Managemental Podcast With Blasko And Mike Mowery

 Reference Article: https://bandzoogle.com/blog/social-media-marketing-for-musicians-how-to-get-more-fans-on-instagram Mike and Blasko tackle basic marketing strategies on Instagram for musicians. Follow along as they go through each point with real world examples and in-depth details so you can make your own account stand out from the crowd.   Pick a Username  Pick something easy and predictable. All of your social media handles should make sense together. Don’t add numbers, symbols, or underscores if you don’t need to. Get a Decent Profile PhotoInstagram profile photos are relatively small and users can’t click on them to blow them up. Use a profile picture that is easy to see on a standard-size phone. Use a band logo or photo that is clear and easy to make out.   Leave a Bio that Makes an Impression  Your bio can only be 150 characters - almost the same length as a tweet. Write something that leaves an impression. You don’t have to take up the whole space either.   Website Link  With a social platform lik

Bonus Episode: This week Mike is filling in for Blasko as the host with the most and is joined by his Outerloop Coaching partner, Paul. In this episode Mike and Paul cover some highlights from the first Outerloop Coaching webinar Sixty Days to Signable, and talk about the new classes they are launching this week: Release It Right and Unleash It Right.   The Release It Right webinar will take place on July 22nd at 2pm EDT and cover the best strategies to help participants successfully release music independently, reach the biggest possible first-week sales, and maximize fan engagement.   Unleash It Right webinar will include the Release It Right session in addition to a second class on July 29th at 2pm EDT for advanced students to understand how to get the most out of streaming services, get physical albums into brick and mortar retail stores, and learn how to get streams and sales to count towards getting a release onto the Billboard charts.   Head to OuterloopCoaching.com to sign up and learn more about the

Oh Lorde, pray leaving your manager wasn't a mistake http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/may/19/oh-lorde-pray-leaving-your-manager-wasnt-a-mistake 5 Types of Artists Good Managers Will Never Work With  http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=508&articleId=50915 This Is What Managers Think It Takes To Be Successful In Music In 2015  http://www.thefader.com/2015/01/08/9-managers-explain-how-to-win-music-in-2015 What Does A Manager Actually Do? - @patthemanager https://www.instagram.com/p/BHpxnqOBBu0/ This week  Mike and Blasko answer listener Shaun Paramore’s questions about choosing the right manager. She writes: Please discuss the importance and many things to take into consideration before choosing professional management. Choosing the wrong management can take the wind out of your sails over a period of time and in many cases have led to the disbanding of a group that excelled musically but did not know the industry and trusted their team and was mishandled in every way. Such wa

Article:http://www.mattblick.com/2014/11/naming-your-band-in-10-easy-steps.html This week Blasko and Mike dive into tips on naming your band inspired by songwriter Matt Blick's article "10 Easy Steps to Naming Your Band". Follow along as they go through each point with real world experiences and lay out the best advice for naming your band. Email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 2 of our “The Big Question” seires - How Do Bands Break Out and Become Famous?   Here is the article by Matt O'Dowd, Band Dude, Songwriter, and Composer https://www.quora.com/How-do-bands-break-out-and-become-famous   Be extremely good at marketing and relationships.   Some ways to achieve this: Become friends with people involved in music. Bookers, band dudes, bar owners, journalists, and music fans. Friends will help each other out, come out to shows, make introductions. Emailing Mp3s to strangers is largely a waste of time.Develop a local following of people who like your music. This does not have to be a huge group of people, but if you invite a journalist to come check out your show, it should feel exciting. When people are dancing and singing the words, that excitement is contagious.Develop a "story." Something that makes it really easy to talk about your band. Two twin sister lesbians singing harmonies? Cool! The band met in a barfight? Cool! This guy's sleeping with a Hearst daughter? Cool!Be kin

Article: https://www.quora.com/How-do-bands-break-out-and-become-famous   How does a band break and become famous? We all know there is no simple answer to this. However successful people do have habitual similarities that have been theorized as the foundation for their success. So... it stands to reason that perhaps there are reoccurring themes and actions that can be found in successful bands that can be reverse engineered for a new generation.    So… How do Bands break out and Become Famous? According to Matt O-Dowd a self proclaimed band dude, songwriter and composer the answer is not easy, but attainable. He writes:    Be extremely good at music. So good that people can't ignore you.   Some ways to achieve this: Develop a unique sound that is unmistakably you. Most successful artists of all mediums become famous for a signature style. Write extremely good songs that total strangers are interesting in hearing again. Your friends and your mom will say everything is great. They cannot be trusted.Listen to

This episode is dedicated to answering questions from you, the listeners. Blasko and Mike tackle the following questions, submitted via email, with great detail and real world examples.   From Jesse: “My question is if you could explain the different types of record label deals for bands. I work with a few bands that have been approached to sign 360 deals. Please explain the difference in some deals you know of for artists.” From Cat: “I have been fortunate to find myself in a lot of songwriting writing sessions. Some with local acts and some with more established names in the music business.  My question is what is the best way to handle oneself in these situations when it comes time to discuss how things should be split?   I have received many opinions on this from: ‘you should establish this before your start writing’; to past mangers telling me not to discuss it at all, because they (manger) are going to do that. Would love to hear from your perspective how things should work. Is there a standard?” From B

 Article: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/04/the-art-of-using-cover-songs-to-grow-your-audience.html   Dave Kusek is the founder of the New Artist Model, an online music business school for independent musicians, performers, recording artists, producers, managers, and songwriters. He is also the founder of Berklee Online, co-author of The Future of Music, and a member of the team who brought midi to the market.   In this episode Mike and Blasko explore the points laid out by Dave Kusek in his article “The Art of Using Cover Songs to Grow Your Audience”. He writes:   Many artists may have conflicted feelings about cover songs, for although they can be fun to play and offer an easy way to connect with your audience, it can also be irritating when cover songs are all an audience wants, or when they get more attention than original compositions. Here we look at the best way to make cover songs work for you.   1. Make it Your Own Best way to get people who hear your covers into your original music? Put you

This episode is inspired by 60 Days to Signable student Jeremy Miller who writes: “I met Mike briefly at Launch Music Conference and I’m really excited for the 60 Days to Signable class coming up. I’ve noticed a lot of different “music business help” sources contradict others, and I hear a lot of different opinions on the state of the scene/industry and how to get “big” with your music. I get it, different tactics work for different people and like I’ve heard Mike say, that there’s exceptions to everything. But I've personally noticed what works best is Having killer music, that's obviously the main thing.Always putting out consistent great content.Being fearless, persistent, but not a pestRealizing it takes time so be patient.Yes a bit of luck seems to be a factor for sure, but I truly feel like that seems to be the main mix for a successful path. I really think your podcast & things like Mike's outerloop coaching are great tools for people who are trying to make this their career.  So basically I just want

 Ghost Lawsuit  http://www.metalinjection.net/metal-crimes/the-entire-ghost-lawsuit-document-leaks-more-info-on-why-former-nameless-ghouls-are-suing-papa-emeritus Do We Need A Band Agreement? https://www.thebalance.com/do-we-need-a-band-contract-2460671 This week, we take on the topic of band agreements, suggested by listener Eric Peterson, who also happens to be Mike’s neighbor! We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313 Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Join Mike's webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” at signup.outerloopcoaching.com. Classes are conducted online in seminar format with time for interaction nearly every week. Wednesdays 8 PM April 19 to June 7 with a fully interactive class session on June 7. Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag ManageMental is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.

  Blasko and Mike take on the subject of VIP Meet and Greets, requested by listener Jason Buggle. VIP packages are sold in addition to a show ticket and includes a number of perks. These packages have become almost somewhat of a necessity to assist in reducing expenses of touring while providing an additional stream of income to the bands.  What are the values of VIPs? What kind of experience should fans expect from a VIP? Why do VIPs exist? Do fans want it? What makes a VIP experience worth it? Find out in this episode.  We encourage you to email any questions or comments to askblasko@gmail.com Find Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @blasko1313  Find Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop Join Mike's webinar “Sixty Days To Signable” at signup.outerloopcoaching.com Get $30 your next order at ArtistFlags.com using the code: mentalflag This podcast is part of the Jabberjaw Media Network. www.jabberjawmedia.com    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blasko interviews Mike for an in-depth look into Outerloop Coaching’s webinar course "Sixty Days to Signable". The webinar is 8 weeks long and each course brings something new to the table, students will learn from real-life experiences, and have access to Mike and his team to answer questions throughout program. At the end of the 8-week course students will be able to walk away with new knowledge and resources to allow them to project their careers within the music industry.   Sign up for Sixty Days To Signable at signup.outerloopcoaching.com  Courses are Wednesdays at 8pm EDT April 19 - June 7 Tune into Mike's Facebook Live event Thursday April 6th at 8pm EDT for a special offer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Article: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/03/how-to-run-a-successful-crowdfunding-campaign-10-tips.html   Author: Leah Waldo is the Curriculum Manager for massive open online courses at Berklee Online. She is a Berklee College of Music alumna and received her Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.    We’re digging in to the subject of crowd funding and tips on how to successfully run one. Mike most recently had great success with the Darkest Hour crowdfund campaign and we explore Leah Waldo’s article “10 Tips to Run a Successful Crowd Funding Campaign” with the following points laid out in the article:     Grow Your Email List and Social Media FollowersSet a Realistic GoalIdentify Potential Donors Outside of Your Email List and Social Media FollowersMake a Compelling Video That Tells your StoryDon’t Sell Yourself ShortDon’t Give Too Many OptionsMake Your Fans Feel Like They Are on the Journey with YouKeep in TouchBe GratefulIf at First You Don’t Succeed, Try and Try Again 

Article: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2014/05/28/myths/   Author: Bob Lefsetz   In the last episode we talked more about record labels and how to score that elusive “deal". This week we dig into some music business mythology. Blasko uncovered an article written by the ever so controversial Mr. Bob Lefsetz simply titled “Myths” on his Lefsetz Letter Blog. We discuss each point in detail from myth to reality.     Sales count.It’s no longer whether someone buys your album, but whether they listen to it, that’s the relevant metric that everybody seems to ignore as they trumpet irrelevant SoundScan numbers. Want to know if an act is truly happening, check their TICKET COUNTS!   Social media builds careers.This would be like saying a baseball player’s statistics make him a star. No, it’s what he does on the field. Social media is a way for fans to stay in touch with their musical heroes. Music always has been and always will be the epicenter of any career. In other words, if you’re good enough, you don’t have to

Article: http://music3point0.com/2017/02/23/4-things-record-deal/ Author: http://www.bobbyowsinski.com Bands tend to think that the holy grail is scoring a record deal. I imagine a lot of that thought process comes from the need for validation of their art. There is nothing wrong with that but in this digital age a recording contract is not necessarily the end game. Many a career has been established at the hands of many independent artists for many years. But nothing can change the fact that whatever your goals are, if you want an actual career in this business you need to build some kind of foundation and fan base with your music. I and many others put a lot of stock in bands that can build a strong social media presence early in their career. However, Blasko recently came across a post written on Music Three Point 0.com by Bobby Owsinski that somewhat argues my position and kicks it back old school.   He writes:  It wasn’t that long ago that A&R execs at record labels were scouring the online platforms,

In this episode, we answer a question from long time listener, Wade. He voiced some concerns regarding PR and Publicists and specifically when is a good time to hire one and what can they do to further your career.   Below are the questions we cover:   "My band is currently building a package to launch very soon. We all have a lot of experience but this is the birth of this band. We just finished our EP, built a website, set up an online shopping store, acquired thousands of followers across the big social media platforms (without any audio), etc…Now that we have all our ducks in a row, is now a good time to cultivate a PR relationship?"    "We haven't played any shows. Will this stop a PR from being interested in us?"   "Should we release this EP, play some shows, build more of a following, record our next EP in four months and then pursue PR for our second release?"    We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.   Foll

  We were recently contacted by a music biz colleague, Attorney Mark Kesten. He voiced some concerns regarding issues that he encounters with a lot of young bands feeling misinformed about when and why and how to hire an attorney. We even call our good friend Los Angeles-based music attorney Eric German to weigh in on today's topic.   This was the basis of Mark’s email to us…    "I check out a good number of music industry podcasts and find that, for the most part, nobody speaks about the role an attorney can play in the very early stages of an artist’s career. Some bands have made critical mistakes in signing agreements early on without seeking counsel and these agreements end up really hurting their chances for success.  Similarly, I also speak to a number of young managers that are unaware of the role attorneys can play in a young artist’s development."   So, let’s dispel a few myths…  1. You don’t get a good attorney until much later in your career.    2. You cannot afford a good music lawyer.    3. A ban

“15 Very Quick and Helpful Things You Can Do To Help Your Music Career” by Sari Delmar for MusicThinkTank.com is the basis for this episode's discussion. http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/15-very-quick-and-simple-things-you-can-do-to-help-your-musi.html   We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcast and you can email me at AskBlasko@Gmail.com.    Follow Blasko on Twitter and Instagram: @Blasko1313 Follow Mike Mowery on Twitter and Instagram: @mikeoloop    Get Mike’s "Music Management Primer - The Business of Being an Artist” at OuterloopCoaching.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we reference the article on Music Think Tank written by Simon Tam: http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/6-ways-to-get-more-people-to-your-shows.html  Do you sometimes feel that your band’s draw is languishing? Are you tired of seeing the same people at your shows and want to play to a new crowd, even in your hometown? If you’re like most musicians, you know that you absolutely can do better, that you have more fans out there than who actually show up at at the venue, and despite always receiving positive feedback, you don’t know why more people aren’t showing up. If you have a great show that people thoroughly enjoy, you’re off to a great start. However, these days it simply isn’t enough. Chances are, you and your bandmates can do a little more to help bring the crowd out to your shows. A bigger crowd means you’ll have some more income, as well as a buzz about your music that can get you into larger venues. We encourage you to send in any questions / comments you may have for us and the podcas

Article: Is your band REALLY ready to be on a record label? By Shan Dan Horan  http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/is_your_band_really_ready_to_be_on_a_record_label   If you’re currently grinding it out in a basement or garage somewhere, chances are “being signed” is on your list of long-term goals. But, we offer a reality check: Are you actually ready to be in a partnership with a record label?     1. Is your music not just good, but great? With the advent of the internet, music has become so universally accessible that every band in the world now has a platform to take center stage. This is a great way to garner attention from fans and record labels across the world; however, now it’s harder than ever to get noticed. One of the greatest ways to shine through your competition is having a spectacular album—after all, that’s what this is all about. While some people would disagree with me, one of the most important factors with any successful band is having not good, but greatmusic.    2. Do you have a tour