There are a lot of benefits of being in a band. Those who dedicate time to learning to play an instrument will have a huge list of band member pros, but many people still question why being a band member is fun. 

 

In this article, we’ll cover a couple of benefits of being in a band and why it’s a good idea to continue chasing your dream of being in the music business with a few of your band friends.

You Get to Travel and Perform Anywhere

A lot of people love to travel, and a lot of people look for ways they can travel while profiting from it. One of those band member pros is that good bands tend to travel a lot and perform in a large number of different venues.

 

Frequent travel is why being a band member is fun and why it’s worth dedicating time to improving your music skills. You never know how far away you’re away from a megahit that will put you and your bandmates on the worldwide charts. Just one song is enough to get club owners calling you and making live performance deals.

 

The more famous your band becomes, the more frequently you’ll get to travel, and the more likely it will be you’ll visit more remote destinations. If you put on a great show, more people will want to see you perform live.

Being in a Band Is a Way of Self Expression

Have you ever heard the saying that someone expresses themself through music? Well, it’s definitely true, and there are countless examples of people expressing themselves through their music.

 

One of the benefits of being in a band is the fact that you’re not limited to what kind of music you’re going to make and what kind of lyrics you’ll come up with. Music has helped many people express themselves, whether it’s love, sadness, or any other type of emotion that they are dealing with. 

 

One of the best examples is the late Chester Bennington. Most of the Linkin Park songs where he was the lead singer had lyrics revolving around depression, anger, sadness, loneliness, and every other emotion Chester was dealing with in his life. This band exploded in the early 2000s and won the hearts of millions of fans across the globe.

 

Writing and playing music can be a great way to communicate with others if you can’t find another way. Not only will you keep yourself busy working on your music, but you’ll be able to share your emotions with others and deal with them in a healthy way.

You Make Lots of Friends

One of the reasons why being a band member is fun is because you’ll get to meet a lot of people. The more you work on your music, and the more you perform, the more people you’ll get to meet. Music can be a very strong bond that connects people. Unfortunately, there will always be those people that want a band member’s friendship only because of their popularity, but there will also be genuine people that you have a lot in common with.

 

It may sound funny, but songwriting and live performances tend to improve social skills. You won’t feel awkward when you start talking to people you don’t know, and the more self-esteem you have, the easier it will be to reach out and open up to other people.

The more you work on your music, the more people you’ll get to meet. Once everything takes off, not only will you meet people on your shows, but other people from the music industry will reach out to you to collaborate and work with you. It’s not uncommon to meet people with the same mindset as you and your band members. For people who are shy, well, the fact that you’ll become surrounded by people and the shyness will slowly disappear.

Being a Band Member Helps Release Stress

Everyone has stress in life. It can be family or work-related, so one of the benefits of being in a band is that you get to relieve the stress you accumulated elsewhere. The moment you start focusing on your music, singing, or playing an instrument, the stress you’re experiencing will quickly fade away.

 

Many have confessed that music has helped them in their hardest times and that they can relate to the lyrics of a particular song. Well, imagine being able to create a song that will be as energetic as you like and with lyrics that can quickly hit the right spot.

 

Having fame and glory, riches, big houses, cars, or jewelry doesn’t mean you won’t be stressed out. On the contrary, it means you’ll have more to worry about. However, being in a band means that you’ll always have a team you can lean on if things get bad and a place where you can feel stress-free.

Playing Music With the Band Boosts Confidence

We have mentioned lots of benefits being in a band brings you, but what most people don’t realize is that playing music with a band changes you. Out of all the benefits of being in a band, one of the strongest is building confidence. Being in a band doesn’t mean you’ll only play music for yourself, but playing for others as well. Once you arrange your first gig, you’ll play in front of many other people, and all eyes will be pointed at you and your band members.

It takes a lot of confidence and self-esteem to stand in front of others performing, but the more you do, the more confidence you’ll have. That doesn’t mean you’ll only build confidence to play your music in front of others, but you’ll have confidence in every other aspect of life. 

 

A lot of people never try new things and don’t chase their dreams because they lack confidence and worry too much about what others will think if they fail. Some of the most successful people out there took the chance they had and started with just a little confidence. The more they tried, the more confident they had, and surprisingly, they became better at everything they did.

The Sense of Achievement

One of the last benefits of being in a band is having a sense of achievement after finishing each song. That will mean a lot for the emotional well-being of every person, and not only does it boost confidence, but it makes you better in every way because the feeling is so addictive.

 

By creating a portfolio of various songs, you’ll also have the opportunity to enter local and regional competitions. It’s one of the reasons why being a band member is fun, but it also gives you the opportunity to show your talent. Winning one or more competitions boosts your confidence but also gives you a huge sense of achievement. It does require dedication and a lot of sacrifices, but the feeling is irreplaceable, and the better you become, the more you’ll want to play for others.

Culture is all around us. We enjoy it every day, even without noticing it. From film and painting to literature and sculpture, art affects us in ways unlike anything else. 

 

However, pop music is something that seems like it has the tightest grip on us. But how so? Well, it’s the most accessible to ordinary people. Moreover, who wouldn’t want to be a musician and live their life traveling across the globe, performing to massive crowds of people who adore you?

 

A musician’s career is the best, and we’re going to explain why with eight examples!

You Operate Your Own Time

Finding a job that allows you to work at your pace isn’t going to end well for you. That’s if you don’t pursue a career in music. The thing with being an artist, let alone a musician, means that you can work during the night. Moreover, every other day or even week, if that’s your rhythm. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can afford to be a slacker.

 

On the other hand, making quality art can’t be calculated as, let’s say, being an engineer can. There’s no formula to success other than loving what you do. And loving music means making it when inspiration hits you, molding the emotions that come out of your heart into something worthy of being called art.

You Experiment With Ideas Everyday

Some musicians would argue that the best parts of their jobs are recording and performing live. But unlike singing or playing in front of an audience, being in the recording studio means that you can experiment with all kinds of sounds and arrangements. And that by itself is yet another reason why being a musician is the best job ever.

 

Studio sessions never get boring. You might argue with your bandmates, producer, or sound engineer while at it. But at the end of the day, it’s all about making something better than before. Lots of different ideas get thrown around the studio or rehearsal space, making every day exciting to go through.

You Get to Level Your Life Skills Up

It’s no secret that musicianship helps develop cognitive abilities in people. Playing an instrument or singing is great for brain development at a young age. It helps with problem-solving, abstract thinking, and developing learning skills. However, being a musician isn’t just about becoming smarter and more interesting than the rest.

 

Earning from music is a great way to understand how business works. Although you’re probably going to get ripped off in the beginning from a record label or club owners, you’ll learn with time to manage your business better. That’s even if you don’t ever become that famous with millions in your pockets.

 

Nevertheless, being a musician can also help with another life skill. Namely, the way you communicate with others will improve, whether it’s through your lyrics or your presence on stage. And in case you decide to stop pursuing a life of music at some point in your life, you can use these skills for other industries and everyday life.

You Become an Expert in Money Making

Most people imagine that a music career comes down only to writing songs and performing them live or in a studio. However, this is yet another business, and as such, there’s a whole lot of money-related issues you need to keep an eye on. Making money is hard, no matter what you do for a living. The same goes for being a musician. Hence, doing well with managing your bank account is a must while playing a guitar or DJing in a club.

 

Nevertheless, once you master money-making in the music business, you can apply your new skill to other aspects of life too. It’s easy to be a bottle job and waste all your greens on fast cars and big houses. The trick is to keep things grounded and not end up like a ton of other washed-up musicians like MC Hammer. He bought a dream villa with a golden bathtub, employed unqualified relatives, and gave them astronomical wages.

You Get to Make Friends and Bond With Different Circles

Another reason why being a musician is the best job in the world is that you get to make cool friends who also come from art circles. Even if there’s a lot of rivalry around, you’ll still make connections and participate in different projects all the time. And it’s not just about musicians befriending other musicians. You’ll get to be part of a wider art circle, including people from the movie business, poets, painters, and many others.

 

For example, The Rolling Stones weren’t the most chill guys back in the day. However, that didn’t stop Mick Jagger from hanging out with Bowie and Hendrix. Also, back in the ‘90s, when Britpop was all the rage, Oasis and Blur hated each other. But a couple of years ago, Noel Gallagher performed live with Damon Albarn, which was great to see, no matter which side you were on a few decades ago.

You Travel a Lot and See New Places

No matter what genre or type of music you intend to make, you’re always going to find your audience. It might be smaller than others, but it’s still yours. And the best part, it doesn’t have to be local, since uploading your music online will allow people from all over the globe to see what you’re on about.

 

All this leads to touring. And touring leads to visiting other parts of the world that you’d never get to see by yourself. From one continent to another, you’ll get to experience different cultures, making memories for the rest of your life. And even if you’re not fond of traveling, you’ll still enjoy going across the country from time to time.

You Receive Gratification, Connection, and Recognition

Like we’ve said, nothing can guarantee that you’re going to make it big and be a world phenomenon if you pursue a career in music. However, being a smaller, cult act can also have its rewards. It’s all about living inside a scene, knowing the right people, and having connections in local clubs and pubs that will make you feel like an actual rock star.

 

Namely, the fans are more into you and your art than some big-shot executive will ever be. They’re honest and will wear you as their idol on their sleeves for the rest of their lives. The boost of adrenaline you feel once you step onto the stage with a group of fans is in front of you can’t be matched by anything else out there.

You Will Have a Huge Impact on Other People’s Lives

You can often see people with tattoos of their favorite lyrics. But how do artists, the people behind those words and melodies, feel about that? Well, we’d say they’re super stoked, knowing that they’ve made an actual impact on other people’s lives.

 

The power of music is universal. It breaches language barriers and geographical borders. It helps people recover and keep going through tough times. And in case you manage to help at least one person out there, well, we’d say you’ve done enough.

The term ‘songwriter’ often gets misconstrued as someone who:

• Is a solo singer/ songwriter
• Writes songs to be performed by others
• Writes songs for the sole purpose of licensing

Now, don’t get us wrong, a songwriter is very much all of those things, or at least they can be. But the fact is, many songwriters are also band members!

All bands have a songwriting process (or else they would have no original songs), so the question becomes: How do you write songs when in a ‘band’ scenario?

Many bands have a principle songwriter, but others explore more group efforts in their writing efforts. Just as each songwriter has their own process, each band has their own process for putting together songs as well.

The following are 5 common ways that bands approach the songwriting process:

1) Songwriter & critique group

One of the most common ways to write as a band is to have a single songwriter that writes the music and presents it to the rest of the band, acting as a critique group which gives feedback and suggestions to make the song better.

2) Co-writers

Many bands throughout music history have worked with co-writers, many of the best songs ever written were done so by co-writers. This would work similarly to the songwriter & critique group above, with the only difference being that the co-writers present the music to the rest of the band.

3) Multiple songwriters

Simliar to co-writers, this idea would have two or more songwriters in one group. The big difference here is that instead of the songwriters working together, they would work separately and each present their own works to the band. For example: John Lennon and Paul McCartney functioned as co-writers early on, the later era of the Beatles showed the two working very much on their own and each bringing their own songs to the table.

4) Group effort

In this scenario, the entire band would work together throughout the writing process as one collective songwriting group. While the group may lack the direction and vision of a single songwriter, the benefit here is that songwriting process would play to each band member’s strengths, be it melodies, harmonies, rhythm (bass and/ or drums), horn arrangements, etc.

5) Jam session

The most experimental, yet group-involved band-centric songwriting process is to write through a process of jam sessions. The idea here is to simply start playing, maybe using of a pre-determined chord progression, or maybe using nothing pre-determined at all and let the creativity flow. The best way to ensure you capture all of the song possibilities from a jam session is to record each session and then have a listening session afterwards.

Wooden toys that are healthy, practical, classic, aesthetic, help stimulate the child’s development, as oppose to what those PVC-made toys can do. Wooden toys are made of various toys for different types of play of children of all ages. Cubes, rings, elemental puzzles and labyrinths, carts, trains, animals, push and pull toys are suitable for babies. They develop the necessary skills for coordination, movement, shape recognition and coloring at an early age. For small children there are memo games, balance games, theme games kits, puppets and puppets, educational clock, calendar, meter, xylophone. Now you can find online guide on how to make your own nesting doll with paper cups.

For the big kids there are games of chess, dominoes, logic games, loom, and constructors. The classic Russian dolls are carved inside wooden dolls, which were invented in Russia more than a hundred years ago. They are designed to be opened and housed in one another. This set offers you 5 wooden mattresses, acrylic paint, which will help you, color the dolls, paint, brush, stickers and instruction in Bulgarian.

The set is suitable for a gift for a boy or girl over 6 years of age

The manufacturer of this product is KSG Crafts one of the largest manufacturers of children’s creative sets in England. The company was founded in 1960 and enjoys years of history and well-established standards of work. Some of the brand’s most popular products include painting by number and various sets of sequins. Creative kits enjoy both children and adults, and of course they are produced in accordance with quality and safety standards.

The Russian matrix, also known as a pink doll or simply a “Russian doll”, is like a wooden toy where six or seven wooden figures can be placed. The first Russian sculpture was created by the craftsman Vasily Svyozodchkin. Where does the matrix idea come from and what is the point behind it? Today we intend to reveal the secret of the legendary doll.

At the museum of the Russian toy we find some doll models. Very often Russian dolls are painted in bright colorsas healthy and fertile beings.

The doll as a talisman

There is a “diaper”an adult doll, which is actually a talisman. Rural houses in Russia were filled with different lucky or contractors. Interesting is the fact that in many Slavic peoples, dolls, still called Russian dolls, are made for adults and then only for children. The nesting dolls may be the wife of the farmer and the queen.

The honor of the woman

There were puppets that influenced wheat harvest, dolls to protect gambling or those that were taken with them. Security and helpful help is handed over to today’s “Matthewska” dolls. “Matryoshka” is the uprooting of the Latin word “Matrona,” whose root word means “mother of the family” or maternity. “Tasty dolls symbolize the woman’s fertility and the honor of mothers. Not so famous but equally important are the dolls of Hawaiian Milimilli.

Russian dolls around the world

Whether the name is first or the doll it is still unclear. The first evidence of the existence of matryoshka actually comes from Japan. The wise Japanese is fascinated by his Fukuruma doll, the Russian maker of the Matryoshka. Some Japanese people said that Fukuoka’s first doll was mastered by a Russian monk. Today the Russian matrix doll is a symbol of Russian folklore.

Russian Dolls: The Story of Creation

The folk costume of our ancestors was incredibly beautiful. Each of her details was proof of the way of life, that or that voyage. Clothes and festive, and every day corresponds to the way of life, well-being and marital status. The color scheme was varied combinations of red, blue, yellow and green colors, with a brilliant plant world embroidered on aprons, scarves, sleeves, and shirt handles. All this gave a festive look to every woman, even on a gloomy winter day. Once a foreign traveler who visited a Russian landowner and looked out the window, he saw an unusual sight: “What is this?” he could only say.

The landlord exclaimed with some perplexity: “Yes, these are the women from my village to the church on Sunday, the service comes.” The foreign visitor was amazed at the colorful spectacle, festively dressed rural women. He had never seen a simple woman dressed so well.

This is the famous Russian matrix, which has apparently borrowed these clothes from Russian beauties and craftsmen who fantasized and painted different models of wooden dolls.

The Story of Creating Russian Tasty Dolls

And where is the birthplace of this favorite wooden toy that has become one of the best souvenirs from Russia. This is the Moscow district where the famous genuine babushka dolls are located. Although more detailed at the end of the nineteenth century, Alexander Mamotov brought to the Moscow factory “Children’s education” a figure of the Japanese old man Fukuruma. The toy was interesting because there were several figures in it that were placed in each other, smaller and smaller in size, while the latter turned out to be very small. So, local masters decided to repeat this fun for their children. Vasily Zvezdokykin cut out a toy consisting of eight figures and the artist Sergei Malatin draws the figures. But the first toy was not from some Russian beauties. In it were images of Russian beauty, dressed in a sarafine, an apron and a scarf,

They called a doll “Matryoshka”very popular then were the female name Matryona (Matrona). In 1900, the production moved to the regional town of Sergiev Posad.

Sergiyski County, also called Catherine II, was in dense forests, and in all villagesa long life of wooden toys. Kukli cut from aspen, birch, limeand alder, painted in bright colors of their toilets: cheap dolls gluten paints, and dearenamels, watercolors. People love these bright beauties and buy not only for their children but also for their collections. And in your collection of dolls there is a family of dolls or at least one of them

A bag from Chanel’s house in the form of Russian delicious dolls

Designer dolls created on the anniversary of a popular Magazine, auctioned with a starting price of 5000 dollars. Each mold is devoted to the work of a fashion house. It has a similar story as that limited edition angry bird squishy which was auctioned with a starting price of 2000 dollars.

Yet to this day nesting dolls remains a symbol of motherhood and fertility, because the figure with the crowded puppet family is a wonderful expression of the imaginary foundation of this most ancient symbol of the culture of mankind.

Who among us in childhood did not like winter? Sculpting a snowman, sledding and skiing, playing snowballs. Yes, it’s no secret, any adult is not averse to getting out into nature and fooling around in the winter, right? But any pleasure and fun can be completely spoiled by improperly chosen equipment that is, clothing. And too warm and too light clothing threatens not only certain inconveniences, but also catarrhal diseases. Good thing to know, there are onesies suitable for games.

Look irresistibly adorable in a blue onesie or any color when you check out different options available at kigurumi.co.

 

 

Most mothers, when choosing winter children’s clothing, prefer onesies. Why? Its advantages are obvious:

• Tightness – the onesies do not need to be constantly corrected, pulled out like a jacket, neither moisture nor snow will get inside,
• Convenience – it is much easier and faster to put on the child,
• All-season – most onesies have a detachable liner of insulation. Not just that, these are trendy outfits too! Indeed, not just for winter but for all seasons.

But not all moms know how to choose the best colored onesie. The market is replete with a huge number of brands, each of which sings beautiful praises to its product. Buying things for your child is necessary only in trusted stores and only from responsible and large manufacturers. A good example is the online store. They sell high-quality and extremely beautiful children’s clothing.

After the brand of children’s blue onesies is chosen, it’s time to start defining other important parameters – size, seasonal belonging, climatic conditions, insulation, type of upper fabric, model and temperament of the child. Yes, the character of the baby is of great importance in choosing clothes. For example, a calm baby does not like bright aggressive colors, and a lover of active games does not need a dense insulating gasket, as he will sweat in it and will freeze at once.

The size

Manufacturers of good children’s onesies give the most complete information about their products. On the labels of their products or on their website, consumers will find all the parameters – from the quantitative ratio of the materials that were used in creating the fabric and tailoring of blue onesies to the size grid. Important: when determining the size of the product should take into account the fact that children’s winter clothing, as a rule, is more than it. You should not make purchases of this kind “for growth”.

Model

First of all, you should pay attention to the sex of the product. Most children’s products are sewn in accordance with the anatomical features of the body. Be sure to take into account the wishes of the child, no matter how old he was. Even if you choose a children’s winter onesies for a child under 1 year, show him several options, let him point out the one that he likes more than others. The onesies, which the baby chose himself, he will wear much more willingly than the one that he does not like. This will save nerves to parents and significantly reduce the time of fees for a walk.

If the child loves an active pastime on a winter walk, then the cut of the onesies should be free, not constrain the movements and not interfere. The upper fabric and insulation must be “breathing” so that condensation does not accumulate and the child does not sweat. But they should not let in cold air either the baby can be blown out. At the edges of the sleeves and legs, theonesies should be tightly closed with cuffs with elastic bands or laces. Must be a hood, and he must unfasten. All fasteners are protected by special slats or flaps. On the onesies, there should be pockets and elements of reflective fabric.

Insulation Type

It is worth noting that the majority of children’s outerwear, including onesies, meets the standards. That is, they are designed for a temperature range from +5 to -10 degrees C, making you feel good and look good during winter. When choosing the type of insulation, it is necessary to compare its technical characteristics with the climatic features of your region.

• Sintepon – insulation of polyester fibers. One of the most durable materials, perfectly retains its shape, is not deformed during washing and cleaning. Its main advantage is low cost. But for a cold winter and a calm child, a winter onesies on padding polyester will not work. Its limit is 10 degrees C below zero.
• Thinsulate is a synthetic substitute for natural down. It will warm even with a frost of -30 Celsius, but it is expensive. Products based on it are extremely light and thin. The material is hypoallergenic, like those materials used in corsets for exercise.
• Down and wool – natural materials that can withstand any frost, last a long time, require special care and storage. Products with such insulation are sewn, as a rule, for newborns.
• Fleece – a synthetic material with the qualities of natural wool or down. Possesses water-repellent abilities, it is easy to wash, it dries quickly. This fabric is most often used in the tailoring of children’s outerwear.

The principle of three-layer

If you chose the option, use the three-layer principle of completing clothes. It lies in the fact that all items of clothing are divided into three layers, which complement each other, do not create the greenhouse effect and retain heat.

• 1 layer – base. Clothes made of wool or synthetics. Cotton will not work, as it absorbs moisture. The best option – thermal underwear made of wool.
• 2 layer – intermediate thermal insulation. Her role is great to perform a hoody and lightweight fleece pants.
• Layer 3 – membrane onesie.

Such a principle of selecting and completing clothes for a winter walk will allow you to have a great time even when the temperature is -25 degrees C. Your baby will not freeze, sweat or get sick.

What is a “membrane”

In many children’s winter onesies, you can see the label “membrane fabric”. This means that the upper fabric of the product is covered with special membranes that “release” excess moisture, but do not let in cold air. According to pediatricians, such children’s winter onesies are the best. Wool or fleece are used as insulation, which allows making clothes light, thin, but warm.

Treat as responsibly the choice of winter onesies for children, but do not forget that you need to take into account the opinion of the child. The degree of your responsibility depends on the health of the baby, and on his participation in the selection of your mood.

Of course, everyone should know that onesies are not just for kids. There are many outfits made for moms too, you could even find onesies for pregnant moms.

The bracelets of the jewelry brand Pandora enjoy great popularity among discerning ladies in over 65 countries around the world. No wonder, because a Love bracelet not only convinces with the highest quality of noble materials, but also delights with a timelessly beautiful, decidedly simple design. Why? Quite simple, only with decorative elements, charms and pendants each Love bracelet gets its very individual look and thus becomes a very special, unique piece of jewelry.

Order the new Love bracelet with decorative accessories

Whether you decorate your new Love bracelet with charming wooden charms, colorful sparkling elements of genuine Moreno glass or opt for solidly crafted pendants of gold and silver, with a Love bracelet and its individual decoration you can talk about without many words tell each other. From charming animal figures for animal lovers such as cat, owl and frog to romantic charms such as rose, angel and heart, a love bracelet shows what is important to its wearer.

If you like the glitz and glamour of love bracelets, you can check out different styles and designs at https://braceletworld.co.

Pandora Bangles: Each copy is a single piece

With the innovative concept of the Charms, Beads and Elements, every Pandora bangle becomes a unique personal item. Discover the charm of the small silver jewelry and order online from the huge selection in the jewelry shop.

When the jewelry workshop decided on the name Pandora, the founders certainly thought of the irresistible seductive power of the mythical Femme Fatal. Luckily, in Pandora’s jewelry box, besides the fantastic collections in silver and gold, there is only the agony of a wonderfully wide selection.

With their unusual concept, Love bracelets have developed into an independent trend. The idea of wearing a changeable bracelet with individual charms and pendants has been around since antiquity. But no label has succeeded in coping with the Copenhageners in such a modern, elegant and recognizable way.

A Love bracelet is only available once. Every silver bangle and every richly decorated ribbon becomes a unique piece thanks to the individual taste of its wearer. That’s what makes these sterling silver jewels so unique in addition to the exquisite, charming style.

Silver bracelet with incomparably individual charisma

Silver is the preferred material and the basis of the great Pandora Charms collection. The Love bracelets are made from genuine 925 sterling silver. Elegant and elegant, the delicate chains nestle against your wrist. Finely crafted links, a straight-turned band and combinations of colored leather and delicately shining precious metal are the stage for great charms and pendants.

Give your Pandora Bangles a personal style with selected favorite charms. Combine massive, partially gold-plated motif pendants and the delicate radiance of Moreno glass.

Many enthusiastic collectors keep their favorite items for special occasions. With the glow of zirconia and Swarovski crystals, a Love bracelet becomes a great companion for an exciting evening outfit.

Pandora bangles and bracelets are available online and on invoice. Order the elegant and incomparably individual pieces of jewelry together with great charms, clips and beads in jewelry shop.

Charm bracelets are a popular fashion trend and are fun. The big advantage is, they can be customized, are convertible and hold the most important memories in a piece of jewelry. Precisely for this reason, the bracelets quickly find their way into the jewelry box of every woman. Hardly a piece of jewelry is so good to combine and to keep up in trend, as the charm bracelet. Fittingly, a large collection of pendants, the so-called charms, must not be missing. They give the bracelet it’s certain look and make it an all-round accessory for every outfit, many women not only have fashionable pendants, but also sentimental charms. Tied to an event, a person or a feeling, these pendants shape the character of the bracelet and the wearer at the same time. Nevertheless, there is one problem, the selection of bracelets and charms is enormous and not easy to survey. Which charm bracelet fits you best?

What makes the charm bracelets so popular?

A charm bracelet consists of different links that you individually put together to form a bracelet. Whether fashion trend or personal meaning everyone designs the piece of jewelry according to his own ideas. The origin of the name is unclear and goes back to many theories. They say, for example, that the individual parts had to be begged for a bracelet or collected for a long time. The fact is, as a special piece of jewelry, the bracelets not only carry memories and wishes, but are still used today as a popular gift or lucky charm. One reason for the huge success is the selection of followers. Simply attached to the bracelet with a snap hook, they guarantee a firm hold and at the same time a quick exchange. Not only symbolism, but also material, workmanship and price range are different. Simple pendants are already available for a few dollars. Another reason is the collecting passion of the ladies. Once the bracelet has been purchased, it can be expanded according to fashionable aspect or combined with a loving memory. The personal meaning is not a must, but makes you as a wearer more interesting and the jewelry lovable.

Perfectly combined: the meaning of symbols

A look thrown through the rows of charm bracelets and one thing stands out in particular. Whether shamrock, a coin or a piggy you decide for your lucky charm. In addition, many everyday symbols can be found on the followers. While you seal the family happiness with a baby bottle or a pacifier, the car stands for the departure and the willingness to travel. The same can be symbolized by an airplane or a suitcase. By wearing this, you will be encouraged to travel while wearing bracelets.

Animals, plants and persons as charms

Animals either cover their personal affection or decorate the charm bracelet with their symbolism. For example, the dolphin predicts happy times and should bring with it fun and cheerfulness. The elephant stands for the precious experiences and moments in life. Pure wisdom brings the rather inconspicuous owl with it. So each animal embodies its own unique symbolism and you decide which fits best. Similarly, the selection works for flowers, people and other symbols. Here are some interesting combinations:

• Butterfly – colorful and exciting life
• Blame – unexpected talents come to the fore
• Rose – true love and never-ending beauty
• Ballerina – everything is possible
• Angel – blessing, faith and trust
• Heart – romance and true love
• Cross – a blessed life
• Stern – wishes come true

Have you already found suitable pendants? The choice is almost unlimited and can even reflect the symbolism of each profession. Also popular are charms in the form of letters. Abbreviations, initials or complete words – your imagination is in demand here.

A new symbol must be – but which one?

Contrary to the traditional meaning of the symbols, the small charms on the bracelet can also have a personal aspect. Did you receive the pendant from a special person or did you buy it at a certain location? Do you remember the last vacation or do you want to reward yourself for your own success? There are many reasons for a new symbol on the charm bracelet. You decide what you want to associate with the new symbol.

Ready to buy or design

When buying a charm bracelet, the first question is should it be an empty bracelet or do you want a finished piece of jewelry? Most women opt for the bracelet with few followers and complete it over a longer period with their memories. In addition, the material plays an important role. Here are gold or silver to the simple costume jewelry.

Conclusion: Whether fashion trend or own memories hardly a piece of jewelry is more individual than the charm bracelet. While the possibilities seem unlimited, you should set yourself the limits in material and symbolism.

New Local Band The Lifestyle

The smoky aroma of barbecued chicken wafts in from the grill on the deck. Inside the two-bedroom apartment, four young men discuss the latest music news while hardcore band Figure Four screams through the speakers.

For the last few years, these boys have been living out their prime as a rock band. Yes, they’re living “the lifestyle.” And as luck would have it, The Lifestyle is the name they chose for their band.

Playing music at a professional level is a long-term goal for The Lifestyle because of the passion they have for it, says Adam Horning, freshman in pre-business and guitarist for The Lifestyle.

“Music is very central in all of our lives,” he says. “I think that’s a better reason to be in a band than just to be in a band.”

The members of The Lifestyle seem unable to agree on how to categorize their music, which may be due in part to the diverse musical styles that have influenced them. Some of the genres the members like may be a surprise, coming from an “emotional pop-punk” or “indie emo rock” band (depending on who you ask).

“We listen to hip-hop, country, uhh … well, mainly just hip-hop and country,” jokes vocalist and bass player Mason Viera. “No, we [also] listen to emo, top 40 stuff and really underground indie stuff.”

Viera says he dislikes naming specific bands because the last thing he wants is his band to be associated with sounding identical to other rock groups.

“You hear some bands and you’re just like, ‘Oh, they sound just like so-and-so,'” says Viera, freshman in pre-advertising. “Whatever we sound like is just a product of the many different kinds of music we listen to.”

Although they don’t want to act as if they’re superior to everyone, part of “the lifestyle” is taking a step back to evaluate the music scene they live in. One of the frustrations members of The Lifestyle have is a current trend for Iowa bands to conform to a specific genre.

“It seems like all the local bands are getting sort of meshed into one big hardcore scene in Des Moines and even Ames,” Viera says. “When a pop-punk band wants to get harder, they just start screaming. I don’t want that to happen to our band.”

“Even though that’s what’s popular, we’re not going to conform to it,” says drummer Jason Junge, sophomore in civil engineering.

The mention of Zach Johnson, the most recent addition to The Lifestyle, seems to strike a nerve in all of the original members. It should be noted that Johnson is 16 years old and happened to be unavailable for this particular gathering.

“Zach’s the youngest member of the band, and that means he attracts the youngest fans,” Viera says. “When we were on tour, he would never help load the equipment because he would be surrounded by a mob of 13 to 14-year-old girls.

“It’s annoying how they worship him like he’s Justin Timberlake or something.”

Despite these comments, the attitude the band members have toward Johnson are not all negative.

“At first we were skeptical, but we knew we wanted to broaden our sound by adding another guitarist,” Viera says. “He eventually clicked with us. We think we’re lucky to have found him … but of course, we still hate him.”

Now having played together for several years, Viera, Horning and Junge have experienced some of the highs that go with being in a band, as well as learning the difficulties of self-evaluation.

“You can write a song and say, ‘Yeah, it’s good,'” Horning says. “But after practicing and playing it over and over, it’s so hard to judge as a final product, since you’ve been through the whole creating process.”

Considering their youth, the members seem to have matured rapidly as a band and are able to stick to a certain formula for making satisfactory songs. The kids explain their songwriting method with a creative analogy.

“Mason bakes the cake, Jason frosts it and I light the candles,” Horning says.

“And Zach eats the cake before it’s done,” Viera adds.

Check out this article from The Press-Enterprise about Phoenix, Yeah Yeah Yeahs top new music festival coming to Long Beach.

1. Set Realistic Expectations

If I had a pound for every artist or band that believed quality music would eventually be rewarded with exposure and a massive fanbase I probably wouldn’t need to work a day in my life again. Through my studio and in my role as record label owner, manager, and producer, I have seen a large range of talented people make their start in this industry. Unfortunately, I have seen quite a few give up when the realisation hits of the work needed to even get their friends to share their page on Facebook. Despite what you may have read about your favorite artist, they didn’t appear out of nowhere and they didn’t suddenly get discovered on youtube because THAT video was so awesome.

They all will have done one thing. They kept performing, auditioning, networking, uploading, sharing and writing even when no one was listening because they believed in themselves and no one was going to deter them, it’s not like they have a magic squishy that changes the voice, right? I remember sitting in an industry meet hearing Tony Platt (producer for Bob Marley, AC/DC, Motorhead, etc.) explain that to make it in this industry it takes a huge amount of ego sprinkled with realism. If on some level you don’t believe that you’re awesome and everyone should listen to you then what is driving you to get up on stage?

You absolutely should think your music is awesome. You are the first investor in your career and anything but unwavering faith will let it be a hobby at best. These days, the cards are stacked against you with radio play being less influential than it used to be, majors taking even fewer risks, venues having an abundance of bands to book so finding good paying gigs are hard to find, and year on year only between 1% and 1.5% of albums released sell more than 10,000. So when I am asked what should a band do when starting out, my reply is always this – manage your expectations before you do anything else. If you don’t keep a level head and manage those expectations, you will either find yourself being carried away by the hype of small victories or disillusioned when your first bunch of gigs or your first release doesn’t go as well as you thought it might. This is by far the most important thing you will do in your career at any point.

 

2. Develop a Look

Ok, so I’ve heard it all before. You’re unique, you don’t want to look like a boyband, you don’t want to look like something you’re not, you wouldn’t know what to wear, it’ll look lame if an outfit is thought through, you’re just a free spirited rock band. Those are all good points so let me just clarify. You don’t need to wear matching suits and sit on stalls until the song changes key to tell you to get off the stall and walk toward the audience. We are talking relatively low-level coordination of clothing here, I’ll put it in the simplest way I can, don’t turn up to a gig looking like you were watching footie with your mates on the sofa an hour before the gig. No one is suggesting that you wear a suit or colour match your clothes throughout the band but at least make your clothing look intentional, let the audience see that you took the gig seriously and are a professional, you will never progress beyond pub band if you don’t develop some kind of look on some kind of level. No need to call Gok Wan, just be sensible and imagine what you look like to the audience.

Part of looking good is to look fit, so you better lose some pounds especially on the waist and belly. You have to do this even if it results in you wearing a corset while dancing in a dance fitness class. Who cares, right?

 

3. Create a Marketing Plan

Important to some, pointless to others but necessary for all. Quite simply, without a marketing plan, you are likely to bounce from one opportunity to the next and without drawing lines between them, they will stay just individual opportunities that will struggle to form a big picture. Establishing answers to the following four points at the start of your career will help you move on in a more defined, deliberate way.

What are you selling? I would hope you haven’t said music as the answer here, if you’re reading this then that’s a given. Really think about what you are bringing to your fans. Why are they going to love you more than another band in the same genre? This will help you when promoting yourself or trying to sell your band to a promoter or venue owner. If you can explain this in a couple of sentences, then you have cracked the biggest element of marketing and promotion.

Who is the target audience? This is overlooked far too often, yet it shapes how you market yourselves, which venues you approach, which festivals you want to play, titles of songs, which bands you want to support, which radio stations will play you. The Pokemon attitude to fan base building (gotta catch them all) will rarely help any band build momentum. At some point you need to decide which demographic you are going to focus on, for example, rockers over 30 aren’t going to want to go to a gig full of teens and teens aren’t going to be able to attend some venues. You want fans from one gig to be talking about you and getting their friends to come to the next one or buy the album; it’s harder to achieve this if you don’t focus on a demographic. You can always revisit and expand this later once you are embedded a bit more and have a sustainable fan base.

Who do you sound like? The bottom line here is most bands try to say they are unique and they don’t really sound like anybody. They’ll say their music is so unique it’s hard to describe. First of all, that’s simply not true! Unless you are the kid from the book/movie Room, who has never experienced anything but four walls and some furniture, you cannot claim your style is unique. All music is influenced by something that came before, and there’s no shame in saying that, saying your style is reminiscent of an early David Bowie or has elements similar to the Beastie Boys is not the same as saying you copied them. So why pigeon hole yourself? Let’s use a blogger as an example, a popular and somewhat lucrative way of promotion for bands starting out, they will answer your email enquiry with a feeler asking you to tell them a bit more about your band, they will want to know more about your band and if you don’t know how to describe your band, how can you expect them to? One of the key things they will want to know is ‘who are you influenced by,’ ‘who do you sound like.’ If you say something like ‘we’re doing something different and unique’ or ‘we don’t really sound like anyone,’ you probably shouldn’t expect to hear back from them. To a journalist or anyone who has been in the industry more than five minutes those kinds of answers tell us at best that you are still developing and you haven’t fully realised your band yet, in this case, most will pass on you and wait until you have a clearer message. At worst you sound like you have no idea what you’re doing. When a journalist or blogger reviews you, they are banking on you doing well and becoming big, so they have the bragging rights of saying they found you early on, some will even take some credit for your rise, however, none of them want to have a site full of band reviews/interviews that aren’t around anymore. Knowing this answer will also help you with algorithms like Youtube, Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, etc. where having it dialed in that you sound like David Bowie will get your track or video in front of the eyes of people who just played a Bowie track or searched Bowie on Youtube.

Who is your competition Let’s be clear, we’re not talking Battle of the Bands or X Factor here. This is simply to know who else is traveling the same journey you are, other bands at the same stage of their journey, making similar music, booking similar gigs, etc. You’re not going to try to knock them off their road, but it will help you greatly if you keep an eye on their journey, see what’s working for them, was a recent gig successful for them? Did they get booked onto a festival? Have they got more page likes? Take a look and see if they’re using a strategy that could work for you. Perhaps network, get in touch and support each other on social media or through gigs. When this is done properly you can progress quite nicely, just make sure you don’t get too envious if they seem to be catching bigger breaks than you, just see if you can find out how that’s happening and what you can do about it.

Positive Engagement

 

4. Interact With Your Fans

Long gone are the days when a band could enjoy living in a spotlight outside the reach of fans with interactions limited to signing autographs outside the venue or hotel. The relationship between a band and their fans has morphed over the last few decades into a much more intimate 2-way conversation. This shift sees the most successful bands building a fan base in 2 key ways

a) Social Media – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Reverbnation, etc. Most bands allocate a network to a band member to look after i.e., drummer on Facebook, a singer on Twitter, etc. Spread the work otherwise, you will end up with loads of social media profiles that aren’t interacting and being kept up to date. You don’t need to be on them all but do the ones you are on well.
b) Gigs – using hometown as the nucleus of their outreach, less hoping some big A&R person makes it to their gig, more relying on word of mouth to help spread from venue to venue moving outwards from their home and friends. Socialising/Interacting with fans after the gig really helps as well.

The lesson here really is that the most successful independent bands have a close relationship with their fans, I will touch on content in the next point, but consistent uploads, messages, fast responses to fans posts will all help. Fans want to feel that they are on the journey with you and even contribute to your ongoing success so bringing them a little into your world goes a long way.

 

5. Content Is King!

This may seem obvious, but I see so many examples of it being done badly. That gig you had that was awesome and had a great crowd might be a good candidate for uploading and sharing, but if the sound distorts every couple of seconds and the picture is too dark or blurry, you are just going to irritate your fans. These days everyone seems to have a phone that records pretty good video but in all cases just run through a whole video before upload to make sure it plays nicely and sounds good. The same goes with images – blurry pictures are an unforgivable sin, and an overkill of black and white pictures just make myself, and other professionals think you don’t have any clean images as black and white covers a lot of quality flaws. There are lots of good amateur photographers out there looking for experience work, contacting a local college would help you find a good affordable

It’s the old story. You’ve been mastering the guitar in your bedroom for a solid few months now. The chord changes are getting quicker, the fret buzzes are becoming more infrequent, and you’ve even got the hang of a solo or two. You’re ready for the next step.

You talk to your friends about this. It turns out a couple of them are also ready to take things to the next level; one of them even has a friend, usually a Dave, who has their own drum kit set up in their parent’s garage. And then, like a lightning bolt hurled down from Zeus, your whole world is illuminated with a single, all-encompassing thought:

 

LET’S START A BAND.

The idea of being in a band has captured the imagination of disenfranchised teens for over half a century. Life on the open road, sticking it to the man every night, playing by your own rules – what could be a more perfect reaction to the grey drudgery of adult life? This is your ticket outta here, your raison d’etre, your destiny.

But wait.

Could anything ever really be that simple?

Here are a few common pitfalls you’re bound to encounter when starting up your band. Hopefully you’ll find some solutions – or, at the very least, some solace in the fact that these are tribulations and trials every fledgling band must endure.

 

Say My Name!

Your band name is your flag to fly, your badge of honour to wear on your puffed-out-with-pride chest. Settling on a name you’re all on board with early on is a great way of strengthening the unity between you – it also makes the whole project seem a bit more real. But this is easier said than done – not only has your moniker got to sound good chanted by legions of fans, it also has to tell them what you’re all about. A few things to bear in mind:

 

Check your band name isn’t already in use.

A quick internet search should confirm this for your, and, if carried out swiftly, should help you avert the awful sinking feeling Blink must’ve experienced when an Irish band of the same name made them add the 182. It’s one thing to cause confusion as to which band people are trying to book or go to see; it’s a whole ‘nother when you find yourself in a trademark-infringement lawsuit.

 

Stay away from inside jokes.

Don’t choose a name you think is funny at the time but other people don’t get — you don’t want to wince each time you have to explain your in-joke to death. Similarly, using a reference that’s either too oblique or too overused will soon lose its appeal. And avoid names that are too long for legions of fans to call out and scrawl onto banners (though you could always abbreviate if it still sounds catchy – see CCR).

 

In the Garage

It’s entirely possible that Dave’s parents’ garage is soundproofed, but unfortunately such treatment isn’t standard issue. You really don’t want the neighbours to kill your buzz by asking you if you wouldn’t mind turning those amps down ‘just a little’ – you really want to be able to practice at the volume you intend to perform at.

If you’re very lucky, one of you will know someone who can grant you access to a soundproofed or isolated space either free of charge or at a reduced rate. If you’re less lucky, pool your resources and see how often you can afford to use the nearest community centre, scout hut, or, better still, rehearsal studio. Shop around online and you’ll most likely find various places being advertised where you can let loose.

Check out GarageCabinets for some tips for building a garage music studio at home. 

 

Communication Breakdown

Communicate about your sound…

If you want to write a fantastic new chapter in music’s hefty tome, you’re all going to have to start on the same page. Regular and effective communication is the key here – make sure you’re all at the same place at the same time expecting to do the same thing. It’s going to be tricky to fuse you punk-rock down picking with slap bass, jazzy drums and rap – and if you don’t mention this early on, you could find yourself becoming resentful. Talk about what your influences are, couple them with your own abilities and limitations, and you’ll figure our what you can make sound decent.

 

… about your arrangements…

You’ll need to communicate carefully when you’re learning songs – even more so when writing. Bands like to put their own spin on covers, and you really need to talk about what you all expect from this spin, rather than just playing it over and over again at practice in a way you’re not all happy with. Be mindful of each other’s parts, as well as your own. And do pipe up if you think the guitar solo needs to be longer, or if there definitely was supposed to be another chorus in there somewhere.

 

… about your commitment and conflicts…

If you want to get good, you’re going to need to practice together as often as possible. Sure, you might all have jobs and family commitments, but so does everybody. Just let each other know in good time. If Dave’s parents want to spring clean the garage, make sure you give yourselves time to find another place to play. Also, even though you might think you already know your part inside out, it’s not just about what you know – it’s about how you gel as a unit. Hang out, make each other feel at ease, and the songs will become second nature. That really comes across onstage – it’ll be like you’re reading each other’s minds.

 

… and iron out your disagreements OFF STAGE!

Woe betide the band who airs their dirty laundry in public. Don’t allow disagreements to fester, only to erupt in an embarrassing spotlit argument. It’ll look like it’s come out of nowhere if it happens during a gig, which will either incite jeers or fears. Nip the negativity in the bud behind closed doors – most people come to gigs to have a good time.

 

Let’s Stick Together.

Organizing yourselves effectively is vital when it comes to booking and promoting your own gigs. Once you’ve got your set together and are ready to take it out on the road, you’ve got to be pretty on the ball. Along with practicing, make sure the other preparations are delegated evenly among you. Contacting the venue, creating a social media stir and giving out flyers are not all one person’s job.

You also need to be super organized on the day of the show. Make sure you all have transport for yourselves and your equipment, and plan your route if you’re heading out of town. There’s no point showing up an hour early only to waste it circling the venue looking for the entrance. Strike up a friendly conversation with whoever you’re in contact with at the venue, and they’ll tell you what to look out for.

Accountability is everything – you’ve all got to be responsible for your own gear, and you’ve also got to be as supportive and understanding of your other members as you can manage. If you forget your second lead, there may be a benevolent sound technician or a friendly member of another band who’ll lend you one; otherwise, take the hit and go without one of your effects pedals. If you forget your pedal, that’s on you. After all, Dave wouldn’t expect you to bring his sticks for him. Try not to point the finger of blame, but also don’t let it get to the stage where management of the band’s equipment falls on one member’s shoulders. Many bands use checklists – a simple solution for a worryingly prevalent problem that still only works some of the time.

 

Their Egos Again.

There’s no room for egos in a democracy.

While you deserve to be confident in your own abilities, it’s also your duty as bandmates to celebrate each others’ talents. It’s a sorry state of affairs if a calm, logical discussion can’t resolve any inter-band conflict (i.e. the song selection, the band name, the radical outfits). Every brain is capable of new ideas, and each one deserves respect. The loudest voice is often wrong. And in love with itself.

Read about 10 singers with unashamedly massive egos by BBC.

 

Talk everything out, be fair and give reasons for your opinions.

And remember – it’s never a bad time for a compliment. Remind yourselves you all came from the same humble beginnings, and success is more due to luck than talent. You should never feel you can’t voice something that’s bothering you just because you expect to be shut down. And, looking down the other end of the telescope, if you sense an issue, feel free to ask what’s up. Just try not to make your tone too accusatory.

 

Hey Money Money

It’s a crime. But, as it’s one everybody commits, it’s to be considered a necessary evil. Artists aren’t in it for the money, but we all need a dollar. In the early days, it can seem like a tall order to generate so much as a penny from your band: you need a demo to get shows, you need shows to earn money, you need money to record your demo, and so on and so forth. So you need an opportunity to break this absurd circle. The simplest solution is to earn money via other means, which will most likely mean keeping up your day job, which by proxy eats into your music making time. But it’s not impossible – far from it, in fact. Many bands were still working 9-5 even as they were becoming known; there’s no shame in it whatsoever. If anything, it’s testament to your devotion and determination.

Another financial consideration is the acquisition of money from promoters, and the division of your spoils between band members. Don’t expect to make millions right away – it’s probable that you’ll only make petrol money before you start drawing larger audiences. But in lowering your expectations in this regard, every little handout you receive will seem all the sweeter. The only reason you’re receiving any of this money at all is that you’ve actually put a band together, learned a bunch of songs and performed them to the best of your ability, so give yourselves a pat on the back. And do not shy away from asking the promoter or venue owner directly for your money – they knew this was coming. Some of these people can be upfront and approachable, others like to sidle off and hope you forget. Knock down the office door if you have to, because you’re no pushovers.

Don’t fall into the ‘all gear and no idea’ stereotype either. By all means treat yourself to better sounding and better made equipment as you progress, but at this stage you’re not going to win as much respect if you show up with an all-guns-blazing ’59 American Strat that you can barely play than if you wreak auditory havoc with your £200 Squier surging through a Roland cube. Don’t squander your fortune on lavish gifts – purchase only what’s needed for the continuation of your band. This doesn’t include strippers and champagne.

 

Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll

This hackneyed threesome is the downfall of many a serious artist. Many view the two former proclivities as a reward or even a right earned by their proficiency in the latter; others abuse them by way of a coping mechanism, numbing themselves to the stresses of a highly demanding schedule. Dipping your toes into these murkiest of waters rarely end up improving your chances of success. Ego boosts are fine,

So, your band’s first tour is coming up. It’s a very exciting time, but as you may have heard, touring is harder work than you can even fathom. It’s one of those things you won’t ever quite understand until you’ve done it. But there are things you can do to help make life a little easier on yourself as you adjust to being stuck in a bus or van for weeks on end with your bandmates. The steps in this first tour survival guide will help you ease into life on the road.

 

1 Make a Tour Itinerary

There is nothing that will help you more when you’re on tour than a tour itinerary. Sometimes an agent will make one for you, sometimes a manager or road manager will, and sometimes it’s up to the band themselves.

A tour itinerary isn’t just a list of the dates you’re playing. Ideally, it will include everything you need to know about every day you’re on the road. Basic things to put on the itinerary would be the venue name and address, a contact person and a phone number, and email address.

If you have any interviews or appearances scheduled, those should go on the itinerary, too, with details about times, special notes about location, parking, and other items that will be relevant to know in advance.

You’ll also want to include the show schedule, and include not just the time for the show’s start, but the times for load-in, sound check, and when the doors open.

Your itinerary should also have a sheet of important phone numbers and email addresses for everyone involved in the tour: band members, management, driver, agent, PR company, and anyone else who has had any hand in planning any part of the tour, who you may need to reach at random times.

 

2 Map Your Routes

Do not wake up each day and try to Google Map your journeys on the fly. Know how long the trip is from each show to the next, by doing your mapping before you hit the road. Print directions for each leg of the tour. Being the new band that gets lost on the way to the venue, holds everyone up, and doesn’t get a sound check are things you want to avoid.

 

3 Know Your Budget

Your first tour is not about getting rich, which is a very good thing considering it’s probably going to cost you a chunk of change. Before you hit the road, run the numbers. Factor in your guarantees, so you know what you’re earning, then estimate gas costs, set a food budget for each day, and have a little set aside for emergencies, like flat tires.

Here’s something important: Don’t count on door split money to get you from town to town. If you don’t have guarantees, be sure you can support yourself on the road, and the extra cash coming in will be gravy.

 

4 Set Some Ground Rules

You should have fun while you’re on tour, but life on the road can get out of control in a hurry. Too much partying will lead to late arrivals, sloppy performances, conflicts with venues and local promoters, in-fighting in the band, and a variety of other problems. Make sure everyone in the group is committed to making the shows the most important part of the tour, and you should do just fine.

 

5 Look After Yourself

It may sound like something your mom would say, but it’s true: You’ll be at your best on the road if take care of your health. Tour budgets lend themselves to the fast food life, and driving for hours on end isn’t an ideal part of any fitness regime. However, do the best you can to eat well, sleep well, and move around when you can. Touring is draining, and you’ll make it through a little better is you say “no” to the occasional supersize. Eat an apple. You’ll be better for it.

 

6 Book in Advance

Remember that all-important tour itinerary? Well, to make it, you’ll need to figure out a whole lot of details in advance. When it comes to accommodation and travel book in advance, if you can. Hotel rooms get filled, transportation tickets get sold out, and all sorts of things can go wrong with last minute bookings. Plus, you’ll avoid any in-fighting within the group (a major touring hazard) about how to travel or where to stay if you figure that all out before you hit the road.

 

7 Know How the Money Will Be Split

It’s common for touring musicians and road crew to get a per diem or a daily allowance for their expenses. When you’re new to touring, you may not have enough money to give everyone a per diem, but if you do, decide what it will be up front. If everyone is going to be expected to support themselves on the road, decide up front what you will do with any cash you make from shows. If that money is going to be used to cover group expenses like gas and places to stay, fine, just make sure everyone knows.

You could decide to split up income evenly among band members after you pay for group expenses, so everyone has a little cash in their pockets to do their own thing, or you could split up a portion of it between everyone and save the rest for future band expenses.