And this is how it works: You sign up to our email list at this blog, or at www.jpkallio.com and you will receive an confirmation email with the link to our download page. On the page you have choice of two file formats, mp3 for a faster download, and good for your mp3 players, iPods and iPhone’s, or you have full quality wav files. The wav files you can just burn on to a blank disc, and yes you have our permission to do so, and it will play in your CD player. Or if you play from the computer the wave does sound better, although it takes bit more space. So go for it, there are no strings attached ;-). You will get my personal guarantee that we won’t use your email address for any silly pyramid scheme or anything. The only thing you will get from us is a weekly update on how things are going and a link to this blog. And you can opt out of it at any time you want and don’t worry we won’t be looking for you to return the download files, you can keep them. Also feel free to share this info to your friends, or any one you think might like our music. There are samples on our website, Reverbnation, MySpace (but MySpace quality is crap! And that’s why I recommend the website) and loads of other social media sites. So go grab one and let us know what you think!
As you can imagine we have had a crazy busy week. But busy is good :-) The second bit of good news is: We are playing a short live show on the 10th of March here in Dublin. We are taking part in the Live and Unsigned night in the upstairs of the Pint, on Eden quay, just off from O’Connell Bridge. There will be eight bands on the night and we will be one of them. So come along and support us if you can. The administration is €6 and all the pints are €4 ;-). And if you do come, please tell the man at the door that you came to see us. Well you can imagine we are rehearsing frantically at the moment, there's nothing like a live show to put the pressure on. But I don't mind that’s what I am in this for. We are also looking in to few more live dates, but this will be the famous first one. It will only happen once, and you can only say you where there, if you will be there!
And just as that wasn't enough, we are just finishing our first video. Here it is for you to enjoy.
We handed the song in to the artistic hands of Tomek and he came up with something I think is pretty cool :-). And this really goes well with the “On a shoestring” project as we really didn't spend much on it (few white sheets from pennies few cans of Denmark’s finest). But I think Tomek had about a week of sleepless nights editing it. You see, it's not so much about what you spend on it, its about being creative, having the drive and perseverance. Instead of going out to the pub, which by the way I love to do, just stay home and work on your music, art, videos, what ever it is you do and you will be amazed what you get done. I remember reading somewhere lately that major label spend around $1000000 on the artist development and branding of a new act. And obviously as the CD sales are down they are even more hesitant to do this. But that is lot of money! But here's the thing, lot of this money goes to pay for a rent for a nice office, secretary, and all the people on the payroll of the record company. Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of people working there with very specialized skills and they can make things happen. But in my time as a musician and an independent artist, I have learned to acquire skills as I need them. OK, lot of it might not be up to the standard of the major labels highly developed pop acts, but it's good enough to get the job done. It is all about making it your self, not waiting some one else to come and take you by the hand and deliver it to you on a silver plate.
And here's a thought: I know if you don't try, you won’t fail... but that attitude takes you to no where. Sometimes you need to fail! Just learn from it. And I know you want everything to be the highest standard, so you won’t record your songs until you have money to book Abbey road for a month... That is not how you start a business! And yes your band is a business. This is taking it to a bit of an extreme, but I do believe, and have seen it work, that throwing crap out there is better than not throwing anything. It's like bad press is better than no press. I don't mean that you should just run off and record an album on your built in microphone that comes with your computer, and sing everything out of tune, backed by cheap guitar on three rusty strings. No! But if you have good songs, you can record them on a very reasonable budget that is manageable for you to recoup in the next few years. Do it to the best of your abilities, with in the resources you have and with in your time frame (I once spent two years recording an album... Never again! )
So let’s do a little recap:
1. EP out, go and get it at www.jpkallio.com or at the
signup form on right hand top corner of this blog page
2. First live concert on the 10th of March in the Pint, on Eden quay in Dublin
3. New video out! Let us know what you think?
4. Never mind J.P’s ramblings about music business... but go out and do something!
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