3 Proven Tips for Coping with Performance Anxiety

Although thousands of people gain a great deal of enjoyment and satisfaction from piano playing, when it comes to an actual performance, many find the experience is tainted by the appearance of nerves.

Whilst it’s true that a little “stage fright” is a normal reaction to a potentially stressful situation for others it can be more severe. Some suffer nerves and anxiety to the point that it not only taints their experience of playing but it can make them want to stop performing altogether. In addition, an abundance of nerves during, or prior to, a performance may taint the actual performance.  Playing the piano whilst your hands are shaking or your palms are sweating is a very difficult job to do.

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6 Things You'll Learn Recording An Album That Nobody Will Tell You

The studio. Such a glamorous and misunderstood beast.

You’ve googled the crap out of it…

“recording an album”

“what to bring to the studio,”

“how to prepare for the studio,”

“what Instagram filters take the best pretentious studio shots?”

“do craft beers clog up my vocal chords?”

 …and you’re about as read up on it as could be.

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How Musicians Can Get Higher Pay for Live Shows

I think musicians, more than any other profession, have this masochistic pleasure to accept god-awful pay for their talents. In fact, most are BEGGING to play for free. They say things like “It’s just the way it is” or “I’ve gotta pay my dues” or “I just do it for the music, man”. No one ever say these things again or

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MusicThinkTank Weekly Recap: | 4 Ways Musicians Can Make Money

• Kyle Ohlenkamp | 4 Ways Musicians Can Make Money
• Cherie Nelson | Tips For Celebrating The Holidays While on Tour
• Jason Ventura  | Does The Music Industry Hear New Music Through The Grape Vine
• Liz Upton | Fair Use: A Manual

Does the Music Industry Hear New Music Through The Grape Vine?

Fifteen minutes, I mean six-seconds of fame is the new way into the music industry. Move over YouTube, Vine is the place to be. These looped six-second videos prove you don’t need a three-minute song or to be found by A&R staff. Here are a few Vine artists that paved the way.

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Fair Use: A Manual

Fair use has always been a contentious concept. A great number of musicians, as well as artists of other varieties, include copyrighted material in their own works through techniques such as sampling and parodying. However, many of these works do not fall under the scope of fair use. In fact, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding what constitutes fair use and what does not. A recent study by the College Art Association (CAA) found that “37 percent of artists use third-party material and that one in five avoids or abandons a project over concerns that they’re not doing it right and that number is much higher for editors and academics.”¹

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Tips for Celebrating Holidays While on Tour

Being a musician often means traveling—and lots of it. While you love being in a band and going on tour to share your music with appreciative fans, part of your heart stays at home with your spouse and kids. This is especially true for holidays and birthdays. While it is tough to be apart on any day of the year, on Mother’s Day or your baby’s first birthday, it’s especially gut wrenching.

Fortunately, with some pre-planning and creativity, it is possible to connect on special days and feel like you are still part of the celebration with your loved ones.

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4 Ways Musicians Can Make Money Online

When I see this sentence my radar usually goes off.

I mean if it were that simple everyone would be able to do it, right?

Certainly, there are many scams out there.

The good news is there are also many legit ways for musicians to make money online.

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Music Think Tank RecapThe 3-Step No B.S Guide to Marketing Your Music

• William Tait | The 3 Step No B.S Guide to Marketing Your Music
• Cherie Nelson | From Sexy to Sensible: The Best Vehicles for Your Tour
• Sari Delmar  | 5 Tips for Making Big Career-Defining Decisions
• Jack McCarthy | YouTube for Artists 101

YouTube for Artists 101

Since its inception in 2005, YouTube has provided the online stage for artists of all kinds to distribute video content to their audiences on their own personal channels. YouTube puts the power in the hands of musicians to build a fanbase from their channels, engage that fanbase with content on a regular basis, and even earn a share in ad revenue through YouTube’s Partner Program and Content ID system. For many musicians, journeying into the realm of video is a new and exciting venture. It can also be overwhelming or confusing trying to build a successful YouTube channel. For that very reason, YouTube for Artists was developed. YouTube for Artists is a data platform that is an extension of YouTube’s pre-existing Creator Hub, and both offer users the tools needed to understand practices and techniques that will make their channels as successful as possible. The subject matter of YouTube for Artists can seem a little dense at first glance, so here are some highlights of the platform to get you or your band started on optimizing your YouTube channel.

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The 3 Step No B.S. Guide To Marketing Your Music

I have a friend who markets his music by literally posting a song 5 times in a row with a “Please listen to this, you’ll like it :)” It kinda creeps me out to be honest, especially with that weird smiley face. Not only that, but it’s lazy. When people talk about marketing, you think of things like…

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5 Tips for Making Big Career-Defining Decisions

So here you are. Faced with what seems like it could be a good opportunity. You have a decision to make and this could change everything you thought you knew or maybe it won’t. There really is no way to know. So you jump back and forth – what lies behind Door A could lead to X,Y,Z! What lies behind Door B could change everything you know or ruin you! and Oh Door C, well Door C is the elusive ‘what-if-I-hold-out-for-something-bigger-and-better’ door. Door C is the door that is totally empty at the moment but is filled with so much promise. Damn that door!

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From Sexy to Sensible: The Best Vehicles for Your Tour

You just booked your first tour, and you are excited. Maybe it's just a few cities without leaving the state or maybe you get to open for a big name covering 10+ venues. Assuming you don't have access to the tour bus or private jet, you'll be getting from town to town on your own and you want to do it in style — but also on a budget.

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Do It Yourself: Mechanics or motivation?

I like to say “‘Do it yourself’ doesn’t mean ‘do it alone’” when I’m talking to creative artists working to put all the pieces of their digital strategy together in today’s post-label music business. Sometime I get crazy looks, but what I mean is that the “DIY” movement is more about the motivation than the mechanics of literally doing everything by yourself.

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