It has been brought to my attention lately, that I actually know what I'm talking about (for the most part) when having discussions with band members and other such employees of the music industry. I tend to finish their sentences and receive surprised looks when it was exactly what they were planning on saying. I don't do this for attention or admiration, I do this because I just know.
The last 5 years have been a constant learning opportunity. As if I enrolled myself in Music College and certain events I've attended have been my classes.
Promotion 206. Booking 103. Band Member Recycling 112. Fan-Girl 402.
The events have given me the learning material I need to understand how the industry works and the people I have met give me the insight on specific details of the business as well as, the showmanship side of music. The opportunity to learn something new from every person I meet or show I see or conversation I have, is taken full advantage of. If this is going to be the industry I want to be apart of then I need to pay attention now and be prepared for the future.
Of course, there is still lots to learn and always will be. Since this industry is in the midst of a huge overhaul, where vinyl sales are up, record sales are down and digital music is taking over. Soon CDs will be as obsolete as 8-tracks. But until then, I want to know everything I can about how CDs go from blank pieces of plastic to pieces of art.
On top of the in-person learning experience, I've been reading a lot about different aspects of the music industry. I'm currently reading "Everything You Need To Know About The Music Business (9th Edition)" by Donald Passman. There are notes in the margin and plenty of underlining of topics I'd like to know more about and such. I've loved it thus far, even though it is geared more toward an entertainer looking to build a career. But it has given me plenty of information that I know will come in handy.
Some other reading materials I plan on adding to my pile are:
The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution
Start and Run Your Own Record Label
And I'm sure I'll find more to read. But I'm a slow reader and I tend to forget to read. (It happens.)
What the point of all this was that I don't want to be a paper pusher or a retail sales person, because I don't know anything about that. What I do know is music and how the scene has been evolving and what to do with band members and bookers and what venues are best for certain bands. And I would like to use this knowledge. I would like to work in the music industry, somehow. Some jobs I've pondered have been:
PR Assistant at a Record Label.
Booking Agent Assistant
A&R Scout
Promoter
Music Booker at a Venue
Band Manager
Contributing Writer for music magazines/websites
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2 comments:
I wanted to comment on this, and thanks for joining my blog, the music industry is a tough one to get into. Its something I always wanted to do but gave up on when I got into casting.
If you havent done an internship yet it is totally something I would suggest to you.
In the last 3 months I have been photographing bands and lucked out when Dave Navarro sent me a twitter message on my pictures of the show and have been taking pictures of bands ever since.
A lot of luck and a lot of persistence and you will meet your goal.
I actually did a 6 month internship at a record label, but it ended a little sooner than I had hoped. And now the label isn't even located in my area anymore. It was a great learning experience and I'm sure that I'll have the opportunity to show off what I've learned some day.
Thanks for the advice though. I just keep going in the general direction and hope that my hard work gets noticed or that another opportunity comes my way.
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