Many of you know that after following the Creator with reckless abandonment, my next great passion is music performance and teaching other musicians the same.  In 1993, I was taught by a musician, producer, manager Peter C. Knickles his business methods developed while assisting engineering greats like Jack Douglas (Aerosmith), Roy Thomas Baker (The Cars, Queen), and Todd Rundgren (Meatloaf).  Peter’s good reputation as an independent A&R representative was cemented.

Now, more than seventeen years later, I discover that Peter’s core teaching is still useful and applicable for musicians desiring to grow a music business.  Only the technologies and other promotional resources have expanded and improved.  Being very familiar about these business resources from practical experience, I have the unction to renew and update Peter’s teaching.  After so many years, there is much to share because we now have a legacy of business development and technology improvement to glean from.

Who would be interested in this project: The Methods of Doing Music and Nothing Else, renewed?

This project is for people who want to take control with personal responsibility for the direction of their career.  The goal is to teach the student how to create the complete success they desire.  No matter what type of music the musician is involved in, no matter what their age, no matter if they desire local, national, or international recognition, if the musician is seriously committed to their career and willing to work hard but smarter, then there is a business system that can be manipulated to attract success.  Many of the principles and methods taught are applicable to and cross-over into other kinds of business.

Eventually this project will consist of twelve training segments, each leading the student through many of the skills that they must develop and deploy to achieve their definite chief aim, an income generating vocation.  The training segments will address:

1. Establishing Goals and Direction
2. Setting up the Business Shop
3. Choosing a Solo or Band Effort
4. Booking Profitable Gigs and Tours
5. Merchandising
6. Songwriters and Publishing Income
7. Producing Demos and Videos that Effectively Sell
8. The New Art of Capturing Publicity and Airplay
9. How to Raise Capital and Sponsorships
10. How to Make Your Own Record Deal
11. Attracting Professional Management
12. and Your Action Plan

Because we now have internet technology the encourages and supports innovation built upon inspiration, I will write about and address these twelve segments at random.  This should keep the topics interesting, spontaneous, and full of content about current technology developments shared in the context of Peter’s principles (no pun intended).

The first step, Establishing Goals and Direction will begin with this:

SEE YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY:
you are no longer JUST someone with musical talent

Instead..

• You are conducting a business
• You are the manager of your music business
• You must spend 50% of your time doing business, and 50% doing music
• Management incompetence is the number one reason businesses fail
• You immediate goal is to learn how to GROW your business
• You are the sales person

That is enough for today.

As we proceed, you are going to learn the system I have engineered that successful businesses utilize.  It is built upon the understanding that “Nothing Happens until Someone sells something.”

The lesson will prepare us to discover “The Four Pillars of Profit” and the sales cycle being an important aspect to long and healthy commercial success.

Let’s close with this little story taught me by sales mentor, Ron Mock (1986):

This is a story about four salespeople.  Their names were Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.  There was an important sale to be made and Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.  So, Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Conclusion, many salespeople are playing a numbers game and attempt to increase their odds of “winning” by picking only the “cherry” opportunities, the immediate decision buyers.  However, these type of salespeople are not producing “double win” situations with long-term business stability.

Please click on the LIKE and SHARE buttons for the benefit of your friends!