Try to maintain as much financial independence and control as possible. We worked
day jobs in order to finance our band, so that we could record and produce, and ultimately
control and exploit, our first album.
It helps to have experience in other parts of the music business. Before starting JC
Brooks & the Uptown Sound, I worked as a freelance music reviewer for TimeOut
Chicago. That was incredibly helpful for several reasons.
Work to your strengths. If someone is organized and good with numbers, have them
handle the money. If someone is bad at negotiating, don’t have them book the gigs. Don’t
expect the introverts to be good at talking to people and selling stuff.
It helps to have an agreed upon vision for the band, and the musical and stylistic
choices should reinforce that vision, even at the expense of everyone’s contributions hav-
ing equal weight.
Be professional, punctual, polite, and prepared. People will want to work with you
again if you aren’t a pain in the ass to deal with.
Learn the soundguy’s name and tip him $20 at the end of the night if he made your
life easier.
Ben Taylor, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound
http://www.jcbrooksandtheuptownsound.com
A Lesson From Mick Jagger And the Rolling Stones
Consider Rolling Stones frontman and rock icon, Mick Jagger. Jagger is no fool when it
comes to making and investing money, maximizing opportunities and keeping a watchful
eye on the business bits. Saturday Night Live executive producer, Lorne Michaels said of