Showing posts with label NAMM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAMM. Show all posts
Friday, February 7, 2014
The Spider Capo
Just picked up a Spider Capo at the NAMM show. It's pretty dang cool. I'm going to do a video for it soon. So stay tuned.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Get That Gear - Part Eight: Get That Endorsement
Are you a famous rockstar? Or a guitar hero? Or like me are just a legend in your spare time?
If you are in the first two categories then getting an endorsement is easy. For the full time no name musician not so much.
Early in my career I kind of resented the successful pro players who got the free gear through endorsements. I mean they could afford to buy a hundred Les Pauls and they are getting them for free? Come on!
But of course it made sense. The big time players offer exposure as their payment. They may play in front of 10,000 or even 100,000 people on a weekly basis. Or on TV. Or in videos. Or their album credits may be a real selling point for a manufacturer. However, you'd be surprised at how much you might qualify for getting free or at cost gear. Some situations that make you valuable to manufacturers...
Do you play with a mid-level artist? Someone who does festivals, concert halls, theaters regularly?
Do you play at a meg-church? One with over 5,000 weekly attenders? Are your services on TV?
Do your gear reviews get 10,000 or 50,000 or more views on youtube?
Do your cover song videos have millions of views on youtube?
Do you teach clinics or at a university?
Many of those are reasons I have acquired gear for cheap or even free. But probably the best way for me was to make a "love connection" at the NAMM Show.
What is the NAMM Show? I blogged previously on getting to the NAMM show here.
With just about every manufacturer is represented at the NAMM show in LA in the winter and Nashville or Austin in the Summer, it's an opportunity to meet and greet and make connections. However, know that they aren't there for you. They are there to make sales to buyers from stores. So remember that. Don't interfere with their business. My tacked, and it's really more of an anti-tacked, is to not have an agenda, just ask intelligent questions, be helpful, offer informed advice if asked. Make a friend. It costs them little to give you a good deal.
If you are in the first two categories then getting an endorsement is easy. For the full time no name musician not so much.
Early in my career I kind of resented the successful pro players who got the free gear through endorsements. I mean they could afford to buy a hundred Les Pauls and they are getting them for free? Come on!
But of course it made sense. The big time players offer exposure as their payment. They may play in front of 10,000 or even 100,000 people on a weekly basis. Or on TV. Or in videos. Or their album credits may be a real selling point for a manufacturer. However, you'd be surprised at how much you might qualify for getting free or at cost gear. Some situations that make you valuable to manufacturers...
Do you play with a mid-level artist? Someone who does festivals, concert halls, theaters regularly?
Do you play at a meg-church? One with over 5,000 weekly attenders? Are your services on TV?
Do your gear reviews get 10,000 or 50,000 or more views on youtube?
Do your cover song videos have millions of views on youtube?
Do you teach clinics or at a university?
Many of those are reasons I have acquired gear for cheap or even free. But probably the best way for me was to make a "love connection" at the NAMM Show.
What is the NAMM Show? I blogged previously on getting to the NAMM show here.
With just about every manufacturer is represented at the NAMM show in LA in the winter and Nashville or Austin in the Summer, it's an opportunity to meet and greet and make connections. However, know that they aren't there for you. They are there to make sales to buyers from stores. So remember that. Don't interfere with their business. My tacked, and it's really more of an anti-tacked, is to not have an agenda, just ask intelligent questions, be helpful, offer informed advice if asked. Make a friend. It costs them little to give you a good deal.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Learned at NAMM 2011...
Regarding files on your computer...
If it doesn't exist in three places, it doesn't exist.
That's it.
If it doesn't exist in three places, it doesn't exist.
That's it.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How to Get Guitar Students
Here's a video I did of the long ago posted tips below....
Teaching private lessons can be a great way to supplement your income, pass on your knowledge and keep on the latest music trends. I have taught for over 35 years now.
It started when a teacher at my Jr. High saw me carrying a guitar case and asked if would teach her son how to play. She offered to pick me up at my house, teach her son, take me home and pay me $5! Sure I told her. That was the beginning. By the time I was 20 I was teaching 40 students five days a week at a store in my hometown of Indianapolis.
When I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a studio musician I had to start from scratch. Back at the store they were charging $7 per half hour lesson and paying me $9 an hour. Three times minimum wage. So I thought charging $10 per hour lesson in 1983 would be a good place to start. A dollar more for me and a four dollar savings for my students. It was slow building up to even a fraction of my midwestern numbers. I didn't have a storefront doing all the leg work for me.
Flash forward 30 years, if I even teach at all, I charge $75 per hour. Over the years I found a few things that can help you build up the numbers and I'll share them here with you now.
1. Play out more. If you're like me, you're playing out in public a bit and you will get asked if you teach. If you aren't playing out find some places you can play even if it's only for tips. Close to home if at all possible. No one wants to drive a half hour to guitar lessons. This makes it easier to get students.
2. Give away freebies. Offer a free lesson for anyone who brings you a new student. Once the new student has taken their fourth lesson I would then give the freebie to that existing student. Even better, get someone who isn’t taking lessons to bring you a new student and give them a free lesson. This can net you two new students. And unlike advertising it doesn't cost you anything. Just your time. Another tip is to give away free lessons at a silent auction charity type thing. Maybe two free hour lessons. Someone wins lessons with you for cheap, the charity makes some coin and you’ve got a potential new student.
Teaching private lessons can be a great way to supplement your income, pass on your knowledge and keep on the latest music trends. I have taught for over 35 years now.
It started when a teacher at my Jr. High saw me carrying a guitar case and asked if would teach her son how to play. She offered to pick me up at my house, teach her son, take me home and pay me $5! Sure I told her. That was the beginning. By the time I was 20 I was teaching 40 students five days a week at a store in my hometown of Indianapolis.
When I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a studio musician I had to start from scratch. Back at the store they were charging $7 per half hour lesson and paying me $9 an hour. Three times minimum wage. So I thought charging $10 per hour lesson in 1983 would be a good place to start. A dollar more for me and a four dollar savings for my students. It was slow building up to even a fraction of my midwestern numbers. I didn't have a storefront doing all the leg work for me.
Flash forward 30 years, if I even teach at all, I charge $75 per hour. Over the years I found a few things that can help you build up the numbers and I'll share them here with you now.
1. Play out more. If you're like me, you're playing out in public a bit and you will get asked if you teach. If you aren't playing out find some places you can play even if it's only for tips. Close to home if at all possible. No one wants to drive a half hour to guitar lessons. This makes it easier to get students.
2. Give away freebies. Offer a free lesson for anyone who brings you a new student. Once the new student has taken their fourth lesson I would then give the freebie to that existing student. Even better, get someone who isn’t taking lessons to bring you a new student and give them a free lesson. This can net you two new students. And unlike advertising it doesn't cost you anything. Just your time. Another tip is to give away free lessons at a silent auction charity type thing. Maybe two free hour lessons. Someone wins lessons with you for cheap, the charity makes some coin and you’ve got a potential new student.
3. Be Flexible. Is there someone who would like to study with you but lives far away? Offer to teach them twice a month for an hour instead of every week for 30 minutes. I had a student that took a two-hour lesson once a month because he lived over an hour away. Does your student's son want to learn too? Let him watch for free. If you are flexible with rescheduling than your students will reciprocate when you need to reschedule to do that session or important, well-paying gig.
4. Live in a nice area. Or at least adjacent to one. This will allow you to charge a little more than average. And take on kids. When they start jamming on Nirvana for their friends that's better than taking out an ad on Facebook. Plus because your students tend to be younger than you, and truthfully more aware of the cutting edge of music, you'll hear about the newest artists before almost anyone else.
5. Keep your students. You could get a new student and lose two for a net loss of one. (I know obvious). Never would I raise fees on existing students only new ones. Every five years or so I would raise my lessons $5 per half hour. But only on the new ones. Let the older students know if they recommend someone they will be paying more. This makes them feel special that they've locked in a lower rate. Attrition would take care of those paying less. Give percs. Give loyal students a free set of strings or picks you got at the NAMM show. Or better yet take them to the NAMM show. Give them tickets to your gigs. Put them on guest lists. Free CD's. You get the idea. You could also record the lessons and send them the mp3. Just give them value for their money and they'll keep coming back and bring their friends.
6. Advertise. On bulletin boards at churches, schools, music stores, the grocery store. But do something to make your advert stand out. A clever phrase, nice graphics, offer a free lesson, etc. Advertise with Facebook or Groupon. Tweet.
Now I don’t teach at all because I’m doing so much session work and writing and gigging. But teaching kept me in the game. Paid my bills. And the young kids helped me stay current.
5. Keep your students. You could get a new student and lose two for a net loss of one. (I know obvious). Never would I raise fees on existing students only new ones. Every five years or so I would raise my lessons $5 per half hour. But only on the new ones. Let the older students know if they recommend someone they will be paying more. This makes them feel special that they've locked in a lower rate. Attrition would take care of those paying less. Give percs. Give loyal students a free set of strings or picks you got at the NAMM show. Or better yet take them to the NAMM show. Give them tickets to your gigs. Put them on guest lists. Free CD's. You get the idea. You could also record the lessons and send them the mp3. Just give them value for their money and they'll keep coming back and bring their friends.
6. Advertise. On bulletin boards at churches, schools, music stores, the grocery store. But do something to make your advert stand out. A clever phrase, nice graphics, offer a free lesson, etc. Advertise with Facebook or Groupon. Tweet.
Now I don’t teach at all because I’m doing so much session work and writing and gigging. But teaching kept me in the game. Paid my bills. And the young kids helped me stay current.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The NAMM Show
"What is the NAMM show?"
NAMM stands for National Association of Music Merchants. It was first held in 1901(!). It's generally where for four days buyers from music stores and chains go to see and order merchandise for the coming year from major and minor manfuacturers. Guitars, basses, amps, pedal, recording gear, keyboards, pianos, lighting systems, karaoke machines, everything and anything that has to do with music and music production. Most every industry has a similar trade show. CES is the consumer electronics trade show. E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo. There are trade shows for plumbing suppliers, clothing retailers, home builders, for just about anything. Many are open to the public. However, NAMM, historically has not been open to the public.*
Generally Winter NAMM is in Anaheim in January every year. Summer NAMM is in Nashville or Austin in July.
You might ask me... "As an aspiring musician why should I go to the NAMM show?
1. See amazing new gear
2. See amazing musicians
3. Meet amazing manufacturers
4. Meet amazing musicians
I've been going now for years, at least twenty, and it's most fun the first couple of times you go and more than a little overwhelming. I mainly go now to bond with my sons. I've seen a lot of famous musicians over the years; Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins to name but a few. And seen some amazing players at booths like the guy who invented the e-bow, he's got that thing down! Amazing 10 year old shredders that will make you want to sell your gear. Country shredders like Johnny Hiland and John Jorgenson and Jerry Donahue from the Hellecasters. Old school jazzers. Bass slappers. And all sorts of unknown players like you killin' it in the booths while trying out gear.
And that's the main reason to go to the NAMM show. The gear and those that build it. I've seen and heard some amazing guitars, amps and pedals in Anaheim before the general public even heard about them. And the inventors/builders, who often risk everything they own to bring their products to market, are inspiring. I've made many "love connections" and gotten some great gear for cost or even free in return for my endorsement and/or evaluation.
"OK, Tom you sold me. How do I get a badge to get in?"
That's the tough part. But doable. Do you have a store that you frequent? Do you have a store that you spend a lot of money at? OK, let me be more blunt, is there a store who's owner is depending on you to put his kids through college. If they are a member of NAMM they can get you a badge even if they aren't planning on going. Ask.
Or do you know a manufacturer? Someone who is going to have a booth there? They can get a badge for you. I've gotten most of my badges from this source. Martin Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Elixir Strings, Marshall Electronics, Roland, all companies that I had some connection with through the years. If you know someone who works for a manufacturer, ask him.
Do you know someone who works for a trade magazine? They also have access to badges.
Every year I hear that they are going to crack down on unauthorized people getting into the show. Use to be you could use anyone's badge to get in, but true to their promise they have been checking and matching ID to badge for the last couple of years now. One year I was "Bruce Kulick". I got a lot of double takes that year.
*This year, 2011, NAMM opened Sunday to the public. Not sure what it cost but I'm sure it was insane. I tend to go only on Thursday and Friday as is it's mildly less swarmed.
Heet Sound Plus EBow Electric Bow for Guitar with 2 Batteries Included
Johnny Hiland -
Johnny Hiland
Johnny Hiland: Chicken Pickin' Guitar
The Hellecasters -
Return of the Hellecasters
Escape from Hollywood
New Axes to Grind
NAMM stands for National Association of Music Merchants. It was first held in 1901(!). It's generally where for four days buyers from music stores and chains go to see and order merchandise for the coming year from major and minor manfuacturers. Guitars, basses, amps, pedal, recording gear, keyboards, pianos, lighting systems, karaoke machines, everything and anything that has to do with music and music production. Most every industry has a similar trade show. CES is the consumer electronics trade show. E3 is the Electronic Entertainment Expo. There are trade shows for plumbing suppliers, clothing retailers, home builders, for just about anything. Many are open to the public. However, NAMM, historically has not been open to the public.*
Generally Winter NAMM is in Anaheim in January every year. Summer NAMM is in Nashville or Austin in July.
You might ask me... "As an aspiring musician why should I go to the NAMM show?
1. See amazing new gear
2. See amazing musicians
3. Meet amazing manufacturers
4. Meet amazing musicians
I've been going now for years, at least twenty, and it's most fun the first couple of times you go and more than a little overwhelming. I mainly go now to bond with my sons. I've seen a lot of famous musicians over the years; Carlos Santana, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Wonder, Bootsy Collins to name but a few. And seen some amazing players at booths like the guy who invented the e-bow, he's got that thing down! Amazing 10 year old shredders that will make you want to sell your gear. Country shredders like Johnny Hiland and John Jorgenson and Jerry Donahue from the Hellecasters. Old school jazzers. Bass slappers. And all sorts of unknown players like you killin' it in the booths while trying out gear.
And that's the main reason to go to the NAMM show. The gear and those that build it. I've seen and heard some amazing guitars, amps and pedals in Anaheim before the general public even heard about them. And the inventors/builders, who often risk everything they own to bring their products to market, are inspiring. I've made many "love connections" and gotten some great gear for cost or even free in return for my endorsement and/or evaluation.
"OK, Tom you sold me. How do I get a badge to get in?"
That's the tough part. But doable. Do you have a store that you frequent? Do you have a store that you spend a lot of money at? OK, let me be more blunt, is there a store who's owner is depending on you to put his kids through college. If they are a member of NAMM they can get you a badge even if they aren't planning on going. Ask.
Or do you know a manufacturer? Someone who is going to have a booth there? They can get a badge for you. I've gotten most of my badges from this source. Martin Guitars, Taylor Guitars, Elixir Strings, Marshall Electronics, Roland, all companies that I had some connection with through the years. If you know someone who works for a manufacturer, ask him.
Do you know someone who works for a trade magazine? They also have access to badges.
Every year I hear that they are going to crack down on unauthorized people getting into the show. Use to be you could use anyone's badge to get in, but true to their promise they have been checking and matching ID to badge for the last couple of years now. One year I was "Bruce Kulick". I got a lot of double takes that year.
*This year, 2011, NAMM opened Sunday to the public. Not sure what it cost but I'm sure it was insane. I tend to go only on Thursday and Friday as is it's mildly less swarmed.
Heet Sound Plus EBow Electric Bow for Guitar with 2 Batteries Included
Johnny Hiland -
Johnny Hiland
Johnny Hiland: Chicken Pickin' Guitar
The Hellecasters -
Return of the Hellecasters
Escape from Hollywood
New Axes to Grind
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