A Plan...

[katrina]

I've decided WHAT I NEED to do and what I'm GOING to do in order to make music my CAREER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! Yay!!

In chronological order:
1. Record all of the songs I have right now (11 or 12 I think...) with my guitar teacher, Donovan, this winter. He's busy up until then, or else I'd be doing THAT instead of typing on jemsite right now, hahaha!

2. Find two volunteer musicians: one on cello, one on drums, who are willing to work for free and not make a profit off of the CDs. I need all the financial help I can get right now, since I am NOT able to get a job, and there's NO way for me to earn money!!

3. Work with those musicians on what I already have recorded and see if they can add their two cents to my music. I already have a cello part for one song, "I Need You", so the cellist won't be writing their own music. I just need the drummer to improvise for me, and like.. ATTACH himself to my head so he can hear what I have invisioned.. Does that make any sense??

4. Finish recording and make the finishing touches on the actual CD.

5. Spend all my money on getting CDs made, (can't I just BURN them from my computer?!?!), then make labels to put on the CDs (is there a place on the net where I can do this?), then spend MORE money on an album booklet, so that everyone can see the lyrics and sing along! (I want my music to inspire, affect, and touch people, so I think that putting lyrics WITH the CD is a good idea, right?)

6. Sell, sell, sell!!! I'm hoping that jemsite will be a big help with this, so will CDbaby.com, and school!!

7. Go around to local (and maybe even outer-state) radio stations to see if they are interested in my music. I don't know how exactly to approach this, but I'm confident that by then people superior to me in the recording / music industry will be helping me out...

8. From the sales of my CD (I'm hoping it will be successful?) I'll be able to buy a sufficient acoustic-electric guitar, (maybe from someone on jemsite?? haha, I'm going to be sooo poor! hahaha!!), a new amp that I can play live with, and all the equipment that an acoustic artist with a keyboard and a guitar will need to play in places like Borders Book Stores, etc.

9. Go to the local radio stations again, if they liked my music, and PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!!! I can play live on the stations (I've heard it done before!), I can do whatever I need to do to get the word out!! I can also create a myspace, so that a younger crowd can have access to the music!

Of course, I understand that YES, I'll be turned down several times before I 'make it big'. I just can't picture doing anything else with my life, and it's not just because I'm young. It's because the music is flowing through my blood right now. It's because I feel like music can be and IS going to be my entire life, (except family and friends, and jemsite, duh)... I will make my music my identity!!

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any advice on WHERE to buy guitars/equipment, and HOW to just.. get movin'?

I think my plan is pretty good, but if you see error or a way to improve, help me!!! PLEASE!! haha, I'm such a dork, I know, but I really think that all of this is possible.

Sometimes, dreams CAN become reality, and I think that this is going to be one of those times. As fellow musicians and guitarists, I think you know what I mean when I say the music is flowing like blood through my veins, and I can't just be playing guitar and singing and writing songs and playing piano as a HOBBY. It's just not enough!!!!

OKAY THEN.
This is a HUGE post.

Now.. It's your turn!!

~ Katrina

[ibanezcollector]

When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are....

Good Luck Katrina..

I never had the desire to be a famous musician, I like playing for me its a way for me to let out several emotions with out bothering anyone around me.

I wish you the best.. Keep the right attitude and things will happen, never lose site of your main goal. And thats music.. Fame and Money arent always what there cracked up to be.

[Ibanut]

Originally Posted by katrina

I've decided WHAT I NEED to do and what I'm GOING to do in order to make music my CAREER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!! Yay!!

In chronological order:
1. Record all of the songs I have right now (11 or 12 I think...) with my guitar teacher, Donovan, this winter. He's busy up until then, or else I'd be doing THAT instead of typing on jemsite right now, hahaha!

2. Find two volunteer musicians: one on cello, one on drums, who are willing to work for free and not make a profit off of the CDs. I need all the financial help I can get right now, since I am NOT able to get a job, and there's NO way for me to earn money!!

3. Work with those musicians on what I already have recorded and see if they can add their two cents to my music. I already have a cello part for one song, "I Need You", so the cellist won't be writing their own music. I just need the drummer to improvise for me, and like.. ATTACH himself to my head so he can hear what I have invisioned.. Does that make any sense??

4. Finish recording and make the finishing touches on the actual CD.

5. Spend all my money on getting CDs made, (can't I just BURN them from my computer?!?!), then make labels to put on the CDs (is there a place on the net where I can do this?), then spend MORE money on an album booklet, so that everyone can see the lyrics and sing along! (I want my music to inspire, affect, and touch people, so I think that putting lyrics WITH the CD is a good idea, right?)

6. Sell, sell, sell!!! I'm hoping that jemsite will be a big help with this, so will CDbaby.com, and school!!

7. Go around to local (and maybe even outer-state) radio stations to see if they are interested in my music. I don't know how exactly to approach this, but I'm confident that by then people superior to me in the recording / music industry will be helping me out...

8. From the sales of my CD (I'm hoping it will be successful?) I'll be able to buy a sufficient acoustic-electric guitar, (maybe from someone on jemsite?? haha, I'm going to be sooo poor! hahaha!!), a new amp that I can play live with, and all the equipment that an acoustic artist with a keyboard and a guitar will need to play in places like Borders Book Stores, etc.

9. Go to the local radio stations again, if they liked my music, and PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!!! I can play live on the stations (I've heard it done before!), I can do whatever I need to do to get the word out!! I can also create a myspace, so that a younger crowd can have access to the music!

Of course, I understand that YES, I'll be turned down several times before I 'make it big'. I just can't picture doing anything else with my life, and it's not just because I'm young. It's because the music is flowing through my blood right now. It's because I feel like music can be and IS going to be my entire life, (except family and friends, and jemsite, duh)... I will make my music my identity!!

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any advice on WHERE to buy guitars/equipment, and HOW to just.. get movin'?

I think my plan is pretty good, but if you see error or a way to improve, help me!!! PLEASE!! haha, I'm such a dork, I know, but I really think that all of this is possible.

Sometimes, dreams CAN become reality, and I think that this is going to be one of those times. As fellow musicians and guitarists, I think you know what I mean when I say the music is flowing like blood through my veins, and I can't just be playing guitar and singing and writing songs and playing piano as a HOBBY. It's just not enough!!!!

OKAY THEN.
This is a HUGE post.

Now.. It's your turn!!

~ Katrina

You can get great mastered ready to sell cds from discmakers.com.

As far as your career goes. You should do some growing up 1st. Be a teenager 1st then worry about your music career. Things you can do now are, write as many songs as you can and copyright them. Write at least 50 or so then find as many music publishing companies and let them sell your songs for you. Learn all you can about the business side 1st so you dont get screwed. The more songs you have to offer a publishing company the better chance of getting them to give your stuff a shot.

[jim777]

The thing is, especially with musuic, is that fame is better than money. Money without fame, once gone, is just gone. Fame can always generate new money. By all means record your stuff, get the best (free) musicians you can find, but give up the money/sell CDs angle for a while. Put your stuff up on the web (once you've got it published so it cannot be stolen) and then just give it away. Let word of mouth get you and your tunes a little fame, and try to work that into a record contract or sponsorships down the road. Take each step as a learning experience, and just have some fun.

[Dee]

Katrina, best of luck. You have talent, and it'd be silly not to use it. I am pleased to see that you are making plans, and if you have a solid plan you're half way there already. All the best.

Dee.

[C.Thep]

good luck, I can be your cellist!! Alot of people don't see the potential in the cello, its really a beautiful instrument.

And if you are going to have a guitar cello and drums, might as well get a piano too?

[Flobanez]

Sounds like a great plan, Katrina, good luck!

[Lefty Robb]

Originally Posted by katrina

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any advice on WHERE to buy guitars/equipment, and HOW to just.. get movin'?

Just remember these simple words of wisdom:

Pawn shops are a Musicians best friend.

[Distantshore]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

Just remember these simple words of wisdom:

Pawn shops are a Musicians best friend.

Also Ramen Noodles! (5 for a Dollar anyone?)

[dannymills]

Originally Posted by Ibanut

You can get great mastered ready to sell cds from discmakers.com.

As far as your career goes. You should do some growing up 1st. Be a teenager 1st then worry about your music career. Things you can do now are, write as many songs as you can and copyright them. Write at least 50 or so then find as many music publishing companies and let them sell your songs for you. Learn all you can about the business side 1st so you dont get screwed. The more songs you have to offer a publishing company the better chance of getting them to give your stuff a shot.

There are loads of books about the music industry you can read that help a ton. Most musicians need a lawyer when they take their first steps into signings etc, but as you probably don't want to lay out lawyers fees it might be worth checking what your local library can order in in terms of legal and professional advice about 'making it' in the music industry.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

Just remember these simple words of wisdom:

Pawn shops are a Musicians best friend.

Hey!
Okay, that is totally the best advice EVER
I mean, I have practically NO money saved up, but you never KNOW what you can find in a pawn shop.. Hmmmm.....
I'm going to call one as soon as it opens in about three minutes! I'm soo excited!

I really think that a steel string guitar will inspire me to do better because my nylon just WON'T stay in tune and the chords sound like caca!

Thanks for your help.. This is exciting!

~ Katrina

[katrina]

Originally Posted by C.Thep

And if you are going to have a guitar cello and drums, might as well get a piano too?

I actually do have TONS of songs written on piano... About half are mainly guitar and the other half are mainly piano! Sweet!

~ Katrina

[andy7jem]

Just don't get confused and go into a porn shop

Hmmm....thats a good excuse for...............errrrr.........not to worry

[JJEMMER777]

Careful Andy

[katrina]

Originally Posted by andy7jem

Just don't get confused and go into a porn shop

Hmmm....thats a good excuse for...............errrrr.........not to worry

Hey!! You!!!
Keep your pants on, alright?? *raises one eyebrow*


~ Katrina