Rehearsal Tips From The Stars
Lessons > The Musician’s Handbook
Rehearsal Tips From The StarsBy Bobby Borg
June 8th, 2011
It can be said that the key ingredient for a successful career in the music business is 5 percent inspiration and 95 percent perspiration. Whether you believe this statement to be true or not, most artists will agree that preparing for a live performance or tour, a phonograph recording session, or television appearance is serious business that requires hard work and discipline. A plan of attack is essential to ensure that time and money is spent most efficiently. I interviewed three name-brand artists who give tips and advice about their rehearsal techniques: what works for them—and what does not. Our… (Continue)
20 Tips: How To Choose Your Next Record ProducerBy Bobby Borg
March 7th, 2011
The most important thing to a musician is the music that you create. You spend years developing a distinctive sound and style before finally getting the opportunity to record your first album professionally. All the hard work you’ve put into creating a unique, original sound, however, may not be enough to create a successful record. Producing a great album is an art form in itself, and it requires the assistance of an experienced professional producer—a producer can actually make or break your career. The right collaboration can take you to creative places you never imagined, but the wrong one can be… (Continue)
Create Marketing ToolsBy Bobby Borg
April 10th, 2010
Creating marketing tools (A.K.A “Merch”—T-shirts, hats, and stickers that bear your name, logo or slogan) help to increase your exposure, strengthen your brand name, and provide an ancillary form of income. Merch is one of your best sources of promotion since it continues to “speak” for you (or “expose” you) even when you’re not present. A fan wearing one of your T-shirt designs to school can stimulate interest and get people talking. Multiply this by ten, another ten, and then another ten. It’s essentially like having an army of walking billboard advertisements around your hometown, and the best part is,… (Continue)
No 800 NumbersBy Bobby Borg
February 23rd, 2010
Quit waiting for magic potions and 1-800 numbers to success. Put together a plan and get your work ethic in check! In order to attract serious interest in the music industry today—whether it be from a record label, publishing company, manager or attorney—independent artists (yes, that means you) must be proactive about their careers and accomplish a great deal on their own first. This includes building a strong buzz through live performances, press, and online marketing, as well as selling a respectable number of CDs. However, with no organized plan of attack or blue-print in place, many artists fall short… (Continue)
How To Make A Kick-Ass VideoBy Bobby Borg
March 1st, 2009
Just mention the word “video” and most of us think of those high-priced MTV videos only top artists can get played. This reminds me of my first band’s video, which cost about $200,000, and got aired like four times. That equates to $50,000 a spin. [Laughing!] What a waste! There’s a right time and a wrong time to get a video made. For many artists, the right time is after they’re signed, getting some “love” at radio, and have a hit. However, with advances in technology today, there are a number of opportunities to record a decent-looking video for next… (Continue)
Social Networking vs. Business NetworkingBy Bobby Borg
December 2nd, 2008
An open-ended letter to a friend on the topic of Social Networking versus Business Networking in the music industry [Editor's Note: The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of GUITAR MESSENGER, its affiliates, or its sponsors. The below article contains adult themes and language. If this offends you, please exit this page. The names used in this article are fictitious in order to protect the identity of the mentioned persons.] Amy, I can tell that you didn’t like my email response to your previous question. But just remember, YOU asked ME for… (Continue)
Team PlayersBy Bobby Borg
August 26th, 2008
If you’re a member of a band, set ground rules early in your relationship to prevent legal and financial problems down the road. Being a member of a band is not much different from being a member of a professional sports team. You’re part of a group of individuals united in the pursuit of a common goal, where each person plays a unique and integral part in achieving a dream. At least in theory, the motto is “All for one and one for all.” But unlike the sports world, where professional teams expect young athletes to meet extremely high standards… (Continue)
