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Top 10 Greatest Movies About Fictional Musicians
There have been many, many movies and documentaries made about real life musicians. Some of them have been critically acclaimed (Ray, Amadeus, This Is It, A Hard Day’s Night) while others have been universally panned (Spice World, Justin Bieber’s Believe). Only a...
10 Tips for Musicians on How To Be an Effective Band Leader
When you are in charge of a group of people, there are several responsibilities that fall on your shoulders. If you've never been in a management position or haven't had any business training, this can be a challenging endeavor. The truth is that it's really not all...
14 Tips on How to be Successful as a Musician in a Working Band
“I want to make more money!” This is the predominant concern that I hear from most working musicians – and with good reason. The rate of pay for bands that play in bars, clubs and pubs hasn’t changed much over the last 10, 20, even 30 years in some cases. In the...
Stuff You Should Say on the Mic When Your Band is Performing on Stage
If you're fortunate enough to be a musician that gets to work in public, there is some business to take care of during your show. In general, it's the lead vocalist that communicates with the crowd, but anyone in the band with access to a microphone can participate. A...
Glossary of Common Words and Phrases Used by Working Musicians
If you've ever been around a musician, you know that they have a language all their own. If you are a musician, you'll be familiar with many of these real-world terms below. This glossary is a work in progress, as people constantly come up with new ways to say things,...
12 Random Objects That a Guitar Player Can Use at a Gig Instead of a Slide
Improvisation is a key element in performing music. Players often like to jam on sections of songs in order to put their own stamp on the tune. There are also some situations in which a band member has to improvise for a different reason. Even if you always carry a...
MissUsed – Cover Band Central “Spotlight Artist of the Week”
One of the primary objectives that I’m aiming for in featuring a “Spotlight” artist every week is to showcase acts that provide an example of how to do things right. From a killer song selection that caters to the party crowd, to putting time and work into providing...
Top 10 Reasons Why Bass Players Rule
Every stereo ever made has an option to adjust the bass. There's no guitar knob. You won't find a way to make the drums louder. The singer's output is set and out of your control. But the bass...you can turn up the bass. Nobody turns it down. It takes a special kind...
Postmodern Jukebox – Cover Band Central “Spotlight Artist of the Week”
One of the most difficult things to accomplish when playing cover songs is to find a way to set yourself apart from the rest of the musicians that perform the same material. There are hundreds, if not thousands of bands that cull from the same list of tried and true...
John Monnecka – Cover Band Central’s “Spotlight Artist of the Week”
If you've read any of my previous articles, you know that I like to focus on several criteria when selecting a Spotlight Artist. Among the most crucial aspects to me are song selection, musicianship, and most importantly...great vocals. The majority of musicians that...
Latest Posts
The CBC Wizdumb Hour #93 – Build Like Birds
This week Steve and Tony are starting to feel the effects of being sheltered in place as things get a little goofy. With little to no gigging activity, the guys delve into what's keeping them going during this crazy time. And as always, there's plenty of wizdumb...
What’s Next For Gigging Musicians?
Sirens wailed and lights flashed as a string of seven or eight police cars paraded slowly up Bourbon Street. I couldn't hear what the cops were informing the Saturday night revelers due to the fact that my band was on stage blasting through a song. But this was...
Live Streaming Made Easy: A Musician’s Guide to Facebook Live
With the sudden and tragic outbreak of the coronavirus in March of 2020, many musicians all over the world found themselves without a gig. Shows were cancelled abruptly, tours were suspended, weddings postponed, and the music world was turned upside-down overnight....
How-to Flip the Screen on Facebook Live Broadcasts So You Don’t Look Backwards
Live streaming has suddenly taken off as the best way to reach fans due to coronavirus outbreak. People are staying at home more than ever before, and musicians have turned to the internet to find their audience. Facebook Live debuted in late 2015, but didn't start...
Guitarist Shocked When Band Doesn’t Notice His New Axe
Jerry Davis of local cover band Dizzy Dirty hadn't purchased a new guitar in a long time. For years he had been alternating between his prized Squire and an old Gibson SG that he inherited from his uncle. "Both of those guitars are beat to shit," Davis explains. "I've...
Get 'Em to the Show—How to Beat the Facebook Algorithm and Successfully Promote Your Gigs Online
Tired of scratching your head over Facebook’s mysteries? Frustrated by the lack of response when promoting your shows? The solution is here, and it’s time to take action!
