Comments on: Your Survival: Making It as an Indie Christian Artist. (Part 3) http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/ Ministry-focused. Mission-driven. Sat, 27 Aug 2011 13:35:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: andy irons http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-5032 andy irons Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:58:31 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-5032 Very good stuff, Jeff. Simply put . . . YOU ROCK!!! As a former indie record label owner, so many artists would submit to us wanting the "dream". They had talent. They had wonderful hearts. Some had that "it" factor above and beyond the norm. Unfortunately, very few were really ready to work hard to accomplish their goals and dreams. They just waited for us to do it for them. I'd put it more time on each individual artist than they did for themselves. We had a few that worked hard and those artists are still working with that record company and doing well. Breaking off to focus on my music was a little scary for me after spending so much time focusing on other artists. Luckily, I found a great manager who feels the same as me. Jeff works hard, but expects me to work just as hard along side him. He hooked me up with great producers, booking, and advice I wasn't getting before. So, no matter who you get, find a manager that fits your needs and believes in you, establish your goals, and be prepared to work while having a blast praising God with the gifts He has given you. I'm rambling again. Anyway, God bless your ministries. Very good stuff, Jeff. Simply put . . . YOU ROCK!!!

As a former indie record label owner, so many artists would submit to us wanting the “dream”. They had talent. They had wonderful hearts. Some had that “it” factor above and beyond the norm.

Unfortunately, very few were really ready to work hard to accomplish their goals and dreams. They just waited for us to do it for them. I’d put it more time on each individual artist than they did for themselves. We had a few that worked hard and those artists are still working with that record company and doing well.

Breaking off to focus on my music was a little scary for me after spending so much time focusing on other artists. Luckily, I found a great manager who feels the same as me. Jeff works hard, but expects me to work just as hard along side him. He hooked me up with great producers, booking, and advice I wasn’t getting before.

So, no matter who you get, find a manager that fits your needs and believes in you, establish your goals, and be prepared to work while having a blast praising God with the gifts He has given you.

I’m rambling again. Anyway, God bless your ministries.

]]> By: AndrewBoldman http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-1751 AndrewBoldman Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:24:14 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-1751 Hi, cool post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing. Hi, cool post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing.

]]> By: Moni Lutz http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Moni Lutz Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:47:26 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-28 Jeff, What you say about making it is good. I agree with you on most everything you said but there is still a lot I need to learn. I am mostly interested in writing for other groups and solo artists. I am primarily a writer and sing only locally to demo my songs and to get them out where someone else might hear them. I just want to write and have others record my songs. Is there still a place in the industry for someone like me? Thanks for all the advise. Moni Lutz Jeff,
What you say about making it is good. I agree with you on most everything you said but there is still a lot I need to learn. I am mostly interested in writing for other groups and solo artists. I am primarily a writer and sing only locally to demo my songs and to get them out where someone else might hear them. I just want to write and have others record my songs. Is there still a place in the industry for someone like me?

Thanks for all the advise.

Moni Lutz

]]> By: Shawn Weston http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Shawn Weston Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:39:57 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-27 Rock on, Jeff! While I see Keith's point, I'd like to point out a couple of things, if I may... First, "commercial" and "cookie-cutter" are two different things. When I read what Jeff has said, it's my understanding that he's speaking about the amount of control that the major label has over the sound of music (and the freedom of the artist). The main goal is to get the quality of sound and resource without relinquishing the artistic expression to someone else (and paying them 85% of the profits). In my view, cookie-cutter is often commercial, but commercial does NOT have to be cookie-cutter. As somewhat of an audiophile, I love checking out new music on a regular basis, but there's a clear difference between Indies which are unsigned because it's the smart thing to do, and Indies which are unsigned because they sound bad. This series was a great view into the world of major label vs. indie, Jeff. Keep it coming! Rock on, Jeff! While I see Keith’s point, I’d like to point out a couple of things, if I may…

First, “commercial” and “cookie-cutter” are two different things. When I read what Jeff has said, it’s my understanding that he’s speaking about the amount of control that the major label has over the sound of music (and the freedom of the artist). The main goal is to get the quality of sound and resource without relinquishing the artistic expression to someone else (and paying them 85% of the profits).

In my view, cookie-cutter is often commercial, but commercial does NOT have to be cookie-cutter.

As somewhat of an audiophile, I love checking out new music on a regular basis, but there’s a clear difference between Indies which are unsigned because it’s the smart thing to do, and Indies which are unsigned because they sound bad.

This series was a great view into the world of major label vs. indie, Jeff. Keep it coming!

]]> By: Keith Prater http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Keith Prater Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:06:03 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-26 I was with you until you said that "it is imperative that you have recordings that are well-produced and commercial." If you're going to subvert the established order in the music industry, you have to go all the way. We've been brainwashed into thinking that music only exists in well-produced, commercial CDs. Music existed a long time before they started making records. People even made money in music before they started making records. I, for one, am kind of tired of commercial music. I have come to the point that I would rather listen to live music from second-level talent, making music that really comes from their own hearts, than first-rate talent on recordings, that are only cookie-cutter, assembly line music. And you know that those producers you were talking about will only make music that sounds just like the same-ol, same-ol music we decried in your forst article. Maybe the truly independent thing to do is to stop doing the recording, get rid of all the commercialism, put away all the electronics and lights, and just make music that comes from God. I was with you until you said that “it is imperative that you have recordings that are well-produced and commercial.” If you’re going to subvert the established order in the music industry, you have to go all the way. We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that music only exists in well-produced, commercial CDs. Music existed a long time before they started making records. People even made money in music before they started making records. I, for one, am kind of tired of commercial music. I have come to the point that I would rather listen to live music from second-level talent, making music that really comes from their own hearts, than first-rate talent on recordings, that are only cookie-cutter, assembly line music. And you know that those producers you were talking about will only make music that sounds just like the same-ol, same-ol music we decried in your forst article. Maybe the truly independent thing to do is to stop doing the recording, get rid of all the commercialism, put away all the electronics and lights, and just make music that comes from God.

]]> By: Jason Watson http://mmgi.org/home/2009/03/27/your-survival-making-it-as-an-indie-christian-artist-part-3/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Jason Watson Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:43:20 +0000 http://mmgi.org/home/?p=365#comment-25 Very good stuff, Jeff. Simply put . . . YOU ROCK!!! As a former indie record label owner, so many artists would submit to us wanting the "dream". They had talent. They had wonderful hearts. Some had that "it" factor above and beyond the norm. Unfortunately, very few were really ready to work hard to accomplish their goals and dreams. They just waited for us to do it for them. I'd put it more time on each individual artist than they did for themselves. We had a few that worked hard and those artists are still working with that record company and doing well. Breaking off to focus on my music was a little scary for me after spending so much time focusing on other artists. Luckily, I found a great manager who feels the same as me. Jeff works hard, but expects me to work just as hard along side him. He hooked me up with great producers, booking, and advice I wasn't getting before. So, no matter who you get, find a manager that fits your needs and believes in you, establish your goals, and be prepared to work while having a blast praising God with the gifts He has given you. I'm rambling again. Anyway, God bless your ministries. Very good stuff, Jeff. Simply put . . . YOU ROCK!!!

As a former indie record label owner, so many artists would submit to us wanting the “dream”. They had talent. They had wonderful hearts. Some had that “it” factor above and beyond the norm.

Unfortunately, very few were really ready to work hard to accomplish their goals and dreams. They just waited for us to do it for them. I’d put it more time on each individual artist than they did for themselves. We had a few that worked hard and those artists are still working with that record company and doing well.

Breaking off to focus on my music was a little scary for me after spending so much time focusing on other artists. Luckily, I found a great manager who feels the same as me. Jeff works hard, but expects me to work just as hard along side him. He hooked me up with great producers, booking, and advice I wasn’t getting before.

So, no matter who you get, find a manager that fits your needs and believes in you, establish your goals, and be prepared to work while having a blast praising God with the gifts He has given you.

I’m rambling again. Anyway, God bless your ministries.

]]>