1. It's not 2006 and we're not on Myspace anymore
The fact is, no one wants to see facebook statuses about what you guys are up to unless it's related to your actual band. No one wants to watch videos of you doing handstands or eating burritos. And nobody wants you heckling them about how psyched they are about your new release. You need to be adults about this. I mean sure it's cool to crack a joke (or seven) every once in a while. Everybody likes a good laugh. But don't post shit like "700 LIKES AND WE POST 3 SECONDS OF OUR NEW SONG" or "WHO DOESN'T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL TOMORROW?!". Save the stuff about your personal lives for your diary because the reality is no one really cares and anybody actually credible (i.e. producers, record label people, promoters, us) are just gonna shake their heads and move on if they see dumb bullshit like that. We all grew up, and now it's your turn.
2. Make your music available to everybody and anybody (in other words, get a Bandcamp)
This should go without saying. If you have something that's really great and that you're proud of, SHARE WITH EVERYONE POSSIBLE. Put it on Bandcamp and put it everywhere. Send it to your friends in other bands, post it on Tumblr, Facebook, whatever. But don't make people like your Facebook page or buy it. No one's gonna pay a dollar to hear your song when they don't know who you are, what kinda music you make or why they should even care. If you're building from the ground up, don't start from the sky (ORIGINAL QUOTE DO NOT STEAL). You don't have a soap box, and until you act like a normal person, no one's gonna care. Just be a nice guy or gal and make your music easy to access. It's that simple. Just like ya iPad 3.
3. Everybody's gotta grow up sometime aka just because your band was the shit in high school doesn't mean anyone cares now
Lemme provide you with a real life example with this one. I was once in a sceney weenie band in high school, and so were these other kids that everyone liked. Everybody has differences or whatever and both of our bands broke up. However there was ONE person in particular who no matter what would not let it die. And this band had a "reunion" at least three or four times and thus anybody who used to like them got altogether sick of them.
The point is, friends, there's a time and place for everything. And once you graduate, if your band that you've been in since freshman year has broken up (or even if they're still together), you have to either give it up and move on or put up your big boy pants and start acting like a real group people trying to get something done. Sure those shows you played at the bowling alley were awesome and all the kiddies thought you were cool, but if you're going into a bigger music scene (aka anywhere outside of your hometown) with more established (aka better) and not easily swayed promoters and other guys who book shows, don't cop the same mic-swinging swaggercock attitude from forever ago. You're basically back to square one and you have to be humble and respectful. You will play shows to no one, shows where you only have a 20 minute opening set with a big band on the bill. That's part of being a musician, whether alone or with other people. You have to bite the bullet and deal with it and as long as you don't whine and pout when the going gets tough, you might have the cajones you need to actually make progress in this world.
4. Haters will always exist
You gotta learn that no matter what band you're in, I don't care WHO you are, there will always be people who don't approve of what you're doing. There will always be two or three guys in the back of a show with our arms crossed snickering and whispering to each other. It's kinda funny how even when you're out of high school, some scenes are even more high school than high school. Don't get all whiny and pouty because someone wrote a bad review (hintity hint hint) or said something snarky on your facebook page or made fun of you. When you get down to it, music is art. And if you're content with what you've created, then there is no reason for you to bat an eye at haters. They exist, they're everywhere, and if enough people like you they will defend you (like pop punk, remember? \m/). Do what you want and fuck the rest.
5. Never forget where you came from
So you shot out of high school, you formed a new band, and everybody thinks they're the best. DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE. Don't let it change who you are, who you hang out with or which bands you play with. Most likely the lesser known bands that you're treating like shit are the ones that genuinely support you. Don't act like your king of the freakin universe just because you made front page on AbsolutePunk. Remember that you didn't get where you are overnight, so don't be afraid to help out other people. Never EVER turn your back on the people that either a. helped you get where you are or b. are trying to get where you are (unless they're assholes in which case fuck that). Just be a friend to the people who deserve it.
Basically, if you haven't yet, drop the hairdo and the mic swinging and the leopard print pants and join the rest of us at the adults table. All people want is a good band with good guys in a basement. No one's gonna facebook like you if you talk about all that dumb crap anyway. So just be normal people and above all, have fun and don't be a dick.
theartofmadeline
baratheonpilled
annaxmalina
romaincrisis
turnnoffyourmind
