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Business Of Music Archives

How to Get Called Back for the Gig (Or Not)
Ask Damian Erskine

How to Get Called Back for the Gig (Or Not)

So I just came home from a recording session and the conversation I had before I split had me thinking for the entire drive home. We were speaking about a few other bassists that the band had tried to use, and the various issues they encountered. The songwriter chimed in at that point with a story about one of the...

How Much Should I Get Paid for Gigs?
Ask Damian Erskine

How Much Should I Get Paid for Gigs?

Q: I gig about 10-16 times a month on double bass and electric and live in a rural part of the UK. Some gigs involve a drive of 50-100 miles for about ?50-75. Do you have a minimum fee for local work, and a max distance you will drive for small bar type gigs? I am trying to find my...

How To Transition to Pro Level?
Ask Damian Erskine

How To Transition to Pro Level?

Q: My question is this: how did you transition to a pro level and play concerts vs. playing bars and functions? I have been playing for quite a few years and have played with some very good musicians out of Berklee and local players, but I always dream of stepping up to the next level. I am lucky to find...

Promoting Yourself as a Bassist
Ask Damian Erskine

Promoting Yourself as a Bassist

Q: I’m currently playing for a punk band that has pretty good local success in that genre, however, having done this for a while I know no band lasts forever and I would like to aim higher. I would also like to get my name out as a bassist available for side projects, lessons, etc. I made a separate Facebook...

QRATES Aims to Get Your Indie Vinyl Into Stores
News

QRATES Aims to Get Your Indie Vinyl Into Stores

You’re a musician and you love LP records. You’d love to press your music to vinyl to enjoy and for the world at large to hear. But even with the resurgence of vinyl, how do you begin pressing your music to vinyl discs, particularly on a small scale? The platform QRATES aims to answer that question. QRATES is a service...

Book Offers Tips on Negotiating the Music Business
News

Book Offers Tips on Negotiating the Music Business

There’s more to being a musician than making music. For many, the music making can be the easiest part of establishing a career. Bobby Borg, onetime drummer for Warrant and a teacher of music business classes at Musician’s Institute and UCLA Extension, has written Business Basics for Musicians: The Complete Handbook from Start to Success to help fellow musicians negotiate...

Making a Living in Music
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Making a Living in Music

I get a lot of questions from aspiring musicians on how to make a career in music. There isn’t one answer to this, and everyone’s circumstances are different. However, below are some of my more general suggestions for those considering a life in music. Specialize I’m usually talking to upright bassists, so I generally suggest they become the “go to”...

Bass in the Spotlight and Overcoming Self-Doubt
Ask Damian Erskine

Bass in the Spotlight and Overcoming Self-Doubt

Q: A couple of months ago, I quit my band and because of the state of the guitarists in my area, I decided to start go small, with bass, drums and vocals. Now that some time has passed, I feel that everything is falling apart, which is depressing. Do you think it is a good idea to put the bass...

Deciding if the Gig is Worth It
Ask Damian Erskine

Deciding if the Gig is Worth It

Q: I auditioned last night for a seventeen year old up-and-coming female country star. She has recorded an album with well known Nashville producer and has hits with a few her songs. I feel it is just a matter of time before she is signed to a major deal. She has everything the new Nashville loves. My dilemma is this:...

Choosing the Right Path for Your Music Career
Ask Damian Erskine

Choosing the Right Path for Your Music Career

Q: I’ve been weaving in and out of bands for a few years, since bassists in my town are scarce. But I rarely find a band I enjoy playing with due to either the members’ personalities or the music I end up playing. As someone who wants to make a living playing music, starting my own band – with people...

Spend Money to Make Money: A Discussion for Bass Players
I Wish I Knew That

Spend Money to Make Money: A Discussion for Bass Players

Yes, that’s right, the words of my college accounting professor ring true to this day. You need to spend money to make money. While we often think of this term in reference to the boring section of the local paper or as the guiding principle behind buying lemons to sell lemonade, it’s impossible to think of any business, and especially...

Setting a Path to Session Work
Ask Damian Erskine

Setting a Path to Session Work

Q: I have been toying with the idea of starting a session band. I have the right musicians, we are already tight and working on our own stuff, but I have started wondering how one would go about promoting themselves as a session musician. I have been trying to get in with some professional organizations locally, like the local theatre...