From Louwdiwre.com

“I was quite clear that I came to the end of the road and promised myself and my family that I would never sign a contract that was not workable. It was one of the toughest decisions that I ever had to make”

Click here to read more…

Today we sit and chat with Jason Graves about his unique score for his latest game, Tomb Raider, where he had a unique instrument crafted just for the project! Links, and pics after the break.You can find out more about Jason at jasongraves.com.

Check out more of The Instrument.

Check out Tomb Raider!

Dave is back from vacation with a show about things you need to know when you’re ready to make that leap as a “pro” drummer.

INTRO

• Back from vacation!  NC was relaxing.. and wet.

• Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

• The Jason Graves show is coming!  Just having some audio issues to iron out.

 

News from the Pinboard

• http://www.fathomevents.com/#!big-loud-and-live-10/more-info/details

  • DCI Live event in theaters, Thur Aug 8, 2013. Tix are $18

• http://memphisdrumshop.com/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=271&products_id=15854&zenid=9dp4vh890ukj8mg35anbjgk9t4

  • Memphis Drum Shop will host funk drumming legends Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks in a free live webcast from the world famous myCymbal.com studios. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear from these two living legends. More information about this event can be found at memphisdrumshop.com/events.

• http://deathinamber.com

  • Podcast aimed at music from bands that never made it, and are no longer together. Looking for submissions

• Logic Pro X is out with new Drummer Feature

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tuWFzMVjA4

• http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/arts/music/alan-myers-drummer-in-devo-dies-at-58.html?_r=0

 

TOPIC  - Transitioning to Pro

Professional is defined as 30% or more of your yearly income comes from that profession.

• Professional bands\individuals should become corporate entities to protect members in legal situations and to be able to prove income for future credit situations

• LLC, S-corporation, C-Corporation as well as most corporate forms LegalZoom.com

• in your filing be clear about ownership of intellectual property

• clear  instructions on dissolving the band as well as what happens to the IP

• in the case of dissolving the band very clear instructions on how the IP may be purchased, sold, rented, licensed etc.

Define who your fans are or as we like to call them customers

• who is your customer? If everyone is your customer and no one is your customer.

• Focus on a niche market and sell directly to them. Are you a dance and party band? Find your local events Center or convention hall and sell directly to the upcoming events scheduled for that convention center.

• are you a beard rock band? find a local bar that has spam on the menu and Pabst blue ribbon on tap

• the biggest complaint I get working with artists is that my fans aren’t who I want them to be. In the end all artists want respect from other artists that they look up to

• Everyone should read 1000 true fans by Kevin Kelly – http://kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php

• FAN TRACKING – What are people looking at and how long are they staying on your website don’t guess with people are looking at “measure it”

  • crazyegg.com

  • clicktale.com

Marketing

• Website design, logos & graphic design

  • 99 designs.com

  • ELance.com

  • crowdspring.com

  • weebly.com do yourself drag-and-drop website builder

  • webs.com

  • WordPress

  • Secure your domain – godaddy.com

  • Vistaprints.com

  • Clubflyers.com

• E-MAIL MANAGEMENT AND FORM BUILDERS

  • mailchimp.com

  • aweber.com

  • the trick with e-mail management is to keep your fans informed but not annoy them. Build a fan database that separates your fan into states\provinces and countries. that way you won’t send information about gigs in New York when your fans live in Ohio.

  • general band update should be limited to once a month or once every two months.

REVENUE STREAMS “merchandise is for branding events are for income”

• selling your music online

  • payloadz.com

• redbubble.com you design they sell and deal with all of the headache.

• Cafepress.com

  • http://www.cafepress.com/mf/52879910/what-is-up-what-is-up_tshirt

• If you’re selling shirts, stickers, hats, iPhone cases it’s not for profit it’s for advertising

• the goal here is branding and minimal investment and overhead. Dropping $500-1000 on T-shirts that may or may not sell is crazy.

• if you dare to make big cash you need to create a big event.

• Get creative

  • branded bottles of wine, skydiving trip with the band, weekend food and drink Festival

  • charity events pick a cause and go for it get sponsors sell tickets. The goal here is to sell tickets inexpensively with the promise of a great time while trying to get the sponsors to pay for it all. the goal here is to give your fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience

  • No silent auctions were all exhausted.

  • try to team up with a local radio station – radio stations focus on niche markets rock country etc. try to plug into their audience

• Booking tickets

  • brown paper bag tickets

  • live nation

• Facebook and Twitter

  • try to limit Facebook time to an hour per week but make sure all of your information on what the band/artist is doing is there. Facebook is a nebulous time waster and yes is a great tool to have a conversation with your fans but there are more efficient ways to do it

 

Outro, drops, plugs, etc.

• Like our Facebook Page –  www.facebook.com/drummertalk

• Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/drummertalk

• Help support DT by making a donation!  100% of the proceeds goes back into the show and the site!

• How about a shout out on iTunes?

• Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

Next week’s topic: Jason Graves and “The Instrument!”

Special guest, Troy Dares, joins Dave today as they talk about what you need to know if you’re ready to pull the trigger on getting that dream kit you’ve always wanted!  Show notes after the break!

News from the Pinboard

• http://drummertalk.org/2013/06/05/navy-band-holding-drumset-auditions/

• http://drummertalk.org/2013/06/04/metallica-drummer-lars-ulrich-says-new-album-likely-to-drop-in-2015/

• http://drummertalk.org/2013/06/06/paul-bostaph-to-replace-drummer-dave-lombardo-in-slayer/

• http://drummertalk.org/2013/06/05/will-champion-on-game-of-thrones/

• http://drummertalk.org/2013/06/06/jefferson-airplane-drummer-joey-covington-dies-in-car-crash/

 

TOPIC – Building Your Dream Kits

• What drives up the costs?

  • Exotic Woods, ply

    • Shell Construction – Keller vs Dw, Sonor Custom

  • Hardware?

  • Customizability

  • Artisanship

  • Patented technology (Gimmicks?)

    • Suspension mounting

    • Company specialization

      • Canopus Bebop Kits

• Who are the big players in those dream kits?

  • Sonor – SQ2

    • Sonor SQ2 Builder (http://www.sq2-drumsystem.com)

  • Pearl – Masterworks, Reference (http://pearldrum.com/products/kits/drumsets/masterworks/)

  • DW – Limited Editions, Collector’s Series (http://www.dwdrums.com/limited/)

    • DW Kitbuilder

  • Tama – Star (http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/product/drum_data.php?year=2013&id=10&area=2)

  • Yamaha PHX- Absolute

  • Mapex – Black Panther/Saturn (http://usa.mapexdrums.com/saturn/)

    • Mapex Mydentity (http://mydentity.mapexdrums.com)

  • Gretsch – USA Custom, 130th Anniversary (http://www.gretschdrums.com/?fa=130th)

  • Ludwig – Legacy (http://www.ludwig-drums.com/drumkits.php)

    • focusing on hardware

• Who are the boutique guys?

  • GMS

  • OCDP

  • Noble & Cooley

  • Pork Pie

  • SJC

  • Risen

  • Canopus

  • Brady

  • Sleishman Drums

• Other things to consider

  • Costing calculations and budget allocations

    • Financing – Avoid the big guy Credit Cards.  The APR can be really steep.

    • Try your bank!

  • Lead times

  • Insurance – Music Pro Insurance

• How to acquire

  • Online – maybe not!

  • Local store

    • Get thee to a 5 star shop! – http://www.fivestardrumshops.com

 

Outro, drops, plugs, etc.

• Like our Facebook Page –  www.facebook.com/drummertalk

• Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/drummertalk

• Help support DT by making a donation!  100% of the proceeds goes back into the show and the site!

• How about a shout out on iTunes?

Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

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