What is your most pressing problem?
So the original Musicians Mastermind course that has served well over 200 musicians has now closed forever.
But I’m still very keen and excited to share with you whatever I can.
I’m in the process of writing a short, to-the-point, brand new report. It’s going to be free for musicians like you and will hopefully, if all goes to plan, be released on Monday 18th May.
In order to ensure that it serves you where you are in your life and career right now, I’d like to know what your most pressing and burning issues and challenges are.
I thoroughly appreciate the opportunity to hear and share with you what I have learnt over the years and from the experiences I have gained through my own music career as well as that of working with hundreds of musicians every single month for the last four and a half years.
Just leave a comment with your most pressing question - and I’ll do my best to cover it in my upcoming report.
-Kavit
I have a really hard time making solos for songs, on the guitar. Most of the ones I have made just come to me while I am practising the song, but I can’t leave the band waiting in the middle of rehearsing to write a solo… it is really hard, and I think I am doing something wrong. Can you help?
Bill
9 May 09 at 11:51 am
Hey Kavit,
We have just won first place in the R&B/Hip Hop category of the International Songwriting Contest and we are having trouble getting anyone in the press to notice this. We’ve sent out press releases, emails, bulletins, etc. all to no avail. Any advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Jeremy
9 May 09 at 12:00 pm
Like all musicians we want to know how to sell our music faster than we can dream of cutting them. Ringtones, singles, maxi, collaborations, underground, wallpaper, creative pricing and all that nice language. Can you tell me how to make $10,000 with my monster hit track in 90 days?
Listen to EZ EZ on project Kowa C 8 and help us march sponsors…
One more thing you can download the track at http://www.efany.com
Enjoy your day… keep tweeting.
One Luv.
Fred Bardy
Fred Bardy
9 May 09 at 12:44 pm
Like all musicians we want to know how to sell our music faster than we
can dream of cutting them. Ringtones, singles, maxi, collaborations,
underground, wallpaper, creative pricing and all that nice language.
Can you tell me how to make $10,000 with my monster hit track in 90
days?
Listen to EZ EZ on project Kowa C 8 and help us march sponsors…
One more thing you can download the track at http://www.efany.com
Enjoy your day… keep tweeting.
One Luv.
Fred Bardy
Fred Bardy
9 May 09 at 12:53 pm
I am getting a fair amount of gigs now, but most are expenses only - struggling to get well paid work.
John Gerighty
9 May 09 at 1:45 pm
We need to get going on digital advertising supports
such as in bedding in the audio a “Cover art ” with an advertisement , or in the id tag
That way a sponsor could be seen whenever the song is downloaded or played.
Or web pages like myspace or youtube doing paid advertisements giving a kick back to the artists.
Here is a good example
http://www.reverbnation.com/thomasdowswell
All the best
Thomas
Thomas Dowswell
9 May 09 at 2:05 pm
How to secure a better fan base and draw to gigs that I am playing in my area
Demi
9 May 09 at 2:26 pm
My issue is an extension of a chronic problem, the need to be more organized. Even if it came naturally I feel it would be a struggle to keep track of everything from song files and versions to website content, while still being creative and keeping on track.
The other thing I’m struggling with now is finding a way to add unique value to each head of the online hydra: facebook, myspace, twitter etc….
Mojo
9 May 09 at 5:12 pm
Lets see, I have about 600.00 left to my name, im in a State where the Music scene Sucks, and I want to go back up to NY and Make a Good Living Playing Music.
However a Single Room for Rent, not an apartment or house just a room rents for anywhere from $500, to $1000 a month, for a single room.
I have read and did what all the gurus have told me but my life is still going backwards at 10,000 miles and hour and Im currently living in a Barn.
So how can I generate $20,000 in the next month so I can live in a respectable place.
V
9 May 09 at 6:18 pm
hello Kavit
my most pressing problem right now would be this…
how to deal with all aspects of being a professional musician when i am a solo artist..
in particular i would like to come up with a decent promotion plan (online promotion) …that doesn’t interfere too much with my musical activities…
because for instance just adding myspace friends and handling all the answers to messages and comments is really eating up my time i could devote to my passion, inventing, recording and simply playing music..
now i play during the daytime and do my promotions online during the night…as such i have a bad sleeping pattern, sometimes sleeping 2 to 3 hours, sometimes no sleep at all…and then there are days when i just can’t work because i am too tired…
it’s really hard to find the right balance between my musical and business aspects of my professional life
so that’s what on my mind lately…because my myspace activities are reflected on the statistics of another music community website i see that i really can’t make any more progress (in the charts for instance) without having to break my neck doing so..!
hope this inspires you
all the very best
betty donelly
betty
9 May 09 at 7:40 pm
hello I’am having a hard time getting a rich tonial vocal recording and finding the correct plug ins , also knowing weather to record with EQ before or after
Bill M
9 May 09 at 7:58 pm
This didn’t work!! Also, it is difficult to see where to click to get here. But my long comment didn’t show!!
Marlene***
9 May 09 at 9:30 pm
Hi Kavit,
Thanks for an inviting question
Discovering the best most fulfiling way to express and monetize what is essentially at its core a sacred practice…
In short, honoring the free spirit, and the number cruncher without denying either their deeper interests!
The age old artistic dilema I suppose…
Warmly
Sean
Sean
9 May 09 at 11:00 pm
Hi Kavit ,
At this moment my most pressing problem is to balance my time online and offline . I need to make a web presence but to play live is very important to any musician … How to balance the time ?
Thanks supporting musicians worldwide !
Best regards ,
Cebe ( Brazil )
PEACE / LOVE / ROCK’N'ROLL
.
.
Cebe
9 May 09 at 11:21 pm
Hello Kavit,
Thanks for asking but your question is asking for trouble & artists have a lot because we’re going against the nature of art itself in a world where it should be turned into a product. I can’t help but seeing the dichotomy & the growing pressure of turning culture into merchandise which gives merchandise the priority. I’ve even been told that if i’m not successfull commercialy i’m not a real artist! WOH! I’m nothing without art because this is what’s in my heart of hearts & I accept all the sacrifices it demands of me with a smile but it’s a struggle. Maybe you can call it paying my dues. I’m a musician & a fine art painter_ it’s the same for all artistic expressions. So I decided a while ago to give art the priority in my life against the grain but that doesn’t mean problems go away but at least i’m not divided inside, only outside. This reveals to me who I am when I look at myself in the mirror, prefering this until I die but that’s another kind of luxury! Apart from that I’m a total nut case & I love prophetizing that the future will be artistic or won’t be at all.
Jeanne
10 May 09 at 12:42 am
Organization of required paperwork comes and goes - right now I am swamped with bookkeeping, but that will be taken care of.
The most pressing and chronic problem is figuring how to price our services. I have a feeling I am too low for things like concert series and libraries. Some things, like weddings, seem to be about right.
It would be great to have some help finding booking, but whenever we have engaged the services of somebody to do that it has been a disaster.
Fred
10 May 09 at 12:50 am
Hi Kavit,
My biggest issue/problem to solve is how to turn a Myspace friend into a mailing list subscriber, and a mailing list subscriber in to a money spender.
I have signup forms on my space. http://www.myspace.com/stevekopandy and I email the list every week. I believe in my music and I get a hell of a lot of people tell me they love it, but this does not translate to income!!!!
Help!!!
Steve Kopandy
10 May 09 at 6:21 am
Interesting to see we’re in the same boat here!
Steve, I have a tip which I hope you’ll try…
You say you want newsletter sign-ups and I feel this is a good strategy.
I will however not sign up to your mailing list (I actually think you make great music btw!). Why will I not sign up?
Here’s the reason…
E-mail address:
First:
Last:
how did you find out about steve?:
Location:
I want SK Australia news:
I want SK UK/Europe news:
I want SK USA news:
I want SK news for the rest of the world:
I want to be on the ‘Hide and Spy’ mailing list (worldwide):
You ask for all the above information from me and the only benefit I can see of doing this is that I’ll unlock downloads.
I suggest you experiment with the following…
Try asking just for an e-mail address and first name if you can, at least at first, see whether this improves your sign-up rate.
Also, list some of the benefits I get for signing up, free stuff is usually not enough, I want to know which direct benefits I get in exchange for my e-mail address and time.
I want to feel like I’ll be missing out on something should I not sign up. Describe the benefits the downloads will give me.
Getting newsletter sign-ups is no easy task. You have to sell the benefits and give your visitors a real reason to sign up in this a day and age of spam and distractions.
Let us know should you find something which works for you!
Keep making good music.
Marius
Marius
11 May 09 at 1:02 am
Hi Kavit,
my most pressing problem is to record properly my songs!If I can’t send them out,you can!t give me any other advice!My problem is a Mac Dual Core Intel Xeon 10.4 with Logic Pro 8, wich only can record with it’s inner sounds(Apple-loops and intern Midi-instruments)but if I want to use plug-ins like:Spectrasonics:Trilogy,Atmosphere,or from IK-multimedia,the Miroslav Symphonik,program stops and crashes a the time!So before I solve this problems you can’t help me!
Regards,
Robert.
Gigolo
11 May 09 at 1:08 pm
Hi Kavit,
we are having trouble getting anyone in the press and radio to notice us even our song is a hit in charts in Bulgaria and people loves it, the radio music directors didn’t play it as much as possible and some want money to do it. We’ve sent out press releases, emails, bulletins, etc. all to no avail. Other problem is that we have many performances but they are not well paid, so we don’t have enough money to record our songs. What can we do?
Thank you!
Vane
11 May 09 at 2:42 pm
I’ve recorded original work and the mastering process will be completed soon. My problem is conquering fear. I’m an emerging singer/songwriter who’s never played a gig but I’ve received positive feedback on my songs. I suppose open-mic sessions are in order but I can’t decide if I should package my songs “as is” or treat them as demos. What to do?
Robert D. Lee
11 May 09 at 3:18 pm
Thanks for all you are doing to help up and coming musicians such as myself. I am having trouble figuring out the next step. My ultimate goal is to get into music production and I am doing it on a local level. But I need some marketing ideas, especially for the online market, where I can direct people to my website and buy tracks. Also getting connected with A&Rs, managers, agents, etc. seems to be tough; A&Rs only want to hear from people they know or they’ve worked with before. Websites such as DynamicProducer.com and iStandardproducers.com helpe somewhat. Any suggestions??!!!
Marcus Mandersons
11 May 09 at 4:59 pm
Here’s a problem I’m certain no one else has to work around.
How do you grow a career when the majority of your time and money goes to your child with a life threatening illness?
Already my career has taken a 14 year beating and despite that, I have managed to stay afloat as a songwriter and composer. My son is going in for major surgery in less than 30 days and it will be months of recuperating if he survives the operation. Even then, his medical team won’t know if the operation was a success until they see real signs of remission that are long lasting.
So, despite the fact that music has always been my passion and my only source of income, and despite the fact that I am a survivor and exceedingly resourceful, how does someone living under these circumstances grow a solid career that generates reasonable revenue streams?
P.S. In case others haven’t figured this out, touring is out of the question and has been for quite some time now and it will be quite some time before I can consider touring in the future.
P.P.S. I don’t really expect you to have an answer, Kavit, but then again, who knows … you might? If the question is never asked, the answer can never be spoken (or written as it the case here).
Elyse Bruce
11 May 09 at 5:06 pm
How does a beginning band get more press?
Also we are in the Bay Area and are also having problems getting gigs, mostly we don’t have a big enough following yet.
Terri
11 May 09 at 9:56 pm
I am on my way to music and film busines full time.I do not have a web site now. My problem is how i will promote advertise and sell my films and music (internationally)on-line once i develop my own website?
bluechipltd
12 May 09 at 10:02 am
Hi Kavit,
firstly, thanks for your research and ‘new paradigm’ info.
As a songwriter (non-performer)the issue is how to connect with the right people (A&R,Management, Agents,etc) in the ultimate effort to get my material recorded. I have actually contacted many Artists directly through Myspace (with a level of success), but in many cases the decision making as to which songs get onto their album is out of their hands.
Recognising that many Artists are restricted as to what they can record by virtue of being ‘tied’ to a production team, etc; can you conceive of, or know of a current method of song pitching by songwriters to Artists and/or their representatives that is as a result of new developments through the web, internet, or any other related technology, etc.
I’m not sure if this aspect of music falls within your remit and concern, as it were. Any suggestions and new approaches would probably be much appreciated by myself and any writers in a similar position to myself.
Best Regards,
Brian Rice
Brian Rice
12 May 09 at 11:33 am
Kavit…
Honestly my most pressing issues are the feelings that I’m not going to be able to fund my future, and that I’m not going to have enough time to dedicate to making sure my music is presented properly.
I’m working with two other guys and my girlfriend to get our Independent Record Label up and running, and my girlfriend is new to this; I’ve been working with my homies since 2002.
The thing is, we’re trying to put together a collaboration album so that we can use the profits from sales to put back into replication, and also upgrading our own studio. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve spent a few thousand US dollars in our studio, but we are aware that upgrades will be necessary. The biggest issue with this is that we’re three separate creative minds that sometimes have difficulty coming to an agreement that fits us all. I’m very eager to pursue my own solo albums and not have to focus on a collaboration album so much. This is discouraging because I want us to all be successful, but sometimes I feel like its overly difficult with all of us involved.
The main driving factor is evolving our style and making money. That way we can fund and fuel our own solo acts, which should take the edge off of collaborating ideas.
I want to be very unique and march to the beat of my own drum. I have tons of ideas and stories to tell, but it’s difficult to think I have to write these songs.. make the instrumentals.. keep my Myspace page interesting and updated.. setup and run a website, online-store, and keep up with all the social networks I’ve signed up for to ensure I’ve got my own spot.. everywhere. I want to know how I should schedule myself to be the most efficient and not want to rip my eyes out of my head from staring at a screen 8 hours a day, everyday.
Writing lyrics, at the moment is a personal challenge because I can see my own competition is far ahead of me because of experience, experience and some experience… haha you know?
I’m young, only 21 years old, and I want the whole cake.. not just a slice… I want icing and all. But I’m not going to suffer being a hip-hop artist that fell into the “trying to be like….” that so many others are doomed to face. I want to invest into my own success.
I don’t know what to expect from any of this. I just skim through your e-mails until something fits how I’m feeling, e-mails from About.com’s Music Career entries, and occasional sources like http://www.flocabulary.com or http://www.thestateofhiphop.com and try to keep up my edge. I freestyle almost daily and have become pretty damn good if I do say so myself. I just want to see that success in my life. I want to know that it is there and within reach.
I was gonna buy your guides and everything back when it was 17$, but it’s not the first time I’ve spent money on help and didn’t get what I needed out of it… I’m far more impressed with your presentation, so I’m still considering buying, but I just want to make sure I’m gonna get out what I’m hunting for.
I hope you’re the man, K.
I looked through your blog too.
Congratulations on your marriage, homie.
Holla at me.
Kizzle
12 May 09 at 5:39 pm
My most pressing problems recently have been a lot string of financial and personal disasters which squeezed out everything else. Now I’m starting to get back on track and am moving ahead with my marketing strategies.
Nicole Chaplain-Pearman
18 May 09 at 9:06 pm