What’s the catch?

You have to take at least 2 and promise  – pinky swear – that you’ll give the extras to friends, family, acquaintances, etc..

And while you are at it, considering signing up on the mailing list or joining the Facebook page.

Finally.. if you want to help us with mailing out these CD’s – use the Tip Jar in the right column. You set the amount. Thanks!!!

A couple of days ago I spoke for the LA Chapter of Songsalive! The topic was technology and strategies to treat your music business more like a business. During the workshops, a lot of material was covered but at the Songsalive! meeting and during the tour, a common theme popped up. FREE Samples!

I had just completed a mini-tour involving 5 workshops and 5 performances over 10 days or so. On the way back I stopped back over in Utah and had coffee with my friend Marc. He had hosted a house concert for me to start the tour.

As we talked he said I should have a FREE CD with my songs and asking for people to spread the word. He’s right. He told me to look up the book FREE: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson (The Long Tail). Turns out, you can get the unabridged audio for. . . free?

During the workshops across the country and by no less than 3 people at the Songsalive! workhshop, I was asked variations of this question.

Should I put FREE 30 second music samples online?

My response was varied…

How many albums of previously unknown artist have you purchased based on 30 seconds of music?

Are you more interested in $10 or 10 fans?

A 30 second sample isn’t really FREE, is it?

Would you buy your music based on a 30 second clip? Come to think of it, would you buy your music based on a 2 minute clip? (that’s a tough question).

Of the first question, one person responded that they occasionally purchased new music based on samples. I’m certain they were lying – mostly to justify their heels in the ground position that they never need to offer their music for free. It’s their product for God’s sake. You wouldn’t expect a grocery store to give you something for free?

I would but that’s a discussion for another day.

CD Baby, Amazon, and Others

A closely followed and associated question was how they could put their music for sale online…(Amazon, CD Baby, iTunes, etc.)?

The notion that many of these performers have is that by being available on these websites and having 30 second clips of their music, they are going to start making money! Whether they admit or not, they want to, hope to, dream to, make big money! If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be so determined to pay to put their songs online – without any radio play, exposure, or marketing.

The idea of being “discovered” is intoxicating. The idea that the web makes it easy to be discovered is the silver-bullet.

Unfortunately, these musicians, many others, and myself at times, is placing the value in the wrong column. Which brings us back to my initial premise…

Music is Cheap! Fans are Priceless!

When I performed at the house concerts and the venue in Vegas, I was asked by several people at each venue if I had a CD. I am in process of recording a new CD and re-recording the tracks from last year’s CD, so I did not press more of last year’s CD. In fact, I had left my t-shirts at home and had NO CD’s with me.

That was a big mistake. Almost un-forgivable. People wanted to take me home with them and now I am not there to consummate our relationship. I’ve heard the consummating the relationship is the funnest part and I missed it!!!

I am in process now of creating a CD with a smattering of songs from last year’s CD, working demos of this year’s CD, and some additional songs – acoustic workings of new and old tunes.

I’m going to also have some recorded narrative explaining the songs and telling the story. I have a spindle in front of me with 100 CD’s. It cost me about $20. I have a CD burner and I have black and white labels. The labels list the songs, my website, my facebook page, and ask the listener to connect. To get on the mailing list. To pirate my music and spread it around.

I’m making a sign that says

“1 CD = $10.

2 CD’s = $0
If  you promise to give 1 CD away”

The CD label also says, “If you like what you hear, copy this CD and then give it to a friend. If you don’t like what you hear, give it to an enemy!”

I will ask that people who listen and enjoy consider a Paypal donation to cover future FREE CD’s distribution.. the cost of the CD and the cost of mailing them out.

The truth is, my music is valuable to me. And it is thankfully, valuable to a few others. But, for me, until some type of critical mass is reached – and maybe not even then – passionate listeners (AKA fans) are the most valuable commodity. I am happy to buy them with my music. It is a fair trade.

What about you?

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/email/newsletter/1410384995

In it I announce tour dates and workshops for The Songwriter & Social Media Tour, plus a video to an old song, redone, Wait For Me. I’ve included the YouTube videos to that song and 2 others I recorded below.

Live Video Streaming

I also announced 2 live-streaming videos I’ll be doing. One is Tip-Stream – Tuesday and Thursdays. Technology, Strategy, Tools and Q & A for musicians.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thesongwriteronline

And Song-Stream – where I will perform 2 songs and discuss songwriting and whatever else you might want to know about:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/matthewmoranmusic

YouTube Songs

Wait For Me: a song written in 1986 or 1987. Recently redone.

American Dream: a song from 2009, Girls, Songs, and Other Delusions

Everyday Lies: a song we are recording for the new CD.

Enjoy, send to others, and leave me a comment.

Thanks.

free house concert
how-to guide

In short, he said, “you don’t.”

House Concert Logistics

Let’s consider the numbers and other factors.

People who host house concerts on a regular basis do about 10 shows a year. They have hundreds of artist clamoring for those positions and they have their own roster of personal favorites and repeat performers.

Let’s assume they have 20 favorites they want to rotate into their schedule. And assume that half of those want to play there at least every other year. That means that out of 20 spots over 2 years, 10 are perpetually booked. That leads 10 spots over 2 years.

They have another 10 performers who they are going to request for those 10 spots. Assume that half cannot fit into their schedule but half can. You are left with 5 spots over 2 years.

Let’s make another assumption – probably a safe one. That they are seeking people they know and people referred by other performers first. So every 2 years, there are 5 potential spots open, dozens or hundreds of artist asking for those spots, and a select few who are closer to the inner-circle.

Do It Yourself House Concert Tour

Kevin’s advice was to create your own house concert tour. Friends, families, and friends of friends. People who become passionate listeners.

And then, when you perform at a house concert, connect with people there and see who else might host one.

As you do so, you might find that some of those house concert host hear about you and take an interest. I’ve been contacted by a couple but the logistics have not worked out. Also, I’ve had between 20-50 people at the house concerts I’ve done and those numbers seem to be as high as what I might get at one of the regular house concert venues.

Make It Easy For Your House Concert Host

To make it easier, I created my simple guide to house concerts and my one page guide to house concerts. Potential hosts have a fear that it is complicated or a lot of work.

Honestly, cheese, crackers, chairs, sofa, or mats on the floor. That’s all you need.. and music passionate guest who want a unique and intimate music affair.

I’ll be traveling through various cities both performing music and providing workshops on various technologies and strategies for musicians who wish to both organize and promote their music business.

July 24, 2010 – time to be determined Sam Ash Music, Westminster Workshop: An Effective Roadmap for Online Success

Other performance and workshop dates

Current Sponsors (more coming)

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If you are interested in sponsorship, go here.

I really want a new video camera. The external mic on mine – as with many camcorders – filters audio based on the most prominent noise. So.. conversations closer to the camera can filter out louder noises further away and more distinct sounds – like my lead guitarist’s tones – jump out more clearly.

The Band:
Tom Galella – Drums
Leif Pedersen – Bass
Jack Hale – Lead Guitar
(Jack’s first time to play any of my songs was Wednesday, 2 day prior)
Matt Moran – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

Dangerous Girl

She’s a Little Bit of Everything

I, in turn contacted the band and said let’s do it. We are planning on STREAMING IT LIVE as well.

We had rehearsed the weekend prior and I had gotten together earlier that day with two of the guys to cover some of the songs. Our first performance is supposed to be June 11th but I felt, “no time like the present!” and decided whether we just did 3 songs – or a couple more, I want the band to make an appearance.

We rehearsed Wednesday, picking 6 songs that were “close”. They played well. We added a 7th – and here we go!

songwriter promo postcard

(my quickie postcard for email)

Where to see the show:

View Larger Map

Hope to see you there or online…

In 2007 I had made a decision to be a bit more intentional with my songwriting. Rather than wait on inspiration per se – writing when the mood struck me, I would pick some general themes or stories and write to them on a schedule. Still, “American Dream” sat for awhile longer while I wrote, “South To Mexico”, “Everyday Lies”, and a few other theme – as opposed to inspiration driven – tunes.

Then I picked up a file I keep with scraps of paper with lyric ideas and American Dream was the first scrap that came out.

The song is one of the most simple musically – largely 3 chords. But it is one of the favorites for the band and one that I get a lot of comments on when performing live. People love the middle-of-America, back to basics, universal lesson.

In this version of the recording, Bill Dutcher, an Arizona guitarist, songwriter, and performer added some slide dobro and electric guitar to “flavor” to the song.

LISTEN:
DOWNLOAD

AMERICAN DREAM
Copyright © 2009 – Matthew Moran (Sounds Like Life Music)

An old yellow note read government repo
Just a sign of the times since the factory left town
The windows are dark, lonely, broken, and boarded
I see a half dozen more just a half a block down
And I can recall the tears on mama’s face
When daddy handed her the key
Just three rooms and a garden out back
But it was called the American Dream

I’ve spent half my life chasing prey so elusive
My burning desire is this dream to be free
From East Coast to West, through the soul of the heartland
Though I’m in pursuit I know it’s chasing me
And I’ve seen the look in the older men’s eyes
They shake their heads in disbelief
”Son,” they say, “don’t miss the life that you’re living.”
”Cuz that’s the American Dream”

For 20 long years I’ve been seeking asylum
My dream just a prison, my ambition a chain
Through my sacrifice I leave you this lesson
To save you this sorrow, to save you this pain
It’s love that you need to live for a life that’s worth living
Don’t trade it for some vagabond dream
It’s a heart, not a purse, that you should be filling
Because that’s the American Dream

Many of you know I’ve been doing a lot of work with other performers and musicians teaching them how to use various technologies, websites, and online strategies to run and organize their music business.

I used to post that information here. However, to better organize that information, and keep it separate from my activity as a songwriter and performer, I’m moving that content

and activity to TheSongwriterOnline.com

There is, of course, some overlap and hopefully this site, just through the work I am doing, will be an example of how to use what is taught at TheSongwriterOnline.

At times I am a great example of the cobbler’s children having no shoes. Part of that is a time issue and part is simply creating a plan of action for the various social media outlets – like YouTube and ReverbNation, for instance. I do this for business clients and for others but often do not take the time to do it for myself.

Hopefully, this will help change that.

Check back and spread the word!

Thanks,
     Matthew Moran