27th
The Specialization Myth: The DIY Record Label Part 1 By Patrick Callan
Two years ago, my father had told me that with music on the internet, and just so goddamn much music out there. the career musician would be a thing of the past. This was when I was still sending my lo-fi demos to major record labels, hoping for a big break. Before looking at what I was actually doing, finding value in it, and looking for those ways to do it better.
I don’t know if I’ll ever make enough off of my music to not work a day job, it really is a rare privlidge. Frankly, it doesn’t concern me anymore, there are in fact jobs out there that aren’t soul sucking, and fulfilling personal relationships that provide a sense of purpose and strength to one’s life. I’m a multi-dimensional person and not just a musician.
The rockstars of the past and present, even if I like the music, they just look like dinosaurs to me, glorifying ignorance, drug addiction, mysogyny and self indulgence.
These articles are mainly aimed at those who believe the world of music to be one of elitism and hostility to newcomers, it is that way, but it’s changing, and we all can be a part of it. Making music, recording it, and sharing it with the world is a great thing to do, doesn’t matter where you’re from, who your parents are, or what you do to get by day to day. Music is a gift and gives perspective to everyone.
Here at Blanket Statement Records we throw around the word DIY an awful lot. For me it’s a very personal word. Music and DIY are inseperable. No one else can create the art you want to see in the world better than you can. If you bring in your friends, say to record you, another friend to photograph you, another friend to make your packaging, that’s a collaborative project. As you know these people and they have a vested interest in you and you have a vested interest in them, there’s a good chance you’ll be much happier with the end result.
“Record Label” is just a word that gets thrown around. Simply it’s in reference to the name of the group of people that put it out. In the world of DIY music, those working on the projects are probably friends, probably sat around together shooting the shit, folding inserts, burning cd’s and the like. The success one artist has can never be soley their own success.
Fan Bases start out small, your friends that come out to your shows to party, essentially become your street team and do your promotion for you. Maybe you have a friend who likes to draw and take pictures, they end up designing your flyers, and the covers of your records. Maybe you have a friend who’s an engineer….
you can run a record label out of your bedroom, promote your shows, make and package your own records and it’s a great thing to do, especially if no one will help you it’s better to do it than not to.
Although I don’t agree with everything Blanket Statement Records does, it’s a collaborative project and I’m so grateful I’m not in it all by myself anymore. Working with my friends is great. It’s made me a better artist, and has thus far been a very fulfilling experience.
If you do it all by yourself, it will grow organically, you will meet the people you need to meet with a common vision. But never settle on the people you work with, life is too short for that. Recognize your own limitations and the limitations of others, see where you can provide assistance to eachother.
There’s no right way to do it. In the business of music, the rules are being rewritten and those who stay independant of the industry are always at the forefront. You’ll make mistakes, you’ll put out records you can’t sell, you’ll work with artists, producers, booking agents who screw you over, but if the desire is there it doesn’t matter, you’ll recover and come back to it when you’re ready.
In the next few posts I write,I’ll discuss logistics of a DIY label, Demo Recordings, and a few other things, all as they come to me.
-Patrick Callan
http://www.myspace.com/patrickcallanmusic
patrickcallanmusic@gmail.com
