I want you to tell me and everyone else about the musician or band you absolutely love. I don’t want to hear about your band, or your brother’s band, or the bar band down the street. I want you to turn me and the readers of this blog on to the best music nobody knows about. That secret band you might have. I like to think of it as a band to call your own, only now you’re about to let a few more friends in on the secret.

Go here and tell everyone who they should be listening to…

I don’t have the discipline or the organizational skills to have my own label but I take my hat off to anyone who does. Radiohead does that. Aimee Mann does that. Dozens of punk bands do that. It’s a good idea, especially if you have a fan base that’s going to pay for that stuff.

Read the whole interview and check out a live performance video here.

The first time that I heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was during a quiet fall afternoon.  Whether due to shock or extreme curiosity, I could not turn away from my radio, and after the song finished, I sat there, at attention, for an additional fifteen minutes, eagerly waiting for the DJ to back-announce who the artist was that had just blown my teenage mind. Sure, the radio station played the isolated track from Anthrax, Ministry and Faith No More, but nothing so simultaneously anguished and authentic and loud had ever come through my speakers!  I listened to the radio for an additional three hours that evening, cassette tape at the ready, in the hopes that I could present this song to my friends the next day.  Needless to say, they were similarly impressed, and soon it seemed that they whole world felt the same.

As I reflect back on that time and how much Nirvana was a part of my life up and through Kurt Cobain’s death (fifteen years ago today), I am reminded of the power of music, whether it is pop or rock or metal or classical or any other genre. I may not be much of a Nirvana fan today, but any time I hear the opening chords of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” I become that bumbling,wide-eyed teenager scrambling through random boxes for a blank cassette tape.  I can not count the number of friends who started a band after hearing that song, nor can I count the number of friends who felt the transformative power of music for the first time back in 1991 through “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

*****

As a musician, you are someone’s Nirvana. You may not sell millions of records or send sonic tsunami’s throughout popular culture, but, somewhere, to someone, your music is having a profound impact.  As an independent musician, it is very easy to get caught up in the struggle and the stress that comes with being independent–booking gigs, marketing yourself, wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for the studio time you just confirmed, as well as the dozens of other little things that take over our lives–and we sometimes forget the powerful emotions that others feel upon hearing that which we create.

Today, rather than worrying about anything that has to do with the business side of being a musician, I want to invite you to take a moment and think back to whatever artist it may have been that first inspired you make music. Then, put on that album or that song, and actually listen to it. Don’t check your email; don’t clean the house; just listen to that song or that album, and recall what it is that spoke to you then, that made you say to yourself, “I need to do this.”

*****

Done? Now go figure out how to make others feel the same way about your music…

What did you end up listening to? How do you respond to it now? Please share in the comments below or via Twitter.

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for more articles and useful goodness for independent musicians.

Too much trouble to remember? Subscribe to MusicIsMyDayJob via RSS or email and let us remember for you.

As you know, we were #notatsxsw this year, but here are some of our favorite articles and recaps from people who did actually attend:

• Our favorite has to be Mike Rhode’s Sketchnotes , 70 pages of annotated drawings he made while attending various SXSW panels. Best. Notes. Ever. (via ReadWriteWeb)
• Alisa Hansen posted some of her top social media lessons on the Great Finds blog. Find them here.
• The Future of Music Coalition posted their thoughts on SXSW 2009 and where it seems the music industry is heading, as well as some of their favorite articles on their blog
• Viral media genius Mack Collier posted several articles on his experiences and lessons at SXSWi, including an excellent recap of Kathy Sierra’s address on Change Your World in 50 Minutes: Making Breakthroughs Happen. Check his articles out here , here and here
• Via their Epicenter blog, Wired covered more panels, announcements and tech than just about anyone. In particular, check out their review of the new LoudCrowd social music game and their recap of the panel that debated whether or not artists should be paid for radio airplay
• Sonicbids’ Panos Panay has posted several blog entries about his SXSW experience. Most importantly for our readers, here is his recap on the much-discussed Artists As Entrepreneurs panel
• Maybe not your first go-to site for SXSW coverage, you can alwasy count on the New York Times for an interested article or two about the event. Here is their look at how the Internet is changing the way artists use SXSW, and here is their recap of the entire festival. An excellent slide-show can also be found here.
• The one and only Martin Atkins (P.I.L., Killing Joke, Pigface, etc) posted this article in anticipation of his SXSW presentation.  In his words, for musicians, “FREE IS THE NEW BLACK!”

UPDATE 25 March 09: Lots of great suggestions have come in, so here are a few more recommended SXSW recaps and articles:

• Over at ACertainRomance.com, they have posted SXSW 2009: A Cheapskate’s Guide, giving a play-by-play on how to enjoy SXSW w/out a badge. Great look at a lot of bands, so go there now to find a new favorite artist
• SXSW isn’t just music and social media. The Unofficial Apple Weblog posted the details of the Comics on Handhelds panel, a must-read for any comic book fans out there. Check it out here
• hypebot‘s coverage has been as excellent as ever. Here is a nice look at how DIY has, in fact, become the norm for much of the music industry
• The US Government’s New Media team was out & about in Austin, attending various panels and meetings. Here are some of their thoughts (via AIDS.gov & @AndrewPWilson)
• The LA Times summarized the many discussions and comments from indie labels on their plans for survival in this article. Thanks to @newandused for the heads-up!
• Extensive discussion of which bands were best from Drowned In Sound’s message board. Follow the link to share your two-cents
• NPR, KEXP and WOXY were broadcasting & podcasting interviews, entire shows, and more. Follow the links for photos, videso, live sets and more from Peter Bjorn & John, The Decemberists, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, BLK JKS and more!

As before, those are some of our favorite articles and recaps from SXSW 2009–what about yours? Please share via Twitter or by leaving a comment below.

Whether due to economy or…well…the economy, it seems that many who would normally find themselves wandering around Austin’s famed 6th Street at hours most people are dreaming will not be making their way to SXSW this year .  After speaking with many musicians and other music-related professionals this past week, I can say that there is a certain sense of hopelessness that seems to afflict all of us who are not attending.  It’s as if we all believe that our careers for the next six months will only be a shadow of what they could have been, all because we missed out on the networking and other opportunities that SXSW offers.

Now, don’t get me wrong–SXSW is an amazing experience, and I do wish that I was attending this year. However, not attending is not the end the world, and as a working musician, you can use this upcoming week to your advantage if you are smart about it.

Their Absence = Your Advantage

So what if that band from across town who gets all the big gigs you should be getting is attending SXSW. You’re not, and neither are most of the people who do the booking for your local venues, so use that other band’s absence to your advantage: set up meetings this week with every venue that you can. Most clubs have already booked April, but they are still looking for acts for May, June and beyond, both headliners and opening acts. Get in there, show them why they should book you, and lock in those gigs before the competition comes back from Austin.

The same thing goes for music blogs, indie record stores and more–even though it may feel like everyone involved in music promotion and booking and retail and everything else related to music is in Austin, they really are not. Connect with those who are not at SXSW, and you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish this week.

Downtime = Your Advantage

With the world focused on SXSW, those musicians who are not there have a week to catch up–post those new MP3s to your website or record that video journal you’ve been meaning to finish. Most importantly, take advantage of the downtime to reach out to your fans–reply to the MySpace messages, set up a Facebook page and work Twitter into your daily routine.  You’ll reap the benefits almost instantly.

Time for Self-Assessment = Your Advantage

Maybe you’re not attending SXSW because your application was turned down by the SXSW Selection Committee–you’ve been sulking and depressed and down and utterly useless since getting the rejection email.

First things first, GET OVER IT.

Then, as you now have some time this week, sit down and determine why you were not selected. Use any feedback that you received from the SXSW Committee, but also reach out to friends and family who you can trust to give you an honest assessment of your music and marketing efforts.  It may be hard to hear some of what they have to say, but take it all in and use it to perform an honest self-assessment of where things are at for you as an artist.  Determine what is working and what is not, and make the appropriate changes: practice to get songs tighter, rewrite your bio, develop a larger local following, etc.  You will only find the success you are searching for if you start addressing these issues sooner rather later.

Finish Your CMJ Application = Your Advantage

There are two big networking events for independent musicians each year in the US, and only one takes place in Austin.

The CMJ Music Marathon is scheduled for October 20 – 24, 2009 in New York City, but the early-bird registration deadline is 3/31!

From CMJ.com:

Early Bird Rate is available until March 31 for only $35 so don’t miss your chance and apply today. When you submit early, you can save money AND have the chance to get booked early. CMJ has reserved…50 slots for artists who submit by March 31st (to be announced by June 15th).

Like SXSW, CMJ is an excellent opportunity to network with other musicians, the music industry and other like-minded individuals, as well as to connect with new fans and press.  Also like SXSW, the application process is not something you can finish in fifteen minutes, as you need to create a profile on Sonicbids and then submit that profile to CMJ for consideration.  So, why not use this upcoming week to finish your application and submit it NOW, rather than waiting for the July 15 rush like everyone else does? Not only will it be cheaper, but your odds of being accepted are SIGNIFICANTLY better when you apply early.

Yes, SXSW is wonderful, but not attending is not the end of your career as a musician, as there is a lot that you can do this week that you may not have found time for otherwise.

What did we miss? Share how you are taking advantage of the time you are not spending at SXSW…

UPDATE (16 March 09): Over the weekend, many of you forwarded suggestions for ways that people can network with others who are not at SXSW, as well as ways to vicariously enjoy SXSW. Here are a few of our favorites:

• A very enterprising soul has launched @NotAtSXSW: The world’s first non-conference, ever! Collecting Tweets from around the world, as well as listings for formal get-togethers, this should be your first stop for all events celebrating not being at SXSW!
• Drowned In Sound is sponsoring “A party for those off us NOT off to Austin this year.” If you are in London, I would not miss this. Details here.
• For those in Portland, @notatsxsw and @beerandblog are sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day event for those not attending SXSW. Go – play Rock Band – have fun!
• SXSW Insider’s Guide has created a Ning site where those who are at SXSW can update what they are doing and seeing, and those of us who are not there can both get updates and discuss panels and announcements
• Twitmatic is aggregating all SXSW-related videos being shared on Twitter and other websites–you can watch specific videos, or just let it play like a traditional television channel. Check it out here.
• Use Hashtags to see what everyone is saying about SXSW on Twitter, both from those who are at SXSW and those of us who are not.
  
• While many music publications and websites are covering the happenings down in Austin, Wired actually seems to be providing the most complete coverage of all three events that make up SXSW (Film, Interactive and Music). Their reports can be found here.

Keep the suggestions coming in! You can continue to send them to me via Twitter, or as comments below. Thanks readers!

I don’t know how many years I have done this now, but this particular year, as I sat in front of the fire watching the 50-or-so boys do what teenage boys do when they are liberated from the concrete and chaos that is everyday life in New York City, I realized that there are generally three types of people that one finds at these camp-outs:

• The Perpetually Positive–These people come prepared for the weather and the cold, not just with warm clothes and sleeping bags, but also with mentally preparation necessary to face the elements.  They are aware of the dangers and challenges, but still remain enthusiastic and excited about learning new things and having adventures as they prove that they can take on Mother Nature and the bitter Northeastern chill.  They take advantage of the planned activities and learning opportunities and return home raving about the experience, better people for having attending.

• The Unprepared–Despite coming to an event called “Winter Camp,” and despite the fact that many of them have attended the year previously, those in this group still don’t think to bring a hat or gloves or a coat a sleeping bag.  They fail to learn from the experience of years past, and thus suffer from making the same mistakes over and over and over again.
• The Impossible to Please–As leaders, we get it–sleeping outside in the middle of winter is difficult and not for everyone, so we also rent several heated cabins for those who choose not to sleep out in tents.  Yet, even with a heated cabin (that comes with both electricity and a cot!), the people in this group still complain about being stuck at winter camp.  They complain about the wind; they complain about the cold; they complain about the cots; they complain about the activities. They complain about everything that makes camping (in a cabin nonetheless!!) in the winter a challenge and adventure, and they can’t understand how others could be enjoying themselves under such conditions. Thus, they let the entire experience pass them by, while others are learning and growing and indeed, thriving.

Having just read that, I want you now to ask yourself: which of the above groups describes you with regards to your music career?

• Do you have all of the tools and opportunities sitting right there in front of you, but find yourself so busy complaining that you fail to use them?
• Are you still working under assumptions from the 1990s, blaming file sharing and unresponsive record labels for your lack of a fan-base and success?
• Or are you ready for the challenge, always excited about new opportunities and new technology, using all of the tools at your disposal to grow your fan base and spread the word about your music?

I don’t need to say which group today’s most successful independent musicians fall into, but if you find yourself in one of the other groups, all is not lost.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Alva Edison

Not all of the “Perpetually Positive” boy scouts and leaders were as upbeat at past winter camps (one swore to me on his life that he would never attend another winter camp after confronting the sub-zero temperatures two years ago, but there he was, again!).  However, they learned from the past and applied the lessons that they had learned in order to make the event a positive experience.

For those musicians feeling stuck in one of the other less-desirable groups, here is some recommended reading:

• If I Started Today by Chris Brogan: a great look at the essential social media you should be using to promote your music

• How To Achieve Your Goals Through Reverse Engineering by Mark Hayward (via the Lateral Action blog): “This article is for anyone who wants to STOP thinking about doing remarkable things and START making them a reality.” ‘Nuff said.
• Music vs. The Music Industry by Seth Godin: The ultimate marketing guru’s thoughts where music is heading in the 21st Century
• Real Mind Control: The 21-Day No-Complaint Experiment by Tim Ferris: Tim Ferris constantly achieves the seemingly impossible in ridiculously short amounts of time. Here are his thoughts on the role that positive thinking plays in his success.

Of course, there is much more advice out there than we can include in a single blog post, so now I open the floor to you:

How do you stay positive and upbeat and thrive in today’s challenging marketplace as an independent musician?

I know that this is not something you want to hear, and I realize that it may be painful to many of you, but it is something that has to be said, and as I don’t know how to say it without sounding too harsh, here it is:

Facebook is not MySpace.

I know that on MySpace it was cool to be friends with everyone, whether you knew them or not in the real world, and that the number of friends you had became some sort of twisted badge of honor as well as bragging rights (regardless of how unresponsive most of them were/are to your updates).  That is all fine and good–that’s whatMySpace is, after all–but that is not Facebook.

Facebook is about connecting with people who you know off-line–family, friends, co-workers, etc.  Unless you fall into one of those categories, I’m probably not going to be your Facebook buddy, no matter how many times you try to persuade me otherwise by sending a message that says, “Hey there–I saw that you’re a fan of Mark Hollis/WaxPoetics/WaterlooRecords/etc. Add me as a friend to hear some similar music that I think you’ll really like.”  Don’t get me wrong–I am friends with MANY musicians on Facebook , but they are all people who I have some sort of real-world connection with (i.e., friends, family, artists who I have worked with, etc).

I use Facebook to see how my co-worker’s family is doing; I use Facebook to learn what my sister did with her day; I use Facebook to reconnect with friends of my youth who I have not seen since I was, well, young. In fact, that is how most people use Facebook.  I don’t want you–a complete stranger–knowing more details of my day than are already available on Twitter; I don’t want you–a complete stranger–checking out the new photos of my family vacation that I just posted; and I don’t want to see your generic status message that says “Come to our show” showing up repeatedly in my friend feed (as it would via messages onMySpace) unless we have some sort of other connection outside of Facebook first.

Don’t misunderstand–I want to hear your music.  I want to be blown away by your new single and tell everyone about it.  I want to connect with you online, but doing it (initially) by asking me to add you as a friend on Facebook is not the way to begin our relationship.

Instead, may I recommend that you try something like this:

• Set up a Facebook page where people can choose to declare themselves fans of you/your music
• Tell me (and all of cyberspace) about your Facebook Fan page via your website/blog/Twitter/MySpace/Last.fm/iLike/LaLa/Imeem/etc.  After all, these are the sites that I and most other people use to discover music and initially connect with unfamiliar artists.
• Then, if I like what I hear, I can declare myself a fan via your Facebook page for all of my (real-world) Facebook friends to see
• As those Facebook friends do have real-world connections with me and often come to me for music recommendations, they are friends who will probably be more than a little curious as to why I’ve declared myself a fan of your art and will thus be that much more likely to click through to see what you’re all about, becoming fans as well.

So, what do you think? We’re still cool, right?

Jared