Tag: How To

Tips on How to Have Better Cello Performance

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date September 20, 2019

Just like any other instrument, getting better at playing cello takes a lot of practice and techniques you deem fitting to have a superb performance.

It’s not just about the number of hours you spent each day to practice compositions, but also maintaining good posture and knowing how to properly handle and take care of your cello that would make you a good cellist.

Here are some tips on how you can get better at playing cello whether you’re just a beginner or amateur:

TIP #01 – PROPER TUNING

You may think that this should be a rule of thumb by any cellist, but many forget that before playing the cello, you should have tuned it properly. A slightly out of tune string can ruin the quality of the composition you desire to play. Nowadays, cellists make use of cello tuner for ease of accurately tuning the instrument. The trick in tuning is starting at the highest to the lowest level.

TIP #02 – SCHEDULE PRACTICES

As what scientific studies show, creating a routine for a specific task eventually leads to a habit. That’s why it’s advisable that you set a practice schedule instead of practicing anywhere and anytime you want.

You should ensure that your practice place is free from any forms of distraction, may it be devices, human voice and whatnot. There’s likely a chance that these distractions might refrain you from achieving your goals.

TIP #03 – BE YOUR OWN MOTIVATION

Do not seek motivation from anyone or anything except for yourself. No matter how much motivational talks you watch and read, it would be all put into waste if you don’t have the heart and mind to actually be good at playing cello. As what would any cellist advice, just get up and start playing. There’s no better day to play than today.

TIP #04 – BE CAREFUL WITH THE ROSIN

One of the common mistakes few cellists make is putting too much rosin on the bow. Applying more than the required amount can prevent the bow from smoothly gliding into your cello. Aside from that, it can cause off tune sounds making the performance loud and out of place. The advisable amount of rosin that you can put is at least five (5) strokes for every performance.

TIP #05 – BE PHYSICALLY PREPARED

Aside from setting your cello appropriately, you should also prepare yourself as parts of your body would be essential in producing quality performance. As much as possible, keep a healthy lifestyle as it can help you to concentrate more and clear your mind. It’s also ideal that you keep yourself active through simple exercises for it can help you in having steady composure in long hours of practicing.

TIP #06 – LEARN BASIC SCALES

Knowing the basic scales is important in playing cello for various reasons. It helps you to properly position your bow and ensure that you’re always on point in the changes of bow directions Aside from that it helps you to check if you’re in tune and if your hands are properly holding both the cello and the bow.

TIP #07 – ALWAYS HAVE FUN

In learning anything, you should always savor the journey. If you only have the mindset of just getting through it, the journey might be frustrating and painful. But if you’ll enjoy every failure, backset, and every second of getting your body and mind in touch with the cello, the path towards becoming a good cellist would be worthwhile and memorable.

These are just some of the tips on rocking a better cello performance. You can always come up with your own techniques on how to improve in playing cello. Always keep in mind that there’s always room for improvement so it’s important to practice everyday.

Tags Cello, How To

Artist Advice News Writing Tips

How to make the most of a song or album premiere

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date February 7, 2019

With competition fiercer than ever, you need to be sure your next premiere has a meaningful impact.

How did you discover the last band that changed your life? Did a friend or family member introduce you? Did you catch them at a gig? Did an algorithm determine the artist or group was something you might like based on its knowledge of the last thousand songs you’ve played?

The music industry has changed. Consumers no longer rely solely on genre gatekeepers to determine the next big thing in music. Robots can do more to predict someone’s next favorite artist than even the most talented writer, and those machines are growing smarter with each passing day.

The days of blogs regurgitating press releases with copy and paste tactics to garner massive followings based on a falsely earned association with speed or authority are history. Today’s music fan learns about their favorite artist’s latest happenings from the artist’s official channel on any one of the numerous popular social media platforms. If not there, they can get the same news regarding tours or videos or studio time or really anything from the band members’ accounts or their label’s accounts or their publicist’s accounts or the venues where they’re playing or…you get the idea.

The days of blog exclusives are also mostly extinct. There are still countless blogs running so-called exclusives from the myriad of bands from all corners of the Earth every day of the week, but anything of value is almost instantly reblogged by everyone else, often without crediting the source. That change has lead many to accept far more pitches for premieres than in years prior. Sites that used to be highly selective are now forced to take on more premieres in order to reach the same traffic goals.

The only content that matters anymore is original content. In the case of premieres, that responsibility extends to both the artist and the author. The greatest song ever written can vanish into the depths of the Soundcloud and Bandcamp abyss if it debuts on a site that doesn’t care about the material. The artist’s fans will still care, of course, but they were going to care anyway. The fans are visiting for the song, and they will never visit again unless the site has something to offer beyond the material.

Unknown artists have an even greater need for talented writers. Exclusive content premiered through the right site can go a long way toward helping local acts gain national or even international attention. Excellent writing can make people click content they otherwise would scroll past, and it can get readers thinking about the music presented in a way they might not have previously considered.

James Rhodes of FiXT shared the following thoughts on premieres for this article.

“I think the premiere culture is a 2-way street. Both parties (artists/labels on one side, press outlet on the other) are looking for a value exchange. The artist/label wants some amount of exposure to a new audience along with receiving the credibility/recognition for being covered by the press outlet. The press outlet wants to cover content that will bring them engagement from current followers/readers as well as a new audience from the artist/label they are covering. But merely posting a song as a premiere doesn’t really move the needle anymore, at least for most young or developing artists (heck, even some established artists). Sometimes a press outlet doesn’t add any opinion to the piece, they just copy/paste what is given to them. As a label, I want the press outlet to provide some credibility and acknowledgment to the artist/music by having something positive to say about it, that would excite their readers to care about the content.

To do it right takes time/planning and time is merely the least available resource for all parties as well. Frequently, the reality is, a premiere is done just for the sake of having a premiere to satisfy the artist and we’d better just releasing the song direct to fans on Spotify and posting on our own socials. Sometimes we do a premiere with a ‘big’ outlet and literally gets tens of plays in the first 24 hours on a YouTube Video when we could have had thousands or tens of thousands if we just made the video public on YouTube. Other times, the press premiere is overwhelmingly positive and a win/win.”

Rhodes has an excellent point. As simple as it may seem, sites and artists often get what they give when it comes to premieres. Rushed content produces underwhelming results, as does writing void of passion. You cannot expect anyone to care about the content you don’t care about yourself.

There are also many intangible hurdles. Just because you share content on social networks does not guarantee reach. Having a plan in place to promote content beyond the initial posting can help, but there are still limits. The chances a single feature makes or breaks an artist are low, but that is all the more reason to care about making each element as impactful as possible.

Additional ideas to encourage engagement include:

Sharing new updates with your mailing list.
Teasing new content with audio or video clips shared on social media.
Paid promotion on social platforms.

Logan White, a contributor to Substream Magazine, suggests artists consider pairing premieres with other essential releases.

“I love tying in the premiere to another piece of big news. Sometimes that’s an option, and sometimes it not. It doesn’t dictate whether I do a premiere or not, but it’s great to be able to give fans something else to look forward to. Especially for new listeners who are checking the song out, and the band for the first time, if they dig it then they immediately have something to look forward to.”

Molly Hudelson, another music journalist, emphasized the importance of artists aligning themselves with sites that care about their music.

“Where you premiere a song is huge. If an outlet is selective about what they premiere and is a voice that your audience values, this matters more than a premiere from a site that isn’t selective or doesn’t have a voice that connects with your fans. Premieres “just because,” with an outlet that doesn’t hold significance, won’t help.”

Whatever you choose to do moving forward, do it with purpose. Select the where, when, and how of your future premieres just as carefully as you select the music you share. The work is worth the reward, and that goes for everyone involved. If anyone says otherwise, run the other way.

Tags How To, Marketing, Music Marketing, Premieres, song premiere

News

The Essential HaulixDaily Content from 2018

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date December 28, 2018

2019 is upon us. As the music business slowly returns to normal, we wanted to take a few moments to reflect. The past year has been a busy one for us. From traveling the country to appear at conferences and colleges, to creating a wide array of content covering our changing industry and the best ways to navigate it, we did our best to bring you a little bit of everything.

Everyone knows music professionals are busy so we wouldn’t blame you for being unable to keep up with our every post or activity. Instead, we decided to compile our favorite posts from the past twelve months and present it here for easy access.

Use the links below to catch up and prepare for the year ahead.

Inside Music Podcast:

Industry Advice and Insight:

Writing Advice:

Advice For Musicians:

Piracy Reports And Stories:

Editorials:

Tags advice, best of 2018, Best Of The Year, Essential Content, haulix, How To, Journalism Tips, Marketing, Music Business, music industry, Music Writing

News

How Artists are Creating Albums with Haulix

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date November 30, 2018

The internet has given us many gifts. Among them, the ability to connect with like-minded people from all over the world ranks as one of the best. Anyone with access to the internet can find people with similar interests and work together to build something great.

Brockhampton, the Billboard-topping rap group/boy band, is a good example. The members found one another through an online music forum and began working on music together before they had met in person. That initial connect has since spawned multiple albums, numerous sold-out performances, and press from seemingly every important entertainment publication in existence.

The problem for many trying to develop a band or group through the internet is sharing ideas without allowing incomplete tracks to reach the public. Soundcloud has no security measures beyond easily shareable links. YouTube has the same problem. WeTransfer and Dropbox are good, but they still require a lot of effort to access material, hear it, download it, update it, upload the changes, and share it once more.

Haulix is a superior solution. Though known as a hub for new and pre-release music promotion, Haulix is also used by many music professionals to aid in the development of songs by allowing artists and their team to share material still being refined without fear of piracy.

Let’s use an example to further illustrate this approach:

Red Springs is a metal band featuring members located all over the world. The vocalist lives in Chicago, but the bassist and drummer live in London. The lead guitarist is from Spain, and the rhythm guitarist makes their home in Southern California. Getting together for practice is no easy feat, but getting together to write and work on new material is financially impossible.

To make their metal dreams come true without risking member changes or extreme debt, Red Springs use Haulix to share new and incomplete ideas. The drummer and bassist record scratch tracks and upload those files to Haulix as a new promo. Once complete, they invite the other members of the band to stream, download, and review the material. The other members then use their unique access links to engage with the ideas.

From there, each member of the band can add their own part to the material or choose to create and upload an idea of their own. Those members then share their latest work with the group, allowing everyone to access the content and work on new ideas or suggestions on their own time.

Once their latest material is complete, the band can schedule studio time or work on properly recording their material themselves. They can continue using Haulix to save songs as they are complete, and in doing so push their band forward without worrying about conflicting schedules or time zones.

Every new Haulix account receives one-month of service for free. You can visit the company website to review their plans and find the one that best suits your needs. Cancel anytime during that first month, and you will not be charged.

Have questions? Email james@haulix.com for more information.

Tags 2018, Advise, diy, How To, Making an Album, music, Music Business, Record, Recording, Recording Tips

News

Journalism Tips: Coverage Confirmations 101

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date August 24, 2018

If the first goal of every young music writer is to gain access to albums from their favorite artists before those records arrive in stores, then the second goal is usually to see those artists in concert without paying the cover charge. Yes, free admission to concerts and festivals is one of the perks of writing about music, but just like advance access to music, it’s a perk that doesn’t necessarily have to be extended to you.

No show or event is truly free to writers. Your currency in these exchanges is your voice and whatever audience (aka reach) you have through the outlet that shares your work. Upon receiving confirmation that you have been added to the list of any event you are entering into an agreement that you both will attend the said event and that you will write about that event in a timely manner. For example, if you attend Van’s Warped Tour on Monday after promising a review to PR then it should not take a week or more to post that review online. If it does you will risk straining your relationship with the PR that granted you access in the first place. More importantly, you will develop a reputation that extends beyond that one relationship and follows you where you go in music. The industry may seem large to outsiders, but it’s actually quite small, and everyone who knows anyone will come to learn of your lack of follow through.

This is about good business as much as it is respect. People will get upset if publicists do not reply to their requests in a timely manner, but see no problem dragging their feet to complete content that was promised in advance of receiving a coverage confirmation. Those who respect others and their time/work will, in turn, receive the same respect.

Rey Roldan, the founder of Reybee Inc., recently wrote the following on coverage requests and confirmations from the perspective of a publicist:

If you request music or tickets from a publicist and promise or confirm coverage, it’s your duty to make good on it… and if for some reason or another, you can’t keep your side of the deal, it’s only respectful to let the publicist know. Don’t ghost them.

It’s understandable if you hated the show or the music and you don’t want to cover it because of that reason. But let the publicist know, so they don’t constantly hound you for the link.

If you confirm an interview date and time but something comes up and you can’t make it, let the publicist know ASAP. Don’t wait for the time of your interview to tell them that it’s a no-go. It only makes the publicist look bad and could create tension in your relationship moving forward.

If you get confirmation of guest list or photo passes to a show (especially the bigger, higher profile shows) and can’t make it, let the publicist know as soon as you can. There’s a chance that the publicist can use your spot to give to another writer/photographer who was cut from the list. We, publicists, do sometimes check guest lists after the show to see who showed up and who didn’t.

If you are requesting tickets to a show with multiple artists, either send one email with all the publicists on copy or make sure if you get confirmed on one list to let the other publicists know you’re all set. If you are on multiple lists for the same show, it can prevent other writers/photographers from covering that show. Or if we publicists cross-check our lists and see you on it more than once (or worse yet, see multiple names for the same outlet on different lists), it looks bad for you and/or your outlet.

Making relationships in this industry can be difficult. Maintaining them is easy. Just don’t fuck them up.

Respect and follow-through are everything in this business. Do your best to follow the golden rule (treat others as you want to be treated) and you’ll do just fine.

Tags Concert Press, Coverage confirmations, Covering Concerts, How To, Journalism Tips

News

How to get your music on Spotify playlists

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date July 12, 2018

Spotify playlists are shaping the future music business, but reaching the curators of the most influential lists is often incredibly difficult. We can help.

Playlists are the new mixtapes. People of all ages use music to express themselves and curate a personal soundtrack to life that others are often encouraged to use. In the age of Spotify and Apple Music, the same goes for brands. There are hundreds of brands curating playlists crafted to represent a certain mood or aesthetic, and there are millions of people engaging with their selections every week.

In fact, placement on the right streaming playlist can do more for an artist than any blog or news publications because an appearance on a popular playlist provides income and exposure to the artist. Even if everyone who subscribes to a playlist only hears a song once, the artist behind that song could see a substantial boost in plays and streaming revenue.

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that many up and coming artists are now trying their best to get the attention of playlist curators and digital influencers. There are even a few PR firms that specialize in playlist promotion, while other firms have begun adding such services to their coverage plans.

The simple truth is that everyone, including you and the artists hiring playlist promoters, is competing for the same spots. There is no magic formula for getting your music on Spotify playlists ahead of the competition, but there are several ways to improve your chances of getting noticed.

It all starts with an algorithm

Spotify is a tech company at the end of the day, and being a tech company Spotify knows its own data often tells them more than any artist or promoter could. Spotify playlist curators consider total fans in their algorithm for popularity, as well as the number song skips on your music versus those who play the tracks in full. They also consider how many users have you on playlists and whether or not your account is verified. Spotify is tracking everything its users do on the platform, so assume every time they engage with your music it changes the chances of being considered for a playlist. That might be a bit overwhelming, but it’s nonetheless true.

Here are a few additional tips for improving your chances of playlist inclusion:

Ask your fans for help

There is no shame in asking your fans to help you gain exposure. Encourage your fans to follow you’re on Spotify, save your songs, and include you on their personal playlists. Ask them to share playlists they’ve created with you, then choose the best and share those with your other fans. Use this approach to build a community of people who are brought together because they decided to enjoy your music on Spotify and your followers will feel connected to your cause. They will see the success of your band as being a necessity for the community they’ve now joined to thrive.

Become a verified artist

Get Spotify for Artists and take your presence on the world’s most popular subscription streaming service into your own hands. Becoming a verified artist will give you access to stats, including listener information, and allow you to customize your profile with everything from custom playlists, to tour dates, merchandise, and more.

Ask bands to help (and help them in return)

Spotify allows verified to create playlists that exist on their profiles alongside their top songs. While all artists should include a few of their own tracks on these mixes, most will also include songs from their close friends and tour companions. Reach out to the artists you know and ask them to use your material. In exchange, promise to use their songs on your upcoming playlists.

Avoid Playlist Promotion scams

As word about how playlists can influence an artist’s career has spread there has been a rash of new promotion and PR companies promising to get young talent on the biggest playlists. While it’s true some of these firms may have contacts with playlist curators, the fact of the matter is they are (most likely) unable to do anything more than you could. They will email your songs the same way you would, with messaging similar to what you might say. Don’t waste your money thinking someone has the ‘magic network’ needed for playlist inclusion because it does not exist.

Tell your story

A good way to raise engagement with your music is to share the story(s) that goes with it. For example, if your latest single was inspired by a specific time or experience in your life, you should make the story of that happening available to fans and use it to promote the song. Consumers love a good narrative, and if you can build one using your music, your fans will be champing at the bit for each new release.

Research. Research Research.

There are thousands of public playlists in existence. Find popular user-generated playlists and seek out the people (or brands) behind them. Pitching your music to popular genre playlists can be a great way to make fans and network with other industry hopefuls.

Think outside the box

You know everyone, and their mother is vying for a place on Spotify’s biggest playlists. Pitching the curators will only get you so far regardless of how good you are or how catchy your latest single may be. To really stand out you need to make a splash in the world outside Spotify. If you find a way to make a viral video, or perhaps you do something that starts trending on Twitter, the people at Spotify will take notice. You don’t have to market to them specifically to get their attention. You just have to be good enough to make people give a damn about what you’re doing. If you can do that, everything else will fall into place.

Tags Get On Spotify Playlists, How To, Music Business, music industry, Playlist Placement, spotify, Spotify Playlists

News

How to make the most of a festival performance

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date April 25, 2018

The temperatures are finally starting to rise, which means festival season is upon us. The popularity of music festivals has exploded over the last five years, and 2018 is shaping up to be the busiest season on record. Every week there are numerous events taking place all over the globe, each drawing thousands to see upwards of twenty, thirty, or even fifty artists. The competition for attention will be fierce, but if you start right now, you can use the exposure these events provide to your advantage.

Every festival is different, and depending on the genre you perform in the culture around the event may be somewhat unique as well. It is important to recognize that every festival has its own sense of community and vibe, which you should consider when planning your marketing efforts. That said, these 5 tips will help get you started:

Set goals now and begin working toward them immediately

Festivals are crazy places where thousands gather to enjoy art and consume overpriced food. The number of things vying for the attention and money of any one person is too high to count, but you can take a step toward cutting through the noise by setting goals for your time on-site as soon as possible. These goals should be reasonable and achievable. For example, you’re not going to make 10,000 new fans, but you could plan to distribute 500 promotional items and sell X amount of merchandise. You could also plan to engage with fans by hosting a gathering or hangout at your tent that you promote in the weeks leading up to the event. Anything goes, just keep it simple.

Work the line or, if a line does not exist, simply engage festival goers

The hours before your performance should be spent on promotion. Most smaller artists playing festivals will have sets early in the day, which means those performing will have to work hard to get those unfamiliar with their sounds to show up. The best approach to making this happen is also the most personable one. Get out there, shake some hands, give some hugs, share your tunes via a mobile device, and ask people (politely) to consider checking you out. Not everyone will come, but those that do could easily be converted into new, long-term fans.

Network your ass off

In addition to offering small acts the chance to say they played with some of the biggest names in entertainment, festivals also provide an opportunity for up and comers to network with people who may be able to help them both nationally and far more locally. Festival sponsors, for example, are often companies and people who fund a wide variety of music-related projects. They also tend to know others who do the same, which means they or someone they know could probably help you get ahead if they like what you do. While the same can be said for artists, most up and comers never think to approach the sponsors, and they are arguably far more likely to take a genuine interest in what you do. Don’t let the opportunity to meet with the movers and shakers of your community pass.

Instagram stories / Live

To make the most of a festival appearance, you have to find the best way to bring the experience of that show to those unable to attend. Instagram’s Stories feature and live streaming capabilities make it ideal for bringing your global audience into the festival experience. Share images, videos, and Boomerang clips from your initial practice sessions through the event. Showcase your load in, merch setup, merch location, and – of course – clips of the set.

You may also consider pitching an ‘Instagram takeover’ to a music publication. Sites often allow artists to control their Story feed for a single, twenty-four hour period. This will allow you access to their audience, which in turn creates the potential to convert new consumers to your music.

Consider a Snapchat Geofilter

Snapchat is one of the most popular messaging apps on the planet, and the company’s recent decision to allow practically anyone to create custom geofilters has given artists of all sizes a new tool in the war for consumers’ attention. Fans can capture your performance, or even just their time at the event, and use your filter to promote the experience to their followers. Rates for geofilters start as low as $10 (cost varies based on length of campaign and size of the area you want to be covered).

Market your upcoming gigs

People who enjoy your performance will likely be interested in seeing you again, so make it a point to advertise where you will be next during your time at a festival. This includes mentioning gigs during your performance and through one on one engagement at your merch table. You should also collect email addresses so you can remind new listeners of upcoming events once their festival buzz has worn off.

Tags advice, festival marketing, festivals, How To, making the most of a festival appearance, Marketing, summer festivals, Warped Tour

News

You need a ‘When-Then’ plan. Here’s why:

Post author By James Shotwell
Post date April 18, 2018

You need a when>then plan for every occasion.

There are few feelings better than the sensation you get when you’re about to explore a new idea. Creativity, of any kind, is a rush unlike any other, and far too many of us are forced to suppress original thinking throughout the majority of the day because our current careers do not fall in line with who or what we aspire to become. Most people find they need to set aside time outside their 9-5 to try exploring any creative endeavor, but following through is much easier said than done.

There is a great and frustrating old saying, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Maybe you hope to dedicate an hour a day to doing something creative, and perhaps for the first few days or weeks, that goal is reasonably easy to meet. Inevitably, however, a day will come when something happens to break your newly established routine:

A late night out causes you to sleep in
A child, pet, or loved one falls ill and needs you to help care for them
Your job demands you spend more time at the office
A family event (birth, death, etc.). unexpectedly occurs
That little voice inside that tells you there is no chance you will succeed convinces you not to take a day off
Your alarm doesn’t go off

There are countless reasons why our best made plans go awry, both big and small. When those things happen, our new routine of purposefully setting aside time to create is jeopardized, it can be incredibly hard to get ourselves back on the right track. We tell ourselves that people meant to succeed would never allow themselves to slip so easily. We tell ourselves we cannot trust ourselves to chase our dreams. We tell ourselves we are not deserving of aspiring to or becoming something greater than what we war and we are wrong for doing so.

Everyone fails. Everyone has setbacks and unexpected turns that throw their lives into chaos. There is no perfect plan for dealing with life’s ability to spin out of control at any given moment, and there never will be. What separates those who rise above the hurdles of existence and those who do not is something relatively simple: Those who succeed have a when-then plan.

What is a when-then plan?

When-then plans are a system of checks and balances that ensures creative people do not lose focus when life throws them curveballs. Let me give you an example:

“WHEN I am unable to spend an hour writing in the morning (or any time at all), THEN I will spend five minutes reviewing my recent creative output in the evening and deciding how I’ll work the next day.”

Here’s another:

“WHEN I know I will be unable to spend any time being creative in the more the morning of evening THEN I will take 10-minutes out of my lunch to write, draw, or otherwise express myself.”

When-then plans do not make up for the hour of time you lost, but it does keep you connected to your creativity and your goals when you do not have time to work on them. So much of the reasoning behind why we lose connection to our goals when we start becoming increasingly busy is that we allow ourselves to stop thinking about them. We push our future ambitions out of our mind to focus on an immediate need or problem, and in doing so, we make it incredibly hard to pull those thoughts and ideas back into the realm of possibility.

The lost time is still a downer, but by having a then-when system in place, you can still make personal progress on a daily basis. Taking a step back from your work before reviewing it can help you be more reasonably critical of your efforts. These short sessions of review can help you readjust your focus and more precisely plan your future timeline, which will account for the time lost to the demands of the day/week/etc.

New habits are only good intentions until you have a when-then plan in place, and that plan is only good when you put it into use. Do not let life convince you that you will never be more than what you are right now because that is a lie. You can aspire to something greater, and there is a way to get there as long as you’re willing to put in the work.