My video pick for this week is a relatively old one (2013), but a classic in my opinion.
Anybody who knows me, knows I've always had a thing for the French language. I have recently extended that quirk into French Music were I came across Stromae.
Man, I've been listening to his album on repeat. I think the music is absolutely brilliant.
So a couple of people have been asking me about this video I did a while back. So I decided to put it out there again. For those who have been asking and waiting for new material from me-- I'm sorry for the delay but it will be worth the wait;) I promise.
Thanks for your support! OneLove - E-man
So, How do you get signed to a record deal?
In a nutshell...
Doing it on your own is the best way to get signed.
What do you have that a record label would want?
"I have a good voice."
"I can write a good song."
"My mama said I can sing."
"Yo man, I can rap."
"I make dope beats."
If you said any of the things I just mentioned above then you can expect the following.
No. I'm sorry, but that's not exactly what we are looking for. And sadly talent is not enough.
So what are record companies looking for?
1. PROOF
This can come in many forms but the two important ones are Social Proof and Profit Proof.
If you say something online, on your website or social media (and you should have both) do you have an engaged audience that cares and will respond?
If you put on a show or release a single can you turn a profit?
In today's current market, even a little profit is better than none. Are you turning out tunes and shows consistently and keeping records?
2. PROFESSIONALISM
Honestly, I believe that this is the most important of the three because it can determine your success in the other two areas.
It doesn't take talent to arrive at rehearsals on time.
It doesn't take talent to do what you say you will do.
It doesn't require that special "X" factor to show up and put in the hours of work that is required to hone your skills.
But it does require professionalism to do those things and respect other people's time and space.
Calling someone you have never met at odd hours or sending them a text message on a Sunday is not very professional is it?
Do whatever you can to stick out in a professional manner. Showing courtesy and respect for the other person.
3. DATABASE
Do you have access to a database of fans (names, email addresses, cell numbers etc.) that are ready and willing to pay for your music?
If you do. How big is this database and how quickly can you grow it?
If you can start showing numbers that would impress your local bank manager, then I think it's safe to say you're on the right track.
But wait a minute, if I could build a team that could do all of that what on earth would I need a record deal for?
Exactly!
However, sometimes you need to scale quickly in your business and standing on the shoulders of a giant makes sense if you need to reach those high and lofty goals.
Other times small is beautiful.
And Joint Ventures mean more if both parties will benefit.
If you are not bringing any of these three things to the table, then you don't have a leg to stand on. And if you can't manage your on business correctly, how will you know if a record company is doing it right?
So either way, being entrepreneurial is key.
So I'll say it again.
Doing it on your own (first) is the best way to get signed.
Design Credit: Jean-Pierre Gonneau
I have always liked the idea of involving people in the creative process. Most of the time as an artist you get lost in your own ideas and imagination. Which is fun, but it does get a bit lonely. So to take the time to stop and show people what you have been working on is always an eye opener. You get to hear other peoples perspectives and see things from a different angle. This I believe, almost always leads to creates better art.
Currently, I am working on the Soldier.Lover.Poet EP and have re-recorded some tracks that have been great performed live with a band. The first single to be released will be "Makin' it Happen".
And I would love to have your input on the cover artwork.
Take our survey by clicking here.
"Do it from where you are at..."
#RealTalk
This tune is constantly stuck in my head. Now I hope it will be stuck in yours.
You're welcome;)
In April of of this year I had the huge privilege of opening for Gangs of Ballet. An alternative rock band from the warm shores of Durban South Africa. They came to East London to perform at Hemingways and the band really knew how to WOW the audience.
Here are a few lessons I learnt from them.
Disclaimer - There is so much you can learn from opening for established artists that it's hard for me to even condense what I learnt into a bite size readable blog. However, it's better to share than to keep the knowledge trapped in my head.
Years ago our church had a worship workshop clinic that was run by Brad. At the time he was a little known worship leader who was competent on his guitar and had an obvious passion for music. His passion was contagious and regardless of what he was singing if he meant it, he would make you feel it too. Those years of honing his skills have undoubtedly helped him build the confidence to lead the band and most importantly, how to lead an audience.
Lesson: No matter where you are, always be willing to step up and put your art on display.
While having dinner before the show I was surprised to hear that they had been performing their songs for the past 4 years.
Now that was an interesting point because they had only been in the public spotlight for the past 2 years. So that means they had been performing "underground" building momentum for years prior to their national success. One could say that that time spent honing their sound was what contributed greatly to their current success.
These guys are so ready to perform that all they asked me before jumping on stage to perform was how many songs do you want us to perform?
When I replied, "We are here for you guys, the stage is all yours."
Brad smiled and said, "We'll give you all we've got."
Lesson: Know your music like the back of your hand, but treat each performance with the respect it deserves because it maybe old to you but its new to them.
Prior to the band's arrival, much had been made about the departure of their bassist, Hardus de Beer. However, when meeting them and talking briefly about it I thought it was pretty cool that they didn't speak bad of him or view this change as a barrier or a stumbling block. Rather they seemed to use it as a stepping stone and although you could see they were still slightly hurt (It had happened pretty recently), they were determined to soldier on.
Lesson: People will come and go. Stay focused. Stay strong and soldier on.
The songs that seemed to resonated the most with the audience were the ones that had a back story. When Brad was telling the story of how a song came about, or where they were when they played the song for the first time it let the audience feel like they were a part of the journey. This approach added character and depth to the set making key songs more memorable. Now when I play the songs in my car I feel like I connect with the band more.
Lesson: Story telling makes a difference to your approach with an audience. Use it wisely and use it often.
Listen to the Gangs' New Single on Deezer - ALWAYS Or buy it on iTunes by clicking here.
