I speak in codes
20 April 2009 Del.icio.us Technorati StumbleUponShare

One of my friends suggested I discuss what it is that I actually do as far as the business of music goes... how I write songs, how I organize concerts, how I record, etc. I ruminated on the subject for some time before I realized how difficult it would be to describe, almost as difficult as maintaining the discipline necessary to be a modern musician. I hear "no" a lot, which is why persistence is vital. Persistence does pay off - I just got an email from MTV asking me to send in my albums.

I could go on about how I have been involved with music since before I can remember being conscious. Although without the Internet I wouldn't have been able to teach myself how to play guitar. I could go on about how every song I write originates from my environment rather than my imagination and I steal quite liberally - "Fall in love again" is a rip off of The Beatles song "If I fell" in my mind. Likewise "Go back" is a cheap rip off of "Hey Jude". They may sound nothing alike, but to me they've got the same essence. Booking a live show is very tedious. I set up a database of venues and make cold calls all day, follow up with a demo and literature I put together and hope I get someone that knows what they're doing and has the authority to schedule live music at their venue.

Essentially it comes down to good old fashioned hard work. I put in the hours practicing, I put in the hours learning how to record, I saved up my money and got the equipment I needed, I put hours upon hours into research about booking, marketing, and promotion. The whole time I have to be able to separate the art (writing, recording, performing) from the business (booking, distribution, promotion, and marketing). It's just a lot of work - like starting a new business, I have to put in about 80 hours a week to make a living at it and must think of clever new ways to bring in money. CDs just aren't enough anymore. It's doable if you are dedicated and disciplined. I would love to focus solely on the music though.

These days it's difficult to give your music away, but I am doing just that. You may have noticed a place to enter a "code" on the left-hand side of this website. I am doing a social experiment of sorts - at Lynchburg Music, The White Hart, and Speakertree Records you can pick up a code card which will allow you to download an advance copy of my upcoming album for free. The code works five times so you can share it with a friend. Sign up for my mailing list (top right) and get even more free music!