7 Tips for Success As an Independent Artist or Band--Without a Traditional Record Deal

Tons of artists and musicians have had it drilled into their heads that they have to strive to get to the Holy Grail of music success, 'the record deal'.  And true, having a major label or entertainment company back and support you can make a world of difference. But getting past tons of other people to get noticed can take an enormous amount of time and effort, and then when you get there, half the time (or more), the record deal or contract offered to you isn't all you thought it would be. There are about a hundred pages in the contract and the label is keeping most of the money in about every category imaginable, and you've usually signed away your rights to the songs you worked so hard to create. So, often it's like getting a job and starting at the bottom again, even though you're on tour and everything 'looks' like you've 'made it'.

 

Now to be fair, there are good record deals that are truly good for both parties, but if you want to keep more of your money, keep control of your music, and you can wait a little bit for 'the big time', you might be better served to strike out on your own. And if you do it right, you might not need a label - or if you decide to 'work with' a major label, you'll be in a better position to negotiate terms that are better and more appealing to you. Here are 7 tips to help you succeed as an independent artist or band:

1)  Make sure you have great material, songs, etc. All the marketing and hype in the world isn't worth a dime if you don't have something that's catchy and relevant in the music markets you want to be in.  To get better songs, study the successful people in your type of music and model yourself after them, attend songwriter nights and constantly work to write / collaborate with successful writers and keep increasing your contacts--statistics show that you're only 3-5 people away from whoever it is you want to talk to -- and someone's going to know that person, it's just a matter of time if you keep meeting people.  And make sure you copyright your material with Form PA for songwriting and Form SR for an actual recording you'll be selling so there isn't any question as to who owns what.

2)  Play as many acoustic, unplugged shows and open mics as you can, in as many good original music hotspots as possible--this gets you out in front of people to possibly connect with, gets you feedback on new material and helps get your name out there.

3) Join music associations and other related organizations to learn and get experience---you do make connections with many of these that can help you. The ASPA is a great place to start.  And compete in any competitions that seem relevant to your style--winning a songwriter competition or some other music contest even ranking highly could open that one door that changes your music career.

4)  Keep an ear out for good investors, if you need some help financially. The more you play shows, the more you'll have people come up to you and talk about supporting or working with you, but evaluate them and what they say carefully, and don't sign anything without competent legal advice.

 

5) Find a way to get really good, professionally produced recordings and pay for radio airplay.  Other than having great tunes, the recording needs to be top notch to be able to sell it or get it on radio. With a great recording you can sell CD's and downloads and make some good money. Yes, quality recording and production does cost more, and often that's where an investor can help (even a friend, relative, etc) or a business loan, but it's worth it if you're planning on making music the rest of your life. Then setup every place possible to sell your music, CD Baby, your ASPA profile (with membership) etc and constantly keep people aware of what you're doing / promote yourself on social media.

6) Affiliate yourself with a performing rights organization (PRO) such as BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, etc. They monitor radio, bars, and just about everywhere else music gets played and they'll make sure you get your royalties.

7) Have a great website presence, with a professional look and feel, easy navigation and a place to buy your music and merchandise. This really helps build credibility and helps investors or industry professionals take a closer look at you when you see a professional website. 

From there, keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities, constantly write and produce new material, update your websites, social media, enter contests, collaborate with other successful musicians, and communicate relentlessly--all of this helps create a name that people can say 'yeah I've heard of you', which is important. Any questions, comment below or send us an email at support@theaspa.com

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

The American Songwriters and Performers Association

www.theaspa.com
Join Free: www.theaspa.com/register

 

Jessica Meuse on American Idol: She's Got a Single Out! 'Pumped Up Kicks' is On ITunes Now!

Top contender Jess Meuse is climbing higher and higher, now well into the top 10 favorite Idol contestants in America!  Her performance of "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People was amazing and done is such a unique way that her version now sticks in your head even more than the original!  You can download that performance here on ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pumped-up-kicks-american-idol/id843579878   Download this tune and you'll see what we mean!

 

This past week she spent a lot of time rehearsing nonstop to make last night's show on American Idol  uniquely powerful and one that will push her even higher. And that's exactly what she did--her version of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" was nothing short of amazing!  Even the judges thought she had moved to a new level of expression and confidence--WAY TO GO JESS!!

 

We appreciate all the support and ask that you all keep supporting Jessica and as she rises to the top EVERY WEEK by voting one of three ways: : http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

 

And don't forget---we're giving away a FREE 1 Year ASPA membership for the most TWEETS / RETWEETS of this message below on Twitter.com!  Already set to 140 characters--just copy and tweet!

 

Vote Jessica Meuse Wednesday! http://www.americanidol.com/vote or 1.855.443.6510 or TEXT number 10 to 83676! #teamjess #jessmeuse #slapout  

 

Rock on Jessica, and keep enjoying that California sunshine!

 

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

www.theaspa.com

Indoor Air Quality: It's a BIG Health Concern for Musicians and Bands

Indoor air quality is a big problem for most of the U.S., with over 90% of households having significant levels of allergy and disease-causing dust, dust mites, mold spores, chemical residues, smoke, and other pollutants floating in the air.  It's a big enough problem that the EPA put out a statement in 2009 and later reiterated it in 2011 that poor indoor air quality is now in the top 5 major health threats that Americans face today, right up there with heart disease, cancer, etc.  Indoor air pollutants routinely contribute to colds, flu, chronic allergies, sinus infections, etc--all of which don't help a musician or artist trying to perform, especially if you're a singer.

And for musicians that routinely play in smoky bars, the problems with indoor air pollution are only compounded. Even if you don't smoke, every hour of second hand smoke you inhale is equivalent to 4 regular cigarettes. So after about six hours, you smoked a pack of cigarettes. Yeah, that's not good, since tobacco is known to contain over 599 chemicals and 43 of those are proven cancer causing agents. And the smoke problem is in addition to all the regular dirt, dust, and other pollutants found in bars, especially those that serve greasy fried foods, all of which becomes airborne, too. 

 

And yes, there are a number of bars and venues that are smoke-free now, which is a good thing, but thousands of places still allow smoke and even if there is no smoke, most of these places don't have good HEPA air cleaners in place--so you're still breathing a lot of stuff that isn't good, including bacteria and chemicals.  And it isn't just the bars--hotel rooms are notorious for having a lot of things floating around in the air that you don't want to breathe.

So what can we musicians, songwriters and artists do to protect our health, since we work in these places and spend a fair amount of time in 'not-so-clean' hotels? Though we can't really control the air in the places we play, there is something we can do.

 

One thing we can do is at least clean up the air at home with a good portable air cleaner from top brands like Aller Air, Austin Air, or Blueair.  Getting a portable HEPA air cleaner has the advantage of being able to take it with you when you travel, as well, so you can enjoy clean air in those hotel rooms, too.

 

This way, by using a quality air cleaner at home and when you travel, you can really cut down on the amount of polluted air you're breathing and eliminate probably two-thirds of any allergy or sinus issues you might be having, as well as cut down on getting sick, which can keep you from working or performing at your best. 

 

A couple of great recommendations for portable air cleaners is the Austin HealthMate Plus Junior or the Austin Allergy Machine Junior--both of these have excellent carbon and HEPA filtration, they're small and portable, and around $400 or less. These are medical grade air cleaners made of high quality materials with filters that last up to 5 years so they're low maintenance, too.  You can check them out here: http://www.airpurifiersandcleaners.com/austin-air-cleaners-and-purifiers 

 

Oh yeah--this site offers free shipping on all products, as well as discounts if you're a member of The ASPA (a music association with songwriter competitions and other benefits!)

Any questions, contact us at support@theaspa.com or call 1-800-701-2513

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

Best Quality, Low-Cost Multivitamin for Men & Women: FutureBiotics Hi Energy Series

I personally have tried literally a ton of different vitamins over the years, from one end of the multivitamin spectrum to the other in both number of ingredients and cost, and finally, I think we've got one that really does a great job as a natural holistic supplement, without overdosing of certain factors, but giving covering all the important bases and giving you a solid, steady stream of smooth energy throughout the day (and night for us musicians).

 

 

The product we're talking about is the FutureBiotics series of multivitamins for men and women, musician, artist or not.  For men, you want the Hi Energy Multivitamin. This formula again, covers all the main vitamins and cofactors you need, in some very good absorbable forms, as well as an energy-oriented herbal blend that includes Ginseng and Octacosanol, two proven fitness and performance enhancing factors that you will feel the difference the first day you start using them.

For women, the FutureBiotics Advanced Women's Multivitamin Energy Plus is a great formula, with Dong Quai, Ginseng, Chlorella, 600mg of Calcium and again, a good assortment of all the important vitamins and cofactors to supplement your diet and give you a good steady stream of energy throughout the day. 

And both of these Futurebiotic energy multivitamins  are cheap! We're talking about $15 for a 40 day supply for men, and about $13 for a 60 day supply for women!  And they're getting consistently great reviews from customers! 

Best place we've found to get these and other supplements is iHerb.com  And by clicking THIS LINK, you'll automatically save at least $10 on your first order, plus you can also refer other customers and end up getting your vitamins for free or even making money!  They've got all the best natural vitamins and other supplements at killer cheap discount prices, free shipping, and obviously a great way to get your vitamins even cheaper or free!

If you have any questions, comment below or hit us up at support@theaspa.com

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

One Key Nutrient to Help Keep Your Body Stronger and Improve Performances: Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's)

Most of us, especially musicians, work very hard physically and mentally--it's just a fact of life.  Musicians, however, are sometimes at a little more of a disadvantage because the tough schedules often causes us to have to eat fast food or consume a diet that isn't balanced very well with all of the key nutrients. As I'm sure you know, if we don't feel our best, the performance isn't going to be our best, either.

 

One particular essential nutrient (termed essential because your body doesn't make it) is EFA's or essential fatty acids. Without going into a ton of detail, we're talking about the Omega 3 6 9 essential fatty acids found in things like flax seeds, salmon, olive oil, etc.  It's tough enough for most people to get enough of any of these in their diets and even tougher to get just the right ratios of omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.

 

These essential fatty acids (EFAs), however, are crucial for proper nerve function, fat metabolism, energy production, and even brain health, and not getting them regularly in the diet eventually leads to problems in those areas, and many others. In fact, a full 1/3 of the weight of the human brain is composed of Omega 3 fatty acids.

 

And since your body uses these fatty acids for various cellular needs and reactions, if you don't get it in your diet, where do you think it's going to get it from?  Exactly--it robs these substances from your brain and other tissues, which explains why over time people that don't get these nutrients in their diets regularly eventually have a breakdowns in brain and other bodily functions.

 

Solution?  There is one supplement called Udo's Oils that gives you these oils, in perfect ratios. Taking these can even heal and reverse a lot of health conditions. For more information on these EFA's, read this: http://udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/fthftk.htm  We think you'll be amazed at what you read.  And for the best deals on these and other supplements, we recommend iHerb.com click HERE to check them out--using this link, you'll get a discount on your purchases and can even earn rewards, free product and more by helping them spread the word.

We hope this article helps strengthen you and your performances. Please share if you found this information helpful!  And comment below or email us if you have questions!

 

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

A New Social Order for Musicians, Songwriters & Artists: The American Songwriters and Performers Association

If you're a songwriter, singer songwriter, musician or related performer, you've probably used Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace before to establish a profile, keep in touch with your fans, and help spread the word about your music.

 

Well, as most of you know, there are things about all of these other social networks that are rather aggravating for most people, not just musicians or artists--such as all the game requests and all the stuff you really don't want to see. A lot of clutter, really, and not focused on the needs of a musician, songwriter or performer. We have some great news for you: We've created what we'd like to call a 'new social order for musicians, singers, songwriters and artists: The ASPA. 

 

The ASPA (The Amercian Songwriters and Performers Association) is an organization / social network that is just for musicians, artists, bands & singer songwriters to bring opportunities, some cool ways to interact and collaborate, plus give you member discounts on products and services you can really use, and a lot more coming, like a classified ad section, a file sharing function for collaboration, music industry pros and venues as members, maybe even an ASPA retirement program, and a whole list of other things we think you'll find very valuable. All of the good stuff you like about Facebook, Myspace & Twitter, tuned for musicians, but without all the 'stuff' you don't like--no game requests, none of that.

 

And we're about to offer an amazing ASPA Competition section, where we'll soon be starting our ASPA Singer Songwriter Competition, where you can win full professional recording of your EP, possibly even a whole CD, with some radio airplay! 

 

Sign up for a free profile, take a look around and give us some feedback!  We want to include things that you want to see and use!  Here's where to register for a free profile: http://www.theaspa.com/register  And please invite your friends to take a look and sign up, too!

 

And hit us up at support@theaspa if you have any questions or suggestions!

 

Rex Murphy, Owner

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com

4 Things to Help You Reach Your Audience While Performing

No, we're not talking about advertising or websites in this article. When we say 'reach' your audience, we mean connecting with the audience in a memorable way. When you're singing, playing or performing, there are quite a few things to stay focused on to help make sure you deliver that 'wow' performance, but three of the most important ones are:

1) Stay In The Moment--that means, keep yourself mentally and physically connected with the song, the meaning of the lyrics and think about them while you're singing or playing. This helps you deliver the song and it's message in a more 'real' way, otherwise it can seem to the audience like you're just acting or playing a part, or faking it--and that's not what they want. When you check out mentally, it shows in the performance and people feel that.

2) Move--there's an old saying 'motion leads to emotion', and it's true in music performance. The more you move, the more your performance will move the audience. If you wonder why your audience is just 'standing there'--are you? 

3) Use Dynamics--this refers to singing or playing with different levels of intensity, constantly varying between those, getting softer or playing lighter for more 'intimate' sounding times, louder for more aggressive parts of the song or lyrics. Vary between single notes and chords or chord fragments too, both as a performer and as a songwriter, as this keeps things interesting and your listener's mind 'engaged' for longer periods of time. Yep, that one is scientifically proven, as well. 

4) Be Aware of Your Spirit and Project--this might seem tough to understand for some, and understood by many master performers, but not typically taught-- but it is something that can make a big difference: Try to visualize your voice or musical notes flowing out into the audience and running right into people like a wave. Once you can master this, you can 'push' with intensity and 'hit' your audience harder, and believe me, if you do this right, they will feel it. Sometimes focusing your eyes on different areas of the crowd while mentally affirming that your transmitting or projecting your spirit can also help with this magical trick.

We hope this article helps your performances reach your audience more than ever before. Please share if you found this article helpful!

If you have any questions, comment below or email us at support@theaspa.com

Rex Murphy

The ASPA

http://www.theaspa.com