The Music Business
I'm going to let you in on something: Most venue managers who book live music don't actually know much about live music. Venue managers aren't looking to critique your artistic expression (though they definitely will), they are buying an outcome: a seamless ambiance that
Day in the Life
Have you ever bought a product from an ad with an obviously AI-generated image? No? So why are music venues and musicians using this technology as if it's any different for them? Gig-posters and art covers are the window through which present, and potential fans get
Day in the Life
Have you, as a musician, heard that phrase? If not, it's a matter of time, and you'll hear it whether you're a solo act, a cover band, an originals duo or a 12-piece big band. I would know, I've been asked
On Stage
A little while ago, I made an Instagram post that got a few laughs from some fellow musicians here in Saigon. It was a skit about "dealing with the heat while performing", and while I keep it light-hearted, my protocol is no joke. I'm no
Day in the Life
Billy, the guitarist, is noodling on his Harley Benton T-style guitar. Jason, the drummer, is playing a jazz sequence that he's been practicing at home because his girlfriend said she's tired of hearing his "screamy" music. And Ana, the singer, has been doomscrolling
Day in the Life
Truth be told, it's hard to find information about the live music scene in Ho Chi Minh City online. I landed in Vietnam with a couple of gigs pre-booked but had no idea what the reality of working as a musician in Saigon would be, what the
Consumer Tech
You would think a humble calendar on a phone is all a musician needs to fulfill their work of providing emotional moments, entertainment and a sense of community. But the more successful musicians I know use an unlikely suite of apps that would make an accountant proud. Keeping track of
Music Gear Review
Have you ever made an intercontinental move as a musician? Let me tell you, it's a stressful affair. The gear you've accumulated for years suddenly has to go through a trial by fire that takes its weight, size and usefulness into account in a test that
Day in the Life
Let's be real, the music business is more about appearances than musicality. If you look like you play all the time, you'll probably play all the time, so presenting as someone who does so is essential for keeping your calendar booked. Having certain documents ready to