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How many musical ideas are you sitting on?

Hard drives, notebooks, napkins, journals, voice memos, Garageband sessions, all  filled with starts, riffs, ideas, maybe even more, but all of sits unfinished.

Why is that?

I find that after the initial inspiration of the idea in that moment, going back and crafting of the final product becomes a period of self doubt and criticism that paralyzes me into putting the song away, and most times never to return to it again.

So that’s where Fuck it, Ship it, comes in. It’s an idea taken from the tech world that says set that deadline and release your product. essentially that being done is better than being perfect.

I know some people will argue that music/art is not software (depends on the software). But I’d argue that is an excuse musicians use to sit on music until they forget how to play it. Fuck it, Ship it doesn’t mean making crap –You always strive for the highest quality but it does mean that you have to put it out.

Music Consciousness
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YES. Yes. Yeeesssss. You should be making Lyric videos.

Why? Because PEOPLE LOVE LYRICS. After searching the actual song, fans will search for your lyrics. People love lyrics. They want to sing a long. Make their lives easy. Make lyric videos.

HOW? Do you have a Mac? Then you probably have enough power to open up iMovie and start hacking away. Check out the three videos below for more inspiration.

Vampire Weekend:

Justin Timberlake:

Metallica:

Music Consciousness
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Patti Smith is a legend. A poet, musician, author, and constant culture creator, Patti Smith has been blowing minds (or not) since the 1970s and knows a thing or two about being an artist. Some choice quotes:

“Be concerned about doing GOOD WORK”

“Build a good name and your name will be it’s own currency”

“Stay strong, stay healthy, because there are a lot of challenges ahead”

Music Consciousness
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Vine is here, and although it’s not perfect, it’s probably the biggest thing to happen to social media since Instagram. We called it last time, saying that Instagram was going to be huge so trust us and just go download Vine app for your phone.

SO WHAT IS IT? Vine is the best way to share short video. It’s 6 seconds of whatever you like. It’s embedable, it’s muted by default, aaaaand Twitter is behind Vine. Who else is going to get video right? Facebook? I don’t think so.

“But wait!” you say, “What about YouTube?” It’s true, Vine is no YouTube replacement, it’s simply the evolution of documenting your life’s experience. Now instead of still life, or only sound, you’re bringing them together in Vine.

So why should you use Vine?

1. Twitter owns and runs Vine…Meaning it’s not going anywhere for a while.
2. Vine is new and has not hit a saturation point…Meaning you can get followers engaged in your content if you post engaging content
3. It’s an EASY way to bring video into your world especially if you’ve been weary to try video before.
4. It’s Fun as hell too.

Music Consciousness
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Modest Mouse is a band that you probably already love. The Lonesome Crowded West is an album you probably already love. But if you’re wondering how a band goes about taking over America in the late 90′s then this documentary will teach you the ways. WATCH IT!

Music Consciousness
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We did it. The New Rockstar Philosophy successfully crowdfunded over $10,000 to cover costs associated with printing the book.  But what a long and winding road those 31 days were. We rushed some things, forgot some things, and pushed very hard, and had a huge learning experience.

One of the main things that we learned (again) was that 80% of our funds were came from people we knew in some way or another. Personal  connections who came together in big ways. It’s amazing how far your friends and your family will carry you.

At first I underestimated how many people I would personally know who would donate to our campaign. Those 1st and 2nd tier connections are the ones who are the most excited about the story of your rise and want to see you succeed….duh.

But a turning point in our campaign was when we engaged our business friends to get rewards that were bigger than simply a book. One $150 donation took about the same time and effort as a $20 book, but it got us to our goal a lot quicker. So don’t underestimate how much your friends will help, especially if you can create a rewards package that will be lucrative to those folks with something to promote.

Once again THANK YOU!

Music Consciousness
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March has been a busy one for us at The New Rockstar Philosophy. Not only have we been running our crowdfunding campaign, but we’ve been down in Austin for SXSW and in Toronto for CMW. You can read some CMW highlights in Hypebot in the near future but I thought I’d share some of my personal realizations from SXSW this year.

South by Southwest is so much more than a music conference. It’s an all encompassing music mecca that brings together a rabid international group of music, film, and tech lovers. But having been here multiple years in a row, I can tell you that there are some classic mistakes that fresh bands make. Below is a list of them and some solutions if you’re planning on making the trip.

1. Don’t hand out CDs

There is so much swag coming at a SXSW attendee that your carefully printed cd is probably not only going to miss the mark but most likely it will be discarded within 12hrs.

Solution: Hand out cool download cards. Cheaper for you, easier for fans and a better idea for the earth.

2. Don’t stay at a hotel

Hotels around Austin are understandably quite expensive during SXSW. For many indie musicians this is out of their budget. Especially if you’re anything over a 3 piece.

Solution: Use a service like Air bnb. There are plenty of good Air bnb deals around Austin. It may take some planning and an early booking but it’s worth it. Also it’s very easy to make friends in Austin. Make a real connection and you could have a couch to stay on next year.

3. Don’t forget to document your trip

Take photos and videos of your trip and make sure your fans are updated on the festivities. It’s a no-brainer but in the hunt for free beer you can easily forget to document the whole thing.

Solution: Keep your iPhone close and keep your charger even closer.

4. Don’t forget to connect with your targets

There are plenty of label, management, blog, etc, showcases in Austin. Although it’s fun just to go where the free beer is it’s not necessarily the best career move.

Solution: Pick who you want to connect with and get out to those events and connect with real humans. The attendees of these showcases are naturally talkative, don’t be afraid to ask some question and spread your music.

5. Don’t stress if your showcase isn’t packed

Sometimes, even with a million people on the streets there can still be pockets of empty clubs during certain times. Don’t stress. There’s an ebb and flow to all showcases. Sometimes that one person who stuck around, who you went to introduce yourself to, can be the key to your future.

Solution: Talk to the people that are there.

6. Don’t stress about the sound of your showcase

It’s inevitable that with so many bands, changing over at showcases so quickly, there will be some sound issues. It looks weak if the band gets rattled because of poor sound.

Solution: Keep calm and carry on. You’ll win over more fans if you can roll with it than you will by throwing a temper tantrum.

7. Don’t forget to budget cash

Although there is a glut of free food and beer, you will be spending money on that sort of stuff, plus transportation and other obvious expenses.

Solution: Having a budget and sticking to it will help you immensely as the days and nights go on.

8. Don’t forget to put some sort of visual sign on stage

So many people swing by showcases randomly because they like what they hear. Who the band is, is often not obvious. Big hype bands can get away with having no signage but you’re at SXSW to gain fans.

Solution: Your band’s name on a drum skin, a tasteful banner, or any other cool simple way of having your band’s name on stage while your playing is a must. Make it easy for them. Have your band’s name displayed somewhere.

9. Don’t forget to come early and connect with Tech folks

Tech is where the money is. Coming earlier in the week is a good idea. Playing earlier in the week for the tech folks is even a better one. This trend of blending Tech and Music is becoming more apparent every year because it’s a good idea.

Solution: Come for the last few days of Tech.

10. Don’t expect to blow up from your SXSW showcase

Finally remember that SXSW doesn’t launch careers like it used to. If you have hype coming into the event, expect it to grow but don’t expect to be on the front page of Pitchfork from one showcase.

Solution: Keep your goals in check and keep a positive attitude and you’ll go far.

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Help Raise $10,000 to cover costs of The New Rockstar Philosophy Book!

The New Rockstar Philosophy has been around for 5 years and we’ve been giving away our game-changing content to all readers who were embracing the digital evolution. In that time we’ve managed to:

• Release our ebook in 2010 to thousands of downloads.
• Had a fan translate it into Italian
• That fan turned out to be the engineer for the MUSE, Tommaso Colliva
• Tommaso helped get The New Rockstar Philosophy published in Italy in 2011
• The New Rockstar Philosophy won Best New Book of the Year in Italy
• In 2012 signed a collaborative partnership agreement with book publisher Indie Ink to get the physical book out in stores
• But what we want to do now is go that final step. We need your help to cover the costs of getting The New Rockstar Philosophy printed in English.

With the deal we’ve signed with Indie Ink, we’re coming into the process as partners. So we want to extend that partnership to you because you guys have been asking for the physical book since the beginning.

What You Can Do:

Order Your Copy of The New Rockstar Philosophy via the Rewards.

You’ve always wanted to help us out and have a copy of the “real” book. Here is your chance to do both. Plus we have more than just books to offer as rewards. But before we get there let’s explain exactly where this money is going. We need to raise $10,000 to pay for:

• the first run of printing costs
• the art work for the cover

Yep it’s that simple and straight forward. The coolest part is that through this campaign you’ll get a chance to pre-order the book before ANYONE ELSE. You’ll be the cool kid on the block!

What Your Support Means:

The New Rockstar Philosophy has had a long and interesting journey to get to this point. We’ve been trying to ignite new thoughts in our readers minds for 5 years. That’s like 15 in Internet Years. We didn’t know where these ideas would take us but we kept going. With your support of this campaign will help us:

• Keep The New Rockstar Philosophy alive and going with new ideas and content
• Expand our coverage to more music industry events
• Share and spread the New Rockstar Philosophy ideas and help more bands transform their love into a full-time income.
• Prove that the online world is a viable and real alternative to going the traditional route.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

The biggest reason The New Rockstar Philosophy has grown so much is because of people sharing our content. If you think any of your friends could use the New Rockstar Philosophy please tell them about our campaign and share it with them.

Thank You!

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Greetings folks,

Although the blog has been a little more quiet recently, we’ve actually have been working extra hard as of late. SOOOOOOO many things have been happening. Here’s a brief update:

1. PHYSICAL BOOK – IN ENGLISH – AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO BUY
   Yep, caps is necessary b/c this is the big one friends. If you’re one of the countless folks who’ve ever emailed us asking us where they can get a “actual book” then you’re in luck. Coming very very soon is The New Rockstar Philosophy to your bookshelf!
2. CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN  – This Friday we are launching our crowdfunding campaign to raise $10,000 to cover the costs of producing the book. To kick it off we’ll have 2 sweet bands, tons of beer from Great West Brewery and a rockin time down at Village Guitar. More details in the next 24-72hrs.
3. SXSW 2013 – The New Rockstar Philosophy is going to SXSW 2013 again. Last year we met up with our friends from Mission South, Popstache, Zu, and many more. This year let’s do it up even bigger. Drop us a line if you want to grab a beer.
4. Canadian Music Week 2013 – The New Rockstar Philosophy is going to be officially launched at Canadian Music Week in Toronto this year. We’ve already reached out to some of our favourite Tdot folks but if you’re in the area and want to talk then let’s make it happen.
5. NARM 2013 – We’re going to Century City this year to do some chatting and meeting with some of the music industry’s top people and check out tons of cool new products. Come say hi.
6. New interactive iBook - We’re working with a great developer to create the most interactive version of The New Rockstar Philosophy possible. Coming to an iPad near you this book is going to add another layer of sweetness to your New Rockstar Philosophy Experience. ===But currently the regular app is down from the app store :/  We’re working on it. Geeze give us a frickin break here.

This is just the start. 2013 is going to be a huge year for The New Rockstar Philosophy. Thanks to everyone who helped make this crazy dream a reality especially You!

Music Consciousness
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I recently interviewed Steve Dodd, a musician based out of Calgary who’s had  a lot of success with TV and Film placements.  As more and more artists want to get into this world, I thought it would be cool to get an insider’s perspective on how it works and how he got into the game.  It’s lengthy but informative!!  Classic tale of working hard and being in the right place at the right time…

Enjoy!

Enter Steve…

What’s Your Story?

I’m 42. I spent the 90′s on the road playing guitar for rock and metal bands, with Saskatoon as home. I had a blast, but after some years went by, I began to notice that a lot of the musicians we would regularly run into on the road were broke and getting run down and looking older.

As my 20′s were ending it occured to me that I’d better think of ways to keep playing music as a career because the road might not provide the career fulfillment I  want.  I went to an audio college in Ohio ( happy wave to any Recording Workshop grads out there) and set out buying my own recording gear and recording every band I could find in every garage or basement in Saskatoon.

After ruining  30 or so albums for people, my girlfriend (now my wife) and I moved to Calgary in 2003, where I worked at a music store. One day, one of the guys in the music store tells me he’s got this TV audio gig that he’s sick of because it’s tiring him out. I tell him “I’ll take it.”

For a year I woke up at 3AM, got downtown to CityTV, mixed the morning show, drove to the music store (changing clothes in the car), worked 8 hours, drove back to CityTV to mix an evening entertainment show, home by 11PM. Repeat.

Eventually I got on with CTV and spent 5 years mixing tv audio. News, etc. Was it music? No. But at least I was doing something I went to school for. During this time, I had decided I wanted to be a composer. The easiest part of my years playing in bands was writing music. I was always one of the musical idea guys in my bands, and I never seemed to run out of them. I thought it would be cool to be the guy writing (and recording) the music of tv and film.

So I decided that instead of finding a band here in Calgary (I’d spent half my life in bands by this point – I was happy to take a break) I would start writing music that would make sense for film. I would make up challenges for myself: “synth heavy dance floor club – shaking music” one night, “sensitive string chamber quartet” the next, ” country hoe-down” another night… this was an exercise – that maybe nobody would ever hear – me just constantly working on something, playing and programming all the instruments.

Before I knew it I had a pretty good sounding demo, so I began knocking on production studio doors. Any multimedia company, post house, music studio… saying hi and drinking their coffee. I began supplying some production companies music for tv shows like A&E Biography, Inside Hollywood, Hollywood’s 10 Best, etc. etc. and writing music for clients at The Beach Advanced Audio here in Calgary.

Eventually a friend connected me to my publisher in L.A. who supplies music supervisors at MTV, Lifetime, HBO, etc. Jersey Shore, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Married to Jonas, Catfish, Punk’d, Mob Wives, Ridiculousness, The Theo Fleury Story and Supernanny are among the shows using my music.

How did you get your first licensing gig?

I did a friend a favour – He needed a song demo’d for inclusion in a film. The same publisher asked him for more, and he introduced us. This publisher would ask me for 2 of something; I’d give him 5. If he mentioned something in passing “… if you ever want to write some electronic pop…” and boom I’d have 3 for him 2 days later. I kept over – delivering until he came to rely on me a bit for certain pieces and shows. I got to meet him face to face for dinner and a very insightful discussion when I went to Los Angeles a while back.

What are music supervisors/creative directors looking for?

Generally they are looking for a few key things – some of these are within your control and others are not. They generally want the piece of music to “get to the point” rather quickly – no 2 minute intros here or slow reveals – those are for your solo record! Keep harsh sounds to a minimum – icepick guitars or super-high screechy strings are always a bad idea.

Songs I submit end up sort of like this: Part (A) with basic rhythm section and main melody, Part (B) Complimentary part, similar instrumentation in a key relative to Part (A), A breakdown – maybe kick, shaker, bass, and keys playing main motif, then end the whole thing with Part A really big, adding more instrumentation.

Keep “soloing” to a minimum, unless it’s the song melody. And don’t fade it out!! Editors LOVE what we call a “button ending” that ends with a stop. Boom. Watch shows – editors cut to that all the time.  This way, the composition gives video editors a nice choice of 4 different sounding music parts for 4 different scenes, but none of them venturing too far from each other. The trick to writing this is the mindset of “If they dig Part A, let’s not kill the mood by straying too far with Part B”, etc.

Notice that what I submit isn’t really a fully-realized traditional song? No bridge, no solos, no long intros.

Music supervisors generally prefer to deal with the publishing house… and can you blame them? I wouldn’t want to deal with the artist either, because this is about an end result, not the art. When a publisher has lunch with a music supervisor, They will bring a hard drive with hundreds of music pieces on it to give to the supervisor. If the supervisor uses this music, the publisher-and I- make money. This is called “back end”.

Rarely does anyone pay me up front for music – if it gets used on a show, 9 months later it’s on my SOCAN statement on payday. If you consider that the average reality show uses 70 + music cues per show, it would be impossible to meet with the artist for each of these. Supervisors have to get all their music from 2 or 3 publishers in order to meet show deadlines.

Does location matter to getting a deal in the digital world?

Years ago I would have answered that it doesn’t matter where you live, but I actually think that it does. Or at least that it very much CAN. I think that in music (in my experiences anyway) your path to success is not linear; if you work very hard PLUS you ran into that guy you did a great job for PLUS you impressed a production company in town etc. etc.

All of these things can seem like a combination of your knowledge and work ethic, but also some random coincidence opportunities that very much would or wouldn’t happen because of where you live. Let’s put it this way: it’s better to live where there is something going on than somewhere nothing’s happening. This alone CAN increase your opportunities.

To me, nothing replaces face-to-face. The internet is a great tool – I transfer files daily – but making a good impression is a forgotten skill I think. When I went down to L.A. to meet my publisher, I know that buying some drinks and talking about the business left a better impression on him than an email ever would.

How has the music licensing world changed in the last 5 years?

I think the main way licensing has changed in the last 5 years is the amount of cues being used in shows. It’s pretty much doubled or tripled. In today’s economy, reality shows are common because they’re cheap. They don’t have to pay Friends stars millions per episode, they don’t really need a traditional “script”… all they need is a small shooting crew, and some editors, and a ton of music that tells the audience how they’re supposed to feel. They can’t afford to license popular songs (and they don’t need to) so I’d say that it’s prime time right now for licensing music, more than ever.

What advice would you give aspiring musicians wanting to make a go of music licensing?

Make sure everything you write is registered with SOCAN (*this is in Canada, ASCAP and BMI in the U.S, other countries will have their own). Embrace your strengths, and showcase them. Watch the shows you aspire to have your music on, taking note of everything from instrumentation and style to chord progressions to how quick the songs reveal their “hook”, etc. and emulate those a little bit. Keep in mind I’m talking about writing instrumental music for tv.

If your aim is to get placements with your vocal songs, there are two ways to see things: If these songs are your artistic pride and joy that weren’t written to make tv money but were written as your personal art, consider getting a membership at TAXI – a huge agency that sends out publishing opportunities daily – from record labels to tv placements to tv commercials, etc. for all types of music.

If you’re writing vocal songs for placement on shows, know that it is very rare –  but possible – for an unknown vocal song to be featured on a show, but you should still do what we all do – a demo, LinkedIn, a webpage, a TAXI membership, check out great blogs like this one, knock on all doors, and be willing to wake up before and go to bed after everyone else.

Follow Steve on LinkedIN