Used to be, when I was a much younger man, playing in a band was fairly easy. You called up a bar, or went by there, and talked them into putting your band on for a gig, for very little money. You put up some homemade posters at places and hoped people came to the gig. In my 30 plus years in the music biz, SO much has changed. These days, it's a totally full-time, (meaning over 10 hour days) job, and in order to keep your costs down like any small business, I have to wear a bunch of different hats. At any given time, I might be the manager, the booking agent, the social media director, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, music publisher, copyrighter, travel agent, tour manager, mechanic, janitor or carpenter. And for a few minutes today, I'm a blog writer. The list goes on and on. Not that I'm complaining. I asked to be a musician LONG ago. :) I'm just musing on how different things are now from back then.
It's pretty much the same with every growing small business. Skinny Molly has been a band for 9 years, and it's still a constant growing experience. These days, I'm most concerned with the music, and reaching the people that we think would like our music. But in order to do that, lately I've had to put on the handy man hat, and remodel our studio. And I've had to break out my social media "skills" and constantly try to come up with fun, attention getting posts and info on our various sites. Most of the time I enjoy doing different things. But sometimes, with all the tasks to be done, it can be easy to lose sight of the music itself. I have to make sure that doesn't happen, and it can be difficult. Last Thursday, I realized I hadn't played guitar or wrote for "real" in a couple weeks. That kind of thing will never happen again. I wasn't happy with my last performance, andI blame it on not keeping my playing sharp. I didn't have TIME to keep my playing sharp, due to spending so much time working on a studio to play guitar in. Kind of ironic? I thought so. :) So I've got to manage my time a little better and not be so obsessed with getting one thing done. The studio DID come out great though. :)
Lately we've managed to get some great people helping us. Sylvia Blaauw helps us with all things web-related and does a great job. We've recently hired Drake Swaw as guitar tech and he does tons of other things as well. So it's coming together! Your continued support as a fan keeps us in business. This has never been lost on me or the rest of the band. We are always here for our fans! This isn't lip service. I mean this! So if you're the social type, or even if you aren't, come hang out with us on Facebook or twitter! Come to a show! Get involved in our contests (we have a KILLER contest coming up this summer) We're happy to interact with our fans old and new, and have a great time!
Until next month!
Thanks!
Mike
It's pretty much the same with every growing small business. Skinny Molly has been a band for 9 years, and it's still a constant growing experience. These days, I'm most concerned with the music, and reaching the people that we think would like our music. But in order to do that, lately I've had to put on the handy man hat, and remodel our studio. And I've had to break out my social media "skills" and constantly try to come up with fun, attention getting posts and info on our various sites. Most of the time I enjoy doing different things. But sometimes, with all the tasks to be done, it can be easy to lose sight of the music itself. I have to make sure that doesn't happen, and it can be difficult. Last Thursday, I realized I hadn't played guitar or wrote for "real" in a couple weeks. That kind of thing will never happen again. I wasn't happy with my last performance, andI blame it on not keeping my playing sharp. I didn't have TIME to keep my playing sharp, due to spending so much time working on a studio to play guitar in. Kind of ironic? I thought so. :) So I've got to manage my time a little better and not be so obsessed with getting one thing done. The studio DID come out great though. :)
Lately we've managed to get some great people helping us. Sylvia Blaauw helps us with all things web-related and does a great job. We've recently hired Drake Swaw as guitar tech and he does tons of other things as well. So it's coming together! Your continued support as a fan keeps us in business. This has never been lost on me or the rest of the band. We are always here for our fans! This isn't lip service. I mean this! So if you're the social type, or even if you aren't, come hang out with us on Facebook or twitter! Come to a show! Get involved in our contests (we have a KILLER contest coming up this summer) We're happy to interact with our fans old and new, and have a great time!
Until next month!
Thanks!
Mike