If you are a solo musician, there are tools that you should know about, and have in your tool box. It is best to be prepared for whatever comes your way in the form of gigs, and musical opportunities. In this article I will go over some of the general things in the form of gear, hardware, and software, that will give you an edge in this competetive, and demanding world.
Keep in mind that these are all suggestions, and it depends on your personal circumstances as to what you are, and are not able to obtain.
I will asume that you already have the musical instrument of your choice, and that you have already spent the thousands of hours that it takes to perfect your talent.
There is no way around it!...You get out of it what you put into it.
If you spend the time to perfect your talent, you will definatly reap the benefits.
So,...Lets get started.
I will list all of the items that I have in mind for this article, and where to obtain them.
In some cases, a brief discription on what to do with them.
1. PA equipment: You will need some kind of PA equipment, preferably something small and compact, but of efficient sound quality
2. Microphone: You will need a microphone for the times when you are showing off that great voice of yours.
You will also need a microphone stand.
3. Speaker Stands: I recommend speaker stands for your speakers, to raise your speakers up above peoples heads when playing in restaurants, and coffee shops, ect...
You dont want to drive people away, or blow anybodys ear drum.
4. Promo Stand: You will need a promo stand that you can use to place your promo material, your CD's, and any of your contact material for people to see, purchase, and take as they come, and go.
This can be something that is portable, small and compact, but looks presentable.
5. Tip Jar: I recommend a tip jar, something that, again, looks presentable.
6. Play-a-Long Library: I recommend a play-a-long library for all musicians, especially for solo musicians.
As I have stated in my previous article, "Tips for the solo musician", you can make a living just playing solo gigs, and targeting small establishments.
7. CD, or, Cassette player: You should have a CD, or cassette player with a pitch control to play your play-a-longs through your PA.
8. Computer: If at all possible, you should have a powerful enough computer to record your own CD's.
You can also make your own Play-a-longs with your own style of music.
9. Recording Software: You will need some kind of recording software for your computer.
I recommend, Cakewalk.
10. Soundcard: You will need, in some cases, a sound card for your computer.
I recommend, Sound Blaster Live.
11. Keyboard: I think all musicians should have some kind of keyboard.
There are hundreds to choose from, according to your budget.
12. CD Burning Software: You should have some kind of CD burning software.
Again, there are hundreds of choices.
Microsoft Media Player is free.
13. Business Card Software: I recommend some kind of business card software for your computer.
"Parabim Business Card Builder", is a very efficient one.
14. Musicians Website: Every musician should have a website.
I recommend, "Host Baby", everything you need in a musicians website is here.
15. Internet Promotion Program: A program to help promote your music, and yourself on the internet.
I recommend, "Musicians Power Promotion System".
These are just some of the things that will help you on your quest to be a successful solo musician.
One thing to remember is,...Always Act...Look...and Dress proffessionally.
That first impression can make, or break you.
Just click on the links provided in this article where indicated, and you will be taken to the particular website, were you can find the item.
Showing posts with label starting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starting. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
So You Want To Make Music?
Producing music is something that can be very intriguing, but also it is something that can be very time consuming. It takes a lot of dedication and motivation. Most of the professional music producers have extensive imaginations and years and years of experience.
So if you are someone interested in producing music are you prepared to put in the work?
A lot of people have the understanding that to start producing music you need thousands of dollars in equipment and you need to have gone to school or had some kind of schooling on producing music. This is totally untrue!
You can begin producing music very cheaply. The program (tool) that I started with was very cheap and it is actually something that I still use. It offers pretty much everything you need. It has extensive help guides and tutorials. I definitely got my money worth with this program, it gets put to use all the time.
There are programs like this all over the internet. I recommend starting with one of these programs. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also very helpful. They offer tools that help you produce music, make instrumentals, compose music, professionally engineer and play different instruments. You can easily make beats and play them right online.
Most of these programs are basically mini music production workshops. Many of them also offer hundreds of videos and tutorials that show you exactly how to produce music, the right way.
So get rid of the preconceived notion that you need to spend thousands of dollars and start producing the kind of music you want to be listening to right now!
So if you are someone interested in producing music are you prepared to put in the work?
A lot of people have the understanding that to start producing music you need thousands of dollars in equipment and you need to have gone to school or had some kind of schooling on producing music. This is totally untrue!
You can begin producing music very cheaply. The program (tool) that I started with was very cheap and it is actually something that I still use. It offers pretty much everything you need. It has extensive help guides and tutorials. I definitely got my money worth with this program, it gets put to use all the time.
There are programs like this all over the internet. I recommend starting with one of these programs. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also very helpful. They offer tools that help you produce music, make instrumentals, compose music, professionally engineer and play different instruments. You can easily make beats and play them right online.
Most of these programs are basically mini music production workshops. Many of them also offer hundreds of videos and tutorials that show you exactly how to produce music, the right way.
So get rid of the preconceived notion that you need to spend thousands of dollars and start producing the kind of music you want to be listening to right now!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Music Production Basics
You must take your work seriously, whether it is just a hobby or you are aligning yourself seriously about it, you should take the work involved seriously. I am going to mention a few things now that you should mull over and see if any of the points I make apply to you in any way, shape or form.
Set Time Aside For Your Music
If you want something to be completed you are going to need to give it some time. When planting seeds, they will not start to grow the instant you put them into the ground and bare fruit by sundown/sunrise you need to tend the ground until they shoot and look after them. You need to assign time to specific goals and things you know you need to know. Having set times when you will be practice, whether it is playing, mixing or going over some music theory. You need to put the time in, effectively.
Understand Influence and Understand Incompetence
This may sound a little hostile but it is best to understand this from the start. A musician is like an explorer and they are looking for something new that they can call their own, or another way to look at it would be within a music production analogy; In a mix, everything has its place within the whole audio frequency threshold, if all the frequency were the same yet from different instruments. It would sound terrible. Be influenced by other artists, do not try to replicate them. You can find personal influence in anything at all that you see, feel, touch or hear. You do not need to copy other people's style to be accepted.
Do Not Bankrupt Yourself
When people start out producing or writing music, or even along the way, the number one mistake people make is getting caught up on marketing ploys or being seduced into believing a piece of hardware of software will turn them into an amazing producer or musician without having to gain so knowledge or feel within the area. It will not. You need a basic set up and that is all. Once you have honed your craft you can go and experiment with a little cash. Going along to big stores and trying out all the pieces of equipment is an unbeatable thing to do, you get to see what is good for you.
Set Time Aside For Your Music
If you want something to be completed you are going to need to give it some time. When planting seeds, they will not start to grow the instant you put them into the ground and bare fruit by sundown/sunrise you need to tend the ground until they shoot and look after them. You need to assign time to specific goals and things you know you need to know. Having set times when you will be practice, whether it is playing, mixing or going over some music theory. You need to put the time in, effectively.
Understand Influence and Understand Incompetence
This may sound a little hostile but it is best to understand this from the start. A musician is like an explorer and they are looking for something new that they can call their own, or another way to look at it would be within a music production analogy; In a mix, everything has its place within the whole audio frequency threshold, if all the frequency were the same yet from different instruments. It would sound terrible. Be influenced by other artists, do not try to replicate them. You can find personal influence in anything at all that you see, feel, touch or hear. You do not need to copy other people's style to be accepted.
Do Not Bankrupt Yourself
When people start out producing or writing music, or even along the way, the number one mistake people make is getting caught up on marketing ploys or being seduced into believing a piece of hardware of software will turn them into an amazing producer or musician without having to gain so knowledge or feel within the area. It will not. You need a basic set up and that is all. Once you have honed your craft you can go and experiment with a little cash. Going along to big stores and trying out all the pieces of equipment is an unbeatable thing to do, you get to see what is good for you.
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