"Do It Yourself" - it's a term thrown around a lot in today's scene. Bands that practice and preach this mentality wear it as a badge of honor. The only question, what does DIY truly mean? What does it mean to fully embrace the DIY ethos? In this feature, we will be speaking with people in the industry that run the spectrum of what it means to be DIY and their advice to people wanting to learn more about the entire process. This can range from booking your first tours, setting up a press kit, or recording on a budget. The topics are nearly endless.
This guest blog is brought to us by Mark Woodbridge, A&R at Radium Records and has been in a slew of touring and signed bands.
A good read. I do think some (most) DIY bands are a bit shackled by the time (and sometimes, expertise) needed to keep doing everything themselves, but it's hard not to feel like they have an advantageous position from a purely creative perspective.
Ever In Bloom is DIY - maybe to a fault, we need a big-time sleazy manager now.
Our new songs were recorded at home and at a few friends studios that were pretty legit.
Also we literally hand screen print each t-shirt.
And we play out on the street just to spread the love.
Great blog. All the bands I've been in have recorded our music ourselves and released it for free. We rent spaces with our friends to play free shows (ends up with each member only losing out on like ten bucks). We'll play basements, bedrooms, kitchens--any where that will have us. A lot of this comes from impatience. If we want to do something, we just do it instead of waiting for a label or something to figure shit out.
Biggest obstacle is just getting heard. It's getting easier for me to record and release my shit, but that means it's getting easier for everyone else.
Good blog... I think it adequately touches on a well understood, yet under appreciated fact of strong work ethic. I say "fact" because, fact: hard work = results
The more underlying message I wish he had emphasized further would be the placement and finesse of that work ethic because, fact: 100% hard work =/= 100% results
What I mean is, bands can DIY all day and all night. However, if they don't aim all that effort at the right "targets", then the result is lower than expected and trying harder only creates diminishing returns. Those diminishing returns manifest into a low morale and feelings of defeat. (economics of music, ftw)
"As Radium is, it moves at its own pace, aggressive, but calculative." Calculate your plan of attack and execute. You'll see way more success that way than just playing in a friend's basement or kitchen to a whole of 5 people who could care less.
Good blog... I think it adequately touches on a well understood, yet under appreciated fact of strong work ethic. I say "fact" because, fact: hard work = results
The more underlying message I wish he had emphasized further would be the placement and finesse of that work ethic because, fact: 100% hard work =/= 100% results
What I mean is, bands can DIY all day and all night. However, if they don't aim all that effort at the right "targets", then the result is lower than expected and trying harder only creates diminishing returns. Those diminishing returns manifest into a low morale and feelings of defeat. (economics of music, ftw)
"As Radium is, it moves at its own pace, aggressive, but calculative." Calculate your plan of attack and execute. You'll see way more success that way than just playing in a friend's basement or kitchen to a whole of 5 people who could care less.
Very interesting read. I love reading about the business side of music. I think the music industry like most other industries, you can't afford to be complacent. Sitting back and waiting is something you can't afford do unless you are in a very small minority. It's about drive and work ethic, but having a vision as well.
Good blog... I think it adequately touches on a well understood, yet under appreciated fact of strong work ethic. I say "fact" because, fact: hard work = results
The more underlying message I wish he had emphasized further would be the placement and finesse of that work ethic because, fact: 100% hard work =/= 100% results
What I mean is, bands can DIY all day and all night. However, if they don't aim all that effort at the right "targets", then the result is lower than expected and trying harder only creates diminishing returns. Those diminishing returns manifest into a low morale and feelings of defeat. (economics of music, ftw)
"As Radium is, it moves at its own pace, aggressive, but calculative." Calculate your plan of attack and execute. You'll see way more success that way than just playing in a friend's basement or kitchen to a whole of 5 people who could care less.
View Similar News Articles
Currently Playing
View Signature
Posts: 934
View Profile Picture
View Blog
Follow This Article