Time to Quit Your Band? (MusicMarketing.com Presents)

Why is this is all they care about, you ask? Well, because this is how they survive. Without that they cannot feed their families and would have to live on the street! And that would suck! Being sensitive to this will go a long way. It is just reality. So if you only play once every 2 or 3 months they will save the date in their calendar and ALL of them will come out at once.

Therefore you will get impress the promoter and bar when you bring all those people to help you fill the room!

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So you are gaining some steam and every promoter in town wants you to play their venue! If one of the bars or bookers in town took a chance on you 8 months earlier example time frame and helped you gain the momentum you have now, going to the other booker in town would piss them off and hurt their feelings.

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They are feeling invested in your career and proud of you, and then you go and take it away from them to play a show with their competitor? This is no good…. Well because they need to grow their business. Their job is to pack a room and sell concert tickets. When they started helping you out 8 moths ago you could only draw 10 people.

You lost them money, but they helped you anyways. They put you on support shows or did extensive postering campaigns to help you grow! They invested real dollars in your success in the market so they could help get you to tickets. Their reason in doing so is so they could fill that room and profit from your growth. You are an investment and partner of theirs now.

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Going to one of their competitors once you are able to draw irks them because of this. Finding the right team is an important process for each band. As you grow, the right people will be attracted and present themselves to you. Making the wrong decision at this stage of the game will only cause you extreme and utter hell. They need to be your bestie, as close as your sister. This is a business partner you are talking about. You have to go through the shitty lows and the awesome highs together.

You need to be as thick as thieves. When management and artist visions are not aligned you see managers going off on their own plans and sometimes upsetting important partners that could help your career. Promoters, potential agents, labels, etc. They represent you, and vice versa. Be patient and the right partner will emerge.

You see it all the time - bands tour with bands from the same label, bands choose their buddies to open for them, or agents put their own roster up for support before accepting submissions from other outside artists.

Everyone has their own business interests in mind in these situations and this is how it will always be. To become more successful. They helped build the success of the huge band, so why not share that love with the smaller band? It will never change. It ties into how you value their time and energy.

It also takes away when you need to clarify statements and industry people like clarity! This will go a long way in presenting yourself as a professional and will leave one less reason for the industry person not to read your email. We get it, you work hard. Your manager is there to pat you on the back and help you get back out there and one day your tour manager, personal assistant, and masseuse will help too. Everyone else — your label, your agent, your publicist, etc. Pulling them away from that and into a negative complaining vortex is not conducive to progress or growth!

Stay positive and inspire your team to push harder! Industry people want to hear about new music from trusted sources — buddies, social media, their favourite radio station, etc. Not from only the band themselves. This validates and legitimizes your music for them. If an outside source says so then an industry person will take a closer look. Think about how you can incorporate that strategically into your outreach plans. The way you carry yourself goes a long way. Industry people have been around the block and can pick up on subtle things. Before you say a word to them they have an idea of what you will ask for, your level of competence, and your value in the conversation.

But, see it as a chance to surprise them. Take pride in being underestimated and blow people away every chance you get. They will shy away and avoid hurting your feelings. Industry professionals are faced with this all the time. Your health is so incredibly important and getting sick will cost you and everyone on your team money. Trashing the place shows a huge disrespect for the promoter and partners involved. To work with them fluidly and get in their good books it would be ideal for you to have an understanding of what their concerns and needs are to do their best work.

I know it can be confusing at first and no one ever properly lays it out, but read lots and ask lots of questions and it will become clearer. This rule is more idealistic, but if you embrace it, it will work wonders for you! Go overboard on your appreciation and respect for your team. The amount of work it takes to develop an artist is ungodly and they could always be doing more.

Show them you really understand that and they will want to work even harder for you. Handle conflict with grace and poise and always have their backs through the tough times. You may have to carry your garbage with you until you find a receptacle. Japan is still a smoking country but more and more places are becoming nonsmoking zones. Look at the signs. It's cheaper and more convenient to take a train. Try to avoid rush hour on the trains unless you want to experience the "coziness" that sardines feel in a can. On the other hand, maybe you should try it - many say that they feel like they're floating in a sea of humanity!

But it's impossible to carry big backpacks or suitcases on local trains in rush hour though. Cars drive on the left side of the road like in the UK and overtake on the right. Don't get caught looking the wrong way or you might get hit by a car. Although some roads may look like narrow one-way streets, they are likely 2-way traffic streets. Be careful walking on the roads when there are no sidewalks. Most drivers can come within a few centimeters inches from you - it's scary, but it's fine.

The standards of proximity are shorter. People are used to coming "real close" without touching. Try to use the foot bridges, tunnels and overpasses whenever available. Bicycles are supposed to ride on the sidewalks or bike paths - not on busy streets. Mostly middle-aged ladies, moms with babies, and students ride bikes. Nobody wears a helmet. Take caution when you hear granny ringing the bike bells or some high-schooler's squeaky brakes! On escalators, stand on the left.

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Pass on the right. Same concept with cars on the road! Doors open and close automatically by the driver. Sit in the back unless you have 4 people most taxis are small and can squeeze 3 in the back and 1 in the front. There's usually a tiny tray green, gray or blue inbetween the front seats where you put your money in.

The driver will take it and then put your change in your hand or back in the tray for you to take. Remember to take it! Remember this "placing money in the tray" thing because it is standard at all stores and restaurants as well - even McDonald's.

Ready to Quit Your Day Job and Be a Full-Time Musician, Artist or Writer?

It's already built into the prices. Don't force anyone to take a tip or tell them to "keep the change". It is embarrassing for them if you offer, and a cultural no-no to accept. Japan is still mainly a cash society so many small places will not accept your credit cards. Many people carry large sums of cash in their wallets. Bring at least 20, YEN cash with you if you plan a night out. Drinks, food and a taxi ride home can cost you a lot. Most business hotels only allow 2 adults maximum per room. Most are nice and clean but small in comparison to American standards. For cheap accommodations in Japan, try AirBnB.

Japan is full of hour convenience stores where you can find good cheap food. A lot of people live solely on convenience store food. All Western food franchises are in Tokyo. Prices are about the same but don't expect any "Super Sizes" on drinks or fries. Silence in conversations is not bad. You don't always have to fill up the space with words. Let the other person take their time to answer.

Many women cover their mouths when they talk or laugh due to traditional customs of not showing teeth or wide open mouth. Take off your shoes when entering rooms houses, hotel rooms, Japanese style restaurants, shrines, temples. If you see a shoeshelf shoetree or different flooring with slippers, take off your shoes and put on some slippers from the shoeshelf shoetree or different flooring. You can tell by all the shoes around.

Slippers should not be worn on tatami mats - take them off and enter in your sockfeet or barefeet best to wear clean socks all the time.