Feature Article: Three ways to Make Money While Making MusicPlaying covers, Playing Sessions & Playing LiveRick Goetz, is a kindred spirit who has just launched a brand new consulting firm for artists called http://musiciancoaching.com Rick, like me, has spent his entire adult life in the music business and he is DEAD ON when he says: It is essential that you spend your time building your own business rather than asking for help from corporations based on your talent alone.But how do you build your own business and what specifically works? I got Rick to share a few of his best peals of wisdom I asked him to tell me three things that actually can help an artist begin to build revenue: Playing covers, being a hired gun and working harder on your live show and live show promotion.Selling $.99 singles isn't the answer. In fact, I would go so far as to say that in today's marketplace your single is little more than a business card and your album is just a resume. Both are extraordinarily important but both are just a loss leader for your business. Recorded music is now simply a means of promoting your live show and your songwriting and producing skills. For my $.02 the biggest challenge of being in the music business is staying in the music business without starving.We can all point to an artist who made it big on a single and blew up over night but what about the majority of musicians out there who have been making a living? From what I have seen and experienced the challenge for the working musician just starting out is finding ways of sustaining himself while building his fan base. Complicating matters even more is that usually means finding a gig that has the flexibility that musicians require, the paycheck that covers their basic needs and if at all possible provides something that will help move their dream career forward at the same time. It's hard as hell...but this is what I've seen work. 1. CoversIt's easier to fill a room playing songs that people already know. I realize many of you are likely wincing at the notion but remember The Beatles started off as a cover band. Do I really have to drop any other names? It's a great way to keep your chops up and it really does help to gel a band. Further, it gives the members some more time in with each other with more likelihood of playing successful shows earlier in their career. It also levels the playing field when it comes to the writing process in a group dynamic, which can be challenging at times. If you feel like you are selling out, then sell out only until your own work hits its stride. If you want to make a living selling your own songs to people remember this is just a means to make enough money to put towards that dream while improving your showmanship and range of flexibility on your instrument. Once, when playing a wedding gig, I felt pretty dirty when the cry went up for the Macarena and I delivered as requested but the cash I was paid to play weddings kept my band's rehearsal space paid for that month. 2. Hired GunYou want to be as great at your instrument as possible so don't treat your main band like you would your significant other, cheat like a motherf***ker. Play with anyone and everyone who will have you (provided you are able to carve out enough time to give your main project the time and respect it deserves). You want to play music for a living the trick is to start playing as much as possible with as many people as possible. Be it live or studio just get out there and play. Do it for free at first (if you have to) but get that experience and get as many people to see and hear you play. Every performance and every recording is another trail of breadcrumbs that leads people back to you. Write songs with anyone and everyone you know whose writing you respect. Songwriting is a skill that can be developed just like learning guitar. If you are a vocalist consider voiceovers and do background vocals on as many albums as possible even if it means swallowing yo

Hi Comrades in Music,I feel so cliché even saying this but where has the summer gone? It was just yesterday I was planting seedlings in my garden and now the tomatoes are ready for eating!I got chills down my spine a few weeks ago at The New Music Seminar. They came at the moment Mathieu Drouin, Metric's manager described how he feels at this time. He said (and I paraphase):"It's the opportunity to participate in the ‘new' music business and be one of the creators of the architecture while influencing the artist's destiny that keeps me vibrant and alive in today's new music business."And I couldn't agree more... This is what keeps me from sleeping most nights.I have many colleagues and friends who are also on this mission and each of us in our own way is doing our best to carve out solutions and processes that work.I don't need to tell you that these are uncertain times. When we all started out in this business, we learned specific systems and they worked.For me, as a publicist the process was 7 simple steps that I repeated 1,000 times for over 10 years:1. Write press releases and craft a story with a solid bio2. Stuff 200 - 350 envelopes with CDs and press kits3. Schlep it all to the post office4. Pitch, pitch and pitch, then pitch again 5. Get placements6. Write endless reports for labels and managers who always wanted more placements7. Pitch more - Get placed more(I promise you this does not work at all anymore).So what does work? I have re-invented my whole company and written 2 books about PR in the new music business trying to answer this question and I'm just getting started.I spend a lot of time asking my closest colleagues and friends to help me answer this question and I am thrilled to announce we are getting one step closer.

New Media PioneerMister G of Green Arrow RadioGreen Arrow Radio is an open forehead music show. The show offers a bit of something new with a mixture of world beat and fresh jazz. Also, included is some soulful funk. The entire show is landscaped to change each week.http://www.greenarrowradio.com http://www.myspace.com/greenarrowradio Q: How long have you been broadcasting/blogging?I have been broadcasting in  community and college setting for over 6 years now and i have been "blogging" for about 4 of those years.Q: In your opinion, what does a good song need to consist of?A good song needs to play well with others!Q: What is your favorite band or favorite genre of music and why?Such a difficult thing to narrow down since the desired sounds change constantly based on so many uncontrolled factors.  I don't care much for assigning "genres" to art..either its for me or it isn't....I guess if my life depended on answering this I would without hesitation say that Club d'Elf would be the band I call my favorite since they mix and blend so many varieties of sound into everything they do live or otherwise.Q: What changes in content laws, broadcasting rights, etc. have effected you most?You know, I think I just don't like the meddling of authority on what I am supposed to form my own opinions about.  But as I pay attention to what is going on and follow it to the edges----I just appreciate the opportunity to introduce people to new sounds that I just play along nicely to be able to share.  But ask me again some other time and I'm sure to have a different answer.Q: A recent study found blogs to be more effective than MySpace in generating album sales, do you feel that that is a true statementWell, I hope that my efforts on greenarrowradio.com help generate listening ears which will turn into trying to find out more about the artist..including purchasing some of their art.  I see myspace for me as a great avenue to get people over to greenarrowradio.com and for me an easier way to check out music with the intention to purchace it...even if it is one tune at a time.  More power to all these ways of supporting that something that does seem to unite many.