D.I.Y. BLUEGRASS BANDS - RIGHT OR WRONG?

Who needs a record label ...or a manager ....or a booking agent, publicist.....etc.?

While it is true that today's digital technology has made a lot of things possible that previously were not and a lot of things easier that were previously difficult or complicated, it is also true that the old formula for success in the music business where an artist was doomed without a record label has changed.

The roles of the record label and what they do for an artist have certainly changed and the once clear lines of duty for the record label are now blurred like charcoal smudges on a canvas pallet. So let's agree that it's easier than ever to be an Independent Artist today, but let's question whether or not that is the wisest decision an artist can make.

The danger here for the artist is in thinking that the digital age has made it so convenient so as to make the role of the record label, manager, agent, and all the others in the artists entourage unnecessary. Be not fooled. While the roles have changed, the necessity to have these roles filled has not - any more than a farmer needn't till the earth just because the old hand-plow went away when modern technology brought the tractor.

A recent posting on NPR's music page claims that 2011 proved there is a lot of good music being produced and distributed to fans without the benefit of a record label. However, even the article admits it's “possible to sit for hours on end randomly discovering music by genre or city".  For the music fan, this may be like a free pass to the carnival, but for the artist who needs to have their music heard, it's much like throwing a dart at the moon.

I recently talked with a member of a young upstart bluegrass band who said he didn't think the group could “afford a manager” right now. My question back was, “How can you afford NOT to have a manager? That kind of thinking is self-defeating. A good manager will help the band grow and earn more. Imagine how the Beatles might have ended up without George Martin.

I also recently talked with a member of the publishing industry who lamented how hard it was to get timely responses from some independent artists about their CD releases. ...the data that is important for charting purposes.

One of the members of the independent bands I spoke with just recently was having trouble finding time to be creative since he was doing 100% of the band's administration work.

Not having a band manager before, it's easy to not understand what a manager does and therefore decide to handle the chore yourself. Not responding to requests from anyone in the industry means either you're too busy trying to “do it all” or you don't have enough knowledge and or experience to understand the importance, both of which someone else could and should be handling for you. And doing all of your own administration work because you can't find a competent manager, agent, label, etc. is much like NASA hiring the best test pilots but wanting chimpanzees to fly the space shuttle.  

Here's your classic Double-Edged Sword - one danger in this digital, cyber age is getting to the point where one has too much on the plate to be effective in all areas. The other danger is getting into areas where one's own expertise is not the strongest.

What was it Grandpa always used to say? ....being a Jack-of-All-Trades means being a Master-of-None?