Tag Archives: resources

Making Your Band a Business

June 1, 2018 IM

The following article is taken from the book Managing Your Band, Artist Management: The Ultimate Responsibility, 6th Edition, by Stephen Marcone and David Philp (Hal Leonard Corporation). The book is a resource for any musician working in the music business. It covers data analysis, planning, modern record company structure, social marketing, touring, and more.

Bands often begin performing and making money before they become an actual business. However, when the group begins to purchase equipment as a band they must eventually become a business. The first step in establishing your business is deciding what type you should create. The most common types of business entities are: proprietorship, partnership, corporation (in various forms), and limited liability company.

Proprietorship

A proprietorship is the simplest and the easiest form of business to start. By definition, it is a business conducted by one self-employed person who is the owner. Contact your county clerk for specifics, but most likely you will need to:

1) File a DBA (Doing Business As) form (found online) with the county clerk in the county where you’ll conduct business. (This is unnecessary if you intend to do business in your own name.)

2) You may be required to publish a DBA legal notice in the local newspaper.

3) File an Internal Revenue Service Form SS-4 to obtain an employer’s tax ID number (even if you have no employees).

4) If you intend to sell (retail) goods, you must obtain a resale tax permit from the state tax authority.

5) Open a company checking account.

With a proprietorship you have complete control of all decisions and earn all the profit. However, you are personally liable for any accidents or lawsuits that might occur and you also absorb any losses. Creditors may place a lien on your personal property. There are also tax issues involved, so it’s best to consult an accountant.

Partnership

There are several types of partnership:

General Partnership—Two or more partners contribute (or loan) property, service, and/or money to the business. Each partner owns an interest in the whole partnership (assets in common) and acts on behalf of the partnership. The entire general partnership is responsible for any lawsuit, except where bodily harm or injury has occurred. In the event of losses, the general partnership assets are liquidated before creditors can access an individual partner’s personal property. Setting up a general partnership is similar to setting up a proprietorship. An attorney should compose the actual terms of the agreement.

Joint Venture—A group and an entrepreneur join together to complete a project (writing a song or producing a master recording). Once the project is complete there is no reason for the relationship to continue. They are actually in a partnership for that one business transaction. One party is contributing service and one party is contributing service or money.

Limited Partnership—A limited partnership is created to fund a business project. A general partner takes on the normal business responsibilities, and the limited partner contributes capital but takes no part in business management and has no liability beyond the investment. The limited partner acts as a backer to finance a project (usually for a limited time). State and Federal security laws govern limited partnerships, and an attorney should be consulted.

Limited Liability Partnership—This type of partnership protects individual partners from personal liability for the negligent acts of other partners or employees not under their direct control. These companies are most common among law firms.

Corporation

A corporation is a separate business entity from the persons who manage it. Ownership is obtained by buying shares of stock in the corporation. Personal assets of individuals are protected from creditors. Corporations can be public (stock traded on a stock exchange) or private (stock not available to the open market). In a private corporation all shareholders have some relationship to the business. Most bands keep their corporations private.

There are two types of corporations: “C” and “S.” “C” corporations provide shareholders with the most protection from liability and responsibility from debts and contracts. Profits for “C” corporations are taxed at the corporate level and at the shareholder level when distributions are made. “S” corporations also provide shareholders with protection from liability, but are exempt from federal income tax. The income/loss is passed through to the shareholders and the taxes are paid at the shareholder level.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The LLC allows members to enjoy the tax benefits of a partnership and the limited personal liability of a corporation. However, it does not exempt members of the company from being sued for negligence. States vary as to the criteria for forming an LLC. You and/or an attorney should be able to set one up for under $1,000. Each member is issued shares in the company and signs an operating agreement.

In the world of songwriters, touring acts, entertainers, and musicians, the two most commonly used entities are the “S” corporation for touring and Limited Liability Companies. When forming a corporation, an attorney and an accountant should be retained. There are many legal obligations, such as tax and labor laws, which must be followed.

Health, Resources

Cleaning Your Wind Instrument Could Be Life or Death.

June 1, 2018 IM

Cleaning your wind instrument isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, it could be a matter of life or death. According to an article published in the journal General Dentistry, many woodwind and brass instruments are heavily contaminated with bacteria and fungi. Through the act of merely blowing into an instrument, you are creating the perfect warm, moist environment for germs, mold, bacteria, and microscopic organisms.

Every time an infected instrument is played, contaminants enter the lungs. If they do not cause an infection, they can cause an immune system reaction that results in inflammation of the respiratory system, and eventually, hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

In one study published in The International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Tufts University scientists tested 20 instruments and found that all of them harbored living bacteria, mold, and yeast. Wooden reeds and mouthpieces had the most contamination. While that study was focused on student instruments, there have been many well-documented cases of instrument-caused illness in adults, even professionals.

The journal Chest reported on a 35-year-old trombone player whose 15-year cough went away after he began disinfecting his instrument with rubbing alcohol. The same journal reported on a 48-year-old saxophone player with lung disease. The molds ulocladium botrytis and phoma sp. were discovered in his saxophone.

And there’s the well-known case of English bagpiper John Shone who suffered a near fatal infection caused by fungus growing in his bagpipes. “Failing to clean my pipes led to me becoming critically ill,” he reported in Piping Times. Shone, of Wiltshire, England, who has been playing since childhood, was hospitalized twice. Doctors were stumped until they learned he was a bagpiper. They tested his instrument and discovered deadly fungi, including rhodotorula and fusarium, which typically kill half the people they infect.

One AFM member and trombone player suffered from asthma for 15 years, until he noticed that, when he was away from his instrument, his symptoms improved. “I had a horrible barking cough—especially when I played trombone,” he explained in a 2010 National Public Radio interview.

When doctors at the University of Connecticut, where he was teaching at the time, took a culture from inside his trombone, they found the mold fusarium, as well as a type of bacteria called mycobacterium. He admitted he was once lax about cleaning his instrument, is now diligent about cleaning. “I use a rod with a cloth and I use alcohol—rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol,” he says.

All wind instruments should, at the minimum, be swabbed on the inside after each use. In most cases, mouthpieces can be safely washed in warm water and dish soap. Brass instruments should be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned according to manufacturer suggestions every couple months, depending on use.

Books-Resources, Products

Gary Karr: Life on the G String

June 1, 2018 IM

Gary Karr’s career as a double bass soloist was launched in 1962 by Leonard Bernstein, in a Young People’s Concert at Carnegie Hall, which was viewed on television by 7 million people. Gary Karr gained legendary status for his virtuosity and inimitable lyricism, infectious sense of humour, and pioneering spirit. In 1967, he founded the International Society of Bassists. The Local 247 (Victoria, BC) member continues to perform and record at age 75. Emotional, surprising, and entertaining, his story appeals to fans, musicians, music-lovers, and biography enthusiasts.

Gary Karr: Life on the G String, by Mary Rannie, Friesenpress,
www.friesenpress.com.

Books-Resources, Products

Springs for Percussion Quartet

June 1, 2018 IM

Springs for Percussion is a fascinating piece that demonstrates the ability of percussion to work up kinetic energy through pattern repetition and then “spring” into action. Each of four percussionists uses two drums and a set of three chosen percussive “instruments”—woods for one, metals for another, glass for the third, and plates or flowerpots for the fourth. The instruments should create “relatively harmonious cacophony.” Repeated rhythmic passages grow in intensity before springing into new patterns, and this is repeated throughout.

Springs for Percussion, by Paul Lansky, Carl Fischer Chamber Music,
www.carlfischer.com.

Cool Tools, Products

SessionCake

January 3, 2018 IM

Sweet SessionCake

Yamaha’s SessionCake compact amplifier and headphone mixer combo is a perfect solution for musicians on the go who need to rehearse but also keep things quiet. Up to eight musicians can collaborate over a shared personal audio connection, hearing each other’s instruments or vocals through their individual headphones. It comes in two versions: the red SC-01, with a mono input, is tailored for guitar and bass and the blue SC-02 with stereo/mic input is suitable for synthesizers, electronic drums, and microphones. Two AA batteries power SessionCake for up to 10 hours of continuous use. Each device has a 1/8-inch headphone jack and auxiliary inputs for recording with a mobile device or MP3 player or to add effects.

www.usa.yamaha.com

Cool Tools, Products

The Hafler HA75-DAC

January 3, 2018 IM

Adaptable Headphone Amp

The Hafler HA75-DAC tube-based headphone amplifier and USB digital-to-analog converter can be tailored to suit both your listening style and your headphones. Focus control lets you simulate the experience of listening to speakers. A bypassable three-position voicing switch allows you to adapt the balance of your headphones and source materials or choose neutral response. The load selector switch allows you to customize the output impedance to match any headphones. HA75-DAC’s sturdy chassis is built of 14-gauge steel to block stray magnetic interference. Gold-plated RCA outputs allow you to use it to feed another input device, or connect between a preamp and power amplifier to impart the character of its 12AX7 tube.

www.hafler.com

Cool Tools, Products

Thermo Gig Gloves

January 3, 2018 IM

Warm Hands

Thermo Gig Gloves are the ultimate glove to protect your hands during cold weather gigs, shows, and events. Thermo Gig Gloves provide all the same features as original Gig Gloves—breathability, access to the first three fingers via fold-over fingertips (for fine motor tasks), and touchscreen capability—plus have an internal layer of super warm fleece. They are incredibly soft and comfortable, but not so thick that they bulk up the glove too much. Thermo Gig Gloves are perfect for gigs and jobs that require work (or load-in) in a winter weather environment.

www.gig-gear.com

Health, Resources

Eating Healthy on the Fly: Don’t Let Fast Food Slow You Down

December 28, 2017 IM

For musicians on the road, eating healthy food can be hard. Restaurants and mini-mart offerings can add unwanted calories quickly, but they are often the only option.

Choose beverages with no added sugar or with few calories. Most stores stock fat-free or low-fat yogurt, fruit packs, and trail mix. Keep in mind that some prepackaged foods look like single servings, but actually contain multiple servings. Avoid obvious bad choices: fried food, high-fat meat, and milk shakes. Instead, choose sandwiches with fewer toppings and no cheese. Opt for salads with low-fat or fat-free dressing, replace French fries with sliced fruit, and swap out fried meats for grilled options or fish.

The good news about health halos is a bit more complicated. Fast food chains use the symbol to indicate a healthier option. This claim, however, usually overestimates the healthfulness of an item. Researchers note that consumers frequently confuse low fat with low calorie, resulting in overconsumption. Some veggie dishes pack nearly 1,000 calories, while a burger may have as few as 250.

According to the Food and Brand lab at Cornell University, “Consumers chose beverages, side dishes, and desserts containing up to 131% more calories when the main dish was positioned as ‘healthy,’ even though the main dish contained more calories than the ‘unhealthy option.’” The rule of thumb is always read the nutrition facts before ordering. (Now that restaurants are adding calorie counts to menus, it’s becoming easier to riddle out how much you will be taking in.)

Other recent studies done by the Food and Brand Lab found that “low-fat” labels on snack foods encouraged people to eat up to 50% more than those who saw labels without the low-fat claim. “Simply seeing the words low-fat encouraged people in these studies to consume 84 extra calories! This happens because when consumers see the low-fat label on a product, they automatically assume it has fewer calories.”

Got a smart phone? Get an app to count calories. The Fast Food Calorie Counter app ($1, for iPhone or Android) lists more than 9,000 menu items. Also, eat small with pint-size portions. The kids’ menu can save you calories. If it’s unavoidable to eat unhealthy at one meal, make sure the next choice is a healthy one.

Dehydration can cause sweet and salty food cravings. Stay hydrated and you will be less likely to snack. Fruits can add to overall hydration: lettuce and some vegetables have high water content, as do watermelon, peaches, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, and blueberries.

Banana, beans, greens

Maximize protein and plant-based foods. Plant-based foods plus plenty of protein keep energy levels up. Generally, avoid refined grains, sugary snacks, and fried foods. Called a super fruit, bananas are high in B vitamins, calcium, and other minerals, such as magnesium and iron. Dark leafy greens, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and fruits, and foods high in probiotics (fermented foods) all boost energy. High-fiber and nutrient-heavy plant foods that will burn for hours. Low-fiber and nutrient-light foods—simple carbohydrates—burn quickly. When you’re eating plant-strong, you won’t have the energy highs and lows.

Kale, mustard greens, collard greens, cabbage, and broccoli are high in nutrients and contain glucosinolates, which inhibit the growth of certain cancers. Swiss chard and spinach have similar nutritional value. What’s more, they are available throughout the year, and both are rich in iron, which carries oxygen to the blood.

Egg, salmon, almonds

Nuts are satisfying proteins that fill you up, although try to find the “no salt” option. They have heart-healthy unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and fiber.

Eggs pack a punch, too. More than half the protein is found in the egg white, along with vitamin B2, and whites are lower in fat and cholesterol than the yolk. Egg whites are also rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12, and minerals, like zinc, iron, and copper.

If you like it, fish is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Like nuts, it is plentiful in omega-3 fatty acids and the vitamin D, a nutrient that most people are deficient in. It functions like a steroid hormone in the body. (Of the many unhealthy options at a McDonalds, the Filet-O-Fish contains a rather modest 380 calories.)

Health, Resources

2018 Brings Group Health Insurance Plan and New Members to Local 257

December 28, 2017 IM

Local 257 (Nashville, TN) President Dave Pomeroy (left) worked out a deal with RJ Stillwell of Sound Healthcare to offer reduced rate health insurance to Local 257 members who live in Tennessee.

In December, AFM Local 257 (Nashville, TN), working with longtime health insurance advocate RJ Stillwell and his company Sound Healthcare, introduced three Blue Cross Blue Shield group health insurance plans available to members. The plans are all ACA compliant—one HSA qualified bronze plan and two silver plans.

“The rates are very competitive and much better than most options out there,” says Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy. “This is something we have been discussing and working on for a long time. We are very excited it has finally come to fruition.”

This unique and exclusive plan is only available to Local 257 members in good standing who live in Tennessee. Because the Blue Cross Blue Shield network we are using is a nationwide PPO (Blue Network P), it will be especially helpful for touring musicians, as many marketplace ACA plans do not have coverage outside your local area, unless you have a life-threatening emergency.

Local 257 is also offering a reduced rate to join or reactivate during the membership drive in progress now through the end of March 2018. Currently, new and returning members can waive the local and Federation initiation and reinstatement fees when joining Local 257.

The combination of the 2018 membership drive and the new health care plan has resulted in a dramatic increase in member applications since the announcement in mid-November, with more than 100 new members already signed up. This member benefit is one more tangible thing that the Nashville Musicians Association offers its members. For many who have been on the fence about joining in the past, this is already proving to be the tipping point to finally join the AFM.

As our membership numbers increase, so does our collective voice, and this creates the rising tide that lifts all boats. Solidarity rules!

International Musician, Recent News

Yamaha Share the Gift Campaign Helps Rebuild School Music Programs

December 1, 2017 IM

Music programs for students in Texas and Florida schools have been deeply affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Schools have sustained damage or had to close indefinitely, leaving districts scrambling for resources. The Houston Independent School District alone lost $1 million in instruments across 13 campuses.

Yamaha Corporation of America, in conjunction with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, is helping to rebuild these music programs. Now through December 31, if you post a photo or video explaining how music education has changed your life with the #YamahaSharetheGift hashtag on Twitter or Instagram, or submit a video through YouTube via the Share the Gift website (www.yamaha.com/us/sharethegift/), the company will donate a brand new instrument to Music Rising, the disaster relief fund of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.