Young performing groups often struggle to get the basic organizational machine going.  Here are some ideas on how to use your time more effectively.

-       the single most important thing you have is your music.  Music.  Music.  If your music is fantastic, you will have opportunities to perform.  Period.

-       The best, fastest, most effective way to make your music better is to perform.

-       See what I did there?  It’s a cyclical conundrum.  Rock on!

-       What I mean is this: it’s all about the music, and music is dead if it’s not being performed.  So, work your tush off making the music great, and get out as early and often as possible to perform.  Perform everywhere.  Perform well.

-       Once you’ve got a good show, then you can start worrying about other stuff

-       (in the real world, I know, it’s not that simple – people get excited when they see you sing one song and they want you to do a whole show and you don’t have the music ready so you have to rush a set together and then you’re so busy performing that you can’t refine the music… life is so hard!  Anyway, apply this advice as you can)

-       Promotional material!  Learn this truth: you only need what will get you the gig.  If you’re applying for major tours on the performing arts circuit, your materials will be fundamentally different than if you’re just trying to get some gigs at local coffee houses.  Know the difference, and don’t waste time on what you don’t need.

-       What do you need?  In my opinion:

1)    music – live first, then recording – a solid demo is fine

2)    good picture – see other posts

3)    business cards / basic web site – give people whatever they need to be able to contact you.  Keep it as basic as possible

4)    everything else: sound system, studio CD, full press kit, promo video… you’ll get to these things eventually, but you DO NOT need them when you are first starting out.

-       when you are generating all this stuff, you will be tempted to try to do everything yourself.  Don’t. Find people to help: I guarantee within the limited immediate social circle of you and everyone in your group there is someone who can put up a basic web site, take decent pictures, design business cards… see where I’m going?  Let people help – they want to!  Frequently it can be beneficial for them to build their portfolios, so ask.  Find those enthusiastic fans / parents / friends who have resources, time, and interest – they can help!

-       That’s also to say that people in your group have skills – college groups, who in your group is majoring in business?  Let them do the business!  Design?  Marketing?  Computers?  Let them use their education in a practical realm.

-       Same thing goes for songwriting, show promotion, recording, … people have skills.  Use them.