http://musicians.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2013-05-10T10:12:53Z Fri, 10 May 2013 10:12:53 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/14/opening-band-etiquette-4.htm <p>Being the opening act can be just the trick to gaining new fans and new music industry supporters, but only if you stick to a certain <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/p/musicrules.htm">set of unwritten rules</a>. Most of these rules come back to one point: you're a guest here. The headlining act has more invested in the show - in every sense of the word - so you have to let them do their jobs. Yes, that means your <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/glossary/g/soundcheck.htm">soundcheck</a> may get squeezed and that your set may be a lot shorter than you'd like. You may not always love everything that goes into the being the opening act, but remember to keep your eye on the bigger picture of what you're trying to accomplish. Not sure how to play the game? Keep these <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/gigsandtouring/tp/Opening-Band-Etiquette.htm">opening band etiquette</a> rules in mind.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/14/opening-band-etiquette-4.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/14/opening-band-etiquette-4.htm Tue, 14 May 2013 05:46:59 +0000 2013-05-14T05:46:59Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/10/playing-live-101-3.htm <p>Got a big show coming up this weekend? That means your fan base could seriously swell in the next 72 hours or so - at least as long as you make the most of your gig. What can you do to ensure your shows go well? Turn up ready to play, for one thing, but everything from having a mailing list ready to playing nice with the promoter and venue counts. If you're new to the live circuit, check out these concert tips in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/tp/playinglive101.htm">Playing Live 101</a> to make sure your event goes off without a hitch.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/10/playing-live-101-3.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/10/playing-live-101-3.htm Fri, 10 May 2013 10:12:53 +0000 2013-05-10T10:12:53Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/06/3-things-i-learned-in-my-music-business-classes.htm <p>What are students in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/u/ua/educationandexperience/doyouneedadegreeinmusic.htm">music business degree programs</a> really learning? Here, a current music business student shares three things, in her own words, that she has learned in her music business classes. What do you think of her lessons? If you're a music student, how do these things match up with what you're learning? <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/educationandexperience/tp/3-Things-I-Learned-In-Music-Business-School.htm">Read on</a> and share your thoughts!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/06/3-things-i-learned-in-my-music-business-classes.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/05/06/3-things-i-learned-in-my-music-business-classes.htm Mon, 06 May 2013 08:34:27 +0000 2013-05-06T08:34:27Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/30/5-ways-to-deal-with-stage-fright.htm <p>For the vast majority of people, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/LifeasaMusician/ht/How-To-Deal-With-Stage-Fright.htm">stage fright</a> is part of getting on stage. Most people experience some edginess while they are waiting to perform, and even though you may learn to take it in stride, it may not ever completely go away. For many, that kind of stage fright is annoying but manageable. However, for other musicians, stage fright is downright crippling. You don't have to hang up your musical ambitions because the thought of getting in front of an audience makes your knees weak. If your pre-show jitters are really full-blown panics, seek professional help to develop ways of combating your fears. Once you know you know have the tools to calm your anxiety, you'll feel less anxious about playing. No matter what your level of stage fright, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/LifeasaMusician/tp/Five-Steps-For-Dealing-With-Stage-Fright.htm">these five tips</a> will also help you cope.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/30/5-ways-to-deal-with-stage-fright.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/30/5-ways-to-deal-with-stage-fright.htm Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:06:59 +0000 2013-04-30T09:06:59Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/29/how-long-should-my-radio-edit-be.htm <p>When you're ready to enter the<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/MusicIndustry101Guide/tp/Music-Industry-101-Radio-Basics.htm"> wonderful world of radio</a>, one of the first of the many questions that are sure to spring to mind is how long the song you're pitching to radio should be. The answer pretty much depends on where you're sending it. Gone are the days when commercial radio stations are playing <em>Stairway to Heaven</em>-esque epics - well, except the stations that still actually play <em>Stairway to Heaven</em> - so if you're targeting pop radio, you'd better keep it brief. College radio will give you a little more leeway. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/musicpromotion/f/How-Long-Should-A-Radio-Edit-Be.htm">Get more details here</a> and read on the learn more about radio:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/29/how-long-should-my-radio-edit-be.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/29/how-long-should-my-radio-edit-be.htm Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:42 +0000 2013-04-29T10:24:42Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/27/bands-101-7.htm <p>Bands. They're not as easy as they look. From finding a place to practice to finding a way to get along on the road, it takes a lot of work to make your band go for the long haul. Don't just grab some friends with some instruments and hope for the best. If you really want to make your band your job, follow these tips in this <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/beingamusician/tp/bands101guide.htm">Bands 101</a> guide for help. Does you band have some ground rules that help to make it work for everyone? Share your thoughts!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/27/bands-101-7.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/27/bands-101-7.htm Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:21:59 +0000 2013-04-27T15:21:59Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/22/music-industry-quick-tip-collection-3.htm <p>We're used to talking about your long term goals in the music industry, but what can you do today - like, right now - to get your music career rolling? The collection of music industry <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/musicindustrybasics/tp/musicindustrytips.htm">quick tips</a> are easy and fast ways to give your music ambitions a boost. Browse them and put one of them into action today!</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/22/music-industry-quick-tip-collection-3.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/22/music-industry-quick-tip-collection-3.htm Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:20:28 +0000 2013-04-22T10:20:28Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/15/should-music-be-free.htm <p>My music promotion class discussed this question a week or so ago: is recorded music really just a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/u/ua/musicindustrybasics/freemusic.htm">free promo tool</a> to that should be used to promote live shows? Their answer: unanimously, unreservedly - yes. That is certainly becoming the norm in this day in the music industry, but is that a good thing? When - and how - did recorded music become so invaluable to music fans? Well, let me tell you about another class discussion. The question this time was, "what are you looking for in the artists your PR company will work with?" The answers, in order:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/15/should-music-be-free.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/15/should-music-be-free.htm Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:58:02 +0000 2013-04-15T04:58:02Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/08/age-and-the-music-industry.htm <p>This topic is always one of the most hotly contented on this site - how much does age matter in the music industry? My take is that it depends. Some genres are very age-sensitive. Pop music is almost always a young person's game. Making your first rap album at 50 might be difficult as well - though maybe easier if you got a start when you were younger. In folk music, if anything, age can be advantage. But what do you think? Does age really matter in music - and should it? <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/u/ua/otherindustrycareers/doesagematter.htm">See what other reader have said</a> and share your thought and your own stories of how/if/when age impacted your musical ambitions.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/08/age-and-the-music-industry.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/08/age-and-the-music-industry.htm Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:03:30 +0000 2013-04-08T05:03:30Z http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/01/4-ways-youre-blowing-your-music-internship-maybe.htm <p>A music business internship is a great way to get a footing in the industry, but you get out of it what you put into it. If you have an internship, are you really grabbing every opportunity that comes your way and milking the internship for all it is worth? Here are <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/od/educationandexperience/tp/4-Ways-Youre-Blowing-Your-Music-Internship.htm">four big music industry internship mistakes</a> that you could be making. If you see yourself in any of these, now is the time to turn the ship around. If you have an internship coming up this summer, be sure to avoid these behaviors so you can have the great experience your internship is supposed to be.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/01/4-ways-youre-blowing-your-music-internship-maybe.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://musicians.about.com/b/2013/04/01/4-ways-youre-blowing-your-music-internship-maybe.htm Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:14:48 +0000 2013-04-01T08:14:48Z