Blogs

Define Your Destiny

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
As summer approaches, it’s time for college students everywhere to start looking for jobs. For me, it is especially important to start looking for jobs that can benefit me in the long run instead of just flipping burgers. I went to a concert last Friday night and was again reminded why I want to work in the music industry. The feeling I get when watching a show live is one I will never be able to get over and I’m so excited to make it my career! Below are some pictures from my trip and the concert!
My tips for this week are going to be more of ideas of what I am trying to do to get prepped for summer.
1. Make a banging resume! This has been one of the most important lessons and skills I have learned in my music business classes this year. Think about all you have done: have you stage managed? helped friends get shows at a local restaurant? Played in any shows?  All of that is valuable experience that can set you apart from other applicants!
2. Talk to people. Reach out and ask your professors if they know any musically related jobs in your area. Contact people you know are in the area of the field you want to go in to and ask them for advice on what they were doing when they were your age.
3. Get a job. Preferably something in the music industry. If you can’t get a stable or full time job in the area get that job flipping burgers, too. You wanna be able to gain experience while not sacrificing financial stability.
The hunt for a job can often be hard and overwhelming, but don’t give up and start looking now to ensure you’re not left behind because you applied too late!
Woman of the Week:
Deborah Curtis is not only an extremely powerful women, she’s also extremely experienced in the music industry. She has over 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies helping with brand building and management. Before she got into the music area, she worked with companies like Apple, L’Oreal, and PizzaHut. Since 2007, Deborah has been a member at American Express and is currently the Vice President of Sports and Entertainment Marketing. Under this title she is in charge of leadership and innovative ideas across all of sports and entertainment areas at American Express.  She also helps manage a multitude of other companies through their partnership with the company including Live Nation Entertainment, Fashion Week, and AEG! As a talented and successful woman in the music industry, she was a clear choice for this week’s Woman of the Week!
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Until next week,
Emily

Shut Up & Share the Music

Posted on by Emily K Johnson

In an era where everything is fueled by competition, I think music should just stay out of it. I get it, I’m not saying the music industry shouldn’t be competitive, in fact, I’m all about a little competition when it comes to the field. However, what I’m not about is keeping music hidden. In my opinion, there shouldn’t be any reason to keep music all to yourself for the sole reason of not wanting there to be more fans. The best part about music is that it’s a universal language and people all over the world are free to interpret it however they want. If we choose to keep music confined to ourselves, we really are doing a disservice, not only to the band but to other potential fans as well. I recently saw a comment on a YouTube video that captures how I feel about this idea perfectly. In response to someone saying, “I want them to become popular but at the same time I don’t because if they blow up, that means tons of fans :(” a user replied with, “Oh shut up and share the music.” Music is meant to be shared. Plain and simple.

Here are some ideas on how to avoid becoming the first person in the conversation:
1. Pick a friend and share your favorite song with them once a week. Not only will you be looking for new music to show them but they will be giving you something new to listen to.
2. If you’re part of a fan base, don’t be a jerk. Be open to new fans just discovering the music. In the long run, how many shows you’ve been to or how long you’ve been a fan means nothing. What matters is if the music had a positive impact on your life.
3. In addition to purchasing your music on iTunes or something of the sort, I recommend picking a good streaming source. They usually have an option to listen to similar artists and this is one of the best ways to find new music.
Woman of the Week:
I chose Marsha Vlasic because of her impressive history in the artist management industry. Currently, Marsha is is the president of Artist Group International. When she joined the company, she was able to bring all of her clients with her, expanding the already impressive client list at AGI.  She has been in the industry for over 30 years and worked with to ensure the touring careers of Neil Young, Elvis Costello and many, many more were successful. Before her time as president at AGI, she worked for International Creative Management, eventually working her way up to the Vice President of concerts. All of the work she has done over her time in the industry make her the perfect role model for anyone just beginning their journey.
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Until next week,
Emily

This is a Man’s World

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
…but it doesn’t have to be.
It doesn’t take much digging on the Internet to find some article relating to the inequalities many women are facing in the job force. While I do think it’s an unfortunate problem and one that needs to be addressed, I believe that we should be looking at some of the amazing things women are already doing. Personally, I would rather pay attention to all of the inspiring women who have already forged a pathway for the next generation of music industry women to look up to than look into some of the negativity currently surrounding the music industry.
For my blog I would like to implement a new weekly segment called ‘Woman of the Week.’ Each week I will pick a powerful woman and write a short blurb on all they have done for the music industry!
My first Woman of the Week is Natalia Nastaskin! When digging through some articles her name repeatedly popped up and for very good reason. Natalia works for United Talent Agency, one of the worlds largest talent agencies with offices all over the U.S. and even a few internationally. She is the CEO of U.S. operations and General Counsel to United Talent Agency’s U.S. offices. I think the most impressive aspect of Natalia’s resume is that she is currently the only women at the top of a global talent agency! Under her direction the agency has created new bonds with Bandsintown, PledgeMusic, and even created a new division specifically for college booking! Before her time with the UTA, Natalia ran her New York law practice where she represented clients in the entertainment and athletic fields. Natalia is no doubt a force to be reckoned with and a huge inspiration as a women just starting out in the music industry!
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Stayed tuned for more amazing women in the future!
Until next time,
Emily

Yes Really is the Answer

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
These last few weeks have been insanely busy and I’m just now getting a chance reflect on an incredible experience. In a few of my previous posts I’ve mentioned being the ‘yes man’ and how much of a positive impact it can have. As a self-proclaimed ‘yes man’ I can tell you that I’m extraordinarily busy, but I’m also gaining some of the most amazing experience possible.
In collaboration with my professor and my classmate, I spent the last few weeks working on getting our university’s steel band on tour. We only really had to worry about the first day of tour and all of the pre-tour details because the rest was sponsored through Music in the Mountains. While this was a crazy opportunity, I learned a lot and I am looking forward to doing things like this again in the future.
1. Be able to work last minute. Most of the plans didn’t get nailed down until three days before we left and the vehicle confirmations and final itinerary were not finalized or printed off until about 12 hours before we left.
2. Know the itinerary like the back of your hand! If you played any part in getting a show on the road, people are going to ask you. It’s just better for everyone if you know.
3. Have fun. You did all the hard work and now it paying off! You’re on tour and performing for up to 500 people (at least in our case!) at a show!
And As a general guideline for everything –
Dance a little and smile a lot!
Until next time,
Emily
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Keep Your Friends Close…

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
We’ve all heard the saying, “keep your friends but your enemies closer.” I’m here to tell you this is an awful perspective to have if you want a successful time in the music industry. The best thing you can for yourself is keep those who respect, like, and support you close to you. The industry is a cut throat place and the more people you have on your team, the easier it will be for you to expand your web of connections.Collaborating in the music business gives you many opportunities to gain experiences which will be mutually rewarding for both you and your collaborator. It will be so much easier for you to be referred to others if you are not only surrounded by positive people, but if you are surrounded by MANY positive people.
Tips –
1. Make a great first impression! Smile and make eye contact when you are talking with someone new so they know you are interested in what they have to say!
2. Create a contact sheet with the last time you talked to someone. This idea came from The Savvy Musician (The Savvy Musician) where the author mentions contacting people in your sheet at least once a year to keep the relationship alive!
3. Be the ‘Yes Man’ to everything that makes sense. Don’t necessarily always offer up your services for free, but if you’re just starting out in the industry it can’t hurt to gain some experience. People will likely remember you and be willing to return your favor if you are ambitious and complete your task with a good attitude.
So while the saying may advise you to keep your enemies closer, it’s so much more beneficial for everyone to just keep yourself surrounded by people who have your best interest in mind.
Until next week,
Emily

Questions That Will Save the Day

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
Last week, I mentioned the importance of having a set of questions to refer to as you are in the process of booking gigs for both artists and venues. Having these will ensure you are on track with a time line as well as with materials required for you event to be a success! Below are some of the more broad categories I would consider with a few basic questions, and then break the questions down even further to make sure you have the best understanding of the event possible.
INSTRUMENTS
What instruments does the venue already have on hand? 
What instruments does the artist need?
SOUND
Is the show going to be acoustic?
Is any sound equipment needed?
(A lot of this relates to the size of the venue. Smaller venues like restaurants won’t have a need for amplification where as a noisy bar or concert venue would.)
LIGHTING
Is there any need for extra lighting?
    for music stands or effects?
    (Again, this will likely relate to the size of the venue.)
HOSPITALITY
Will the acts have their own vehicle?
Will they need to be picked up at the airport?
FINANCE
Is the gig a paid event?
    Will the artist be paid before or after the show?
I have attached a blank document with the questions my Music Business class is working on answering for a show we are putting on in late April!
I know this is just a vague first step. But once you start brainstorming, you will continue to add questions!
Just remember – the sooner you start the planning process for a show, the better!
Until next week,
Emily

Just Say Yes

Posted on by Emily K Johnson
This last week has been absolutely insane, but in the best way possible. I have a tendency to say yes before I even know what I am getting in to. However, this past week it has been my most valuable tool. Just before Valentine’s Day I was asked to help book some artists for the holiday weekend at a local restaurant. Not only was this my first opportunity like this before, but it was also extremely short notice. If there is one thing I learned from this experience it’s that I should keep a blank To-Do list or a set of questions that need to be answered before every show. This would ensure I have all of my ideas organized and have completed everything to make sure the show goes as smoothly as possible. (Be on the look out for this in an upcoming blog!) I also realized most shows are booked on a short timeline, similar to the one I worked on, so it’s important to be able to go with the flow and just do the best with you’re given circumstances. While this isn’t really my strong suit, I will be experimenting with ways to accommodate the best of the both worlds for the future.
Also this week, our college put on an music honor festival for the hundreds of high school vocalists and instrumentalists. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to reach out and network a little bit with some visiting high school music directors. (with some help from my Music Business professor!) I highly recommend to anyone interested in the management side of the music industry to just meet and introduce yourself to as many people as possible and let them know what you’re interested in doing. Not only do you get experience, but you both end up with getting contacts. Win win.
During the last three days I was also able to shadow our current sound and video guys to record master classes, faculty performances, and the honor band and choir performance! This leads to another important idea, learn as many music industry trades as you can! The more you can do, and can do well, the more likely you are to get the job. Sound and video wasn’t really what I thought about when I first started looking at artist management, however, I can see how valuable the skills are for the future.
Overall, it was a week filled with wonderful experiences and multiple great learning opportunities!
Until next week,
Emily

Making the Most of the Move to Music Business

Posted on by Emily K Johnson

It’s crazy for me to think that just six short months ago I was packing up my little red car to the brim with everything I would need for college. I remember the range of reactions when I told people I was moving states away to study Music Business. While there was a lot of positive support, I also got a lot of, “you’re moving where? To study what?” Moving to college is probably one of the scariest things you’ve thought about this far in your life and I highly encourage anyone who is considering music business to take the leap. From experience, I can say it’s 100% worth all the fear. There have been some great experiences on my journey so far and as future majors I hope these tips help make your transition to wherever you may be headed a little easier.

1. Make contact with your future professors before you leave. They love hearing from you and knowing you are excited about heading into the program!
2. Don’t forget to bring music essentials! Chances are your program will still require you to either play or sing even as a Music Business major! Metronomes, tuners, stands, and music are a must! Depending on how far away from home you are, you will likely be spending a holiday or two in your dorm and nothing is worse than being unequipped.
3. Start networking yourself as soon as you get there. Make a point to meet all of the professors in the music department and make sure they know you are willing to work for them doing projects should they ever need it! (And you should be very willing! These are the people who will help make sure your next four years are successful. If you help them, they will undoubtedly return the favor in the long run!)
As you start your quest to join the music industry, remember that everything you do from here on out will impact your jobs in the future! Be on time, be nice, and most importantly, have fun!

Introduction

Posted on by Emily K Johnson

Hello and welcome to my page! Currently, I am a freshman in college double majoring in Music Business and Flute Performance. As an aspiring artist manager, I am hoping the blogging process will allow me to network with other people in the industry as well as research and explore the pressing issues and new topics within the music business career field. I plan on sharing my findings while also giving advice from lessons I have learned from my experiences thus far. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or ideas for future topics! Thanks for stopping by!