Hello, everyone. Welcome to the second and final Blogger Spotlight feature of the week. We have a special column planned for later this week and thought a two-day celebration of writers would be a good way to kickoff December. If you have a suggestion for a future column on this blog, or if have questions about Haulix and the services we offer, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
The best websites are only as good as their contributors, and right now in alternative music it is hard to come across a more diverse and talented team than that of Mind Equals Blown. We’ve already told you about the early days of the site, but today we’re going to learn about life in one of the industry’s fastest-growing blogs from the perspective of a contributor who is just starting to find his footing in the music business.
Tyler Sharp is one of the first writers to be featured on this blog that we discovered through our efforts with this very series. We saw Tyler’s name come up when looking at social sharing numbers from recent articles and quickly sought out his work as a writer. When we realized he was part of Mind Equals Blown we knew he had a story to share, and fortunately for us he was kind enough to let us in his journey thus far.
Making a name for yourself in music today is harder than ever, and while writing is definitely a good way to get your foot in the door it can also take years to offer any true returns for your effort. Tyler’s talents have already given him a leg up against his peers, and I have no doubt he’ll continue to succeed in whatever avenues of the business he chooses to pursue in the future. If you would like to informed on everything he has going on, make sure you bookmark and frequent Mind Equals Blown. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.
H: For the record, please state your name, position, and the site(s) you write for:
TS: Tyler Sharp, News Director, Mind Equals Blown.
H: To who or what do you attribute your interest in music? Writing?
TS: Musically, it was the band Underoath who really peaked my interest and essentially helped mold into the person I am today. They were the first band that introduced me to not only heavy music, but music outside of pop culture. As for writing, I have always been an avid reader. I love telling stories and I believe there is an important story to be told with music – I’m just trying to help write it.
H: When you think of your earliest memories with music, what comes to mind?
TS: Growing up I was always surrounded by the music my parents listened to (Led Zepplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Fleetwood Mac, etc.), but I never initially took a liking to music. It wasn’t until I was in the fourth grade sitting in my living room watching Green Day perform their single “American Idiot” on the Grammy’s, that I really began my journey with music. The rest is history, I suppose you could say.
H: An interest in music is fairly common, but a desire to make a career in it is something else entirely. Do you recall the first time you realized the entertainment business was the place for you?
TS: As a matter of fact, I do. I was a Junior in high school, finally realizing that performing in a band for the rest of my life wasn’t exactly the most practical life choice. I had always enjoyed reading reviews of albums and interviews with bands and it just hit me that I could do that. I had never really thought about it before, but it literally hit me like a deer in the headlights one day, and I’ve been working towards my goal of a making a career out of it ever since.
H: You’re currently a resident of Indiana, which is not exactly the first place that comes to mind when people think of the music industry. What can you tell us about your local scene and how you first got your start networking in the business?
TS: I live in the Northwest part of the state, about an hour outside of Chicago. The music scene is somewhat confusing around here. Allow me to explain: Unfortunately, there is a lot of judgement and division. We have the hardcore kids, pop-punk kids, deathcore kids and everyone in between, but it just doesn’t seem like anyone can find a common ground. If your band doesn’t sound a certain way and or you don’t dress a certain way, then you don’t “fit in.” I know this situation isn’t unique to NWI, it’s just extremely disheartening to see so much seclusion in a scene that is supposedly built upon acceptance. Don’t get me wrong, there are some very good-hearted, reputable people here (kids, bands and promoters alike), it’s just discouraging that you have to search for them.
H: Onto your work with MindEqualsBlown. When did you first learn of MEB, and what lead you to apply for a contributor position?
TS: It was around January of last year when I first heard of MEB. At the time, I was operating my own music news-based website, The Scene As We Know It. I realized that while I loved owning a website and having others writing for me, I just wasn’t happy with the situation anymore – it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I felt like TSAWKI had run its course and I had the opportunity to open a new door, so I began searching around for a new website to contribute my efforts to. I first came across MEB in a forum on AbsolutePunk. I checked out the site multiple times before applying, weighing my options. I finally decided that I really liked what they were doing and felt as though I could bring some new opportunities to the table for them – so I applied and am currently coming up on my one year anniversary.
H: There are a lot of sites in existence covering the areas of music MEB is known for. What is it about the content offered by MEB that sets you apart from the competition?
TS: A good portion of our content is editorial based. I’ve noticed a lot of sites out there right now are more concerned about quantity, rather than quality, in regards to content. We try to tackle the major stories and issues in the industry today, but with a more in depth look than other sites may offer. Even our news stories offer not only the story itself, but our opinion and the chance for you to voice yours as well.
H: Like many bloggers, you do not get paid your efforts. Why do it?
TS: It may sound cliche, but I really do just love it. I love working with bands and PR people and setting up exclusives and premieres. I always get this underlying excitement when we break a huge news story or premiere a brand new song for a band. Seeing how much impact I have as a writer on the industry, even if it’s just a little bit here and there, just makes it all worth it.
H: What is the biggest misconception people have about the music industry?
TS: I think a lot of people see the music industry as this idealistic place where everyone plays nice and there’s never any controversy. The music industry is essentially a battle ground and you have fight for everything you can get, because there are a hundred people right behind you reaching for the same goals.
H: In addition to working on MEB, what steps are you taking to further your pursuit of a career in music?
TS: I’m currently attending Purdue University North Central for a degree in Communications. I’m really hoping to make a career out of writing, and I thoroughly believe music is where I’m supposed to be – so we’ll just see where it goes!
H: As someone who writes a lot of news, what is the most comment mistake you see artists make when trying to get the attention of journalists?
TS: Being unsociable. Let’s face it, a generic press-release template that says your band rocks like so-and-so and has shared the stage with so-and-so really doesn’t have much impact on me – and I’m sure I’m not alone. Bands need to get more personable; talk to me about your band, ask about the website, show me that you actually care about getting your name out there. There are too many outfits out there that just assume they deserve all the publicity in the world because they released a somewhat well-produced single, or went on a two week run with one of their “biggest inspirations.” It’s okay to be confident about your band (that’s good), but when you come off as arrogant or conceited, you’ll soon find that you’re not going to get anywhere fast.
H: If you could offer one piece of advice to artists hoping for more exposure on sites, what would it be?
TS: Like I said above, get personable. Talk with people and make connections. Meeting people and making new acquaintances is a huge perk about being involved in music, and I think a lot of people overlook that sometimes. Almost everyone involved in the industry has some sort of online presence, get in contact and open some doors for your band. Sending me a mass message on Facebook telling me to check out your band because you saw that I ‘Like’ this band or that band doesn’t exactly make me want to look into yours. Spark up an actual conversation and see where it goes.
H: When it comes to receiving music for review purposes, which services do you prefer and why?
TS: To be completely honest, Haulix is the only one I’ve ever used! I really love how all the materials are so easy to access and the new password integration is a very nice addition. It’s simple, straight to the point, and just enjoyable to work with.
H: What is your ultimate career goal?
TS: This is a tough question considering I don’t know exactly where I want to go with my career as of yet. I suppose in a perfect world, after I graduate I’ll find myself working for a large music-based publication, following bands around while they’re on tour and writing feature articles on them. Traveling is something I’ve always wanted to do, and fortunately enough, it seems to go hand-in-hand with music.
H: If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
TS: I would definitely change the divisions between genres and fan bases. I mean, I get that if you’re a Trapped Under Ice fan, you’re not necessarily going to jam the new Black Veil Brides record and actually enjoy or respect it. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean there has to be this large gap between fan-bases. If you don’t like a certain band or type of music, don’t listen to them; don’t discriminate against a person because of their musical likings.
H: Before we let you go, do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?
TS: Come talk to me about your band, who knows, maybe you’ll end up on MindEqualsBlown!
