7 things only unsigned musicians would understand
Blog by Insure4Music under
Some people (perhaps even your parents) think that it’s possible to earn a living when you’re a member of a band. And for top bands like Alt-J or Explosions In The Sky, this is true. However, for unsigned bands, the world is far less forgiving. If you’re not playing covers for two hours, the chances are most venues won’t be paying you in anything other than beer tokens.
A gig promoter will often proclaim – in lieu of any cash payment – that you are receiving valuable “free exposure” instead. This is a bit of a double-edged sword because you need exposure to be successful, but you can’t use it to pay this month’s phone bill. Learn to have a conversation about payment at the right moment. Keep in mind that when you first start out, you probably end up playing for free. That’s unless you’re prepared to go down the cover band route and play Bon Jovi for two straight hours.
Anyone that values their kit like a newborn baby (which should be all of you) will dread the words ‘house kit provided’. Sometimes, very occasionally, the drum kit or bass amp in question is well serviced and maintained. Unfortunately, this is a rarity and usually, you’ll have kit that’s so poor it could have its very own Channel 4 documentary. The easy fix here is just to bring your own kit to all your gigs or, at the very least, bring your own leads, snare drum, cymbals and accessories to minimise how much you need to use in-house kit.
The Holy Grail for any unsigned band is getting that all-important record deal. You’ll find that, if your band gets a bit of traction, you’ll start to get all sorts of offers coming out of the woodwork. However, all too often unsuspecting artists will get caught in the trap of signing the first contract that’s put in front of them. Always be wary and always read the contract properly. If you can, get a solicitor to have a look at it. Also, do your research: what else has this label released? How well did they promote it? What do previous artists have to say about them? A bit of digging can pay dividends before you’re stuck with a 4 EP deal with Phony BMG.
What’s more, if there’s one thing that all unsigned musicians should understand – it’s the value of insurance. From stolen equipment, accidental damage and loss of earnings. It is essential as an upcoming band to be covered should the worst happen – you wouldn’t want it to stop your promising music career early. Insure4Music can protect you from as little as £25 per year, so what are you waiting for? Visit www.insure4music.co.uk today for your Lowest Price Guaranteed quote today.
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7 things only unsigned bands and musicians would understand
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