This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Jason Myers, a marketing-firm government {and professional} bass participant within the band Icarus Witch. He’s based mostly in Pittsburgh. This story has been edited for size and readability.
I began taking part in bass in heavy metallic bands in junior excessive. I wished to grow to be an expert musician, however as quickly as I bought out of faculty in 1993, I began a aspect hustle doing publicity for live performance promoters and file labels for in case my rock-and-roll desires did not pan out.
The side hustle was actually a full-time day job, which made managing a critical band difficult. I might must ebook studio time at evening and work till the solar got here up, and I might solely ebook exhibits on weekends except I took time without work from my job.
In 2003, the band I am nonetheless in at the moment, Icarus Witch, bought signed to a label. We put out our first file in 2005 and began getting radio play. As our recognition grew, I wished to simply accept longer excursions. However the cash you earn from touring is actually a mortgage in opposition to your royalties, so I needed to preserve working to maintain myself.
Out of a 24-hour day, the band is barely on stage for possibly an hour. The remainder is spent touring, ready, and sleeping. There was loads of wasted time I knew I might fill, and we had been coming into an period of better WiFi capabilities.
Because the years handed, I began to acknowledge that the music trade was shrinking. Individuals had been downloading songs as an alternative of shopping for CDs, and there have been fewer alternatives to earn a living. Regardless that my band was profitable, it felt extra like a private victory, and I noticed it was time to make some grownup choices about how I’d defend myself sooner or later.
Otis Casey
In 2010, I used to be requested to hitch a advertising and marketing and PR startup referred to as The Content material Manufacturing facility that was early into the remote work factor. I had beforehand labored with the proprietor and founder, Kari DePhillips, at one other startup. Although I might solely ever performed publicity and advertising and marketing for bands, Kari mentioned that did not matter.
Quickly after, my band went on tour with the veteran group Y&T, they usually had been gracious sufficient to let me work from their bus since we had been following them round in a small van. After we’d keep at a lodge, I might sit in our room after exhibits working, whereas my bandmates would try the native bar scene and meet up with followers.
Nowadays, my band is extra selective concerning the exhibits we play as a result of occurring tour does not make as a lot monetary sense because it as soon as did. That is why you see exorbitant ticket prices when a band does resolve to exit.
I am nonetheless with The Content material Manufacturing facility. I labored my method up from account rep to senior vp of PR and social media advertising and marketing. I nonetheless benefit from the hell out of taking part in music, however the firm’s well-being is on my thoughts on a regular basis now.
Once you’re in a band on the rise, it is easy to really feel invincible, like that is going to final ceaselessly. However you must look out for your self. Nobody goes to avoid wasting you.
I used to have this mindset that if I allowed myself to consider a Plan B, I might someway jinx my probabilities of making it huge. In hindsight, I understand that is silly. You possibly can plan to your future and reside the wild life on the identical time. The 2 aren’t mutually unique.
