Teen musicians will love any of these gifts. And your bank account will love them too; they’re all under $50

Would you let your child play music in a bar? I’d love to know your thoughts and reasons behind whichever side you stand on.

If you’ve ever posted an ad on craigslist or backpage to find musicians to form a band, you know how disheartening lack of response can be. But maybe it’s your ad that is the problem. Consider these tips when writing a craigslist ad to find other musicians to form a band with.

Becoming professional musicians is a job. It’s self employment. It’s no different the guy or gal who starts a car repair business or an accounting firm. You must invest in your start up. One of those investments is getting into clubs to play. Here is a step-by-step plan to help you get the hardest gig to get – your first gig.

Musicians who perform live gigs generally spend little-to-no-time thinking about their stage presence. They practice their music. They tune their instruments. They might even know when in the set they’re going to talk to the audience. More often than not, though, they’ll “wing” what they say. And odds are that where to stand, or which direction to face or how to move around the stage has never been discussed among the band members ahead of time. This is an important missing element that separates the good gig from the great gig.

Does your child want to be a professional musician? How do you feel about that? Do you encourage them to pursue their dream or guide them down a safer path?

Mark Erwin, professional singer, graduate of the Institute of Production and Recording and currently Manager of the St. Paul, MN branch of the Paul Green School of Rock Music in St. Paul, shared these tips for vocalists who want to front for a rock band.

I’ll never forget the exact time my son came to me and told me he planned to be a Rock Star.  He was ending his Junior year in High School at one of the most prestigious high schools in the Twin Cities; a private college prep school. “Mom, we need to talk,” he said.  “I’ve [...]