For My Working Indie Artists: Issue: Someone wants to hire me, but doesnt have enough money to hire my whole band.... Over the years Ive juggled the compromises I have to make, to make it. Im a dedicated live artist and touring to track-only dates has not been my choice. Im not entirely against it, because some settings just demand it (DJ-only clubs, for example). But, I sort of cant imagine Sade touring to backing MP3s, and I have a standard Im protecting as a brand. So, I have a choice: Say No to the gig, or Say Yes to the gig and come up with a solution. My Solution: Most cities have talented local musicians. All. around. the. world. It has happened that promoters who really love my music and want me, will pair me with a rhythm section of players Ive never met. I need to send my music ahead of time and show up a day early to rehearse a backing band of strangers. The risk is, what if they suck? The beauty is, I immediately enter a new city and collaborate with working local musicians. There is no faster way to develop a rapport with a region than to build with its local respected musicians (Can you say, repeat-business-in-the-future?). So, I muscle through the compromise of not having my hand-picked musicians from NYC and I say YES to the band of strangers. It is hard work to whip a brand new rhythm section into shape in a day, but if they are self-respecting players and if the promoter has standards, then more often than not the outcome is positive. I also even ask around via FB and personal friends, who are the good players in that city? And try to get a gauge on if they are competent. This calms my nerves before I head out. I also have to be open to the music and know that it may not sound EXACTLY like I hope, but making good music is not about perfection - it is about communication. If we communicate musically with each other on stage, then we and the audience have a good experience. Think of it as multiple remixes of your tunes. In this way I have taken my music around the world by not saying NO, but by being open to different versions of YES. Shay Leonia Steff Reed Honeyb Larochelle Chesney Snow Antonia Jenae Collette Blakeney
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:46:27 +0000
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