Now Playing - The Recession

A musicians guide to this recession

Hey hey Hey Monkeys,

Have you checked out the news over the past few weeks? It’s more depressing than the entire Radiohead discography. With failing economies all over the world inc Europe and America and our unemployment on a 20 year high, it looks like we could be set for the next instalment of the recession. Like the sequel to a slasher movie…. And this time he’s back and he’s pissed off!

We have been getting a lot of messages and emails from musicians who are worried about their gigs drying up and plenty who are already feeling the pinch. So the question is, can we do anything to combat this? 

Whether this downturn lasts 6 months or (like the depression in 1930’s) 17 years it will squeeze the market meaning less work for musicians. So you need to improve your chance of getting work.

• I am still receiving inadequate recordings, from competent musicians. In this scary economic time you need to go against your instinct ‘not to spend money’. It’s an investment into your career. So book a day in a studio and do 2-3 proper recordings of you demonstrating your playing/singing
• Pics – An add-on from the above, but this is the first impression of what someone will see, so make sure that first impression is awesome.
• Do more for less. Every day I hear musicians telling me how they need to eat too and how they shouldn’t be expected to play for peanuts bla bla bla. We are all in the same boat and only the strong will survive whilst the rest will be hobbyists working at AMEX or other equally corporate companies. You need to do more favours now than ever before and it will be returned to you. Whether that’s free or cheaper gigs now and again or delivering more than before for no financial reward.
•   You need to be better than you needed to be last month. The standard just got higher. Now there are more people fighting for less money, so think of ways you can improve your playing and what you can deliver (BV’s, gear, technique etc) 
• Don’t lose any gigs you have, protect them by making sure everyone loves performing with you, and that you deliver with your playing EVERY TIME and make the gig is as easy for anyone involved as you can. 

If you are currently gigging 2-3 times a week consistently, then you are probably  doing all of this, whilst at the same time probably panicking regardless. If your not gigging 2-3 times a week and/or not panicking, then read this again carefully. You should be panicking!

I love being a musician, and I am very privileged to play with other great musicians every day. I will fight very hard so this isn’t taken away from me… I hope you feel the same and please don’t forget we are hear to help, so if your stuck get in touch.