Music Business Hacks

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#109 - Talking Tour Management & Branding with Ed Wimp (Earth, Wind, & Fire and A$AP Rocky's Tour Team) May 20, 2018

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Today, we speak with Ed Wimp. Ed Wimp is a Speaker, Author, Tour Manager, Artist Manager, and Musician from Orlando, Florida. After graduating college, Ed began transitioning into the business side of the music industry when he began working as part of the road management staff for R&B legends Earth Wind & Fire. From there, he was able to travel and tour with hip-hop icon A$AP Rocky. In the Fall of 2016, Ed released his debut book, Building Fans, Fame & Wealth: The 18 Revenue Streams of Music. The book shares real life stories from the music business, and encourages musicians to think outside of the box to develop several revenue streams. While staying involved in the fast moving music industry, Ed earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida A&M College of Law. He currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Monmouth College and a Master's Degree in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Ed is an avid golfer and takes the opportunity to play whenever his busy schedule allows.www.edwimp.com Twitter: @edwimp Resources and Recommendations: Books to read: Getting to yes: Negotiating Agreement without Going In by Roger Fisher and William L. Ury Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill How to Win Friends and Influence by Dale Carnegie

#108 - How a Tour Driving Schedule Can Save Your Life May 19, 2018

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How do you decide who is going to drive on tour? By being proactive and prepared, you can avoid dangerous situations like falling asleep at the wheel or driving drunk.

#107 - How to Keep a Tour Vehicle Running Properly May 18, 2018

Show notes

If you are going to be doing any kind of extended traveling, it’s important to do some basic maintenance and preparation on the vehicle to prevent any unexpected breakdowns. Here are some things you should consider getting: Resources: AAA Emergency Roadside Kit Compact Tire Gauge Roll of Blue Shop Towels AAA Roadside Assistance

#106 - How to Use Special Effects in Your Live Show May 17, 2018

Show notes

Many bands don’t think of set design unless they’re touring large venues on a regular basis. Even then, some only go as far as putting a large backdrop or banner. However, touring acts have the ability to kick things up a notch by applying some creativity, lessons from theatre, and special effects from magic shows to really enhance the performance. Good stage design can help transform mundane rock clubs into unique experiences that help the band stand out. Many of these things don’t even require a large budget to start out with - just some forethought and a little talent. These are some of the things that you can enhance your stage with:

Custom lighting
Projections (or LED wall)
Art pieces/sculptures/banners
Pyrotechnics
Confetti and streamers
Fog/smoke
Bubbles/stage snow
Wind/air movement
Phosphorescent paint or materials
Fabric
Custom instruments
Strobe lights
Balloons
Height (ramps, risers, etc.)
Other theater effects

Resources: TheatreFX (great place for fog machines, confetti canons, and breakaway glass) MagicFX (UK based company that specializes in event effects) Sound-Activated LED light kit

#104 - How to Soundcheck Like a Pro May 15, 2018

Show notes

One of my biggest pet peeves as a performer is a band who doesn’t know how to soundcheck properly. It shouldn’t be - it usually reflects inexperience and ignorance rather than disrespect and apathy. The truth is that most bands are taught how to soundcheck, it’s just a skill that gets picked up along the way. Despite this, the soundcheck is often an indicator of the professionalism of the band. Here are some tools that can help you: Creating a Stage Plot/Tech Rider/Input List: Stage Plot Pro Reverb Nation Pro Sonicbids Touring Musician Essentials: These are some things that you might consider carrying with your band at all times:

Additional vocal mics (I recommend the Shure SM58 or the Beta 58 for tight stages)
Extra XLR cables (Kirlin cables provide the best bang for the buck)
Extra ¼” guitar cables (I like the Kirlin stage series cable)
DI boxes (Behringer DI boxes are a good choice for backup unit)
Power strips (Get an industrial strength one like this)
Heavy and medium duty extension cables (lower gauges are for heavier use)
Gaffer tape and painter's tape (more versatile than masking tape)
Strings, picks, drumsticks, and other common accessories
Velcro strips
LED Flashlight (RockBirds has a good, versatile one for multiple uses)
Batteries (9 volt, AA, and AAA). I recommend quick rechargeable sets
Additional copies of the setlist (get them laminated)
Sharpies (buy in bulk to save)

These items aren’t as common but are also helpful to have on hand as well:

Mic stand (tripod and round base)
Guitar stand (get Hercules, they're the best)
Keyboard stand (I like two-tier since they're versatile. This one is cheap/light, this is heavy duty)
Powered stage monitor (I like the Mackie 12" Thump or Behringer B208D for a portable set)
Portable PA system (The Fender Passport is surprisingly powerful for a compact and affordable unit)
Fuse kit
Basic tool set with wrenches and soldering kit
Power cable (for amps)

#103 - Weekly Recap: How Storytelling Can Change Your Career May 14, 2018

Show notes

This week, we focused a lot of storytelling - that's because it is so important and can impact nearly every area of your music business career! To review the week, check out our episodes: Episode 97 - Storytelling pt. 1: Creating an Emotional Arc Episode 98 - Storytelling pt. 2: Writing Great Lyrics (with advice from Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Lin-Manual Miranda, and Leonard Cohen) Episode 99 - Storytelling pt. 3: How to Write a Better Biography Episode 100 - Storytelling pt. 4: Making a Better Live Show with Story Episode 101 - Storytelling pt. 5: How to Use Storytelling Techniques in Social Media and Marketing Episode 102 - Interview with Joe X. Jiang on How Filmmakers Use Story (and What Musicians Can Learn From Them)

#102 - Interview with Joe X. Jiang on How Filmmakers Use Story (and What Musicians Can Learn From Them) May 13, 2018

Show notes

In today's episode, we speak with director, editor, and guitarist Joe X. Jiang on the art of storytelling and how the world of film can teach us more about songwriting and performance - not to mention improving the video content that supports your music. Resources: Article: How Calvin & Hobbes Inspired a Generation Books: The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Collection My Beloved World (autobiography by Justice Sonia Sotomayor) Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (by David Sedaris) Films to Watch: The Godfather Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The Florida Project Favorite Gear: Macbook Pro (for editing, producing, writing and pretty much 75% of his creative work) Faded Gibson SG(the guitar thats been in every musical project he's played in) Panasonic Lumix G series camera (the beginning of his backpack filmmaking kit) Links and things: The Slants (our band) Track Town Records (recording studio) Music Videos Directed by Joe: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B2d7E2wkbM[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC-4qQmGS_Q[/embed] Joe's Video Reel: [embed]https://vimeo.com/117241119[/embed]

#101 - Storytelling pt. 5: How to Use Storytelling Techniques in Social Media and Marketing May 12, 2018

Show notes

Is the trend of telling stories and marketing a hype? Let's talk about how you can use the tools of story - and storytelling - to make your social media memorable, engaged, and interesting.

#100 - Storytelling pt. 4: Making a Better Live Show with Story May 11, 2018

Show notes

Many musicians think of the live show as an opportunity to showcase their songs but that’s a mistake, it’s so much more. If it was only about the songs being shared, then Spotify or YouTube would do just fine. The live show is an experience. And like all performing arts, it benefits the most would it is shared through the trappings of a story. Resources: Episode 4: Don't Practice. Rehearse Instead Episode 44: How to Work a Crowd

#99 - Storytelling Tips Pt. 3: How to Write a Better Biography May 10, 2018

Show notes

Most artist biographies are terrible. They sound more like a collection of achievements or include details that no one cares about. However, you can change that by using the power of story.

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