I Don't Need A Record Deal! - Review
07/01/08 07:07 Filed in: Book Review
| Indie Music
This is my review of the book "I DON'T NEED A RECORD
DEAL"
Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution
by Daylle Deanna Schwartz
Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution
by Daylle Deanna Schwartz
Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution
by Daylle Deanna Schwartz
Published by Billboard Books 2005
http://www.daylle.com/daylle/index.html
http://www.IDontNeedaRecordDeal.com/
I was more interested in the subtitle of this book than the title because I have taken the approach of an independent solo acoustic musician which means that a lot of the options available for bands are not open to me. Not to suggest that bands have an easy time of it; but a lot of venues and clubs are organized around the expectations of a band. Schwartz writes in a conversational style like we are two friends catching up after her latest tour and she sharing the latest scoop. This book was published in 2005 and is still relevant today. See, for example from WIRED magazine, David Byrne's Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists — and Megastars.
Survival is the key word here.
In one sense this book can be read as a general reinforcement — much like a lifestyle review that would draw the age old conclusion that good health is a result of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly and getting regular good nights sleep. Here the general conclusion - develop a definite skill, do it because you love doing it and focus on quality. Schwartz often repeats the phrase THE GOODS. Meaning if you have a quality offering however you are defining it then you can take it to the next level. Throughout the book there is a constant reminder that this only works if you have THE GOODS.
The other way to understand this book is to see it as a reference guide. This book kept finding its way next to my computer. I wanted to follow up on each suggestion and see where and how each idea applied to me and where I could take advantage. There are so many good ideas that it would be a waste just to read about them and not take some action. The topics covered are a very holistic. Even topics like health and eating right on tour are addressed.
I also saw this book as challenging because it is a sort of check list of all the things that I need to be doing! So I have a love / hate relationship going on here. Also I have been reading and re-reading some of the sections and reading this on and off for probably 8 months. Partly that is due to my own bad reading habits and my own tenacity. That is what I loved about this book is that as I checked off each chapter's suggestions I could look back and say, 'Web site. Check! Alternative Venues. Check! Preparing for Studio. Check!' That doesn't mean that I have mastered these areas, but I do have a sense of how to make them work for me and what to do next.
The industry seems to be turning upside down. Where most cottage industries grow and expand the music industry is a global billion dollar marketplace that is returning to the techniques and appearance of a cottage industry. Clearly then, a record deal is the old school approach that no longer is an appropriate goal in the current climate. For indie musicians then the Brave New Goals are outlined in this book. Rather than aspire to have a record contract with a big company the goals now are to understand how I can reach out to audiences and create awareness of my unique offering.
For me this reinforces that I am on a good path and that all of my little goals, even sharing this blog are worth doing. If you are an indie musician I would recommend this as a good reference book.
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