Where's the Cash Cow?

While the music business seems all glamor and colorful, behind the scenes...not so much.




The majors are becoming the minority and the indies are blooming. The industry has changed over the years and there's not much one can do other than get creative and adopt to the new times in the digital world. Even The Beatles finally released all there music on Itunes. Can you imagine all the money they missed out on???

Many musicians raised their voices a few years back, adapting to the new way of music distribution (or shall we say free downloads) by offering their music for free, like Trent Reznor for example. Well, these artists, although independent now, still have no clue what independent really means. After all, they established their fan base through a major label, so yes, they got ripped off by their label but they would've never had what they have without them, so after all it's still a win/win.



What used to sadden me is that I've heard many stories about major labels blowing money out the window, just because they have a budget to blow.




I thought, man, give me that amount and I'll show you how to properly use it. But why waste my energy on something that's irrelevant. They do what they do and usually don't even care about their artist.

I buy music. I have to admit that I prefer buying on itunes. CD's clutter up my space and I upload it to my itunes anyway. I do buy CD's once in a while. Of course people do what they want and I can't control any of that but I can educate you a little on what goes into running a band without any outside financial support.

Here's a little breakdown to let you know what it costs. Let's say, a band is about to release a new album and is planning a tour.

1. Rehearsal studio (usually monthly lockout space) average costs $300 a month if band splits the room with another band (rooms are btw $400-$1000)

2. Websites, Webstore, EPK's, Sonicbids Submissions to festivals, web hosting, usually around $20 - $100/month (sonicbids, reverbnation, bigcartel)

While not all artists need to get a pro to record and produce their album, some have the talent and the equipment to do a lot themselves, hiring a pro to get that pro-level sound...costs money.

3. Recording with a producer/engineer (Btw $500-$2500 per song)

4. Mixing (average $500 per song)

5. Mastering (average $80-$1500 per song)

6. Release a single (online) artist pays 9.99

7. Release an EP or full length album (online) artists pays between $40-$50 (depending on distributor(cdbaby or Tunecore)

8. Merchandise.
a) Shirts , btw $4-10 per shirt, depending on quality and printing, how many screens and colors. So if a band orders 48 shirts times $5 - $240
Not including other cool things like thongs, hoodies, which are usually a bit more expensive than shirts.

b) CD's It's about a $1300 to $1500 for 1000 CD's, depending on how many pages, with tax and shipping, if you get only 500 CD's, you'll still pay about $780 or so, even a short run of a 100 will cost about $275.

9. A van, it costs about $75-$95 a day to rent a van, if you own a van, you have to buy a reliable van (average $3500 -$8000 for a decent van + upkeep)

10. Trailer starts at around $1200 and up

11. Gear/Equipment (Computer, DAW's (ProTools, Sonar, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo), plug in's, drum sticks, skins, guitar strings, batteries, cables, amps, guitars, microphones) Anywhere btw $800- $25.000 easily

12. Personal bills, rent, phonebill, utilities, internet and food (the basics) Here in LA close to $1000/month min per person (yes, it's not really band related but still part of the musicians reliability)

13. Music Lessons btw, $35-$100/hour (optional)

If it's a true band, usually every member ships in, if the band is run by one or two people, they usually carry all the costs upfront. And that's not counting any lights, stage clothing, music video, radio promotion, or any pr, stage prop's or food on the road. So the next time you want music for FREE, think about this...would you work for FREE if your boss told you he won't pay for your services?

Hope this will shed a little light on what goes on behind the curtains and makes you realize, being in a band (pro band) is work and requires money. It's a business. Every business needs to make money to stay in business. This is not a complain, but an explanation to you why indies appreciate it when their fans are willing to pay $0.99 for a single or whatever for an album.

There are many ways for bands to raise money and create income from their music...and that's gonna be my next blog!!!




Enjoy and please spread this around to raise awareness!

xoxo
JVBeast

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In the Fast Lane

One thing for sure, when you are on the road, you somewhat lose touch with a lot of things that are important to you; it's a whole different world, there's the road, the shows, new faces, stories, sleep somewhere in between, different places you stay, sometimes you have access to the internet sometimes you don't. I wanted to work on music but that didn't happen. There's so much to share and blog about, I will have to organize it or maybe just randomize it ;)



Now that I'm back home, I realize how many projects I've put on hold; I really have to make some major decisions about my priorities and time management. Doesn't that sound like a ton of fun-less tasking? A little bit however, I decided right now that I can handle it all and that it is OK to delegate and ask for support!
After all, I am in control of me. I run my life. None of that autopilot nonsense.



Crack the Whip JVB, it's time to get producive and create miracles!
I shall return soon.
xXx
JVB

OD Monsters and Angels Tour 2008

What can I say? Where do I start? It's awesome being on the road. No; it's amazing, just not being at home, doing the same thing every day, wishing we were out there doing it, wondering what it would be like. I'm sitting in Ro's moms home, out on the patio, listening to the creatures of the night chatting, chirping, yapping away. I could not ask for a better background noise. Feels like Fairyland. Woods, beautiful flowers and a ton of fresh air.
I don't even know how long it's been, it seems like a month but I know it's only been two weeks or so since we hit the road. Our daily routine...It's either being in the van, being at a club or being at someones home or at a cheap hotel. Any chance I get I'm out and about investigating a town, strolling through the park; going for a walk or just sitting outside looking at the sky, the stars or the beautiful landscape. I ove it. When in the van I'm mostly up reading, or doing something on the computer. Try not to eat non-stop; I like food way too much especially when I'm bored or overly excited. The rest of the band (except the driver) seems to fall into a coma the minute we are hitting the road, it's funny as hell. I really liked Florida, staying at Janice's house; what's not to like. I actually thought about moving to FL but once you're in LA it's hard to leave and I'm not even sure why that is. NYC is my favorite city in the world and I'm not even sure I would go back there at this time in my life. No clubs left, no scene. Just good food. Plus, I don't long for a shoebox to live in. lol. Back to the tour; the shows are as inconsistent as the stock market and it makes things always more interesting and challenging, you never know what to expect. People always say they show up but people like to talk the talk when it comes to the walking part their legs seem to be gone missing. I don't care either way, it doesn't impress me when someone sends me an e-mail telling me they'll be at the show, not until I actually see them there. It's OK to say no. Not that I've never heard that before. Rejection is part of the game and god knows it ain't stopping me from what I want. I'm kinda immune to it.

Staying at Kristy's house was like a vacation, I was actually really sad when we left. Love them very much and the dogs. We are finally picking up, the next couple of weeks are busy and that's a very good thing. I thought I'd be working a lot on music but so far it hasn't been that inspiring nor convenient to set up my little station and go nuts. I need my creative space. But it's all good. I tend to stack it all inside and bust out 5 tunes all at once. I'm not a 100% sure where the new album is going as of yet I just know that I will not look or sound like all the other bands out there right now just to fit in. No offense to anyone out there but honestly, most bands follow a trend, want to fit in. It's just one of those things as an artist. I find my look, my style than get bored of it and want to change but whenever I force it it just doesn't come naturally. So I'm just going with the flow in between transitioning into something bigger and better. Evolve. Expand. Allow for it to happen naturally, I let inspiration lead me. We've been told our music is so much bigger and better than our look and I do agree in a way. However, I get a ton of compliments on my style all the time. I dug my blood fest, my broken baby dolls, my glitter, my phase of destruction and hell. I loved my tutu's, my pretty ugly in pink, my extensions, I still do. I keep reinventing and really ache for something subtle yet drastic. If I see one more guy with an Affliction shirt onstage I'm gonna puke. It's so unoriginal and overdone. The last photo shoot we did we tried to "tone it down a bit I'm open minded. I try everything once. But looking at those pictures, we still look somewhat dark cause that's who we are. So hell with it. Why try to be something you're not just to please WHO? I'm getting my healthy rage back I love it. I've never been one who likes to play it safe and being out on the road, doing the DIY thing definitely brings me back to my core. To a very sincere, honest and humble yet rebellious place.
I know I'm rambling, it's those night creatures cheering me on...lol. I'm just extremely excited to be out here. To not be home. To do something different. To find out who I am now, where I am now. To learn what works and what doesn't. You can read all the books in the world. You want to learn, you gotta get down and dirty. Just Do It.

I hope you can appreciate the silence in between my long blogs. That's just how I roll. It's all or nothing, also know that if I got nothing to say, I won't bore you with a whole lot of nothing.

Enjoy the silence while it lasts, I'll be back soon .Muhahahahahaha


xoxoxo
JVB