Jason McGuire and Casey Davis, guitarists for Nashville metalcore band, “Mindset Defect” is proud to endorse the Kramer Guitar Company (http://www.kramerguitars.com).
http://www.prlog.org/11583390-guitarists-of-nashville-metalcore-band-mindset-defect-endorse-kramer-guitar-co.html
#The Lowry Agency
The Difference Between a Booking Agent and a Real Booking Agent
The Difference Between a Booking Agent and a Real Booking Agent
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!
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.
People In The Industry Who Make A Difference
People In The Industry Who Make A Difference
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!
It’s All About The Music… Or Is It?
It’s all about the music . . . Or is it?
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!
Historic venue, The Nashville Dinner Theatre joins forces with The Lowry Agency.
Nashville-based entertainment firm The Lowry Agency has officially announced the addition of Nashville’s historic venue, The Nashville Dinner Theatre to their rapidly expanding client roster.
http://www.prlog.org/11522900-historic-venue-the-nashville-dinner-theatre-joins-forces-with-the-lowry-agency.html
Damon Johnson and American Rock Band Brother Cane Sign With The Lowry Agency
Nashville-based entertainment firm, The Lowry Agency, has officially announced the addition of guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Damon Johnson (http://www.damonjohnson.com) and Brother Cane to their client roster.
“I am honored and motivated to be working with The Lowry Agency. Weapons on kill! Strap in kids . . . here we go!” says Johnson about signing with The Lowry Agency.
Johnson first came on the national music scene as the frontman, guitarist and principal songwriter for Brother Cane, which was formed in 1990 by Johnson. Brother Cane released their self-titled debut album in 1993, which yielded them a number 1 single (“Got No Shame”) on rock radio. This success was followed with two subsequent number 1 singles, “And Fools Shine On” from their second album, “Seeds,” which was included in the soundtrack for “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” in 1995, and “I Lie In The Bed I Make,” from the album “Wishpool” in 1998. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E39ckUBOrO0)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8511160.htm
Rob Parissi of “Play That Funky Music” fame on “Live From Music City.”
“Live From Music City,” a weekly radio show that airs on Tuesday nights at 8:00 pm CST on blog talk radio (www.blogtalkradio.com/live-from-music-city), welcomes Rob Parissi (http://www.robparissi.com) to discuss his long-lasting and hugely diverse music career.
http://www.prlog.org/11512550-rob-parissi-of-play-that-funky-music-fame-on-live-from-music-city.html
No More Excuses!
No More Excuses!
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!
American Pop-Rock Musician/Singer/Songwriter/Record Producer Tommy James on Live From Music City
“Live From Music City,” a weekly radio show that airs on Tuesday nights at 8:00 pm CST on blog talk radio (www.blogtalkradio.com/live-from-music-city), welcomes American pop-rock musician, singer, songwriter and record producer Tommy James (http://www.tommyjames.com) to discuss his music career.
http://www.prlog.org/11498735-american-pop-rock-musiciansingersongwriterrecord-producer-tommy-james-on-live-from-music-city.html