For anyone still thinking streaming is worthless, catalogs are semi-quietly being snapped up by all sorts of equity. No longer a one time purchase, if your song catches on, it keeps paying and paying, even if there are no ads associated with it.
Live?
In what seems to be an emerging fact, the long game is putting it out there to stream. Not playing live, but 9-to-5’ing it at your desk. Sat in front of the computer to get eyes and ears on it. Trade the glory of the stage for the glory of ‘likes’ and a lot of small but growing checks.
What if people, now off the road, put the effort into listens? This is happening, and I can tell you from my own experience, it works.
You need something physical to sell at shows, to give to record stores, to impress your granny, or to prove to yourself (or your wife) that you are a real-live musician.
Coffee mug? Too nerdy. Maybe a ‘pocket’ koozie? Please no. Cassettes are a bit niche.
It’s really down to CD’s, even though plenty of folks have no CD player at home. Actually many folks have cars with no CD player. Worst of all, most folks have no phone w/ a CD player. Everybody streams. Everybody.
Maybe this is a phone that streams!?
Today’s question is: what’s the right thing to do? Do you load up your hands with something that’s going in s**t drawer #11, or do you do you ting and sell? And what are you selling?
This brings up nothing but more questions: What are you in it for? Legitimacy? Money? Job? Are you down with by-any-means-necessary? Are you pumping an old model?
Before you sell CD’s to fans you have to ask yourself: why would they want one? If that answer is no, is there then something that I have that’s of value to my current and future fans. And today, that seems like a tough question to answer. But the solution is poking it’s head out. Finally. (Especially in a current world where there are few-to-no live shows.)
What works and connects? The oldest of schools method: patronage.
People are giving to musicians with no expectation of anything physically in return. As a matter of fact they’ve already taken a partial share of whatever it is you do. If you have their attention you have them. All you have to do is show them the way. 1,000 people paying $1.50 a-month moves the needle. A lot.
The new-olde way seems like a lot more fun than the old way. I’m going to try some new-olde ways.
House concerts are not ehe future. They are the now.
Friends and I are putting on neighborhood house shows during all this COVID mess. 30-something shows later we’ve paid out over $30K. IG page here.
We’re in Austin, and it’s easy to find talented musicians who want to work, but it’s easy anywhere and will work when you try it.
First you need a PA and someone who knows how to work it. If you do not know how to work one, only invite musicians who know how to work one. Sometimes you need a PA. Sometimes artists have one. You can also rent one.
What I’m getting at here is that there are very few barriers when putting together a show like this. So no need to make them (excuses) in their absence.
TWe have found the following to be true evry time: _Folks really like seeing music this way _ People love showing off their pads _Having Musicans at your house really impresses the neighbors
The vibe for this kind of thing is very strong. People like or like to like live music and they want to help. They know they are helping and have accordingly given generously
It is the now. Step one tomorrow: How to Schedule a House Concert.
