#Booking Agents

29 Aug 2011
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Where Do You Find The Strength?

This is for all of the entertainers and business people out there who feel like they are doing this all alone. When you believe in yourself but you feel overwhelmed or life is trying to beat you down, how do you find the strength to keep chasing the dream? When you have no real support system or someone to drive you or believe in you, how do you keep going? These are things that many of us have to struggle with everyday, even if we aren’t alone, but for those that are, it can seem insurmountable.  For many their religion may be a big support here but I don’t want to get into that debate for this blog although a persons faith should play a big part.

I am a firm believer that activity breeds’ activity and it’s that activity that can really give you the boost you need when things seem hard. Activity keeps things happening and popping up on your radar, which helps to keep the excitement and productivity there. But what happens when you hit a slow patch or the money just isn’t coming in? How do you cope when you feel like you are doing this all alone, month after month or year after year? When you can’t pay your bills or even afford to take the next step in your career?

For those of you like me that don’t have a family or loved ones to support you or your best friends aren’t anywhere near you, let me suggest trying to really stay focused on your goals. When life’s problems creep up on us, if we do nothing it will just get worse so we have to do something. Setting your goals and meditating on them daily can really help you stay motivated through the hard times.  Keep taking those little steps everyday to make something happen and be diligent. Don’t let things fall through the cracks and let the momentum grow to carry you through.

Many times you can’t rely on anyone else and you have to be able and willing to push yourself hard enough to get through anything. Making lists of tasks to get done no matter how small can really help boost your mood and help develop good working habits and discipline. It’s usually a lack or break down of this discipline that gets us into trouble or never allows us to really get the footing we need to make things happen.

Ultimately it’s only you that can make the necessary change. In this business you have to want it more than anything sometimes to force yourself through the dire straits of life. Develop good working habits and also develop an accountability partner you can call on if you are at all able to. Other than that, focus on your goals daily, performs your tasks and do all the things your career needs to have done, not just the easy things or the ones you are good at. Part of not dropping the ball is doing the tasks that you hate doing. It’s here you will find the most success usually. Once you get things moving again, the weight lifts and your productivity increases. Now it’s just a matter of not falling in a rut again so keep the discipline up. Some times even finding another artist going through what you are going through and encouraging them will do the same for you. Give it a try!

Good luck!

25 Aug 2011
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Social Media Common Sense

I Lie In the Bed I Make

I have written quite a few blogs on social media and they seem to be the most popular ones when I look at the total view counts so it amazes me when I have to write a blog like this. It would seem by the numbers that people have an interest in learning social media and being professional at it so you would think this kind of blog is unnecessary, but alas to my surprise here I am writing one. I apologize if this seems preachy but I just don’t know how else to say it.

To have common sense is expected of all of us yet it seems there are many who don’t exhibit the usage of it or even care to when it comes to social networks and professionalism. Musicians especially those in the rock/metal genre who like to “go against the grain” so to speak forget that they are running a business and they usually don’t have a PR team to “spin” their quotes and save their butts every time they say something stupid or supremely un-profound. So here are a couple pieces of advice that you shouldn’t need a “professional” to tell you.

Don’t get on Facebook or twitter and complain about how much you are not getting paid for playing your gigs. Most of you have sent friend requests to or followed those you are trying to get in touch with to get your gigs and further your music careers. If you complain about what you did or didn’t get paid then do you really think they are going to book you back? Don’t you think that those that haven’t booked you yet are going to notice and take a pass on you? The local professionals, talent buyers, promoters and booking agents know what you bring in and how effective an entertainer you are, they already know what you are worth if you have been around any length of time. People see what you post especially if you and all your friends are making comments on the same post and it gets more popular and keeps popping in everyones news feed and of course they will react to it. You aren’t doing yourself any favors by posting negative things about the people or venues giving you a shot at performing and it just makes you look unprofessional and like you have no idea what you are talking about.

Just yesterday on Facebook, someone complained about how it’s unfair how they didn’t get paid for a gig and that cover bands are getting paid more to play then original bands. The person in this band has a total of 349 fans on their Facebook page, 93 followers on twitter and 39 fans on Myspace. This juggernaut of a band is complaining because they packed out a venue and didn’t get paid for it but a cover band would have. They said they rocked this place and they packed out two shows in a row. Please tell me how they rocked a place out, packed it out or even brought enough fans with such a poor showing of fan numbers on their social media sites? Unless everyone of those fans lived in Nashville and everyone came to the shows they couldn’t have possible packed any place out. I confronted him on it because I was there for one of them and knew the truth. There were four bands that night. At least a third of the people in the room were from other bands and their crew. Another third may have been fans of all the bands and the rest were over flow from the two other bars connected that kept walking in and out. Many in disbelief at what they saw.

This person went on to say it was harder to be an original band than a cover band. I disagree, it’s easier to play your own music in your own style than to try and cop someone else’s style, feel and solo’s. Cover bands play four or five hours a night and in Nashville many play eight hours a night for just tips. Original bands play 45 minutes. Also, cover bands play what people want to hear so people hang out and drink and so the bar makes a profit. Most original bands don’t get people to hang out and drink enough beer for the venue to make a profit and most of the time the original bands music really isn’t very good, so again, why should you get paid?

If you want to play the argument that because you are working so hard to put out original music so you should get paid more, then well true master musicians like Allan Holdsworth, Chick Corea, Jean Luc Ponty or Andrew York should be making all the money, not Lady Gaga and certainly not the one complaining. We should be sitting playing with our finger paints compared to people like that. Mozart died penniless and he puts everyone to shame. We certainly don’t deserve to get paid more or equal to those who are doing what needs to be done to entertain the crowd just because we play original music and hell I went to music school to learn a lot of this. Most of the people complaining don’t know the difference between a major scale or a minor scale, what a 13th chord is or even a tri-tone substitution, but hey you are working just as hard as all the other original musicians who study their instruments to complete proficiency in all genres and write their own original music right? Working hard is completely relative and I know a lot of cover bands that work a hell of a lot harder then the original ones that I see complaining.

This is nothing new obviously. I see this all the time on social networks. I will say this, I really only see it coming from the metal scene. I don’t see it as much from artists from another genres. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, I just haven’t seen it as much. First clue, you play metal in Nashville! Hello? Really? You think you are going to make money in a country/Christian music town when even they don’t get paid here and it’s what’s popular? You need to draw more than 5 – 30 people a show before you complain about getting paid. Come on people a serious reality check is needed.

It’s also funny that most of the people I see doing it or abusing social networks and spamming music professionals are people who went to school for music business. If you are going to pay that much money for college, I’d think you’d want to learn something from it and actually apply it instead of doing everything ass backwards and ruining it for everyone else.

Social networks are a great place for you to grow your fan base and maybe even make some good connections. Not a place for you to complain, spam or tear apart other bands, promoters and especially not venues you play at. Please don’t act like that and expect to be taken seriously. Be professional even on your personal pages or don’t invite “music professionals” of any kind to be your friends because if you can’t control yourselves and act like an adult then you are probably alienating those that can help you.

Use common sense people. You were given it for a reason.

Good Luck!

16 Aug 2011
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Jani Lane – A Tribute

Granted, I come from the 80’s hair metal world. I grew up playing all the songs in cover bands and wanting to be the next guitar hero like Steve Vai, Richie Kotzen, Nuno Bettencourt or Paul Gilbert, so I have an affinity for some of the music of that era. The 80’s bands were known for their excess and being over the top with their image. While this is true, it’s exactly what being a “rock star” is all about, being larger than life and attaining the seemingly unobtainable “superstardom.” You can say what you want about the 80’s music scene, but all I can tell you is there has never been a more fun time in music and the entertainment factor then was much bigger and stronger than it has ever been. I will never be embarrassed by the 80’s as many of today’s musicians miss everything when it comes to knowing how to entertain. Big hair, make-up, spandex it’s all good with me as long as you can entertain. Jani Lane knew this about the music business and pursued his dream with everything he had.

Jani was one of the most prolific songwriter’s of this era. His song “Cherry Pie” is still famous and used in commercials to this day and he didn’t even like it. It took him 15 minutes to write as a last minute single at the request of his label. Jani had the ability to take everyday common phrases and turn it into a hit song, which is the sign of a true hit songwriter. Jani was able to say what we were all feeling and wanted to say to the ones we love in his songs in the most simple way that we could all relate to with out being to wordy. The hit song “Heaven” is a perfect example of this; as we all played this for our sweet hearts back in High School or for me barely out of high school. Songwriting genius comes in many forms and Jani had it in spades but thankfully in a way that us everyday people could access and relate to emotionally, deeply and personally which is exactly why Warrant’s songs did so well on the charts.

Songs like “Blind Faith” is the kind of song I have always wanted to be able to say to the woman I love. In its simplicity are the strongest words and emotions that are evoked when I think about what I desire with someone I love. Jani had songs like “I Saw Red”, “Stronger Now” and “Bitter Pill” that all reached us where it hurt most often. Whether it is the pain of losing we love, being cheated on or thankful that someone stuck with us when we were at our worst. Jani had a way of relating that in song and we loved it, we felt it and it stuck in our hearts and has never gone away.

Jani wrote other incredible songs like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, “Down Boys” and “Machine Gun” which were just great rock songs and made you want to pump your fist in the air.  His talent was far reaching and unfortunately ended way to early. To write one hit song in your career is an outstanding feat and most are very lucky to do it once let alone mutltiple times. Jani Lane wrote “Heaven” which peaked at #2 and “Cherry Pie” which topped out at #5. Jani had 9 songs that placed in the Billboard Top 100, a pretty hefty accomplishment for any songwriter and most would kill to have that kind of success. To not recognize his talent and ability is a crime and honestly no matter what his personal problems were, his talent was undeniable.

I remember reading interviews and being at concerts where Jani said he was embarrassed about some of the slow songs he wrote. Jani was trying to be heavier and cool with the new music regime. I was also at shows where he was beaming with pride and so thankful to his audience for making his songs so huge. Jani fought demons many of us will never know or understand, but in the end Jani was proud of his music as should we all be.

Any songwriter, musician or entertainer can learn a lot from Jani Lane. He was a true entertainer and was given a gift most of us spend years chasing down. Take the time to get to know his music and talent. Forget the genre or big hair and just listen to what he had to say and how he did it. You will be a better musician and songwriter for it.

Jani Lane struggled with many of the trappings of a “rock star” lifestyle as most in the business do and especially what seems to be the loneliness that truly follows you when you are alone in your hotel room but don’t let that cloud your judgment of his talent. Don’t let the back and forth with the band Warrant affect your opinion of his music. No matter what Jani’s personal issues were, in the end Jani was one very talented musician and songwriter and his songs defined a generation. There is no bigger statement or compliment than that.

Jani, from us to you, thank you for what you have given us. We will miss you and we love you. Rest in peace my friend.

09 Aug 2011
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Social Media Boundaries for the Artist and Fan

Because Our Love’s That Strong

With the use of social media networks, artists have a whole new world to tap into and a means of developing their business by launching an online fan base. This is a very cool world that generates potential success for artists but it also hosts many possible dangers. I have run into many issues with social media in the music business and it also has affected my life personally because of it I have noticed that some of the social interactions found on these networks can cause real harm in the lives of artists, affecting their personal relationships.  Although my job is to help artists achieve their dreams, it is now appropriate to protect their personal lives –and even defend those they love–from poor networking decisions and the occasional disruptive fan(s).

When an artist develops a fan page, the concept is to get people to interact with them on Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms of their choice. If the artist is an attractive one, they are obviously going to stir a lot of attention. Some of the feedback can be positive, encouraging, and innocent; on other occasions it can be rude, unwelcome, improper — even childish at times.  These situations create not only a conflict between the artist and the fan, but also potential issues affecting the spouse or significant other of the artist.

Not everyone will agree with me on this blog and that is ok, but I feel I have a considerable amount of experience in this subject.  I want to correct the misconception as follows: Many people believe an artist has to keep his personal life private if married or involved with another person, in order to keep the mystery out there.  Some think that when you are a “rock star” you get to live by different standards when it comes to flirting, online interactions, or live performance behavior. The idea is that it is always important to have an air of availability to keep people attracted and interested in you. You feel you should not offend anybody because you cannot afford to lose fans, or ticket and merchandise sales. These are the circumstances in which an artist allows inappropriate conduct via social media. The things that would not be tolerated in every day, real life.

I feel we should never act any different online than we do in public with our spouses or significant others there. If you made a decision to be in a relationship, honor that decision. There is no job in the world that allows you to treat others without consideration for their feelings.  If you are in an entertainment career, these  situations need to be discussed with each other and decisions need to be made on how to handle it. Hopefully both people can get on the same page and work it out.

We can interact with, and respond to people who are maybe a little too flirtatious in a professional manner and let them know we appreciate their interest in our music or careers rather than resort to flirting with them in return or getting ourselves into trouble. If you have a more open relationship with your partner and they don’t mind innocent flirting that is up to you, but just remember that this type of relationship doesn’t usually last forever. As an artist you should always protect yourself from the people with no moral boundaries in order to protect your personal relationships. It is completely amazing how many people send sexual or flirtatious advances to attached artists and this from both male and female fans, equally. Many of the people sending these inappropriate messages are married or involved themselves. This is wrong on so many levels I can’t even begin to explain. If you are an artist who receives these types of messages and that would probably be most of us, then politely thank them for their comments but also tell them to be respectful of your relationship and you would be more than happy to interact with them appropriately. Trust me you will earn more respect this way, not only from your fans but also from your partner.

I have been in relationships with artists that let people flirt with them. It is never easy to watch people hit on the ones you love. I watched my partner let the conversation continue even after they confronted the person about their behavior. Instead of simply blocking the person who wouldn’t stop, that one fan or CD sale was more important than my feelings. This person was even spreading lies about me to my partner and many others and my partner still kept interacting with him because the fan was nice to them and bought her CD and she didn’t want to hurt their feelings.  No matter how I felt about the constant flirting with her and her not dealing with it appropriately, it wasn’t worth it to her to deal with it in the right way and put me first. You as the artist need to decide which is more important, your career (which for most of the artists reading this really doesn’t exist yet), the fan who will never be there for you, or the one who loves you and gives everything they have to you.

When dealing with your “fans” just let me say that unless they are buying your merchandise, tickets and so forth, they are not keeping you in a career. Even if they purchase your $15.00 CD, you don’t have to put up with inappropriate behavior. You can’t be afraid to lose a fan over inappropriate conduct. For every fan you lose you will gain 100 more.

For the fans who read this, if you know the artist is married or in a relationship and you cross those boundaries, shame on you. I am pretty sure I would know how you would feel if your partner was doing the same thing to you. Grow up and act appropriately. As a fan of the artist, I would hope you would only want the best for them and to truly support them. Don’t risk someone else’s relationship for your need to flirt with someone else’s partner. That is completely disrespectful and pathetic.

Artists: use social media for its strengths but don’t get caught up in the games or risk your relationships for someone you don’t even know. Make smart decisions, be respectful to your partners and let your music do the talking. It should be more than enough to win over your fans without the need for inappropriate behavior.

Good Luck!

20 Jul 2011
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“Rubicon Cross” EP Review

R U Angry

I get the opportunity to listen to all kinds of new music, and to be honest when it comes to rock/metal over the last few years I am usually very disappointed. It seems that the art of good songwriting and melodic lines have completely gone out the window. I rarely even get to hear good playing, let alone amazing guitar solos or great vocal harmonies. So when CJ Snare, the lead singer of the Grammy award-winning rock band “Firehouse” asked me to listen to his new four song self-titled EP “Rubicon Cross” that he cowrote with “Furyon” guitarist Chris Green, I was very excited. CJ has proven in the past he knows how to write a hit song and has always excelled in the vocal department, so I had fairly high expectations when I first decided to listen to and review this EP.

I have had CJ on my radio show “Live From Music City” a number of times, he even guest hosted with me for its one year anniversary, so I wanted to make sure I was giving this a fair listen and review and not letting my personal feelings cloud my judgment. Therefore, I have taken my time and listened to this EP many, many times. With that being said, please know, I have written this review from as honest and straightforward a point of view as I can with no bias whatsoever.

The first song, “Moving On” starts with an acoustic guitar instrumental and CJ’s vocal lines setting the tone or so we think until about 50 seconds into the song when it picks up into an energetic rock song with a great guitar riff. This song does what so many of them don’t anymore; it uses dynamics very successfully and adds so much more depth and dimension to the feel and mood of the song. Chris Green’s use of space, acoustic playing remind you that there is so much more you can do with a guitar than is being done with most rock music today. The guitar tone here is perfect. It is heavy with plenty of “aunch” but also crystal clear. You can hear everything perfectly which speaks highly of Chris’s ear and the production of this song. CJ has written another lyrically solid song with a good hook and his ability to create great vocal melodies to keep the listener tuned in doesn’t fail here. The guitar solo never strays from its purpose of telling a story within a story. Chris uses octaves and melodic runs very effectively without taking away from the song or feel. Nothing about this song feels out-of-place and the overall arrangement is very strong. “Moving On” sets the tone for the rest of the EP very effectively and is a very strong effort for CJ and Chris.

Song number two, “Next Worst Enemy” starts off strong right out the gate. A heavy, fun guitar riff with a different guitar tone, and to be honest Chris’ use of varying the use of rhythmic patterns and riffs keeps the song fresh at all times. This song has “hit” written all over it, as the hook is strong! CJ brings a great growl to the song but yet keeps the vocal melodies in place and has really excelled here at bringing back the something that is missing in rock music today, fun, while not messing with the integrity of the song. It still rocks your face off and makes you want to pump your fist in the air along with it. Again Chris Green proves he belongs in the big leagues with his guitar solo. Another very melodic song within a song. He never overplays and yet shows that he has the chops to hang with anybody. That is a sign of a mature songwriter and guitar player. There is a lot to be said in that and kudos to Chris for doing exactly what the song needs and nothing else. “Next Worst Enemy” provides a great example in rhythmic syncopation, which just keeps the song punching through without ever plodding or getting lost or boring.

“R U Angry” is the third song on the EP. Starting off mellow but immediately bursting into a great rock riff then settling into a chord arpeggiation for the verse. Chris then picks it up in the pre-chorus with a faster arpeggiation before big chords, single lines and variations in the chorus. Another huge hook for the chorus with a big CJ scream sets the stage for another “I told you so” it’s all in the songwriting moment from CJ. Chris lets it all hang out in this solo. I truly wish that more guitar players would listen to Chris and learn what it means to write a great solo. Chris has brought back something sorely lacking in today’s rock music. Solos with a purpose, statement, melody and just enough flash to make you go wow! The songs are so good that sometimes you forget that they were written out of their experiences and the message shouldn’t be lost on prowess of the individuals and that is another area where CJ tops most vocalists. He keeps you engaged and emotionally tied to the songs so that you experience the meaning behind the lyrics.

“Shine” is the fourth and last song on the EP. It starts off as an acoustic ballad and harkens back to a time when songwriting was about saying something not how outrageous you can be to get attention. As good as CJ is at writing a hook, he never lets the message get lost for the sake of a hit. The song builds a bit in the second verse with addition of clean electric guitars, bass and drums. Chris plays a sweet melodic solo with the use of wah-wah pedal that thankfully sounds like someone who knows how to use it correctly. “Shine” is another solid effort from CJ and Chris that sits perfectly in their wheelhouse of good contemporary songwriting.

In summary, “Rubicon Cross” is a very good EP that should remind people of what good songwriting, talent, production and creativity should bring to the table. Every song works here, there are no filler songs taking up space. CJ and Chris have shown that they have what it takes to make great music that never goes out of style and also the chops to take their songwriting to a different level then most. That is what good song writing is, songs that paint a musical picture in one’s mind and that is exactly what “Rubicon Cross” pulls off.

You can purchase the EP here: http://ht.ly/5JTa9 

Note: At the time of this writing, The Lowry Agency has no affiliation with “Rubicon Cross”, CJ Snare, Chris Green or “Furyon.”

17 Jun 2011
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The Difference Between a Booking Agent and a Real Booking Agent

The Difference Between a Booking Agent and a Real Booking Agent

I Know The Sun Will Call

A couple of days ago I had the privilege of talking with a “booking agent” who was no longer a booking agent but had just recently told my client that they were going to be booking shows for them. There was no agreement between the two, which was good for my client in this instance. The “booking agent” had only booked one show in two years, so obviously I wanted to find out their game plan to increase their output for my client. I was hoping maybe it would start with something like waking up or getting out of bed or something that would at least start with movement as that would have seemed to been more effort than anything previously tried after two years.

When I first called, I introduced myself and simply asked the status of her relationship with my client. Did she have an agreement with my client? Did she have a game plan? Well of course no one likes to be questioned, but that is my job after all and my client’s income is of paramount importance to me, so of course I am going to ask if the “booking agent” has any plans to book my client.

Well Miss “booking agent” proceeded to tell me that she wasn’t really a booking agent anymore but more into promotions. I asked what she was promoting and why she just told my client a few weeks before she was going to be booking shows for him if she wasn’t a booking agent. She said that she was working on a couple of shows coming up and that she really just meant that she was talking about those shows with my client. I asked her why then my client is listed as her artist if she wasn’t going to book him and if she had a copy of the email agreement she said she had with my client. She replied, “Well wouldn’t it be easier if you got it from him?” Of course by this time I am beginning to have fun and you know how I like my fun with people in the business. I replied to her, “I already asked him and he doesn’t have it. However, if you are the person who sent it, you should have a copy, especially if you are professional and I asked you for one so you should send it and not pass the buck.” Of course she didn’t have a copy of it.

She kept telling me “If you look at my website…” and that she had all these connections and blah, blah, blah. It’s not my job to review their website to figure out what they do. They told my client they were going to book shows for them so that is what should be done no matter what her website says.

I wanted to tell her that her website was very bad, that it said it was booking my client for 2011 right on the top of the page and that she no dates listed for her “supposed” promotions. If you don’t have any promotions going on then you aren’t a promoter. What I did say was “Well if you have all these connections, why haven’t you been able to book my client in the last two years?” Her reply was “Well if you want me to take him off my website, I will, just let me know.” Of course I said, “That is exactly what I want.” She replied “I don’t see why it hurts to have him up there. It’s all promotion for him and makes him look better.” I said, “Please just take him down and I’ll find another booking agent.” Of course that didn’t go over well and she hung up on me. This is of course paraphrased.

To all the musicians reading this and the booking agents who are just starting out or are not doing anything for their clients, please understand this. If you are telling a musician that you will do something for them — do it! If you can’t, then be honest and let them know. You are really helping to cause the burn out and depression that artists go through because they are relying on you to do your job and you simply aren’t. It creates great frustration and makes everyone want to give up on his or her dreams. Don’t be another “professional” that doesn’t get it done and adds to the stigma we all face.

Also realize that being on your website is not promotion for the artist especially if you are not getting a ton of hits on it or if you aren’t running a social media campaign. Promotion is a verb. It means you are actively doing something consistently. Not a picture on a page no one sees. Add to that, if your website and professional image is poor quality, then you are hurting the artist not helping. Your image and professionalism reflects on them and the other professionals and fans who see it. It gives a very poor image of the level the artist is at instead of putting them in the best light possible.

If you can’t put your business and image on the same level an artists has to be at, then you are not helping. Appearance and perception is everything in the entertainment world. You run a business and if you want to achieve success you should reflect it, not have poor quality imagery. You and the artist must always show growth in this area, not stagnation.

Artists beware, it’s ok while starting out to work with people that will help you even at the begging level, but after a while if they aren’t doing anything for you or they are hurting your image then it’s time to move on. Your booking agent should have goals set to meet every month so that your goals, as well as theirs, are being met. One thing I have noticed is that if they book enough shows to pay all their bills then they quit working. They don’t think about your bills, which is actually their job. They are supposed to be making you enough income for you to make a living at this. They should have goals that meet your income needs within a realistic time frame with the other agents. If they don’t meet the goals consistently then it’s time to let go.

Just remember that we all have bad months, sometimes a couple in a row. Also you should be working with multiple agents at this level with all non-exclusive contracts. This will vary depending on length of tours and other things. If you aren’t going on tour then don’t expect them to be booking you unless you ask for a couple gigs to stay up on your skills.

Being a booking agent is a sales job. All sales jobs have sales goals. If you don’t meet your goals each day you shouldn’t stop working till you do. That’s how you make it in sales. Set some key things that have to be done everyday and you will be successful if you are consistent with your day-to-day goals.

Good luck!

15 Jun 2011
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Nashville Dinner Theatre CMA Fest Review

Nashville Dinner Theatre CMA Fest Review

A couple of weeks ago I became the talent buyer for the Nashville Dinner Theatre and I had the “opportunity” to throw together a CMA Fest showcase with about four days to make it happen before the biggest Country Music festival in the world kicked off. Four days full of music from 2 pm to 2 am Thursday through Sunday. It was a whirlwind for sure and I faced just about every adversity you could think of during that time but we came out of it clean and ready to make great things happen.

I want to highlight some of the artists that I got to see at our venue during those four days and maybe talk about a couple disappointments so that maybe some other musicians trying to make it can take something away from it.

The first artist that impressed me the most with the total overall package was Julianne Ankley (www.julianneankley.net.) She just goes by “Julianne” for her stage name. Julianne is chasing her dream and started only a short 5 years ago but is so far ahead of the game compared to most whom have been doing this for much longer. Not only is she talented with a rich voice, but has really good phrasing as well. Her songwriting is strong and her presence on stage is captivating and mature. She is very professional, and has a knack for telling great stories, which helps her relate with the audience and she is attractive. Her image is polished and she marketed herself very well at our venue, much better than anyone else actually. I have left all of her material out to this day so that people will find out about her because her marketing material is top notch.

The band Phoenix Drive (http://www.reverbnation.com/phoenixdrive) was very impressive. They had great harmonies, great talent and a very polished sound.  Working with them was a real pleasure as they were so nice and professional. Overall their tones were great, playing was top shelf and vocals were catchy and interesting.  I wish more bands were this nice and really worked as hard as they did. They were from showcase to showcase with never a complaint of how tired they were. I would have them back anytime.

A new comer with a bright future and a big voice was Brianna Tyson (http://www.reverbnation/brianatyson.) She has an energetic presence about her and a very mature phrasing quality that belies her years. Her ability to mix jazz and soul with her country music is refreshing and she stands out completely from the rest of the same ole same ole here in Nashville. With a year or two of constant gigging she will be a star.

Maybe the biggest surprise for me was Jessica Cayne  (www.jessicacayne.com.) This woman has a huge voice, a great sense of humor and best overall ability to interact with the audience. She wrote great songs and kept me entertained and laughing. If you knew me, you’d know how hard it is to impress and entertain me. Jessica just signed a new publishing deal, which will hopefully get her songs out there more, but it’s her voice and big personality that should send her over the top. Keep you eyes on this one as well.

Another artist that really surprised me with his songs was Clay Evans (www.clayevansmusic.com.) Clay is a little offbeat with his presence, which is also really good in this town of Kenny Chesney clones. His songwriting is very catchy and really takes you somewhere different. It was a real pleasure to listen to Clay twice. I expect if nothing else, hopefully he will have some real songwriting success in his future.

Honorable mentions are Brinn Black (http://www.brinnblackepk.webs.com/), Heath Forbes (http://www.heathforbesepk.webs.com/), Liz Moriondo (http://www.lizmoriondo.com/index.html), Shelly Williams ( www.myspace.com/shellywilliamsmusic), Scarlett (www.allthingsscarlett.com) and Heidi Raye (http://www.ourstage.com/profile/heidiraye) in no particular order. They all are good artists with just a few things to work on that will greatly improve their chances of success.

Only two things really disappointed me this weekend. One being that someone didn’t play at all because we were having power issues. If she had waited, she would have only been 5 minutes behind schedule. The other was a female duo that I was really looking forward to hearing. Granville Automatic (www.granvilleautomatic.com) decided that they didn’t like following a dance review that I threw in to fill up 30 minutes of dead space as they gave up their night on Friday so all these artists could perform.  Granville Automatic did end up playing but for only 20 minutes, which is sad, as truly, they may have had the most beautiful voices and deepest songs of all of them. It is my personal/professional opinion that no matter what, you act professional and perform. It is your job as the entertainer to win over any crowd and if you truly believe in yourself and your music, you probably will. We all went to a lot of trouble to get this event happening and went through absolute hell all weekend, the least you can do is perform your forty-five minutes in appreciation. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to perform in no where near ideal situations but you put on your professional hat and kick butt. Nothing should stop you from doing what you believe in. That being said, talent wise, these girls have it and have it in spades.

Overall I was very happy with how everything turned out and I was impressed with how hard many of the artists worked in the obscene heat and difficult conditions. CMA Fest is a very tough, long week and most of these people did an amazing job keeping their energy up and their attitude in high spirits.

Keep it up!

Side note: Kris Bell (www.krisbellmusic) is not reviewed in here as he is an artist of mine and I didn’t feel it was appropriate.

04 Jun 2011
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People In The Industry Who Make A Difference

People In The Industry Who Make A Difference

Livin’ For Tomorrow

I want to take a moment to recognize people that interact with my business and that make my life a lot easier by being professional, working hard and doing it for the love of music. First and foremost, I want to thank my staff at The Lowry Agency. There is no way on this planet I could do what we do without them. I owe them everything and realize they make me look way better than I really am. I am so proud to be working with them and so very thankful for all that they do for me and for actually believing in what we do.

In a previous blog I wrote about Ray and Patti LeGrande (http://www.facebook.com/NashvilleMetalBands.) I just want to mention them again real quick because as we have gotten to know each other better, I can see I wasn’t wrong. They are not only great for the local rock/metal scene in Nashville; these are two people who truly care about everyone on a personal level. They are real, more real than most people I have ever met. I am truly blessed to call them friends first and business associates second. Thank you Ray and Patti!

One of the musicians that always steps up to the plate for me and helps is CJ Snare, the lead singer of “Firehouse” and “Rubicon Cross.” CJ has been a guest on “Live From Music City” 4 times and one of those as a co-host. A couple weeks ago, when a show was about to be cancelled, CJ stepped up to the plate with one hour and ten minutes to go, got his friend Chris Green to come on the show and knocked it out of the park again. CJ is always a great guest and such a gracious person. He truly adds a lot to every broadcast we do and it such a pleasure to have him on and we always have a blast. I have never, ever heard CJ utter a negative thing. He is as professional as they come. Thank you CJ for not being an unreachable person and looking past yourself to help others and spread your knowledge.

The one person here in Nashville that I think gets nowhere near the recognition she should is Dungeon Bonnie with Dungeon Promotions (www.dungeonpromotions.com.) This woman does so much promotion for the local scene and most definitely all for the love of music because she isn’t getting rich off of the industry here. Bonnie works harder than just about anyone I have ever scene and does it for so many bands. If one band put as much work into their career as Bonnie did in theirs, they might get somewhere. I am even more impressed because from what I see, most bands don’t appreciate her enough and really take advantage of her and yet she keeps plugging on, so here is a note to those bands. Get off your lazy butts, promote your shows that she does for you, quit ruining her reputation with your crappy online and in person behavior and work hard so that you actually get people to show up to a show she put you on so her business will grow. There is no point in her helping you if you aren’t going to take advantage of it and actually make something happen at a show she booked you on. It’s her reputation for the talent she brings in and if you don’t bring in fans, she shouldn’t be booking you anymore. And please don’t give me the its Nashville BS, Fools For Rowan kick your butts every time they play here. People, who want it, find a way to make it happen. Bonnie the Nashville rock and metal scene owe you a huge debt over the last couple years so let me thank you on behalf of them.

Bob Bender (www.bobbenderproductions.com) not only has been a guest many times on “Live From Music City,” but I have had the pleasure of listening to Bob speak at several events here in Nashville. Not only is Bob wiling to help and answer questions with people like me but also the local artist. There aren’t a whole lot people that to do that. Here’s to Bob and his willingness to help the scene grow just by being nice and always helping out the little guy!

Another person that I love working with that not only helps to get the word out with the major acts in rock and metal, but also small independent bands is Holly Jade with Metalholic Magazine (www.metalholicmagazine.com.) Holly is a great person, promoter and she also has the strength to keep pushing people in an industry where people can get burnt out real quick. Holly has also co-hosted “Live From Music City” with me once and hopefully with do it again.  Thank you Holly for all you do!

Dan Shaw with Dream Row Productions (www.dreamrow.com) has come along way in his time here with the Nashville scene. Not only has he created the “Rock Over Broadway” series at the Hard Rock Cafe, he constantly is looking to work with other professionals to take the local scene to new heights at his own expense. It has been great to get to know him and work on a few things with him. Stay tuned  for great things to come from Dream Row Productions in the near future! Dan, thank you for all your support and hard work!

So again I want to thank each and every one of you. You do make a huge difference in the music scene and I for one am a better person for knowing all of you. You make the job of The Lowry Agency a lot easier because you are top-notch professionals! Of course there are more to mention and I don’t want to leave anyone out but I will leave it for another blog.

Let’s make it happen!

04 Jun 2011
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It’s All About The Music… Or Is It?

It’s all about the music . . . Or is it?

And Fools Shine On

The great debate out there is it should be all about the music and not your image. This is true in a perfect world, but in a perfect world, people wouldn’t judge the book by its cover, all the band members would work equally as hard as the one currently doing all the work, and people would actually click on the music before seeing your pics, website or press kit. This isn’t a perfect world, not even close. Don’t get me wrong; I am not downplaying the importance of your songwriting. What I am saying is, if you think that your songwriting alone is going to be enough, then make sure you have the patience of Job. You need every advantage you can get in this business to get noticed.

Part of realizing why your image is so important is having an understanding of your core audience and understanding what the general public is looking for. Not everyone wants a deep song like Dylan would write, and not everyone likes a Lady Gaga pop tune that can be incessantly silly but catchy as hell.

Most people who go to live shows go to be entertained. Musicians sometimes forget that they are entertainers just as much as they are musicians or storytellers. Some musicians don’t have the immense musical talent others do, but they are much better entertainers, so they may have a much better selling tour than the more talented musicians. When I pay money to see a live band, I want to be entertained. I can see how talented you are by what you play, how you play, your phrasing, etc.

Most of us grew up wanting to be “Rock Stars” clutching a hairbrush microphone in front of the mirror, or playing air guitar to our favorite songs. We wanted to be larger than life. We wanted to help other people escape their busy stressful lives and transport them to a different place like all of our favorites did for us!

Most of the audience has dreamed of wanting to be that “larger than life rock star.” They look up to their favorite artists; want to get to know them. They want to spread the word about them. Well a big part of that is the image they put forward, the mystique they put out and being very cool while still somewhat accessible.

Small independent artists don’t usually have a back catalogue of hits to tour off of.  That means it’s a much harder road to book shows and win over fans. Decide what your goals are as a musician or band and then decide if you’re ok with possibly not having as many fans or not making as much money due to where your musical priorities lie, or if you’re going to be amazing entertainers who still write great songs people can related to and identify with.

There is no right or wrong here but there is reality. For artists that completely and totally have the drive like Tori Amos or Ani DeFranco to get their music out there and don’t take no for answer, you can make it in the business with non-stop hard work. But note, they both had a very distinct and defined image. For the artists that don’t have that skill set, the business mindset or a band where everyone is putting 110% forward in every aspect of growing the business, image becomes absolutely critical to set yourself apart and attract attention to you.

Here are a few hints to think about if you are going for an image. Don’t dress on stage like you are going to Wal-Mart.  Don’t wear a wife-beater tank top if you don’t have the body for it — it looks pathetic and laughable, not cool, plus no one wants to see your man boobs. Everyone in the band should look like they “fit” in the band, not half one way and the other half like they are going to go chop wood. Be original and find your own image and quit copying everyone else. If I see one more Dimebag Darrell wannabe, I’ll find another use for that very pointy guitar of yours. But most importantly, don’t skimp on your photography, artwork and press kit.  You get what you pay for, so take it very seriously and plan it out ahead of time. Know what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Good Luck!

24 May 2011
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No More Excuses!

No More Excuses!

I Lie In the Bed I Make

When I go out and watch live music, I try to be as anonymous as possible. I don’t go in telling people what I do or trying to impress anyone. I stay very quiet. I watch everything, listen to everything and notice everything. I observe very intently the musicians and how they perform, how they interact with the crowd, how they market themselves and their merchandise booths.

I am going to break this blog down a bit and address each of the above as it is all very important. This blog will be very to the point as I don’t believe in holding back and pampering people. Most of the people I run into say they have been doing this for so many years. Well if that is the case then why don’t learn from those years? Why don’t they do some research and figure things out to change the state of their current situation as an artist or a band?

One of the things that really prevail among most musicians is an attitude that the city/scene or people hold them back; that they or their band are better than everyone else’s and if someone would just give them a chance they’d make it. Granted, some cities have more dominant scenes for certain genres than others and that can provide an obstacle but that is never an excuse, it is just an obstacle to be overcome.

No one is out to stop you from making it and there aren’t any evil overlords who try to hold you back. People and politics really don’t come into play until you have made a real “buzz’ in the scene. Until then, the only thing holding you back is you and your effort, whether you are a solo artist or a band.

As I watch musicians promote their shows on social media or in person, I have to say most of the time — and I mean 95% — it is pretty pathetic. It’s always pretty much one person doing all the promoting. Most band members barely or don’t even promote on their own Facebook profiles. If they do, it’s just a couple of hours before a show, so no one even knows about it, or it’s too late to make or change plans. This is so absolutely ridiculous and there is no excuse whatsoever for it to happen. They don’t even click the “like” option on most of the posts made about them or by other band members, limiting the amount of impressions that can be had. How do people expect to make it if they won’t even promote themselves? Really?

Being in a band and telling everyone how you want to make it and make a career at it means EVERYONE has to promote ALL THE TIME. Not everyone will agree with me here but in my honest opinion, if you don’t, you have no business being in the band. You are doing nothing but holding them back. A band is a team effort; it is everyone’s responsibility to promote the music, shows, websites etc. If you aren’t willing to step outside your comfort zone and help, then step aside and let someone join the band who wants it enough to work for it. Quit posing and pretending you’re something you’re not, which is hungry and wanting to make it.

I never, ever see local bands handing out fliers for their shows. They complain about how the scene doesn’t change, yet no one is enticing new people to the shows. They sit around at the venue before the show getting stoned or hanging with the same people they always talk to. Here they are, downtown, on a strip that is completely packed with tourists all night long and they are hiding out in the venue. How does a band or solo act expect new fans when they do very little or nowhere near enough to promote? How do they expect a scene to change when they do nothing to change it?

When new people, or even old fans, don’t show up for concerts, the only ones to blame are the band. The venues advertise, the promoters advertise and do better for multiple acts even if they have no budget but the bands do almost nothing. You know what you get when you do nothing? Nothing! Get off your lazy butts and make it happen. Stop making excuses. Don’t tell me or anyone else “It’s not my thing,” or “I don’t understand how to do it.” Learn! All the resources are there and mostly free. You have no excuse whatsoever. You yourself are to blame not anyone else.

When watching the artists or bands in the crowd, they usually don’t work it at all. They talk to their friends but never approach those new people they don’t know or try to get them to stay and check out their music. They don’t engage them and develop any rapport to bring in a new fan. It is so absolutely crazy. Never have I scene such a poor job of this as of late. It’s like social media has made people forget how to be social. You are in the entertainment business. You better learn how to entertain and talk to people. It is a pre-requisite.

When I watch them on stage, their engagement with the crowd is also pretty bad. I admit, Nashville is a harder crowd, but that doesn’t matter. You should be working on your stage show at all times and getting ready for other gigs in other cities. Quit worrying about your buddies and their bands that are there. It’s your show while you are on stage, OWN it! You are supposed to be separating yourself from them, proving you have the “it” factor. Quit being like everyone else. Quit spending half your time with your back to the crowd. Quit acting like you are bored. Every gig is the most important gig of your life. You have no idea who is watching you or what opportunity could come out of this performance.

Bands need to invest in themselves. Purchase banners, poster boards, decent merchandise, and whatever else you need to grow your brand and show your professionalism, to make an impression and prove how much you want it every single time. You have to be the one the crowd remembers the most. Have people walk the crowd with your merchandise and sell it. Always have your merchandise booth manned at all times. Make sure people are wearing your shirts, especially your merchandise booth personnel. Make sure your people load and unload as quickly as possible to keep the flow going and limit the number of people who leave because you take too long to get set up. It amazes me how this isn’t completely obvious to people.

In this day and age of the artist/band being on the same playing field as everyone else, everyone has the opportunity to have the same technology, same distribution and the same marketing abilities. Truly the only thing holding you back is you and the level of effort you are willing to put into this dream of yours. So please stop making excuses and start making it happen!

Good Luck!