Customer Reviews

I Don't Need a Record Deal!: Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you are looking for a book to tell you, "..don't get discouraged..keep trying..look people in the eye..give a firm handshake..don't forget to say thank you..", and other various cliches and platitudes, then this might just be the book for you. It will even help you decide what fast food to eat. As for me, after the first hundred pages of fluff, I felt that I was seriously wasting my time.

If you are looking for solid, detailed business advice, you are sure to be disappointed. For example, when discussing whether to use ASCAP or BMI, you are advised to use whichever one you think will do the best for you. That is not advice. How about a real comparison between them? When should you join? What might be a possible negative against joining? What is the difference in their perspectives? What is the difference in their payment formula? You can get more information from a Google search than from this book.

I am suspicious when I see shallow books getting wall-papered with flowery five-star reviews. It is hard enough to select books online, without having to deal with all that glowing misrepresentation.

This book is a MUST READ for any indie artist, not only because of the solid advice and suggestions from people who are doing it themselves and having success, but because as artists we forget that the game has changed, and if we do what we love, we'll be able to make music AND keep more of the money from CD sales, and not be swayed by thinking we NEED the major labels to be successful. Daylle Deanna Schwartz is a godsend for reminding us of this in such a powerful way. She doesn't just talk the talk, she's actually walked the walk, and doesn't stop there. She interviews people who have had the "big deal" and are well known, and she also interviews people who aren't household names, but have been making a good living at what they love, and getting their music out into the world, allowing them to grow a bigger and bigger fan base. She also makes a point that the book isn't 'anti-major record deal', but just 'pro-artist', and encourages a record deal if it's a GOOD one. I've read a few of Daylle's books, one of them a relationship book, and she makes the same life-defining point in that book as well: if you want a record deal OR a man, get a life that you love first! This way you can choose wisely, and walk away if the 'right one' doesn't come along!

I have no idea who this person is who tore I Don't Need a Record Deal apart but I saw their other reviews and they seem to like to do dirty things to books. She's obviously bitter about something because everyone I know who's read this book has found it to be fantastic. The over 150 people interviewed in the book are inspirational and informative. This book is full of so many ways to make money. I've already tried some of the suggestions and have had success. There are many venues I never thought of approaching that I'm trying now. And the interviews with music supervisors gave me new ideas for licensing my music. Daylle also included ways to stay healthy by interviewing doctors and getting tips from artists about what they do. The chapter on getting your music into international markets has so much information I'm still digesting it all before going for it. This is a must read for any musician that wants to make a full time living from their music!

I loved Daylle's other books but this one is my favorite. It's very honest about how hard developing an indie career can be but also encourages and gives conrete steps to make it a reality. I don't know if I want a record deal but I like knowing I have choices. This book allows me to have them! There are so many opportunities to make money with musical talent and Daylle explains how to find them and have the best chance of tapping into them. It's the only book with loads of info on licensing music in and touring Europe. I recommend this book to anyone considering a career in music.

I've already emailed the author and thanked her for this book. It is one of a small-but-growing library of genuinely practical books that speak to the soul of the independent musician. Schwartz's genius is the way she draws upon the abundant experiences of so many pioneering artists- including herself- who are making their own way in an ever-changing music-industry landscape.

Ms. Schwartz is exactly right. You always hear about the big name artists on the big name labels, but that's not most of us. MOst of us will never have that chance, nor do most of us want that chance anymore. "I Don't Need a Record Deal" is great for anyone looking to have a serious go at the music industry. It IS possible to make a living in the record business without having to sell your veritable soul in order to succeed.

For artists forging an independent path in this brave new world of IPods, ringtones, and struggling major labels, this book is truly a godsend. Filled with practical info and advice culled from numerous interviews with working musicians, Daylle peels back the mystique behind today's evolving music industry and advocates empowerment and independence from hoping for that major label "deal" that may never happen. Echoing the book's title, I remind myself regularly that "I Don't Need A Record Deal!" Highly recommended.
(Winner, Best Political Band of 2005 - Rock City News)

This book talks about earning money from your own creativity. The lessons and resources here, are for real people who want to stay creatively independent.

It's a great time for artists. Thanks to the internet and other alternative media, the entertainment-industry is losing it's death-grip (on product-placement & distribution). The author is not dumping on the music business... but there is a subtext: If you want to be a "Rock Star" or "Pop Diva", this might not be for you.

If you're an artist with something to offer, you might find some helpful hints in this book. I did.

As a musician myself trying to make it in this crazy world it's nice to know that some of the "little people" have risen up and have decided to share their insights with those of us who are right behind them. This book is direct and to the point. She holds nothing back and tells it like it is. If you're a musician like me who refuses to pay someone to do what you can do yourself...I HIGHLY suggest getting this book and seeing Daylle when she comes to your town. You won't regret it!

Okay - I first thought to myself from looking around me at the aspiring and somewhat 'made' musicians and realized I really didn't like where any of them were at. Mostly I saw many who were extremely DAMN TALENTED and also HARDWORKING and doing many shows but still hardly making any money and it was CLEARLY causing negative stuff in their life. Now I went into this book with a burning inquisitiveness about being independent - everything I've done that I'm proud of in my life I did it independently - AND BAM - this book blew me away COMPLETELY - I have been struggling to even just FIND A WAY to be a musician on my own terms - and this book told me all the different facets of it - THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO and so many avenues to go into to really make things work FOR YOU! - I realized also with many big artists - ((Many if not all the musicians I look up to and listen to)) pretty much always leave their record label and make their own! - Look it up yourself with your own favorite bands and singers! So all of this makes so much sense now I can actually do it! Zappa was amazingly independent and dipped his art in SO many avenues in his life, NOW I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW HE DID IT! 2pac and so many others got taken advantage of in their own ways - yet rose right on up in the end - I refuse to be censored or kept from my ultimate freedom in any way - and if you are like that then get this BOOK! SELF RELIANCE!

Little advice:
* With all this in your arse(nal) - arsenal :D! - you might be like me, trying to do 12 huge things everyday - go ahead and try it man but if you ain't really making progress please remember to lessen the things down - even to just 2 things a day - I did that and now I'm making HUGE HEADWAY - Life is going a LOOOOT better - It might be nice to show off and say how much stuff you are doing at one time, but it all comes down to how brave you are and how much you are ACTUALLY GETTING DONE most effectively.
* Also, I am an international person living in USA, just graduated and working a full time job - MANY people like me need to work a full time job to stay here legally on an employment card so finding the time to make a music career and actually DO ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO is HARD AS SH** for me - but now I stand a chance - Before I didn't at all and was just complaining about the horrible Immigration Laws here - when I just want to be an artist living the artist life. I say this because, very often, the book is about quitting your day job and doing the music FULL TIME (YAY!) - but this ain't possible for some like me - (unless I become illegal alien) - so all in those shoes - All I can say is HELL YEA - THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU MORE FIRE AND DETERMINATION TO RIP INTO THIS LIFE BIG TIME NO MATTER WHAT ODDS ARE AGAINST YA! TAKE OVER THE WORLD - that's how i feel basically and you can't fake that feeling - everyone can still underestimate you, boo you or hate on you - but each and every person KNOWS truth when they see it.

I go around and I don't see anyone really utilizing stuff that is said in this book - Just do it.
BRYAN DER LION!