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Daylle's News & Resources |
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Issue # 20 |
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Hello
to you all! Happy
Fall! I'm back in NYC for a few days after clocking almost 1,500 miles
on the first leg of my Indie Music National Book Tour, to share some of
the lessons of my newest book, I Don't Need a Record Deal! Your Survival
Guide for the Indie Music Revolution. I'm driving across the country by
myself to speak to as many musicians to provide an education for
empowering themselves. So far I've spoken at State University of
Michigan, University of Michigan Law School, Champaign -
Urbana/University of Illinois, and Chicago State University. I did
events at Borders in Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Indianapolis and Chicago. I
also moderated a panel that I put together based on my new book for CMJ
and did a workshop for the New England Musicians Expo. I LOVE the Chevy Cobalt I'm practically living out of from National Rental Car. National is a sponsor of this trip and I sincerely appreciate their support. They had great prices even before becoming a sponsor. I sincerely thank them for supporting me. I have several hotel sponsors too. I want to thank the Quality Inn at 3801 N. Mannheim Road in Schiller Park, just outside of Chicago near O"Hare, for their hospitality and support. They also have a park and ride which made it more convenient and cheaper to leave my car when I came home for a few days. I'll thank other hotels as I stay in them. Thanks also to indie artist Rich Hardesty for putting me up in his house in Indianapolis and making it so much fun! I also appreciated that he and his terrific musician friends performed during my book event there. Welcome to all of you who signed up for my newsletter at the various places I've spoken. I
just began a blog about indie music and my book tour. Unfortunately,
time hasn't allowed me to post as much as I'd like, but that will change
this week. I will be writing more details about the tour and posting
pictures. Please come visit me! :) http://www.daylle.blogspot.com/ I
also just registered for Myspace.com. Again, time hasn't allowed me to
fill in all the fields and take advantage. But please come and register
as a friend. I will be using it more soon. --------- I
was recently interviewed in an article about the highly acclaimed movie,
Hustle and Flow in the Sunday NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/jobs/17jmar.html?pagewanted=2
And I was also profiled in CelebrityAccess.com http://www.celebrityaccess.com/news/profile.html?id=263
Here are some recent reveiws: Mote
magazine: http://www.moregoatthangoose.com/reading/index.php?read=10005.xml Ear
Candy Magazine: http://www.earcandymag.com/bookreviews8-05.htm
(scroll down) Indie-Music.com:
http://www.indie-music.com/modules.php?name=Newsandfile=articleandsid=4256 --------- Please
forward this newsletter to your mailing list or anyone you'd like. If
this was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, send me an email
that says "subscribe" in the subject header with your name and
city/state. If you'd like to post it on your site, please ask for
permission and I'll give it. Read past issues at http://www.daylle/monthly.html
If you prefer to be taken off my list, please say unsubscribe in the
subject header of an email. ------- My
other newsletter, Self-Empowerment Quarterly, for the body, mind and
spirit is free. If you'd like to subscribe, please send an email to subempowernews@daylle.com
with you name, city/state. You can read the back issues at http://www.daylle.com/daylle/newsletter-growth.html
------- Please
visit my new website, http://www.idontneedarecorddeal.com/
to take advantage of the many resources for developing a career in
music. ------ In
this issue, I've got an interview with Chris Vinson, founder of
Bandzoogle, which offers options for those who need a website. I also
have one with Ginetta of Ginetta's Vendetta, who is an amazing artist
and has succeeded in ways that many women haven't been able to. I hope
that you'll find the other resources in this issue helpful too. Please
feel free to write with suggestions and questions that I can answer in
future issues. Revenge
Productions http://www.daylle.com
---------- 1.
Getting Past Fear of Failure 2.
Creating a Website with Bandzoogle - interview with founder Chris Vinson 3.
Promoting Independent Music 4.
Personal Organization on the Road 5.
Interview with Ginetta of Ginetta's Vendetta 6.
Minding Your Music Biz: Creating a Personal Business Plan 7.
Ask Daylle: Why would Music Supervisors pay to use the music of an
independent artist? ---------- 1.
GETTING PAST FEAR OF FAILURE:
Often we hold ourselves back from success because we're scared of
failing. It's ridiculous but trying to avoid what worries us can keep us
from succeeding. Failure
sounds awful on the surface. It represents shattered dreams. Before I
was published, I made excuses for not trying to get a book deal. The
truth was, I was terrified that if editors didn't like my writing, my
dreams would evaporate. It felt better to go through the motions of
working on my books than to pursue a deal. The thought of being rejected
in the bigger picture of my career kept me stuck. So I wrote and talked
about getting published but didn't even send my manuscripts to editors. It
took years to develop enough confidence in my ability to write well
before I pursued a deal. I still got rejected by many editors but by
then I'd learned that failures are stepping stones to success. It's hard
to succeed if you don't fail sometimes too. Failures teach us. When one
of my books was turned down by 20 publishers, I found an agent who gave
me tips in presenting the concepts better in the proposal. I got a deal
two weeks later. It made me better at what I do. You're
not a failure, IF you learn from mistakes and setbacks. Think in terms
of roadblocks that can be overcome instead of the dreaded "F"
word. Separate failing at something from seeing yourself as a failure.
It's so important not to let your actions and experiences define you!
Reinterpret what happened and put it into a more realistic framework.
You can help yourself to not feel like a failure and to grow from your
experiences if you ask yourself: *What
would I say to a friend in this situation to make him or her feel
better? *Are
there any earth shattering consequences that will ruin my life? *What
wasn't I paying attention to?
*What things did I do well or right? *What
one thing do I now see that I could have done differently?
*What are my different options in handling a similar situation?
*What baby step can I take to begin again? *What
would it take for me to accept that a mistake doesn't make me a failure? If you take a
failure personally, get into the habit of telling yourself to stop it -
out loud! Keep what doesn't go right in perspective. Do you try to
succeed, or just avoid failure? When you focus on not failing, you stay in
a rut. Get out there are go for success instead! In the last years
I've been a pillar of non-failure. Yep, not one failure in many years. Are
you jealous? Hello! You can live failure-free too. Memorize this - IF YOU
DON'T QUIT, YOU CAN'T FAIL!!! I never fail if I don't stop trying.
Mistakes don't mean failure. They teach what doesn't work. Thomas Edison
said, "Results! Why man I have gotten a lot of results. I know
several thousand things that don't work." Look what he accomplished!
If you don't make mistakes, you're not trying hard enough! If what you try
doesn't work, you have no less than before. Not being afraid to try is an
accomplishment! Appreciate that and try again. : ----------- 2. CREATING A WEBSITE WITH BANDZOOGLE: Bandzoogle was created by Chris Vinson, a musician who wanted to help others to create and maintain their own websites for a reasonable cost. When my friend Dave Cool, creator of the upcoming film, What Is Indie? told me how great this site is, I had to interview Chris. What is
Bandzoogle and how much does it costs?
Bandzoogle.com lets anyone build a pro quality band website in less
than 10 minutes. It also lets bands update the site easily and quickly
from anywhere (including music, text and photos). Our basic plan costs
$11.95 per month, and includes a free .COM registration and 5 email
accounts. There are no other fees. What made you
create bandzoogle? I was in an indie band signed to a label in Canada
called Aquarius Records. In addition to gigging and supporting our CD, I
built sites for the label's artists in my spare time. Some of their more
popular artists (for example Sum 41) needed to make frequent updates to
their site. I built a program to let the managers take care of the updates
themselves. This program is still the core of Bandzoogle today. Why is this
valuable to people who aren't knowledgeable of designing websites?
Two reasons. A professional image is important. It's very difficult
to create a professional looking site without a lot of web design
experience. Also, the best band sites are those that are updated most
often with new content. If you rely on someone else for updates, chances
are you will update your site less often. Bandzoogle does all the
technical work for you, so you can do it yourself. What makes your
service special? We're all
musicians ourselves and understand the self-promotion stuff that bands
need to do to succeed. Having worked at a record label, I also know what
they have at their disposal. In fact, Bandzoogle sites include the same
features that I built for their "signed" artists, including
forums, an online store, mailing list, etc. How can someone
make the best use of your services? Once
you have your own .COM address, you really need to put it everywhere - on
fliers, tickets, your CD. Your web address is the easiest way for people
to find out more about you. You should also send regular broadcasts to
your mailing list to keep people coming back to your site. Finally, try to
update your site weekly, even if it is just adding a blog post. Do you have other
things coming up that you're planning? We have two major developments
coming. First is that the Bandzoogle system will be available for non-bandzoogle
sites. This means if you get a designer to build your site, you will still
be able to make updates easily through our control panel. Second, we're
adding many more advanced layout options to make the template sites look
much more custom designed. For those of you
thinking about creating a website, Bandzoogle is free to try for 30 days,
so you can build a site and see how easy it is! Check
it out at http://www.bandzoogle.com ------ 3. PROMOTING
INDEPENDENT MUSIC: I want to acknowledge how much more respect I have
for indie artists than ever before. I'm doing my tour the indie way too.
Booking it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. And perhaps the
most exasperating! I'm so thrilled to be making less phone calls now,
though I still must touch bases with people for upcoming events. The
driving hasn't bothered me so far. But I do miss the stability of staying
in one place for a period of time. One thing that's helped is following
some of the tips for staying healthy on the road from the artists in my
book. I'm doing my best to eat healthy, which is sometimes a stretch. But
traveling with fresh fruit, nuts, a loaf of whole grain bread and jar of
peanut butter makes it easier. My new book, I
Don't need a Record Deal! Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music
Revolution, is doing really well! You can order it from me by sending $25
($20 + $5 priority mail return) in check or money order (made out to
Daylle Schwartz) with your name, address, and email address. My other
books, The Real Deal: How to Get Signed to a Record Label and Start &
Run Your Own Record Label are also available from me at the same price.
Please specify if you want it autographed. Send it to:
Daylle Schwartz
PO Box 8016, FDR Station
New York, NY 10150 You can use a
credit card at http://daylle.com/daylle/bookinfo_dont.htm --- Save the Date! My
next Start and Run Your Own Record Label seminar will be on February 25,
2006 at the New Yorker Hotel. ---- Please check my
schedule below to see if I'll be doing an event on my road trip near you.
This Tuesday I'll be in Madison, WI and Thursday in Minneapolis. Please
let your friend in the markets I'm going to know about the events. Most of
them are free! I only listed events that are open to the public. I'll
speak in colleges in each market but most are for the students only so I'm
not listing them. At all bookstores I'll give a talk and answer questions.
Some of the Borders haven't given me a time or the specific store. I won't be doing
the events in New Orleans. The schools I was booked to speak at are
closed. I have some other cities to go to instead. You can check before
the date at http://www.idontneedarecorddeal.com to find out details or email me. Any help or suggestions in any of
the markets will be appreciated. Sept 20: Madison,
WI - 7 PM - Borders 2173 Zeier Rd.
Sept. 22: St.
Paul, MN - 7 PM - Borders 1390 W. University Avenue Sept. 26:
Billings, MT - 7 PM - Borders 2833 King Ave. West Sept. 28: Coeur
d'Alene ID - 6 PM - Hastings event 101 Best Ave. Sept. 30:
Spokane, WA - 7 PM - Borders 9980 Newport Road Oct. 1: Seattle,
WA Out of the Ashes Northwest Music Explosion Conference and Workshop at
The Vera Project with Elliott Bay Oct. 3- Portland,
OR - 7:30 Powell's Books, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Oct. 7 and 8: San
Francisco, CA -San Francisco State U. workshops Oct. 14:
Hollywood, CA - 7 PM -Borders 1501 Vine St.: with showcase Oct. 15: Music
biz conference for CA Lawyers for the Arts at USC. October 18: West
Hollywood, CA - 7 PM - Mixer Event for LA WoMen in Music at Wyndham Bel
Age Hotel, http://www.lawim.com/ Oct. 19: Phoenix,
AZ - 7 PM - Borders 2402 E Camelback Road Oct. 24: Austin,
TX - 6:30 Austin Music Foundation panel Oct. 25: Austin,
TX - 7 PM - Book People, 603 N. Lamar Oct. 27: Houston,
TX - 7:30 PM Borders 570 Meyerland Plaza Oct. 29: Houston,
TX Leisure Learning University: all dayworkshop Oct. 31: New
Orleans - Borders - Time and location canceled Nov. 2:
Hattiesburg, MS - canceled Nov. 8: Atlanta,
GA - 7 PM Borders 8000 Mall Parkway (Lithonia) Nov. 9: Atlanta -
7 PM Chapter 11 Books - TBA Nov. 10: Nashville - private Nov. 11: Jackson, TN - 6PM -
Davis-Kidd Booksellers, 869 North Parkway Nov. 13: Asheville, NC - 2 PM -
Malaprop's 55 Haywood St. Nov. 15: Charlotte, NC - Borders - -
7 PM - 7836 Rea Road Nov. 17:
Washington DC - Tower Records - 8PM Nov. 20:
Philadelphia, PA - 2 PM Borders 1 South Broad -----------
4. PERSONAL
ORGANIZATION ON THE ROAD: For my tour, I had to pack for all the
seasons. That means quite a bit of stuff. I also rarely stay in one place
for more than a night or 2. To make it easier to find things, I became a
shopping bag lady of sorts. I collected distinctively colored plastic
bags. Each holds something of a category - tank tops, long sleeve shirts,
nightclothes, socks, etc. This way I look for the bag and know where each
type of thing is. I do the same for cosmetics and battery chargers, cords,
etc. It makes it so much easier to find things when you have a lot of
different stuff. ----------- 5. INTERVIEW
WITH GINETTA OF GINETTA'S VENDETTA: Ginetta is a professional trumpet
player, vocalist, bandleader and composer. She has succeeded in musical
arenas that many women can't easily conquer. Pursuing her career
independently, Ginetta is a great example of how to successfully pursue
dreams. What's it like to
be a woman in your areas of music? I
need to be better than a man, musician wise. And, it is necessary to be
more diplomatic when telling guys what or how you want them to play. Also,
dealing with club owners/promoters is a minefield where I step gingerly.
I'm a cross between being a Babe and a businessman! What things have
helped you get ahead? I always have all my promo, CDs, cards and website
ready and updated. Also, I follow up after dropping off a package or
mailing my info and keep a log of whom I spoke with, when I mailed, called
or e-mailed, and the response and expectation. What are some of
the interesting places that you've toured?
I have toured throughout the Caribbean with various bands and
styles of music. I've been through Canada and the entire U.S.A with an
English rock band. I was in Paris (one of my favorites) with a trip-hop
group. A great gig in Saratoga during the biggest race weekend was also a
blast! This year I was at the Blues festival in St. John, Virgin Islands.
It was gorgeous! I also love Jamaica. All the places I go are interesting
cuz they are not NYC, which I love! My most recent gig was in Beirut. That
was definitely an adventure! I studied a bit of Arabic before I left, to
be prepared. How did you get
the Beirut gig? A promoter saw me on a website advertising bands in Las
Vegas, of all places. He provides jazz throughout the Middle East.
What was it like
to tour Lebanon? The audience response was tremendous and there was a
bunch of press (that I couldn't read!), all in Arabic. Each night the
crowds grew (except when a bomb went off downtown on one of the Fridays).
The Lebanese people just get on with life regardless. They were very warm
and truly appreciative of my music. Sometimes my jokes would go over their
heads because of the language barrier, but that's why I spoke a bit of
Arabic in my show. CD sales were great, and I have been asked back, much
to my delight as I found the city to be a vibrant seaside town filled with
people and cats, much like Rome! There is a much more laisse-faire
attitude about things that I found very refreshing coming from this
overtly politically correct and litigious society. I was also blessed with
the top musicians in Lebanon, which made the 2-week gig a joy. What helped you
to make good progress in your career?
I think my persistence, discipline and professionalism (i.e.,
punctuality, dress, giving 110%) along with my talent is what is paying
off. Also, when booking the gigs, you have to leave NO stone unturned.
That's where the creative thinking comes. I'm always wondering: "Can
they use live music?" or am I able to get on this circuit? Does this
festival take unsolicited submissions, etc.? The most important is - dream
big! And never lose hope. ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: Today - NYC.
Tomorrow - The World! Ginetta emailed
me after to include one of her basic tenets of her success and
perseverance - "Don't
tell me what I can't do, tell me what my options are." This is a
great princicple for dodging failure. Check out Ginetta's Vendetta at http://www.ginettasvendetta.com/ ----------- 6. MINDING
YOUR MUSIC BIZ - Creating a Personal Business Plan: If you want to
make money from your music, it's good to create a business plan, even if
no one will see it. Use it as a guide in achieving goals. Be specific
about your goals and the path to reach them. Consider it your blueprint to
follow - with goals both large and teeny. Each time you achieve a teeny
baby step, applaud yourself for making progress. Before shooting for huge
sales, playing for 2,000 people, or lots of press coverage in national
magazines, concentrate on selling the first CDs, playing in small clubs
for people who will hopefully become fans, and getting your first review
or article in a local paper. You can't sell
1,000 CDs until you've sold the first one, then five, then five hundred.
So put your energy into getting each first. You can't go national until
you've conquered local and regional markets. Focus on those in your
Personal Business Plan and work toward your long term goals with baby
steps for getting to the first, second and third levels of whatever it is
you need. Small steps will lead you to bigger achievements! A roadmap that
you create is easier to follow than doing things with any organization. ----------- 7. ASK
DAYLLE: Why would Music Supervisors use the music of an independent
artist? Because it's
cheaper for one thing. While a major label might charge $5,000 or more for
use of its artist's music, you'd be happy with a lot less. And, if you own
the rights to the music, the deal can be done quickly. Films are
especially notorious for putting in music at the last minute and need
people who can act fast. Independents can do that more easily. ----------- One of my
favorite poems is "Invictus," by William Henley. The last lines
are "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." I
read this poem when I was in sixth grade and those lines have stayed with
me. Too many musicians sit around waiting for someone to do the work and
give them a career. Successful ones know that the best way to get a career
is to give it to yourself. Yes, occasionally one gets lucky and finds
someone who believes in their music enough to manage, book or sign them.
But it's rare, and waiting wastes time. Even with an
agent, I do what I can to get deals for my books. Even with a publicist, I
never stop working the media myself. No one cares more about your career
than you do. Become the master of your own fate. When you take control and
seek out your own opportunities, you truly become the captain of your
soul. Then you're an empowered individual. For me, it's the best way to
follow your passions and be happy. Until the next
issue..... Keep your passion
strong, Daylle
© 2005 Revenge Productions http://www.daylle.com http://www.idontneedarecorddeal.com
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