MIKA-the-better-one
@ Singermonkey, actually had some thoughts on this the other day.
When I was in SA playing in a band I remember very specifically the community being etremly fickle and almost trying to emulate the kind of cool ideas they had of a better music scene overseas.
I have learnt Music does not sell ( AT ALL ) and if it does you are a lucky guy. I basically give my music away and dont epect people to buy it, $5-15 at the door, $25 for beer, ZERO for a CD (and Cds funny enough don't sell at all) Our highest seller is actually tapes with about 500 sold every 6 months. For the most part we have download cards we give people when they purchase a shirt or a koozie (beer holder) Which are how we make money.
Promotion means sitting there planning a tour for 4 months that will last 2 weeks and calling (cold calling) 100 radio stations to get a response from 4 maybe. its getting local bands involved and excited and holding them to not play a month before or after the show in the area. Its hanging out after a show and creating relationships with other bands and city scenes so that when you come back you have a place to stay and bands to call, and magazines to promote it with. Basically playing good music is a small part, creating relationships being professional is huge.
And through all of it I never expect to get famous, or expect anything, when people show up its heartwarming because there are a million other places they could be. One post by a fan on facebook is better than any sale.
To cut it down we make about $300-800 per show for a 35-45 minute set of originals. We sell merch which is between $100-300 made at a show. but there are shows which we may not get that much. I cant say enough that on tour its all reliant on how much you can get out of the ecene in that city. Most people have a really good system that touring bands play inbetween two locals and take most of the money. That way they get a good crowd and money, and then the favor is returned when those locals go on tour.
MIKA-the-better-one
In all of it, its real easy to get sidetracked by and I am not even joking Sex Drugs and trying to act Rock n roll.
There is a fair amount of narcissism needed to do well but at the same time no room for people to be selfish.
Ups and downs for sure.....
A Session we did
A sold out show on tour opening for some Uk band.
Festival (we actually shared a trailer with a band called Joy Formidable on this one)
Tour Video, this is pretty much what a typical tour is like, a lot of being bored and that. New Orleans is probably the closest I have been to death in my life.
Album Trailer (we would post this months out in any city we are going to)
Lastly an example of a not so good show... which i have zero recollection of
Stoffeltoo
Hi MIKA the better one (Hats off to ya!)
Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences. Hope to see more coming. It sounds like trust in the band is paramount as you are selling an image but also rings with the lyrics of Bob Seegers' "Turn the page"
It is the life that every muso prolly aspires to achieve but not willing to pay the price.
Cudo's
deefstes
Greetings MIKA. I have also not been active here for some time now. I still receive the e-mail newsletters though (thank goodness they no longer arrive in duplicate or triplicate). So I noticed that this post was trending as a hot topic and I thought I'd pop in to say hi. Well, hi!
And hi to everyone else. If you don't remember me, good for you. If you do remember me, my apologies. ?
briang-telkomsa-net
deefstes wrote
Greetings MIKA. I have also not been active here for some time now. I still receive the e-mail newsletters though (thank goodness they no longer arrive in duplicate or triplicate). So I noticed that this post was trending as a hot topic and I thought I'd pop in to say hi. Well, hi!
And hi to everyone else. If you don't remember me, good for you. If you do remember me, my apologies. ?
Hi Deeftes - Apology accepted ?
singemonkey
Just listened to the Mesh Head vid. Looks really good. Your drummer is great... if he's still your drummer. Are you still trading band members faster than Jazzmasters? ?
It sounds like really tough work, for slim margins. Although I'm sure it has its compensations. Fascinating to hear that people don't buy CDs. What about pressing vinyl singles? Is that an option. People seem more willing to spend money on analogue recordings.
deebee
Okey dokey, the puddy tat has just entered the pigeon loft, I listened to some of your stuff, and ???? you need to listen to the Parlatones a lot more.
deefstes
deebee wrote
Okey dokey, the puddy tat has just entered the pigeon loft, I listened to some of your stuff, and ???? you need to listen to the Parlatones a lot more.
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
singemonkey
Ha! I'd take the worst thing MIKA's ever written over the best the Parlordrones have to offer. ?
Mr-M
Hey Mika. I've also been pretty much absent from GFSA for a long time. Good to see a familiar avatar face around the old place. ?
Glad you and your band are doing well - although I already know that from Facebook stalking you. :dance:'
And nice gear collection. #jealous
MIKA-the-better-one
3 days in and I am getting provoked hahahaa. Parlatones live here in the USA now, and you cant go to a McDonalds without seeing there generic rock all over the TV...... Granted I am a lot skinnier now without fast food.
Vinyl sells: But you have to have the right fan base, for example a lot of Crust Punks dont have $15 expendable dollars after they pay for there 20 $1 beers. Thats why Tapes are making a come back. In the ned they are buying merch less to use it more so to collect and have a piece of a band that sits on a shelf and gets pulled out when you want to show it off.
Albums, and selling them in a band like mine make no sense at this point. If I wanted to live off this alone, I would Tour 9 months of the year sell shirts and Tapes like my life depended on it AND hope a tv show picks up a song or better yet an Apple commercial or something.
Band members yes!!!!! you have to move them or things get stale. In my case drummers and bassists are like pedals, change them and get re inspired, and challenged. Zulu Wave is on 6 drummers and 4 bassists. This current drummer is 2 months in and doing well. ?
Mr T I keep up with you too. I dont know if you remember but its you I can blame for selling me my first Fuzz pedal. a MI Audio Neo fuzz.
This forum does seem quieter but I cant tell you how valuable a source like this is for a young guitarist so its a shame. Facebook is fine to congregate in but is quickly diluted and flushed out. The classifieds here and discussions are important to keep going.
briang-telkomsa-net
This forum does seem quieter but I cant tell you how valuable a source like this is for a young guitarist so its a shame........the classifieds here and discussions are important to keep going.
[/quote]
+1 for the italics, and the forum is also a valuable community for the not so young Mika?
Mr-M
MIKA the better one wrote
Mr T I keep up with you too. I dont know if you remember but its you I can blame for selling me my first Fuzz pedal. a MI Audio Neo fuzz.
Yep, guilty as charged. It was me! :? Glad to hear you still got the fuzz disease. ?
