Great gigs for first timers

Whether a band or a solo artist, every performer has to start somewhere when it comes to performing live shows, even if these initial gigs aren’t always the most exciting or glamorous. Once you’re off-book with a solid time block of material, here are a few great “early” gigs you should try and play.

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3 questions to ask when touring this fall

Artists, venues, and audiences alike have been rejoicing - tours are back! Unfortunately, so too is COVID (although it never really left, if we’re being honest) and as live music events return, there are some ethical questions artists should keep in mind before agreeing to go through with performing a show.

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Why you should write multiple songs at once

When I first started writing songs, I wrote one song at a time until it was finished. This process was so delicate for me that I convinced myself that I had to write the entire song in one sitting or it would be forgotten forever. As a result, my writing sessions were sporadic bursts, going on for hours and hours, then never picking up the pen again for weeks.

This worked well for me when I was in high school and bored on summer vacation. It even worked in college because I had to write songs for assignments. Unfortunately, after graduating, this songwriting process led me to many dry months and I ended up writing just two or three songs for an entire year. That continued for the first few years after starting to work full-time.

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5 healthy lifestyle tips for musicians

It’s extremely likely that everyone reading this, in some point, has tried to initiate some form of healthy cycle in their lifestyle. This cycle may continue for a while, until we prove to ourselves that “we can do it” and unconsciously end the cycle. The real challenge is to persevere for about 3 months, until our mind becomes accustomed to this new pattern and we start performing it on an unconscious level.

I would like to pose a challenge to continue each of the cycles listed below for at least 3 months every day. This means that you will be adapting the lifestyle elements of some well known entertainers, and you will have the opportunity to see how you will benefit from them.

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Getting ready for your band's first live show? 4 tips for feeling prepared

One of the biggest regrets you may have before going onstage is not being prepared enough. For example, one of the instruments might stop working or a singer might get stage fright. Instead of worrying about what could happen, try planning beforehand for anything that could go wrong.

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Learning to take a helping hand in music

Guest post by Mahea Lee. This article originally appeared on Soundfly’s Flypaper

The following post is part of our new column, Poorly-Guarded Secrets from the Soundfly Mentors’ Guide. Written by mentor and VP of Learning & Curriculum Development Mahea Lee, this series is intended to assist, inspire, and offer a peek into the types of discussions we have behind-the-scenes here at Soundfly. 

Even the most productive and organized among us are burdened by the weight of low-priority tasks that we push aside to focus on more urgent matters. They gnaw at the back of our minds like yellowing wallpaper or tell-tale hearts. I know that’s pretty melodramatic, but you get the idea.

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Making old songs new again: Tips for making a great cover

Whether you want to propel your cover band to stardom or kick-start your musical career on YouTube, it’s a crowded and competitive landscape out there. That’s why you must make your cover songs stick out from the crowd.

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How to use past experiences to fuel musical creativity

Some of the greatest songs ever written only exist because of what the artists went through. From classic breakup songs (or every Taylor Swift album) to nights of crazy parties to the feeling of falling in love, past experiences make up so much of the music industry.

Using past experiences to fuel creativity isn’t limited to music. Some of the greatest paintings of our time were inspired by real-life experiences. The same goes for poetry, books, and even movies.

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Designing a site for your band: 7 tips

Your band needs a web presence these days. Without one, your fans won’t know where to get the latest 411 on your upcoming shows and album releases. 

However, many artists’ pages leave a lot to be desired. You need to tailor your colors and layout to optimize the user experience and promote sales. Here are seven tips to keep in mind when designing a site for your band. 

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A guide for musicians on building a team and avoiding industry sharks

I’ve been speaking with a lot of clients lately, both about the work we do together on their websites, and the bigger picture of their careers. A common thread that has been coming up in conversation is that around building a team, and the mixed experiences they’ve had around this.

Many of the concerns that we’ve discussed recently have included: Ul>

How to identify what roles you need to fill in your team, and how to find the RIGHT people to fill these roles

The impacts of hiring people/companies who simply don’t deliver what they say they will

Consultants offering bad or irrelevant device (AND charging over-the-odds for it)

Poor expectation management (especially when it comes to PR campaigns).

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Showing Guns in Music Videos: 7 Things You Need to Know

As a musician, artist or band, it makes sense that you’d want to represent your artistry in visual ways, whether that’s in your album covers or in your music videos. 

Artistic expression can happen in all kinds of settings, using all different tools and props to display your music can be the perfect way to stand out and build stronger relationships with your audience. That being said, some props are much more severe than others, which might come into play when you’re considering using weapons in your music videos.

Whether you’re an independent artist making your first video or you’re an industry veteran who is branching into other genres, you may be circling ideas of using weapons to make your videos look cooler. 

However, if you’re considering including guns of any kind in your music video — especially if you don’t have experience with guns — there are a few things you need to know before you get started. Here’s what you should know about showing guns in music videos.

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6 considerations for summer shows

There’s a lot to love about summertime shows and concerts. From a performer’s perspective, concert venues in the summer are usually outside which not only allow for more people in the audience but offer a more fun, festival-like performing atmosphere. Paired with the nice warm weather, summer shows prove time and time again to be a hit with performers and audience members alike.

But as a performer, you know that you must be prepared for anything to happen to ensure the most successful show possible. Take a look at our 6 considerations to make sure that you’re adequately prepared for your next outdoor summer show!

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How to survive the touring lifestyle: 7 tips

Hitting the road is an exciting time for any musician, whether you’re touring for the very first time or this is one of many tours you’re about to add to your list. If you’re a musician for any band, whether wildly famous or still up-and-coming, touring can bring about a unique experience that doesn’t always adhere to the conventions of normal life, and that’s totally okay. 

You aren’t always meant to live like you’re on tour, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself to make sure that the touring lifestyle doesn’t get to you too much.

While each tour is inherently different — based on factors such as your budget and the length and span of the tour itself — there are a few universal tips that you can take into consideration when you’re packing up to hit the road.

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June is here: Are you ready to get to work on your musical goals?

It’s almost June, are you ready to get to work on your goals?

Soundfly’s community of mentors can help you set the right goals, pave the right path toward success, and stick to schedules and routines that you develop together, so you improve every step of the way.

But it all starts with that first, crucial step: finding someone who inspires and challenges you, and whose experience can lead you along the right path. Check out some available Soundfly mentors below, and click on a session topic that fits your goals for 2021.

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