Band life and the Music Scene – Starting From Scratch

Living the life of a rockstar is definitely something a lot of us fantasize about. However, it’s not all about the fame and fortune, as being a rockstar also means that you are a musical artist.

Getting your music out there as a band can be a big challenge these days, with not all bands making it and very few actually become famous. But there’s nothing wrong with following your dreams of making music and spreading it to others. As long as you and your band work hard, nothing is impossible.

If you don’t know where to start, here’s a short guide on how to start a band.

Find the right people

You have to find the right people to work with when you want to form a band. The members have to click and have some kind of chemistry when playing. You can start with your friends and ask them to join or ask around if you can find someone who knows how to play the instrument. Most bands have guitarists, bassists, drummers and vocals, but other bands also experiment with what instrument they know. What’s important is, the members have to know how to work together.

Make it a point to practice

No matter how good you are, if you don’t practice, you’re not going to make it. Band members need to find a way to spend some time practicing to perfect their music. Other people might say that it’s a natural thing and a musician will always find a way to play their music perfectly, but this is only true if you spend hours and hours of practice.

Gigs 

Play a few gigs at your local music lounge during open mic night. This is a good opportunity for you to show people your music and help the band get more gigs. You might get discovered by a talent scout from music agencies in Pennsylvania. You can also try to join band competitions and music fests for exposure.

Find a manager

If you want to go professional and hit the main stream, then you might want to get into music agencies in Pennsylvania or hire a manager. Most bands actually argue about getting a manager and if they really need one, but if you want to make it big time, you’ll need all the help you can get. A manager can help you settle deals, find gigs and even sponsors. Find someone you know you can trust and work together with them to figure out where your band is going.

What to Do When you Don’t Have a Band Manager

When bands decide to get out of their comfort zone, or their garage, and finally show what they got or plan to go full time, the members usually start asking themselves if they need a band manager.

The band manager is basically the other member of the band. He or she is the person who looks for gigs, finds contracts, deals and sponsorships and makes sure that the band makes money. He or she is also the person responsible of making sure the band delivers and preforms. Before contacting the nearest agent or manager you know, think of the things that also come along with having a band manager.

Professional managers would usually take 15 to 20 percent of what the band makes. This means that new bands can’t really afford getting a manager since they have to work with what little they have. However, there are a few things that you can do to help get your band to the stage without a manager.

DIY

Manage your own bad. Bands usually have members or two that drives the band to go where they need to go. This is actually easier compared to having a manager since all of the band members are aware of where the band in leading to. What bands don’t realize is that there’s the music or the creative side and the managing or business side. There should be a balance between both so that the band makes it on top. Otherwise, people will just forget about the band.

Friends as managers

If you have a friend that’s interested in the music industry and might want to become a band manager someday, then ask them to give you a hand when it comes to managing the band. Your friend’s going to grow with the band and gain contacts and experience in the music business. Band members should also brainstorm with their friends to think of ways to make it big.

Consult Music Agencies in Pennsylvania

Rather than signing with an expensive full time band manager, get a part-time one. You can get consultations for a smaller fee if you approach season managers and even music agencies. Some music agencies in Pennsylvania would even gladly help you out by posting gigs where bands can play for free or for a small talent fee.

At the end of the day, a band doesn’t really need a band manager unless they need to be managed. If the band makes it big, then consider getting one. But if you’re still starting out, it’s best to take baby steps and learn.

The Pros and Cons of Letting Your Baby Model

Businesses and brands based in New York City are always looking for models and endorsers who can help them market their products and services. Baby models for one, are always in demand in the Big Apple, so it’s not surprising why parents see this as a good career opportunity for their children.

When deciding to put your baby in the spotlight for modeling assignments, you need to consider the good and bad things that will come along with the role. Here are some of the positive and negative aspects about babies ‘working’ as models.

Pros

It’s a great feeling to see your baby smile in front of the camera and have fun. Of course, just seeing your child’s face on promotional materials gives you a sense of pride—you can’t help but share your baby’s accomplishment to the world.

Depending on how far your baby will go, your child could very well grace TV screens, magazines and even baby product wrappings. If things turn out well, you may even be signed with baby modeling agencies in New York who can see to it that both parents and child get what’s best for them.

Parents and babies are also given the opportunity to travel around to other states, cities and even countries to see the world while earning money. Finally, it’s also a good way to save up money for your baby’s future. Baby modeling isn’t exactly a stable job, if you can even call it that, but at least you get the chance to make your child some money for the future.

Cons

Living under the limelight can get to a person, especially if he or she starts out young. Your kid might grow up spoiled, developing a bad attitude of entitlement when growing up.

That said, it’s important to be always watchful of your baby’s treatment and interactions with people around him or her. Any negative effects of being in the industry should be mitigated if you stay by your child’s side and keep a watchful eye on things.

Another problem that may arise can have to do with the hectic schedule of being in the modeling industry, which may take a toll on your baby’s health. But again, this boils down to proper guidance and supervision.

These negative factors are precisely the reason why it’s important to work with reputable baby modeling agencies in New York, who can see to it that your child’s interests and welfare are always put first.