The Self-Promoting Musician

Rating:
Summary: Why do many struggling musicians never seem to succeed?
Review: Many of us have heard the expression "the poor struggling musician" and perhaps we wonder why many of these artists never seem to succeed. According to Peter Spellman, author of the music guide The Self-Promoting Musician, "it could be many things: a lack of talent, drug abuse, laziness, etc. But, more often than not, musicians tend to get nowhere because of the absence of a map."

You may be a great musician and songwriter, however, if you don't understand that self promotion as a musician requires a knowledge of effective business practises you will end spinning your wheels and end up nowhere.

Spellman, who is the Director of the Career Development Center at Berklee College of Music, in his easy to navigate handbook spells out what it takes to survive in the music world. Addressed primarily to the self- managed musician, the author expounds upon the various effective business principles that are common to most enterprises, but very often seem to be neglected by the musician.

The guide is divided into four major topics: A general understanding of the music industry and preparation: Finding work: Promotion: Sources of Information. Within these sections there is a wealth of detailed information written in a way that a reader, who may lack any business knowledge, will readily comprehend.

Commencing with the need to use one's imagination, the author states, "ask not where music is sold, but where is music used. When most of us consider the best places to grow a music career, we often think of the stage and the store: the stage is where you perform your music, the store is where you sell your music."

As in all enterprises, be they large or small, a well- prepared business plan is fundamental if you hope to avoid spending years in going around in circles with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Consequently, the author devotes considerable space in showing the importance of the business plan and how it should be constructed. As Spellman asserts, "a good music plan is the map to the fulfillment of your goals." Once you have a good business plan you can go forward and sell your talents and perhaps move up a notch beyond the "gig only" engagements. Techniques are explored related to a variety of disciplines, such as publicity and marketing, securing gigs, networking, where and how to look for work, tapping sources of lesser-known music works, contracts, multimedia possibilities, and internet.

The final section of the book provides the reader with an extensive and invaluable listing of various resources for the musician such as books, magazines and journals, on-line resources, organizations and associations, television and advertising industry guides.

This guide is highly recommended for anyone who needs direction in advancing his self-promoting music career.

This review first appeared on reviewer's own site

Rating:
Summary: Why do many struggling musicians never seem to succeed?
Review: Many of us have heard the expression "the poor struggling musician" and perhaps we wonder why many of these artists never seem to succeed. According to Peter Spellman, author of the music guide The Self-Promoting Musician, "it could be many things: a lack of talent, drug abuse, laziness, etc. But, more often than not, musicians tend to get nowhere because of the absence of a map."

You may be a great musician and songwriter, however, if you don't understand that self promotion as a musician requires a knowledge of effective business practises you will end spinning your wheels and end up nowhere.

Spellman, who is the Director of the Career Development Center at Berklee College of Music, in his easy to navigate handbook spells out what it takes to survive in the music world. Addressed primarily to the self- managed musician, the author expounds upon the various effective business principles that are common to most enterprises, but very often seem to be neglected by the musician.

The guide is divided into four major topics: A general understanding of the music industry and preparation: Finding work: Promotion: Sources of Information. Within these sections there is a wealth of detailed information written in a way that a reader, who may lack any business knowledge, will readily comprehend.

Commencing with the need to use one's imagination, the author states, "ask not where music is sold, but where is music used. When most of us consider the best places to grow a music career, we often think of the stage and the store: the stage is where you perform your music, the store is where you sell your music."

As in all enterprises, be they large or small, a well- prepared business plan is fundamental if you hope to avoid spending years in going around in circles with nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Consequently, the author devotes considerable space in showing the importance of the business plan and how it should be constructed. As Spellman asserts, "a good music plan is the map to the fulfillment of your goals." Once you have a good business plan you can go forward and sell your talents and perhaps move up a notch beyond the "gig only" engagements. Techniques are explored related to a variety of disciplines, such as publicity and marketing, securing gigs, networking, where and how to look for work, tapping sources of lesser-known music works, contracts, multimedia possibilities, and internet.

The final section of the book provides the reader with an extensive and invaluable listing of various resources for the musician such as books, magazines and journals, on-line resources, organizations and associations, television and advertising industry guides.

This guide is highly recommended for anyone who needs direction in advancing his self-promoting music career.

This review first appeared on reviewer's own site

Rating:
Summary: If information is power, then this book is mighty indeed
Review: This essential resource fills a gaping void on the how-to shelf and can save years of frustration, even entire careers. Spellman makes the point clear that, while music remains an art, not simply a product or service, making it in the music world today requires more than talent. It requires business savvy.

This does not mean selling out or handing yourself over to a high-priced manager or publicist, either. By understanding the forces behind the industry, adopting solid business practices, and doing serious self-promotion, musicians can help themselves be seen, heard, and successful. The book begins with an overview of the current and increasingly diversified marketplace, and presents clear advice on finding a niche and avoiding being a victim of short-term corporate profit. A logical system of do-it-yourself strategies is then laid out that musicians can use to take control of their own careers. There are chapters on goal setting, developing a marketing plan, time management, networking, contracts, getting bookings and radio play, using the Internet to promote your music, customizing a demo for maximum exposure, as well as how to put together a press kit. There is also a comprehensive resource list provided, with continual online updates. Spellman places great emphasis on the importance of the Internet as a tool for music promotion. This much-needed volume will help any musician get a firm grasp on contemporary business practices and the modern music world. Jonathan Fine, the Director for A&R, Q Records, writes "Finally a book that clearly states how to get into and succeed in this competetive music business. I wish this book existed back when I was just starting out. It would have saved me $1,000,000 worth of mistakes."

Rating:
Summary: Solid Gold
Review: Wondering what's going on in the music business today and how you are going to survive and propser in the twenty-first century as a musician? Well, wonder no more. Peter Spellman's book is one of the best guides I've seen to the music industry. I wish I would have had a book like this when I was a starting my music career. Peter's insights into the wicked ways of the Big 5 are worth the price of the book alone. But there is so much more here, and readers will want to explore every chapter. This book is solid gold. Way to go, Peter!