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By Thomas Gauger
After working with countless acts from America's Got Talent, top TV talent
and as a former talent booking agent for one of the largest talent booking
agencies in the world, there are a few things that I've learned through the
years. Best isn't always best, and those who deserve it, quite often don't
make it for a number of reasons.
As an up and coming artist, you want to know that you're making the wisest
decisions possible as you try to accelerate your career. Having been at this
for a few years, you begin to wonder, what is it that it takes to propel my
career forward and cut through the sea of other artists that barrage the horizon.
You know you've got the chops, you've got the endurance, you've got everything
it takes, but somehow, you feel like you're missing something - you're missing
a critical piece, if you could just somehow pull that out of the hat, you'd
be almost there.
As a young artist, trying to break in most of the time starts as exhilarating,
then slows to a frustrating crawl. As artists, many of us wear our feelings
on our sleeves, we tend to connect well with others, but most of us, if we're
honest, aren't that good at the business side of the equation. If you could
just concentrate on your music, you'd be set - I've heard that I don't know
how many times. And while that may be true, the other side of the coin, needing
to be savvy, on the business side is that much truer.
So what does it take and how do I become
business savvy if I want a career as a recording and touring artist? It starts
with you do and ends with you don't. And you're saying, "I was looking for some real answers and the
truth be told, it seems, I'm the problem most of the time anyways in terms
of getting to some real solutions." Maybe so, but there are things that
you could and should be doing right now that would focus your energy and put
you in front of the pack.
First off, how really good are your CDs and songs? I'm not talking good, we're
talking they need to be great. This is where you absolutely start. You critique
your music, not from your friend's or family's point of view, but from a perspective
follower and buyer. Your music can not just sound like so and so's and be re-hashed
productions of someone else's hits. Mastering is key and unfortunately, with
the reality of affordable keyboards, computers and recording gear, comes the
torrent of badly recorded and mastered music. So many are over using their
loudness maximizing plugs, that they are destroying the dynamics of the original
recordings which leads to little dynamic range, harsh on the ears, with the
sound of being generic, no ups and downs - it's all in your face, all the time.
That coupled with putting the computer on loop based auto pilot, spells the
recipe for generic and lack luster.
You must have not only great music, but it must be mastered properly. The
other part of this equation, is originality and true music with substance.
There is so much music without any spine to it, that if it gets anywhere, it's
a flash in the pan at best. Some of you are saying, well I'd settle for the
flash in the pan, and that's fine, except most won't even get to this level,
because they don't have substance in their writing that moves the listener
so greatly, that they just have to go out and buy the album.
The next question, is how good is your
press kit? Your press kit needs to exude a confidence and consistency with
all of your social media that you're trying to establish. And your social
media ought to be driven by a paid professional. I am constantly amazed at
the lack of professional press kits. This is where you draw the potential
label, booking agent and promoter to come to the table. They like your music,
they like the whole vibe, and if your press kit is consistent with your great
CD and music, you're close to them circling the wagon. And once you do a
live showcase and promote your stage abilities, they're really interested.
Make sure that your press kits are more than "I play at this
club and I'm the middle child in my family," etc. You'll need to be creative,
without being unethical, in creating a press kit that is engaging and promotes
your career about who you are. You may opt to have a real professional draft
your entire press kit.
As we close this article, we will write more as we know you all of questions
and as you think about the different aspects of this article, it will draw
you in and possibly create even more questions. Feel free to email any questions
you have in regards to your career and where you are headed. We know that pushing
your career over the top is a priority and if we can help answer any of your
tough questions to get you moving in the right direction, we'd be happy to
do it.
Mr Gauger is the founder of Vocal Careers and is a Grammy nominated producer.
As a former talent booking agent with the William Morris Agency, Mr Gauger
is also a widely known TV writer with credits on major soaps as well as a music
supervisor and works with acts from America's Got Talent and X-Factor. His
articles can be viewed on 100s of websites and he may be contacted at http://www.vocalcareers.com |
