On the Road
This is where the results meet the road. Can you draw a crowd? This assumes you have an act to go on the road. Having a band to present your work, whether you're in it or not, is still the best way to get music to the public and get your songs recognized. This is a listening medium, and requires the attention of the audience.
Road travel implies vehicles. I am not qualified to talk about major road shows, but you don't have to be major star to own a van and a gas budget to get you to the beach. Many cities along the beach sponsor bands to play up the popularity of their fine cities. Maybe you are in the Midwest and a your town has a civic amphitheater. This is a good place to get your music in front an average cross cut of the population. Somewhere on a sign, give them a way to contact you about your music. A website is the best avenue.
Roadwork implies portability as well. You may want to invest in a second set of essentials in MIDI gear and cases to use outside of the house gigs. Plan the vehicle packing and support equipment like dollies, tie down straps, lights, power cables. Most venues will have PA systems, maybe monitor speakers, but don't count on power strips or equipment protection. It is best to have everything internally integrating on your side of your mixer. Then feed the bands output to the house. That way if you don't have a PA system available, you can add that yourself without disturbing the band set up. Lights get complicated. Better choose a house that has that covered until you are big enough to have your own roadies and a Winnebago the size of an eighteen wheeler.
The "road" can also mean getting your music played, period. By that I mean, write out the parts and farm them out to a local orchestras, band, or theater production. Where ever your music plays, getting your credits on the billing somewhere, then takes pictures of that or get on flyers with your credits clearly displayed. What we want to do here is built a resume of performed works, get published, and join ASCAP or BMI. Keep in mind that to be a ASCAP or BMI member, you have to have a published tune that has been on the market somewhere. That could be a CD you made of a copyrighted song you talked a local music store to offer to the public one day, your brother buys it and now you have a valid published work. If you get a local DJ to actually produce it with a label name, that's even better. Once you get the pump primed, the water will start flowing. If you don't do this - dry well.
Once your connected in the formal musical meaning of the word, the doors start opening. It is up to you how you deal with opportunities. If you are a composer, and performance is not your bag, target a band that you think is going someplace, and has just starting up, and write for them. Make sure that the copyright is obtained, and when the money starts to flow, you get your share. No need to start a precedence of freebies. A simple contract puts it in writing so no one can "see" it another way later.
If you don't write lyrics, get a collaborator that does. If none of this fits you, you are not roadworthy, and should remain studio bound. This is not a bad thing, it is just the best place for you. Pop/rock or Jazz music is designed to be out in the public. Commercial capitalism demands showmanship and organized teams of front-men, agents, collection, and bodacious clothing.
The road is a lifestyle and only works within certain frameworks, and for special individuals. Getting music into the public eye is very difficult without a "bull horn" band in front of you. This may mean staying in the closet for a lifetime, but making music is worth it. Just the fun of it as a hobby with no professional inclinations is just as great. You will still have your CD's. Maybe you can hawk them on the Internet, which is a virtual road show in itself.
© 2003 John Wolf - Wolf Tracks Music