Author Archives: thesoundscene

About thesoundscene

Shaun Barrett is the owner and managing partner of 4 Ohm Entertainment Group, a Chicago-based artist management company. As part of the Chicago music community since the early '90s he spent his early years performing as a bassist in 5 bands (Terminal Bliss, Flutter, etc) developing a deep passion for music and an understanding of the inter-relationship between an artist and their craft. Forming 4 Ohm Entertainment group in 2006 with his partners, Shaun shifted his focus to artist management to help other people along that path. He strives to stay at the forefront of this ever-changing industry with his involvement in the US chapter of the Music Manager's Forum and other pursuits. He is currently managing Archie Powell & the Exports.

Mass Emails Don’t Work

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This morning I received an email from a management company representing an Urban act who had success in the 90′s. My curiosity got the best of me so I read the whole email wondering why I was being reached out to.

After outlining the acts success in the 90′s in detail, the email went on to explain what they currently have going on, which is mainly in Europe. At the end of the email there was brief mention of hoping to work with a European label for their upcoming release.

#1
It’s vital for bands/acts/dj’s/songwriters that when you have a manager they know what they are doing.
#2
If you don’t do some basic homework (research) you end up reaching a rock manager in Chicago instead of an Urban European label.
#3
Don’t think for a second that just because someone opens the email that its progress or that you are now on their radar.
#4
Don’t bury the lead, it’s important to say your point upfront. If someone is crunched for time and only reads the first part or skims the email, you don’t get across what you were aiming for, you just wasted both your time and theirs.
#5
Personalize where ever possible. The more you can say in the email about the person you are emailing the better. People love having their ego stroked, especially in the music industry. This also means NEVER! send an email that includes “Dear Sir/Madam”

Avoiding these missteps can only help you in the long run, so good luck, and always strive to be as professional as possible.

Stalled

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I stalled with this blog. When I got really busy with my management clients The Sound Scene was the first to suffer.

I have started thinking about posts again, topics to address, and info to help those out there, which I hope to post about soon.

Got a topic for me? Don’t be bashful, I’m looking for a nudge here.

Post SX Business Cards

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Post SX the collected business cards end up in 3 piles:

1. connected with that person, completely remember them, and what they do.

2. remember where I met the person but have to google their company

3. I have no idea who they are or where we met.

Always best to make a connection and impression instead of just flinging cards out like they are flyers.

Chicago Bands on SX Day Parties: Heavemedia/I Blame Yoko

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Being brought to you by HeaveMedia, I Blame Yoko Records, Kilo Records and Fanfound


Wednesday March 14th
12:00 – 5:00
BD Riley’s on 6th street

12:45 Paper Thick Walls
3:00 Netherfriends
4:30 Archie Powell & the Exports

First 250 People = One Free Beer, Wine or Cocktail of your Choice

New Panel Series and Pre-SX Mixter Tonight at Rock-it

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The first in a series of new panels focused on helping the Chicago music scene. “cough bands” Hosted by Jaime Black (ChicagoVerseUnited / DynastyPodcasts) this 18+ panel focusing on Building an Online Brand. Panel starts at 6 PM at Rock-it and features:
Ernest Wilkins (RedEyeChicago.com)
Jeremy Scheuch (Do312)
Andrew Barber (Fake Shore Drive)
Brittany Ireland (Mode/radio personality)
&
Bob Nanna (Threadless)

Afterwards hang out for a Pre-SX mixer, find out what every is up to, and free up some of your precious time down in Austin. I will more or less be hosting, so come say hi to me, and tell me about what your doing!

1 Question Interview With: Jaime Black

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Jaime Black is a podcaster, broadcaster, and journalist in Chicago. He covers the Chicago music scene at Chicago Verse United, and hosts Dynasty Podcasts, Chicago’s first music-focused podcast network. Follow him @jaimeblack for the latest on all his projects.

The Sound Scene:
Is there one piece of advice you would give aspiring musicians to propel their success?

Jaime Black:
There’s certainly a million pieces of advice that could be given here, but one thing I’ve seen time and again to make a difference, is to be social. Bands should build relationships with their fans – on and offline. It often seems like artists think because they have a Twitter account, that they’re social. That’s just the beginning. Engage the fans who come out to your shows – it’ll bring them back to your next gig. If they’re following you on Twitter, reach out to them – thank them for the follow. Or, if they mention you, retweet their message. There are a lot of creative ways to engage your audience – again, both on and offline – and a little bit of interaction could make a lifelong fan. Of course, you don’t want to overdo it, but in general, I feel like there needs to be more of a connect between artist and audience – even (or especially) if that audience is just beginning to grow.

Like I said, there’s so much advice that could be given. That’s just one piece – among many – that I think is essential.

Band Newletter

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Does a newsletter sound like an artifact from an ancient music business that doesn’t apply to your band? Think your fans are keeping track of you every move via twitter and facebook? Think again!

The fact is that facebook is rapidly hitting the saturation point that doomed myspace as being not being effective for bands. Some say it’s already happened. Don’t think that just because you are in a band that you’re seeing more event invites to shows, releases, tours, or videos than the average music fans. Sending out a monthly newsletter cuts through the clutter of social networks and lands in fan’s inboxes. If you don’t feel like your band has enough going on to send out a monthly newsletter make it quarterly. If quarterly seems to often it’s time to take an honest and hard look at what your band is doing.

The Importance of Your Own Website

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There has been some great articles advocating the need for bands to have their own website. Having a central hub for all the band’s activity is vital. You can read a few of those here, here, and here. While I don’t know that I can stress the matter better than those articles, I can say with certainty as a manager when I Google a band and the first the that pops up is their Myspace profile, followed by their Facebook profile, and I cant locate their website in the first couple of pages of results than I am left thinking the band is under developed. Beyond my personal opinion with the rise and fall of social networks, having your own hub that has a clean intuitive design is vital.

1 Question Interview With: Christian Picciolini

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General Manager, President and Emmy-nominated Executive Producer of JBTV, Chicago’s longest-running, most-respected rock & roll music television show. Founder and owner of Chicago-based artist management and development firm Goldmill Talent (The Frantic, The Briggs, Flatfoot 56, Treaty Of Paris, State And Madison, Urbanites, Koo Koo Kanga Roo), and Founder and Owner of punk rock record label Sinister Muse. Rock committee member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys).

The Sound Scene:
Is there one piece of advice you would give aspiring musicians to propel their success?

Christian Picciolini
Success is all relative, so I will offer advice geared towards mainly touring and performing artists, not so much writers or studio musicians who do it “for the love of music.” The best advice I can give any aspiring musician is that once you’ve developed your music, in order to achieve any level of success with your band, you must treat yourself as a brand. Envision a marketing plan for your brand. How can you better position yourself against all the other music out there? What creative strategies can you develop to build your fan base? How can you branch out from your home base and attract new “customers?” How is your packaging better or more compelling than any other band out there? Consumers (or music fans) make decisions based on several factors. The biggest influencer in music is word of mouth from influencers, or people you trust. Find the influencers and market to them. Second, it’s about first impressions and packaging. If your “product” moves people emotionally or if it’s something they can relate to, make sure you can keep them as a customer by continuing to engage them in new and creative ways. No one sells music to support their band anymore. People must be hooked on the performance and the feeling or experience they get when they see you live. Once they are there, realize that in this day and age you are more of a t-shirt company and entertainer than a composer of music. Make products that your clients will buy. They can download your music, but not your t-shirt or shot glass or poster. And, finally, perception is reality. If people believe you are important, then you are important. If people believe you are special, then you are special. That’s not to say to act like a dick or snob, but if you make people believe that you are something they can’t live without, then they will buy your product. Do people really need nice and expensive cars? Of course not. But they believe that when they own and drive these cars they are more important and that the car will fulfill them more. If you want to make money being a touring musician, then work on your brand image and find smart and creative ways to market yourself. If you want to do it simply “for the love of music,” then give away your music for free and find a local coffee shop to get comfy in for the rest of your life. If your music turns out being something people love, then perhaps you will get lucky and the the coffee shop will organically turn into a club, and a club will turn into a venue. The venue into a stadium, and your “band” into a t-shirt company. Best of luck.