Like any relationship, music industry collaborations need work. Here's our top five tips to help your band thrive in harmony.
If you’re in a band, you already know that recording music, touring, producing albums and even designing and selling merchandise requires ongoing collaboration with lots of different people. This could include your manager, venues, agents, and of course, your bandmates. But it’s not always easy to communicate smoothly with so many people – especially when you’re dealing with competing egos, opposing creative visions, and out-of-sync business goals. With these tips and advice from Blowtorch Records, you can learn how to boost your band’s chances of success. Plus, here’s how to support respectful communication as a leader in your band.
1. Establish a Culture of Open Communication
First, it’s important to cultivate an environment where everyone involved with a project, like a new album, a tour, or a festival, can communicate openly. People should feel free to share their ideas, and while disagreements are inevitable, everyone should refrain from harsh judgments or insults. If you’re in a leadership position, you should go the extra mile to maintain a positive attitude and encourage people to share their comments and suggestions. Even when your band faces setbacks, it’s important to emphasise that success is possible, and that if you’re all committed to working together and putting aside your differences, you can overcome challenges and record music you’re proud of.
2. Identify Common Obstacles
Are you running into the same communication barriers over and over again? Maybe two people in your band have a tendency to disagree, or perhaps you’re frequently butting heads over the artistic vision for your next album or your future touring plans. Hone in on these specific issues and work together to come up with realistic, workable solutions. For example, if you’re grappling with conflicts within your band, Music House School of Music suggests talking over the problem together and designating a “peacemaker” to uphold a solution that everyone can compromise on.
3. Be Clear and Concise
Sometimes when you’re facing a conflict, a lack of clarity could be fuelling the problem. When you’re speaking with your manager, a venue owner, the booking team at a festival, or your own bandmates, being clear when you’re describing your point of view is crucial. Misunderstandings can easily fuel disagreements and make mountains out of molehills. Make sure to state what you mean and avoid using vague language when you’re sharing your perspective.
4. Get Everything in Writing
Are you trying to come to an agreement on a legal or financial issue? Moving forward without the proper contracts or documentation could hurt you in the long run. If you’re negotiating a management deal, Music Industry How To recommends working with a lawyer and paying close attention to the terms, sunset clauses, commission, expenses, and performance obligations.
5. Prioritise Timeliness and Punctuality
Finally, make sure that you’re communicating with any stakeholders in a timely fashion. Nothing is worse than awaiting a response from someone when you’re dealing with an urgent issue and need an answer quickly. You don’t want to put someone else in that position, so make sure to be punctual and straightforward when it comes to managing communications. Whenever you have an important meeting or phone call coming up, ensure that you note it in your calendar so that you don’t forget.
Navigating collaborations in the music industry is tough. But it’s also an unavoidable aspect of working in this industry. With these tips, you’ll be able to welcome open communication across your team, address collaboration obstacles, and get important details in writing when you’re nailing down business agreements.
Blowtorch Records has the quality music of distinction you’ve been looking for. Let us know if you have any questions!
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