Expert Music Career Advice For DIY Musicians
4 Times You Shouldn't Take the Gig
The Number One Mistake Bands Make Right After Booking a Gig
The Ultimate EQ Cheat Sheet for Every Common Instrument
15 Reality Checks Young Artists Need to Hear

Features, Recording

Sep 22, 2014 11:30 AM

Farah Joan Fard

How to Create Your Own DIY Recording Studio

Photo by Andrew Schwartz

Recording takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of patience. And, for some, it can cost a lot of money. While some artists may spend thousands in studio time before hitting on a tune that sticks, others prefer to gain popularity before spending that sort of money. Today’s technology, mixed with an understanding of acoustics and engineering, can save you lots of time and dough. So if you're ready to create your own DIY recording studio, follow these four steps to make it happen:

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Legal & Money, Musician Success Guide, Music Business 101, Strategies for Success

Aug 13, 2014 09:30 AM

Farah Joan Fard

How to Balance Your Day Job With Your Music Career

Class act musician Janelle Monae has told journalists that she was fired from one of her early jobs for working on band emails on the clock. (Image via KirillWasHere)

Does going to your 9-5 and then playing a gig that night ever make you feel like a Clark Kent/Superman combo? Do you feel like there's not enough time in the day for both your full-time job and your musical duties? You’re not alone. Balancing a day job with a music career can be tricky on so many levels, especially when you're so serious about your music – you want to be dedicating 100 percent of your time to it, but you need some way to pay the bills until you can get there.

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Features, Legal & Money, Marketing & Promotion

Jul 10, 2014 11:59 AM

Farah Joan Fard

4 Reasons Why Giving Away Your Tracks Can Be Priceless

The Gaslight Anthem is one of many bands who have offered a free single to those who pre-order their new album. Photo by Drew Gurian.

If you saw the headline of this article and the words "giving away" sent chills down your spine, I hear your fear. We're all well aware of how often artists are asked to work for free, and I know how seriously you take your music career. With so many conflicted reports that have come out recently – from this past December’s article in Spin regarding Spotify’s payouts, to a slightly disgruntled Grammy-nominated artist revealing his royalty statements – it would appear that the only way artists can survive is if they scrape together every penny they can possibly make off their music. (Be on the lookout, because the digital age is promoting change).

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Features, Marketing & Promotion

Jun 6, 2014 10:00 AM

Farah Joan Fard

How to Be a Good Music Citizen in Your Local Scene

(image source)

As musicians, we’re told over and over again how important it is to promote our work. And while this certainly holds true, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s just as important to be there for our fellow musicians, who – gasp – might actually return the favor! Having a strong support network among your musician peers can go a long way in building your music career, and if you make a genuine effort to support other artists, you’ll surely see the power of reciprocity at work sooner or later. Below, Sonicbids artists offer advice from their own personal experiences to help you get started on the path to being a good music citizen.

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Music Business 101, Booking Gigs & Touring

May 9, 2014 11:40 AM

Farah Joan Fard

Is it Time to Hire a Booking Agent?

Photo credit: Ian Aberle

One of the biggest dilemmas that emerging bands face in their careers is deciding when it’s the right time to turn over show booking to someone else’s (hopefully) capable hands. You may have great musical chops, but when it comes to booking gigs, communication and connections are key. Reaching out to venues is much more than just the copy and paste of a link in an email.

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