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In the two plus years of our monthly ezine, Event Entertainment
News You Can Use, we have looked at event entertainment and
production from the perspective of the event entertainment
company or client thereof. However, it is the actual musicians
that make the whole system "work". To understand
the perspective of a musician, Dave Rubin examines the mind
of the musician as well as gives tips for a working musician.
Mr. Rubin is a freelance writer for Guitar Player Magazine
and recipient of "Keeping the Blues Alive" award
from the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee." In
addition, Mr. Rubin has begun online blues magazine called
PlayBluesGuitar.com.
Below are his words.
"Professional musicians desiring to make it pay can
be an odd lot. Ambitious to the point of obsession about their
careers, they often harbor deeply rooted feelings of paranoia
about an industry that does not understand their true creative
nature! Why can they not be rewarded for going before the
public and baring their sensitive souls? After all, they worked
hard to perfect their craft, sacrificing family, friends,
and even health to reach a rarefied level of artistic expression.
Many talented individuals are unaware of the unnecessary obstacles
they place before them on the road to fame and fortune, glamour
and girls (or guys, as the preference may be), wealth, and
world renown. Well, a decent living at least."
So how do you successfully compete in these potentially lucrative
markets? Four main areas need to be addressed: material, gear,
presentation, and promotion.
--Material: Rule "Numero Uno" for the modern working
musician is that you must play music for the people, not just
tunes that provide room for exposing your blistering chops.
Give them what they want and you will have leveled the playing
field in terms of competing with DJs. Standards, swing, 1950s
rock 'n' roll, Motown, and classic rock is just the beginning.
If you are able to throw in a little grunge, country, and
appropriate hip-hop, you expand your audience incrementally.
--Gear: The latest digital hardware and software is definitely
required to produce a reasonable facsimile of the hits people
want to hear. Amplifiers (amps), pedal boards, and actual
acoustic and electric instruments you play are still the backbone
of pop music, but a small group (quartet or less) particularly
needs accessible synthetic help to achieve that polished and
produced sound so prevalent over the airwaves today. Speaking
of amps, the modeling variety allow guitarists to accurately
reproduce the sound of all the popular rigs from Marshall
to Fender to Vox and beyond. Outboard units are less expensive
and present the option of keeping one's favorite old tube
combo amp. Keyboardists will want the latest sampling signal
processors, naturally.
--Presentation: Remember, you are in the entertainment business,
so entertain. Always dress sharp and put on a show for the
folks. Once again, you are competing with DJs who do all kinds
of nonsense to keep the party going. Giveaways, dance contests,
humor, and lots of attention to the guest of honor will increase
your marketability at weddings and bar mitzvahs.
-- Promotion: Last but hardly least, promotion is probably
the most important factor in the age of image. Get your public
relations kit together with a great photo and video, a pro
demo that you could sell (or give away), and eye-catching
graphics featuring a band logo. Do not hesitate to play a
number of selected auditions and benefit gigs in order to
get your band in front of the public. Get a website with the
most "bells and whistles" you can afford, as the
Internet will certainly grow in importance as the big engine
that drives the information age."
See Industry News: Entertainment
by the Numbers.
See Micki Free, this
month's featured Artist.
 Mark
Sonder, CSEP is the Chief Entertainment Officer of Mark Sonder
Productions, a leading national entertainment agency providing
headline talent and production services for large venues,
corporations and associations. In addition, Sonder sits on
the faculty of The George Washington University, Stratford
University and Northern Virginia Community College. Event
Entertainment and Production is the book published by
Wiley authored by Sonder.
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