put into the cultivation. Put in the elbow grease early and you'll enjoy a fairly trouble free and bountiful return.

One of the issues that we, as business owners have though is that we're impatient. We plant it and expect it to grow overnight, and it doesn't always work that way. Plant it and move to the next row and plant some more. Keep going and one day you'll look back and see the healthy crops that have sprung up behind you.

Most importantly, we have to be thankful for what we have. Every little bit helps and builds us up to better deal with next season. Here's to healthy crops all around this year!

Scenester Casualty or Rock Star?

Well, what's it going to be? Are you plugging along, trying to make things easier for others? Make someone else's dream a reality? Are you playing the game, as the industry, or your local scene, dictates it to you? Or even worse, are you just thinking about your next small club gig and what the free drink limit is?

OR

Are you in a constant state of developing new material and planning your next step? Are you looking at the next rung on the ladder out of mediocrity? Are you setting the next bigger and badder goal?

That my friends is the difference between being a scenester casualty and a bonafide Rock and Roll success story.

It really does come down to what you're willing to do to make your way. What you're willing to sacrifice and live without. What kind of effort you're willing to put in, and most importantly, how quickly and effectively you're able to launch your new materials. Launch quickly and launch often. Make people see your dedication. All the rehearsals in the world won't show people how much effort you're actually putting into your project. They only see the physical aspects of what you're doing.

Don't be afraid to take big steps. Take chances. It's only your future. Your success. What are you afraid of?

Why Do We Think There Are Rules In Rock & Roll?

So last night I was reading an article by a moderately successful rock star from the 80s/90s and he was spouting off about how the music industry has changed and the rules don't apply any more. Um what rules? It's fucking ROCK & ROLL!!!

Rules. Yes, somewhere through the course of it all, rock & roll has lost it's rebellious, fuck the establishment, mentality and set up it's own set of rules and guidelines. There's a certain way to approach labels, there's a certain way to book tours, there's a certain way to make videos, there's a certain way to inject the heroin just right to...............oh, too far? Yeah. What's with cookie cutter rock stars? I mean, Disney owns rock & roll now, for god's sake.

Let's face the fact that Rock $ Roll is a big money proposition for the labels and they will, just like they have for years now, chase the trends rather than cultivate the talent. It used to be that the A & R rep would court the talented and cultivate new and exciting things to give their label a leg up over the competition. Anymore, they're just scouting for the next so and so. No money goes into taking chances anymore. That's the downfall of labels being run by corporations. Risks need to be minimized and profits capitalized. Rules come into effect when money becomes the sole objective.

The unfortunate thing is that the Indie music world mimics that mentality, just on a smaller scale. They may be a little more willing to take the chances but they still try to set up those stupid rules. They still try to tell people how it's done. Dammit, it's ROCK & ROLL, there is no way it's done. Real, long term, breakthrough rock stars don't exist anymore, because no one takes chances anymore. New paths are struck by the bold and the rebellious, not the trend chasers.

Time Limits and Expiration Dates

It's a cold hard fact of life that we won't be here forever. This never fails to occur to me when I find out that someone I know is sick. It's an eye opener to what I've been letting slide. What I've been putting off. Life is short and if we don't knuckle under, we won't leave a big enough dent in it to matter.

Isn't that what life's about? Making a mark? Making an impact on the world and being something other than just another parasite on the face of the planet?

Laziness and procrastination are not a luxury we really have. The urgency is real, we don't have long here, and there are always things that can shorten that time, so what can we do to maximize out impact?

Sometimes I wish it didn't take this kind of thing to teach me such lessons.

The Prospect of Scaling Back on Prospecting

Whether you're looking at this from the perspective of an artist, a label, or any other kind of small business viewpoint, the fact remains the same. We spend a shit ton of time prospecting for leads. Our next gig, our next record sale, our next client, our next opportunity, our next.....................whatever. When do we make time to do what we REALLY do?

I know that the argument can be made that the economy has people pulling back on their spending and that we have to work harder to find the next paycheck, but do we really have to? That wasn't meant to sound like a spoiled kid stomping their feet about something they don't WANT to do, but a serious question. Do we REALLY need to spend so much time on prospecting? Of course the answer will be different for different folks, but I've been thinking about this a little bit. Maybe too much, really.

The object of prospecting is to convince people that they need what we offer. Why don't we just call it sales? That's what it is. We're trying to tell people that they need our music, that they can't live without seeing us this coming Friday at 10 PM at such and such a bar. Why are we spending so much time trying to convince people? Isn't that what our music is supposed to be doing? Isn't that what our marketing plan is supposed to do?

What if we just did what we do best? Why not just make what we make, and do what we do, and maybe just talk about what it is we're doing and making? It may take a little longer to reach all the right people, but we won't be wasting valuable energy in trying to convince the non-believers into buying our stuff. We won't be throwing resources into the wind of ambivalence.

There's a lot to be said for the tactic of hard work and diligence. It will be noticed by those who appreciate it and it will be skimmed over by those that don't, but in the long run, you'll have a following of ONLY those who are really interested in what it is that you do. Plus you'll have the added benefit of all that extra prospecting time that you can roll into making what you make and doing what you do.

Don't forget to talk about what it is you're doing though. Set up a twitter account and tweet about what's going on in the studio, or in the office today. Set up your Facebook account and periodically update about what's going on. Let your followers know what's up and they will tell others. Grow your followers organically, it's not about the numbers, it's about the quality. Most importantly, use that time to better yourself and your product. Be worth following and you'll see that people will talk about you. The more that happens, the less prospecting you'll have to do.

One last thing. Too much of a "sales" kind of attitude makes you look like a salesman. What does THAT do for your image?

Creativity and the Business Are NOT Mutually Exclusive

For years we've been fed the idea that we need someone else to take care of the business side of our music careers so that we can focus on being creative. What is non-creative about the business aspects of our career? Now, I'm not trying to say that we should all fire our managers or agents and go it alone, but having a hands on approach to the business portion of our careers can be just as creative and rewarding as the actual creation side of it. Plus you get the added benefit of knowing EXACTLY what's going on with all aspects of your career.

The fact is, there is no such thing as a plug and play plan for success in the music industry. Sure, there are the well used and frequented paths that most all musicians and bands take, but the success level is low. I kind of think of it as there only being a bottle neck opening of success and the more sand you have in the bottle the harder it is to get to that opening. So, why not unleash the creative side of ourselves and make new openings? Why stick with traditional means if tradition tells us we're delusional? Why not apply our creativity to our business plan and our marketing efforts. Why should we should we look at the business side of our endeavors as different than our music making? They are not, and should not be, mutually exclusive.

As technologies and attitudes toward, and about, music change, the industry changes. That's why I find it amusing when I hear people say that "this is just the way it's done". That's like saying, "well, I had success doing it this way in 1974, it's bound to work now". Um, probably not. Times change, markets change, fanbases change, economies change, social outlooks change, public opinions change, so why don't our business tactics change?

If you can't see the path to success over the heads of your competition, you're on the wrong path. Be creative and strike off into the unknown. You'll be rewarded for your efforts.

Does Music Still Stir the Soul?

Does Top 40 radio speak to you? Does popular music make you feel anything besides confusion as to which sound alike band is being shilled to you? Does music still stir the soul of the masses?

It's no secret that CD sales are way down over the last few years, and while downloads of certain artists are there, does that method really work for the Indie? Is it possible to make a decent living as a touring musician anymore? Is any of that actually the point?

In order for our music to stir the souls of others, it has to stir ours first. We have to have a passion for it. Sure, there's some success associated with the prefab kinds of acts that permeate the radio these days, but what's the shelf life of your throw away pop princesses? The Miley Cyrus's of the world may have the business savvy, or management that does, to build a small empire, but how many songs of theirs can you actually name?

The more I think of the way this game is played anymore, the more I think I'd be much happier writing music that I enjoy and hope that it touches others. If it doesn't though, I'm okay with that, cause at least I know that I love it. In the grand scope of life, that's all that really matters. I'm going to stir my own soul, you can listen in if you'd like.

A Rested Mind

I've found that I have a tendency to think a lot. Yup, I do. I think about work, I think about play, I think about family, and I think about how tight my jeans are getting and it's time to start running again.

The thing is, I never really take the time to not think. To completely tune out and rest for a while. I mean, even when I'm sleeping I have a tendency to toss and turn because of my mind being in overdrive. It's not healthy. It makes for a bad mental state and an uncomfortable inability to focus.

I think this is pretty common among creative people. Our bodies might be limited in the number of pursuits we can delve into at one time, but our minds are not. I find that it's very easy to get carried away, thinking of future projects, or trips, or events, or whatever. Basically, anything but being focused on what's at hand.

Meditation is one way of bringing ourselves back into focus, but then, how many of us actually take the time to do it? Unless you've got a structured practice, it's not an easy thing to remember to do, not to mention it can be taxing in itself. Being persistent at it brings pretty solid results though.

I just know that, for myself, I need to find time to shut my mind down and spend time not thinking. When I do, I find that my musical abilities are better focused, my writing is better, my ability to stay on task is easier, and my interactions with other people, especially clients, is sharper.

Yeah, I think there's a lot to be said for a rested mind.

Why the big aversion to change?

Seriously, change is going to happen, whether we like it or not. Musical styles, hair styles, fashions, car designs, technologies, attitudes, climates, and the weather, just to name a few things. Nothing stays the same. Even our bodies are a study in change. Old cells die off, new ones are formed. From moment to moment we're not the same beings. So, why is it that we resist change? Why are we scared of it? What attaches us to a certain moment in time? Are we scared that it will never be as good, or even better than it is right now?

As musicians, we can set ourselves into a style, but that style is going to go out of popularity. Sure, it might eventually come back, but what do we do in the meantime? I mean, you have legacy acts like the Stones, or AC/DC that ride waves of popularity, but can that really sustain an up and coming act these days? What is the aversion to growing as artists? Seriously, I don't understand it? Is it really "selling out" to ensure that you prolong your career? I think I'm okay with being a sell out then.

Purism and Elitism have caused a very real level of stagnation in the music industry. Futuristic Glam Rock bands won't be caught dead using modern equipment to make their music. The same goes for the small scene rock bands that still think you have to sport the "look" of long hair and stained denim. My favorite though, as a sound engineer, are the people who have to have that Analog sound, so bad that they're willing to live with a substandard and dated recording to be "cool". Not that I really have a problem with old equipment and technology being used, but at least do something new with it.

The same is true for the business side of our industry. We're still stuck in the mindset that the only way to build our career is the old "tour till you drop" tactic. While live performance is still an important part of it, there is so much more that can be done to get our names, and sounds, in front of the right people. Why play the game of "this is how it's done", when we can be the innovators of how it CAN be done?

Stagnation is a bad, bad thing. Embrace technology. Embrace change. Quit playing the game and start doing something that hasn't been done before. You might be able to make waves that way.

Build it and they will come! If you do enough leg work to make sure they see you, anyway.

How many other people do what you do? How many of them do it well? What makes you different from them? What makes you stand out? What makes you outstanding? What makes you special? Are you really special, or do you just feel that way?

Say you are, "that special". What are you doing to make sure everyone knows that you are? How do you draw people to your brilliance? I hate to break this to you, but they aren't exactly like moths to a light. You may build it, but they're not going to break down walls to get to you.

We live in a time where communications with our potential audience, fans, or clients, is easier than ever. But, it's also harder than ever too. Why? Because we, as a society, are jaded by advertising and marketing. We've seen it all before. We've heard it all before, and we have DVR!!! We don't have to watch commercials. We switch the dial on the radio when the adds come on. Well, those of us dinosaurs that still listen to terrestrial radio, anyway. We block pop ups. We drop all the asshat network marketers from our Facebook friends list. WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!!

We are in a position though to get back to the real basics of building a following or finding the right clientele. It's communication.

If we do what we do, and talk about what we do, then we're going to start catching the interest of the people who actually give a shit about what we do. Those are the ones we want to talk to anyway, right?

Doing is 100 times better than talking about doing. No, if you build it they will not come. However, if you build it, and talk about building it, and post pictures of the process of building it, and promote the people that are helping you build it, you will see them come. Whether it's in trickles or in torrents will help you determine if you're talking about it in the right ways and in the right places.

Traditional advertising and marketing are becoming less effective. Now's the time to just talk, openly and honestly, about what it is that we do. Don't sell to people, become indispensable to people.

The difference between diversification and chasing too many rabbits

Have you ever heard the saying "if you chase too many rabbits you won't catch any"? The logic there is pretty sound, no? If you spend too much time chasing odd and varied goals, it becomes really damn hard to accomplish anything with any degree of success.

At the same time, how many times have you been told that diversification is the key to continued success? Sounds like a contradiction, right? The problem with cliche based advice, in any area of your life, is that no one really takes the time to really understand what it means.

There IS a difference between diversification and chasing too many rabbits. A lot of people don't take the time to figure out this difference though.

An example of chasing too many rabbits might be the guy down the street that fixes motorcycles and runs a lawn care/snow removal service. In a situation like that you may have moderate success doing both, but there's no room for growth because there's no room for serious dedication to either one.

Diversification though is a whole other animal. A good example of diversification is the musician who writes, records, and performs music, but finds other ways to make his talent work for him, such as licensing his music to film, tv, or web. He's still working within his field and can fully dedicate to growth and expansion, but is finding other avenues to generate the income he needs to make that growth happen.

It's a fine line between the two, but it's one that we have to find in order to be the best we can be. To grow beyond the normal limitations of our skill or trade.

What can you do to hang up your rabbit chasing ways and diversify?

Be Prepared Part Deux: Curly's Revenge

So, the other day I posted about the need to be prepared for the flood of new work that can come in from your prospecting efforts. Well, this week has totally shown me the need for another type of preparedness. What to do when you have a critical equipment failure at a very inopportune time.

The fact is that we all have those pieces of equipment (studio, shop, musical, or whatever) that we use, and possibly abuse, on a daily basis. It's the heartbeat of our operation. It's the key to our ability to do what it is that we do. Yet, at the very bottom of it, we have to admit that they are things and they do wear out. The best thing we can do is be prepared for the eventuality and do our best to minimize the effects of it.

Have a back up. Whether it's backing up the files from your computer on a daily basis, or having an extra guitar or mixer on hand, or keeping a daily updated disk of your new book project in the glove box of your car, do what you can to eliminate as much of the pain as you can.

Most of all, keep a level head and know what you can and can't do about it. It's just a part of life and with some pre-planning and a dedicated system of having back ups in place, it won't be a devastation. Just an inconvenience.

It's okay to say NO!

Every day new opportunities present themselves, and we even notice them if we're looking. The question is though, should we jump on every single one of them? Is it a bad thing to want to be picky and only take on the things that will better us and further our efforts as business folks?

I don't think it's bad at all.

We're in business to make an impact on the world and to be compensated for our time and efforts. Of course, I think it's important to keep it in that order too. It is a big thing to understand though, and it really changes the way you look at opportunities.

Take a careful look at every opportunity that's presented to you, or favor asked of you, and make sure that there is a tangible compensation for the time and effort you're going to be expending, and it should certainly better your situation.

Now, I'm not saying that you should look to get rich off of each dealing, but it should be well worth your time, and if it's not, then there's no shame in saying no.

It sounds selfish, but we have to put our own interests first. If we don't, we're not going to make it. Besides, I've noticed that the more I'm willing to say no, the less often I have to do it.

Do your thing, it's who you are.

Be Prepared: Not Just A Boy Scout Slogan

Man, it is certainly true that when it rains, it pours. Yesterday I talked about keeping moving and how good things come to those that put in the effort. Today has been a perfect example of the truth in that. It's like the floodgates of business have opened up, which has kind of made me think about how prepared I actually am for this.

Often times, especially when things have been slow, we tend to put all our effort into looking for opportunities. We're on the hunt for new clients, better paying gigs, or bigger and better projects to attach ourselves to, which means that we may not be paying as much attention to how well we can handle the work load that could come from it.

It's not a difficult thing to plan and prepare. It just takes diligence and a realistic, editing eye to what it is that we're doing. Nothing that self starters like us can't handle, right?

What we do here is break down our goals into blocks of time and figure out how many of which types of jobs will fit into those blocks. Then, it's time to figure out your individual rate of conversion. How many bids to submit, emails to send, phone calls to make, or people to visit in order to fill those blocks. By building a plan for our prospecting, it becomes a ton easier to handle the work load once it starts rolling in.

Happy hunting and best wishes for a busy Spring!

Don't Stop Now, It's Just Getting Good!

Ever heard the sentiment that it's not the end of the journey that counts, it's the journey itself? It's taken me a long time to understand that thought, but I think I get it now.

If we beat ourselves to death trying to reach our end goal, we won't enjoy all the little victories along the way. Hopefully we each have a nice long life ahead of us, so wouldn't it be a shame if we didn't enjoy every single minute of it?

No matter what our direction is in life, or what we do with our time, it's important that we keep working, that we keep bettering ourselves. To stop is to stagnate and who knows what fun, important, and beneficial stuff is yet to come?

It's certainly true that quitters never prosper. It's always the ones that are willing to put in the extra time and effort that see the biggest rewards in life, so don't stop now.

A little single-minded determination goes a long way. Keep moving toward your goals, even if they're nowhere in sight, just yet. You will reach them and you'll probably have a hell of a lot of fun in the process.

When Bigger Is NOT Better

I've had a rash of Twitter adds recently that I just don't understand. How is it that these folks can have thousands of followers, yet have never posted a single tweet? No, it's not a private account that I just couldn't see. I mean, these folks have NO tweets! What does a person gain from following them, and more importantly, what do they gain from having you follow them? I mean, I don't know if you're following because you have a strong attachment to what I'm doing, or if you just want me to build your numbers. I certainly can't be a fan of what you're doing if you don't do anything.

The really got me thinking about the quality of our followings. I mean, whether you're building a following for your music or your marketing firm, do you want thousands of cold to luke warm followers, or do you want a couple hundred red hot and rabid followers?

Why the rush for quantity when it's been proven over and over again that quality wins out, every time?

Our mailing lists, our Social Media followings, our Fan Clubs, all have one thing in common. They can be a kick ass database of our loyal followers and strongest evangelists, or they can be a boat anchor full of useless contacts that will, at most, only moderately support what we're doing.

Wouldn't it be time well spent to build a following of TRUE supporters and allies? Makes sense to me.

What IS Reality?

Hey all!

So, a quick question. What exactly IS reality? Isn't it true that the truth is subjective? I mean, my view of the truth will certainly be colored differently than yours, and vice-versa. So, don't we really get to choose what our reality is?

Think about it. Are you a struggling musician, or small business owner, or janitor, or grocery sacker? What makes you struggle? What's the difference between struggling and comfortably making it? What's the difference between having nothing and having everything? Actually, a better question is what would be the common factor? If you were to struggle, every day, to just scrape by, or if you had it all, what would be the one thing that was the same in either situation?

YOU!

Yep, it's our decision how we go through life. I mean, I'm sure that there are some folks who would say, "shut up, it's easy for you to say, you weren't born to nothing, with no prospects for anything better". To that I'd have to say, "SO?".

There are plenty of examples of people throughout the history of this country who have pulled themselves up from abject poverty and even oppression to become successful men and women. Upbringing can no longer be an excuse.

I would go so far as to argue that those of us who know poverty, who have grown up poor, or even middle class in some cases, have even more motivation to live a better life. To make more of ourselves. We have further to go and more drive, in most cases, to do it.

What IS our reality? Are we oppressed and kept down by our economic, cultural, racial, or educational situations, or are we our own people who are free to do whatever we want in this life? What IS your reality?

Content is King!

Happy Monday!

It's a chilly and rainy day here, but I'm not going to let that keep it from being a good day!

Today I've been thinking about content. Whether it's for your website, your social media pages, or your merch box, the content you have is what's going to bring you more fans or clients. What we provide is what's going to be the catalyst for how many people pay attention to us.

I've already talked about my views on quality, but this has more to do with the one-two punch of quality and quantity. We're only as good as our newest offering. People get bored with us is all we have is that tribute album that we produced 11 years ago. Believe me, I know. New product, news, and content is vital to the growth of our band or our brand.

Think about this. How many times have you gone to see your favorite live band and heard the same set? Now, how many years have they been around? See what I'm saying. The bands that survive and thrive are the ones who are constantly churning out new songs, new albums, new merch, and new ideas. The same can be said for small businesses. It's an ever changing environment and we need to grow with times or fold.

Music and small business are very similar. They're both creative endeavors. The question every day should be, "what am I going to make today"?

What are you going to make today?

Setbacks and Persistence

Road blocks are a part of life. Every day deal with little things that crop up that take focus away from our goals, and every day we swat them away and get on with the task at hand. No big deal, right? What about those major setbacks that really put a kink in your plans?

There are always things that are out of our control, that really throw a monkey wrench into our well laid plans. Hell, sometimes they're IN our control, we just didn't factor them in or give them due consideration.

The important thing is how we deal with the setbacks. I mean, some of them can be pretty devastating. We can let it ride us, driving us into the ground, or we can pick ourselves up and look for alternatives. What kind of person we are will shape how we react to these situations. Are you a positive, persistent kind of person, or are you a negative, "the whole world is conspiring against me" kind of person? Are you going to let setbacks ruin you or shape you? The simple fact is that this part is ALWAYS totally in our own hands.

Persistence pays off. Taking the negative route just makes you look like a whiner.

Resistance: A Nasty Little Time Waster

Ever notice that it's the most important tasks that seem to take the longest? The ones you have the most passion for? The ones that will make the biggest impact on your life or your career? If this sound familiar than you're a victim of that nasty little time waster, Resistance. Yep, I touched on that a little bit yesterday.

The more we love something, the more we invest in it and the harder it is to let it go and be part of the world. We won't have it all to ourselves anymore. It won't be as perfect as we had envisioned it, as we built it up to be. In short, we start to over think it and we let little things pop up and take the attention away from it. We're scared of it. It becomes way easier to check our email again or go and revamp our filing system, or anything else that takes us away from delivering the goods.

Resistance is a nasty little time waster. It's a bastard. It's a part of all of our lives and it can only be expelled by diligence and force. Only by finding ways to keep ourselves on task and working toward our end goal can we beat it. Setting deadlines for ourselves, finding accountability partners, creating work hours and sticking to them, and making the conscious decision to focus on the big, important tasks first. So what if the filing system is a little weird? Who cares if the desk is cluttered? What matters is that we are doing what we do and making what we make and delivering to the world, for better or worse.

In the words of Richard Branson, "Screw it, let's do it!"

Quit Over Thinking and Deliver Already

Happy Wednesday Heroes!

Hey, are you like me and have a hard time letting stuff be what it is? I mean spending too much time over thinking and rethinking every little detail? It's a wonder ANYTHING gets done, right?

What is it that makes us want everything just perfect before we share it with the rest of the world? Are we worried that people won't like it? Are we scared that we'll fail? Shit, all of that is inevitable. Not everyone will like what we do, and not everything we do is going to be a rousing success and bring us millions of dollars, so why not just let it be what it is?

That's the million dollar question right there, isn't it? I mean, I know that this probably seems a little bit at odds with what I talked about yesterday, you know, Quality and all, but it's really not. It's about getting your product, your song, your album, your video, or whatever out for others to benefit from. You can always tweak later. You can record another "better" version later. You can enhance, sharpen, brighten, clarify, or whatever, LATER. But what's wrong with getting the idea out there for people to benefit from NOW?

It's really all about killing the resistance that is keeping you from sharing yourself with the world. Think of how you're robbing the world of your gifts by not sharing them. Quit being so selfish already!

The High Price of Low Quality

Hey Heroes!

The Web 2.0 world is in full swing now. Even the most die hard traditionalist CEOs and purist Hipster bands are realizing the power of YouTube. What was once a burgeoning but isolated means of standing out has now been flooded with crap from every glory seeker with a camcorder looking to be the next viral video success story.

Where does that leave those of us who see the opportunity that video and audio products can afford us? How do we get our stuff noticed in the vast sea of mediocrity?

One way that comes up for us, time and again, is quality. Look at it this way. Every single person on the web is using low quality video products. Sure, there's a lot to the argument that timeliness is more important than quality and I do agree with that to a point, however we all have projects that are not hinged on taking advantage of today's news stories. I mean, come on. The video for our new song, the live performance video from last week's gig, the trailer for our new album or book or art exhibit, or whatever. Think how putting in the extra effort in can make the difference between catching the eye or being skimmed right over like the rest of the Internet video chum.

The same can be said for our recordings, bands! What sets your album apart from the rest of the late night discount recording sessions with the local caffeine zombie of an engineer? What does sounding average cost you? What does looking average cost you? The best written song in the world still struggles to be noticed in a bad recording.

A little quality goes a long way and skimping always shows.

Building an EMPIRE off of your left overs.

So, I've been reading a really awesome book and I'm going to have to insist that you read it. Okay, I guess that really won't make much difference, but I do highly recommend it. The book is called Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Check it out for yourself!

It's a great look at taking the bullshit out of business. Awesome read, but what really stood out to me was the section on selling your by-products. It's an idea that is WAY under used in both Indie Music and the Indie Business worlds.

Whenever we create a new product we inadvertently create by-products. If we record a new song, clips can be cut for other purposes (web audio, jingles, background music for commercial use), hell you can even create your own album trailers from it. What else can you use your creations for? What can you do to multiply the impact without multiplying the effort?

Do you film your recording sessions or demos to spread as viral marketing pieces? Acoustic demos can be a great free bonus to your diehard fans, or even as a way to generate more fans. Who doesn't love the intimate nature of seeing the creation process, up close and personal like?

Challenge yourself to find ways to utilize the by-products of your creativity. It could just be the foundation of your success.

New Look!

Hey all,

I've been threatening it for a while now, but I've finally changed the look and focus of the blog.

I've been wanting to start reflecting a focus on how Indie Music and Indie Business have collided and they way they play together. I hope you all enjoy.

No one can sing your praises if you don't hum them the tune

No one can sing your praises if you don't hum them the tune!

This is a funny little phrase that I came up with a couple of years ago, but it's stuck with me.

When I came up with this phrase, it was as a way to remind myself that it's ok to talk about what I do. In fact, it's more than ok to talk about what I do and to even be proud of it. To go even further, it's essential to doing business or making music or whatever I put my efforts into.

I've never really tried to be egotistical, though I've certainly been accused of it. It's not a matter of ego though, to have a high level of excitement about what you do. It's a sign that you have a passion for your work. So what's more natural than wanting to talk about it? To share it with the world? To scream from a mountain top that "This is what I do with my time and I'm totally and madly in love with it!"?

Let's face it, no one will pay any attention to our efforts at all if we're not proud enough of them to shine a big old spotlight on them so the world HAS to take notice.

I love what I do, I'm good at it, and I'm cheating the world if I keep it under wraps. There, I said it!

New look, coming soon!

As you may have noticed, I've been kinda talking a lot about business lately. Well, I guess I just realized that being an Indie musician is just as much an Entrepreneurial effort as any other small business. With that in mind, I'm going to be redesigning the blog to reflect my interest in, not only Indie music, but Independent Business as well.

Please bear with me, and stay tuned! It's an exciting time for us here at Serious Vanity Music and I hope you'll all be a part of it!

Get on with getting on with it!

Pop Quiz hot shot! What do you do when you've planned everything into the ground?

You get on with it and just do it already!

Yep, this last week has been an exercise in getting on with it. It's one thing to think about your growth potential, to talk about how you want to reach new people and make new connections, brag about how you're going to rule the freakin' world, but it's a whole other thing to just shut up and do it.

The best laid plans are nothing but scribbles on paper unless you take the steps to initiate them.

I don't know how many others may do this, but I have a tendency to analyze things to death before I act on them. I guess it's from being raised by parents who were anything but risk takers, so I like to make sure that everything is well thought out and risks are minimized before I take any leap. This isn't always the best way to be though, because I've ended up missing out on some really great opportunities because of a fear to leap.

So, I guess what I'm trying to get at, is that while it's never a good thing to leap before looking, it can be just as bad to over plan and over analyze.

Write that plan well, but then get on with getting on with it, already.

Ingeniously Genuine

I was out just a little bit ago and saw a bumper sticker that kinda stuck with me. It read "Smile...it confuses people".

My first reaction was a little chuckle because it reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite TV shows, NBC's The Office. There's a classic line delivered by the character Kelly Kapoor (played by Mindy Kaling) that went something like "He's so complicated. Who says exactly what's on their mind?"

The more I got to thinking about this, the more I realized that we, as people, have a tendency to over analyze and over think every situation we're in. We've become so accustomed to the idea that people are going to double talk us, cheat us, stab us in the back, or use us that we often times DO get confused when we see that smile.

We live in a world were Business, especially at the corporate level, is assumed to have an agenda to take advantage of anyone and everyone. So, what can we, as Independents, and small business Entrepreneurs do about it?

I know that my own personal solution is to learn a little lesson from those quotes up above. Smile and mean it and always say what I mean. Treating our connections, clients, customers, friends, family, neighbors, and the security guard at the grocery store with the friendliness and respect that they are due is the best, and surest way to build trust and respect from others.

That's my opinion anyway and I think my plan of action too. I do pretty well being my genuine self. Give it a shot!

Being the best you can be, OR Supporting your industry not devaluing it.

One thing that's been a major stumbling block in the Audio/Multi-Media industry in recent times is a huge influx of amateur talent that has started to devalue the industry as a whole. This is being seen in Voiceover, Content creation, Audio, Video, and just about any other creative field.

Why is this, and what does it really mean? Well, here's my take. Right or wrong.

Deep down, we're all creative beings. At our very core, we're all artists, musicians, writers, poets, and visionaries. Some of us just recognize this while others stifle it as, what I've been told time and time again, childishness and pursuits of selfishness rather than beneficial skills.

So, in a down economy, like we've been experiencing and when it's hard to keep a job, let alone find a new one, it becomes more tantalizing for us to start looking for creative ways to make money. We've seen a flood of this in the Voiceover industry in particular. People get wind of someone who makes a good comfortable living doing voice work and think "How hard can that be, you just talk into a microphone, right?".

What's the problem with that, you ask? Well, nothing, as long as they take the time to research the industry, build quality demos, get to know the equipment they need to be using and how to properly use it, learn some basic editing skills, and hone their voice delivery to match the expectations of the industry. That's not what normally happens though.

The norm has become the amateurs who pop up on lead sites and start bidding $25 for a voicemail message or IVR. Now, I'm not saying that rates should stay constant, or even consistently GROW, but there needs to be a connect with companies looking for voice talent that you're not going to get the same product from a $25 talent as you are a professional voice artist. Conversely, you're not going to land a professional talent for $25.

What is the difference you ask? Isn't it all just voice to microphone to computer? Nope, sorry, but it's not. The professional has invested money in quality equipment, to maximize sound and minimize noise. The professional is going to converse with the client about delivery, inflection, pace, and format. The professional is going to provide finished, edited, and enhanced product. The professional is going to guarantee his/her work and still be there when it's time for updates and enhancements. The professional has an overhead, as we do this as a business and not just a weeknight hobby.

As a professional, I feel it's my duty to encourage everyone who has an interest in a specific industry to study that industry. Get to know it, and learn to value it and put your best foot forward. Yep, there will always be a market for cheap, but keep in mind that if you undervalue your work, your clients will undervalue you. It's a guarantee.

Be the best you can be and charge what you're worth, not what you think you can get.

A Time for Growth

A time for growth. Yep, personal, financial, and business. Now that I've got a grasp of what's held me back over the years and I've taken a good hard look at where it is that I want to go, I've decided that it's time to jump feet first into the mix.

It's a really good feeling when you finally realize just how good you are a what you do. Conceited? Not a bit. I fully understand that I'm still very much a student of my Art and have so much that I can learn, and so many great Artists that I can learn from. I don't take anything for granted. It never hurts to have a healthy sense of accomplishment in what you're capable of though.

I'm finally in a head space where I feel like I can move forward in my career and with my business. I know what I want and I'm making up for lost time in figuring out how to get it. I mean, come on, we're never too old to stop learning, right? We're never far enough ahead of the game to take a break and let the rest of our industry catch up. I'm finally starting to grasp the concept of working smarter instead of working harder.

It is time for growth. It's time to be what it is that I've always wanted to be. It is time to realize that I'm capable of it and I'm deserving of it. It's never too late to start growing.

My True North OR Follow the Compass, Dummy!

So, last time I talked about how, with the aid of my wonderful new Anti-Anxiety med, I've rediscovered my focus, drive, and ambition. Such a great thing, right? Yep, it was, but I quickly discovered that now I don't know what direction I'm going. Ain't that a kicker?

One thing about not having my direction in place has been that it's been way too easy for me to follow tangents. To jet off on a high speed chase after something that seemed like a good idea, whether it would benefit me in the long run or not. Focusing in on one little facet of the diamond that is me instead of stepping back and appreciating all the little things that combine to make me who I am.

It's kept me from really knowing who I am. For way too long now.

Even my time spent in meditation hasn't really shown me the big picture, the way it should have. Why, because even in the one place where it's supposed to be easiest to find yourself, I was still hiding. Hiding my self, not just from the world but, well, from myself. Too scared and too accommodating to really delve into my own desires for my future. Too empathetic to put myself first in my own life.

Now that I've got a clearer picture of where I'm at, it's time for me to really decide where I'm going. It's time for me to take a long hard look at my inner compass and trust that it won't get me lost.

Finding my voice

In my last post I talked about my Anxiety problem and how it had manifested itself into a roadblock in my career, but I didn't go into any real details. I thought I'd talk about that a little bit. Why not, it's my blog, right?

My Anxiety was a result of growing up in an often stressful, and certainly chaotic environment. I felt that my best way of coping was to just be as accommodating and quiet as I could be. Often times, denying my own desires and ambitions, to "keep the peace". As I grew up, it showed itself in an unwillingness and even fear of pursuing ambitions or goals for fear of rocking the boat, or bothering someone, or even being denied what it was that I wanted. Better not to try than to try and fail, right? Well, let's just say that that lead to a very unfulfilled life.

There's nothing like having a crippling panic attack in the middle of an intimate acoustic set in a small coffee house, or having to ingest enough beer to be able to even step on the stage that it ended up causing conflicts with other band members.

Worse yet is not knowing WHY. Not knowing what the cause is or if it's just a personality quirk or if you're just really an asshole and you never noticed it before. It's always easiest to blame others for it though. "I couldn't hear the monitors", "The lead singer is just a dick!", "I was just nervous", or a host of other such nonsense.

It also breeds indecision. I've spent years second guessing every thing I've ever done. Is my voice good enough to do lead vocals? Am I really a good enough guitarist to pull off this part live? Should I play punk or should I try to be the next Foo Fighters? Always questioning, always trying to figure out what others expected of me, always looking for why.

It's funny that a little 20mg pill, once a day, has completely changed my life. I no longer have fear and I no longer doubt, and most importantly, I no longer care what others expect of me. I have my focus and I have my drive. I have my ambition and I have my voice, and goddammit, I'm going to use them.

Anxiety and Depression are not things to play around with. If you feel that you suffer from either of these life destroying conditions, please seek help. Tell the people who love you and let them help you help yourself. Your life depends on it.

Fuel for the Muse, or a mental roadblock in the making?

As Artists we sometimes rely on our pasts and past experiences to fuel the creative drive of our Art, but what if those past experiences are holding us back as well?

For me, this was really brought home over the last few weeks. Since as early as I can remember I've been an anxious kind of guy, and over the years it's caused me some problems and it's held me back from doing some of the things that I really want to do with my life.

It's a tough thing to admit, sometimes, that the very experiences that shape who we are may have, in some way, damaged us as well.

If pressed, most of us would agree that we Artist types are a sensitive lot from the get go. We're brooding, quiet, and reclusive as well as creative. Some folks are better able to push that side down and get on with their dreams than other. Those of us that aren't that fortunate tend toward booze or drugs, or for some of us (my hand reluctantly held high), we end up with emotional or mental problems. Anxiety, in my case.

The important thing is to recognize when things like this become a road block to our success and take the necessary steps to change it, whether it's a 12 step program or my, once daily, dose of medication. I've known too many good Artists lost along the way because they couldn't overcome their obstacles. I'm glad I had the kind of support that allowed me to put myself first and take the steps I needed to to get the help I needed.

It's not selfish to put your own interests and ambitions first. That's the lesson that I learned from this situation.

Holidays, a break, and a new lease on life!

Hola Heroes!

It's been a while! I thought about apologizing for that, but it's been a good break for me. I've been weeding out the unnecessary and figuring out what is important in my life and career. Yep, just like the year, out with the old and in with the new.

It's a great thing to take a long hard look at our own actions and agendas sometimes. To question our intentions. To make sure that we haven't bitten off too much or if, just maybe, we're being too cautious. To make sure that our plans still reflect that burning belief that formed them in the first place.

Are you spitting your truth, or are you playing a game? Are you living your dream or are you playing pretend? Life gives us little hurtles and road blocks sometimes as a reminder to check our course and make the needed adjustments. To get us back on task so that we can accomplish what it is we've set out to do, and friends, I'm back on course.

How about you?

I know that I've talked about this idea of self diagnostics before, but I can't help but be a firm believer. To borrow a phrase from Russell Simmons, make 2010 the year that you "Do You!"

Later,