“Live Performances Are About More Than The Music” plus 1 more

Live Performances Are About More Than The Music

Posted: 03 Apr 2018 10:55 AM PDT

I had started writing some posts and giving advice on my social media pages, as my way of giving some advice regarding some of the things that I see and hear, both at shows, and on artists’ social media pages. It always seemed to be the same things, coming from “artists,” who excel in playing the blame game: making excuses for why they aren’t succeeding. So, I thought that I would try to be helpful, by calling artists out on their behaviors! It may not be popular, or politically correct, but if an artist can’t handle the truth and some constructive criticism, then they are in the completely WRONG business. This industry of show business can be BRUTAL at best, and before you enter into such an endeavor, that can cost you tons of money, time, blood, sweat and tears…you need to make sure that you can handle some criticism, can take a good hard look in the mirror, and are willing to take accountability for things you may be falling short on. Most of all, you need to be willing to make a change, and implement the advice you are given, no matter how uncomfortable it might make you feel. Believe me, nothing great was ever achieved in someone’s “comfort zone.” This is one of the biggest mistakes that artists can make: surrounding themselves with “yes” people, who will tell them exactly what they want to hear, all the time, just to build the artists’ egos and to be their BFF. Forget that…it’s not going to help you EVER. I AM A “NO” MAN! That being said, I hope that I can offer a frank, honest, unabridged opinion and give helpful, thought-provoking advice, based on my experiences and successes in this wonderful business of ours.

Let’s start by talking about live performances: If you aren’t connecting with your audience and making memories at your shows, you may as well be singing in your shower. It’s simply not good enough to be a great singer. Do you know how many “GREAT singers” there are? Literally millions. So, that alone will not get you where you want to be. Nor will all the promotion in the world. Hype only takes you so far. It comes down to YOU and YOUR audience. CONNECT, MAKE MEMORIES, BE A FAN and ask yourself, “Would I want to go to my show?” You can create a long lasting memory without big production. You just have to know how to DELIVER a song and make the audience FEEL what you’re singing, whether it’s 2 people in a coffeeshop or 10,000 people in an arena. Connecting with your audience is the SECRET…so don’t tell anyone! lol. But, practice it every time you get on stage. If you can sell your performance to the audience, I guarantee you will sell your music/t shirts/posters, etc. at the merch table. I’ll even go one step further, too…if you’re hanging out in the dressing room for longer than the time it takes you to get dressed, you’re losing money!!

I hope that this article will make you think and evaluate your performances. How can you connect with YOUR audience? How can you make them FEEL the words you are singing? How can you get them to talk about you, long after the last chord has been played, or the last note has been sung..or will you just sing your songs and be forgotten by the time they hit the door to leave? The choice is up to you. If you have questions, feel free to contact me via my website at http://www.mtsmanagementgroup.com.

ABOUT MICHAEL STOVER:

A 30 year industry veteran, Michael Stover is the President of MTS Management Group/MTS Records. The company is more than just an artist management/publicity/promotions company…It is where INDIE artists get MAJOR exposure! Specializing in full-service artist management, publicity and promotions, radio and social media campaigns for new and established independent artists and indie labels, MTS Management Group and MTS Records are on the cutting edge of today’s new music business.

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Your Band Is Your Brand

Posted: 01 Apr 2018 01:46 PM PDT

A huge component of being successful in the music industry has to do with how you market yourself. Part of that comes from distributing your music and getting it into the ears of the right listeners. When it gets there though, it is crucial to make a great impression on your listeners and to turn them into lifelong fans. Creating a powerful brand will help you achieve this.

Your band is the music making machine that will enable your career, and your brand is the face of your music that people will learn to know and love.

What is a Brand?

A brand is much more than just a name or a logo. It encompasses the entire identity of your group including how you portray yourself to the world and how the world perceives you. Every move you make can have an effect on your brand. If done right, your brand can be a powerful and invaluable asset that holds deep meaning for your fans and others who interact with it.

Think of your fans as a “brand community”, meaning a group of people with shared values and culture. The thing that unites all of your fans is their admiration of your music and what it stands for. There are many great examples of this in music, with one such example being The Grateful Dead. They have built a following of some of the most loyal fans ever. There is even a name for them, Deadheads! These fans feel connected to the band because of the distinctive culture they share and the music that is a part of their lives forever. Your brand can have the power to reach people globally, and it can have lasting value that survives throughout time.

Some of the best brands in music have lived on long after the band has broken up. Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles all remain as household names to this day. These brands still hold tremendous value and bring in tons of money on music and merchandise even though the bands no longer exist. There are many young fans of Led Zeppelin who have never been to a Led Zeppelin concert and were not even alive when the band was actually making music. That is powerful stuff!

Why Do You Need a Brand?

Establishing your own brand will give you and your followers a common bond and a sense of identity. In practical terms, this will allow you to market yourself better and ultimately sell more music, tickets, and t-shirts. Your brand will help you position yourself in such a way to reach the people who care most about what you are doing and build loyalty amongst your fans. Your brand will also give you the ability to reach a far wider audience than you could ever physically play to, especially in today’s digital age. A strong brand and marketing plan can give you a voice all over the world.

A brand is an intangible concept, but it can create some real tangible value for you if done well. In business, brand equity is the reason why you pay a lot more for brand name products than for the generic equivalent. The same idea holds true in the music business where fans are willing to pay a lot more for tickets to see an artist that they love and identify with.

It is definitely worth putting some thought into who you are as a band and how you want people to perceive you. Building a solid brand is something that will take time and can be difficult when you are first starting out, but it will pay off big time in the grand scheme of things.

Megaphone Agency is a music booking agency based in the Chicago area that represents some of the top new talent in the industry. Want to get in touch? Drop us a line on our Contact Us page.

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