Comments on: The Lower Class Musician http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/ save the music - not the industry. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:35:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rick http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-7129 Rick Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:10:48 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-7129 [...] In an attempt to curb some of these strikes against recording artists today, I suggest that we lower our overhead, adjust our expectations, accelerate our learning and diversify our product offering. All of which should be outlined in a good old fashion business plan. I speak more in depth about this in a recent post on Creative Deconstruction. [...] [...] In an attempt to curb some of these strikes against recording artists today, I suggest that we lower our overhead, adjust our expectations, accelerate our learning and diversify our product offering. All of which should be outlined in a good old fashion business plan. I speak more in depth about this in a recent post on Creative Deconstruction. [...]

]]> By: Lee http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-7127 Lee Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:27:09 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-7127 [...] came across this great guest post by Kevin English on Creative Deconstruction that talks about the “Lower Class Musician” and suggestions for how to lift yourself [...] [...] came across this great guest post by Kevin English on Creative Deconstruction that talks about the “Lower Class Musician” and suggestions for how to lift yourself [...]

]]> By: Kevin English http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-6083 Kevin English Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:17:52 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-6083 Hi Brian. Thanks for stopping by! It's true. Labels are notorious for not thinking things through. The problem lies with the very nature of music making. Its an emotional response that generally edges the business aspect out of the picture. For musicians, balancing a check book seems to take away from their creative juices. However, there would be a lot fewer struggling artists out there if they bit the bullet and focused on financials on a regular basis. Great stuff on your label. Keep up the good work! Best, Kevin Hi Brian. Thanks for stopping by!

It’s true. Labels are notorious for not thinking things through. The problem lies with the very nature of music making. Its an emotional response that generally edges the business aspect out of the picture. For musicians, balancing a check book seems to take away from their creative juices. However, there would be a lot fewer struggling artists out there if they bit the bullet and focused on financials on a regular basis.

Great stuff on your label. Keep up the good work!

Best,

Kevin

]]> By: Brian John Mitchell http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-6081 Brian John Mitchell Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:01:29 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-6081 It's interesting to me not only how few musicians & bands have a business plan, but also labels. You can argue that music is an artistic endeavor & should have the business end out of it, but labels are businesses no matter how big or small. While my business model at <a href="http://www.silbermedia.com" rel="nofollow">Silber Records</a> has needed to shift fairly drastically over the past 15 years, it is necessary to have organized goals. Most importantly skipped by a lot of people starting labels is the ability to do accounting (& seemingly even counting). You need to be able to tell if a release makes or loses money or you're not helping the artists on the label - you're coddling them at best & ripping them off at worst. hrt Brian John Mitchell It’s interesting to me not only how few musicians & bands have a business plan, but also labels. You can argue that music is an artistic endeavor & should have the business end out of it, but labels are businesses no matter how big or small. While my business model at Silber Records has needed to shift fairly drastically over the past 15 years, it is necessary to have organized goals. Most importantly skipped by a lot of people starting labels is the ability to do accounting (& seemingly even counting). You need to be able to tell if a release makes or loses money or you’re not helping the artists on the label – you’re coddling them at best & ripping them off at worst.

hrt
Brian John Mitchell

]]> By: The Question of the Decade « eleetmusic – Direction in music, marketing and business http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5998 The Question of the Decade « eleetmusic – Direction in music, marketing and business Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:12:26 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5998 [...] In an attempt to curb some of these strikes against recording artists today, I suggest that we lower our overhead, adjust our expectations, accelerate our learning and diversify our product offering. All of which should be outlined in a good old fashion business plan. I speak more in depth about this in a recent post on Creative Deconstruction. [...] [...] In an attempt to curb some of these strikes against recording artists today, I suggest that we lower our overhead, adjust our expectations, accelerate our learning and diversify our product offering. All of which should be outlined in a good old fashion business plan. I speak more in depth about this in a recent post on Creative Deconstruction. [...]

]]> By: Plan for Success | Future Of Music http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5827 Plan for Success | Future Of Music Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:05:10 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5827 [...] came across this great guest post by Kevin English on Creative Deconstruction that talks about the “Lower Class Musician” and suggestions for how to lift yourself [...] [...] came across this great guest post by Kevin English on Creative Deconstruction that talks about the “Lower Class Musician” and suggestions for how to lift yourself [...]

]]> By: Kevin English http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5619 Kevin English Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:37:25 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5619 Yes, please send it over. We can take a look at it together. I love to help people who are already helping themselves. Looking forward to working on this with you! Cheers! Kevin Yes, please send it over. We can take a look at it together.

I love to help people who are already helping themselves.

Looking forward to working on this with you!

Cheers!

Kevin

]]> By: Brian Franke http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5615 Brian Franke Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:10:41 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5615 Thanks for the quick reply Kevin! I'm actually on MPN but haven't used his tool yet. I looked at it and saw I needed to do a lot but understand better what goes in each piece. I developed a strategic plan for myself recently which has several goal areas, action items, start and deadline dates, and resources to help me get there. But doing the cost portion as it comes up. I'm just starting looking into avenues for marketing/promotion, revenue, and growing my fan base. Launched my official website 2 months ago to make a bigger push and check out my analytics on that weekly. Reviewing, revisiting, and rewriting the plan is essential--I agree. Anyway, I'm still in the "learning and educating myself phase". One resource I am checking out that is supposed to be very comprehensive is an e-book written by Marcus Johnson (Three Keys Music) and Bryan Callhoun (Soundexchange) called "Music Business Toolbox" (http://www.musicbusinesstoolbox.com/). I'm taking seminars with Marcus Johnson and he's an incredible help. I can send you my strategic plan if that's cool--another set of eyes to look at it doesn't hurt. Thanks man. Brian Franke Singer/Songwriter www.brianfranke.com @bfrankemusic Thanks for the quick reply Kevin! I’m actually on MPN but haven’t used his tool yet. I looked at it and saw I needed to do a lot but understand better what goes in each piece.

I developed a strategic plan for myself recently which has several goal areas, action items, start and deadline dates, and resources to help me get there. But doing the cost portion as it comes up. I’m just starting looking into avenues for marketing/promotion, revenue, and growing my fan base. Launched my official website 2 months ago to make a bigger push and check out my analytics on that weekly. Reviewing, revisiting, and rewriting the plan is essential–I agree.

Anyway, I’m still in the “learning and educating myself phase”. One resource I am checking out that is supposed to be very comprehensive is an e-book written by Marcus Johnson (Three Keys Music) and Bryan Callhoun (Soundexchange) called “Music Business Toolbox” (http://www.musicbusinesstoolbox.com/). I’m taking seminars with Marcus Johnson and he’s an incredible help.

I can send you my strategic plan if that’s cool–another set of eyes to look at it doesn’t hurt. Thanks man.

Brian Franke
Singer/Songwriter
http://www.brianfranke.com
@bfrankemusic

]]> By: Kevin English http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5614 Kevin English Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:09:49 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5614 Hi Brian, Thanks for stopping by! You are absolutely right when you say that biz plans are like predicting the future. Business owners are used to projecting their costs and sales for periods of 3 to 5 years in advance. Artists should too. Its difficult when you are first starting out, because you don't have anything to compare it to. That being said, give yourself an obtainable goal and shoot for that. Its also a good rule of thumb to revisit your plan every so often to see if the goals you thought were obtainable, still are and why? You're point about analytics is key. One could write a plan in theory and end up with a stack of useless papers at the end. Simple, actionable and measurable goals are the only way to see true results. Although I haven't tried it out for myself, Dave Kusek's - "Music Power Network" seems to be a good option with built in business planners. See http://bit.ly/apyFNY If you have any additional questions or concerns about writing your first plan, feel free to contact me directly. Best of Luck, Kevin English eleetmusic[at]gmail[dot]com (347) 688-5383 Hi Brian,

Thanks for stopping by!

You are absolutely right when you say that biz plans are like predicting the future. Business owners are used to projecting their costs and sales for periods of 3 to 5 years in advance. Artists should too.

Its difficult when you are first starting out, because you don’t have anything to compare it to. That being said, give yourself an obtainable goal and shoot for that.

Its also a good rule of thumb to revisit your plan every so often to see if the goals you thought were obtainable, still are and why?

You’re point about analytics is key. One could write a plan in theory and end up with a stack of useless papers at the end. Simple, actionable and measurable goals are the only way to see true results.

Although I haven’t tried it out for myself, Dave Kusek’s – “Music Power Network” seems to be a good option with built in business planners.

See http://bit.ly/apyFNY

If you have any additional questions or concerns about writing your first plan, feel free to contact me directly.

Best of Luck,

Kevin English
eleetmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
(347) 688-5383

]]> By: Brian Franke http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/2010/02/the-lower-class-musician/comment-page-1/#comment-5613 Brian Franke Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:47:30 +0000 http://www.creativedeconstruction.com/?p=3043#comment-5613 Hey Kevin, I completely agree that doing a business plan is necessary. Before you do one though, it helps for an artist to have a vision and goals in mind that they can then measure (analytics). I think a lot of artists don't do one because it takes a lot of time and honestly the plan is almost like you're trying to predict the future. I've also found it hard when trying to develop budgets how much things are. For example, I outsourced the creation of my press kit but I had no clue what the norm was--I didn't want to be ripped off and also didn't want a crappy press kit. I got some quotes and went for the best bang for the buck, but it's things like these big costs in my business plan that come up that I'm unsure about. Are there any resources besides the Music Thank Tank one you highly recommend on developing a business plan? Thanks man! Brian Franke Singer/Songwriter www.brianfranke.com @bfrankemusic (Twitter) Hey Kevin,

I completely agree that doing a business plan is necessary. Before you do one though, it helps for an artist to have a vision and goals in mind that they can then measure (analytics). I think a lot of artists don’t do one because it takes a lot of time and honestly the plan is almost like you’re trying to predict the future.

I’ve also found it hard when trying to develop budgets how much things are. For example, I outsourced the creation of my press kit but I had no clue what the norm was–I didn’t want to be ripped off and also didn’t want a crappy press kit. I got some quotes and went for the best bang for the buck, but it’s things like these big costs in my business plan that come up that I’m unsure about.

Are there any resources besides the Music Thank Tank one you highly recommend on developing a business plan?

Thanks man!

Brian Franke
Singer/Songwriter
http://www.brianfranke.com
@bfrankemusic (Twitter)

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