The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician [Paperback]

Randy Chertkow (Author), Jason Feehan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2008

The Indie Band Survival Guide is the ultimate resource for musicians looking to record, distribute, market, and sell their music for less than most rock stars spend on green M&M's. Musicians and web gurus Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan cover every step of the process. With nothing but creative talent and the Web, they've gotten tens of thousands of fans for their band, in addition to being hired to write music for film, television, theater, and other media.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this indispensable guide for indie musicians, Chertkow and Feehan, lead members of the Chicago band Beatnik Turtle, explain how they have managed successfully to get their music out to the public, to produce four albums, to build a huge following and to write music for television shows and theater without the benefit of a record label. Covering topics such as building a brand, networking, Web site, getting booked, playing live and getting publicized, Chertkow and Feehan pass along advice that, while sometimes self-evident, encourages bands to exploit the Internet and to become Web savvy to make a name for themselves. For example, in illustrative detail they spell out clearly the terms of contracts such as nonexclusive that can often be so fuzzy. In their section on getting booked, they remind bands that the essence of a good show is remembering that the band is there for the audience, and the authors explain step-by-step the ups and downs of dealing with bookers, scheduling and booking kits. Because this lively book offers such essential guidance in these changing times, no band should be without a copy. (Aug.) ""
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."

Review

"Indispensable ... This lively book offers such essential guidance in these changing times, no band should be without a copy."—Publishers Weekly

"The Internet is an extraordinary opportunity for musicians to make and profit from their music. This clearly written and comprehensive book shows exactly how. A perfect balance between the mess of the law and the promise of the technology, it should be read by anyone who wants to take their talent and share it—for the love of sharing, or for the profit."—Lawrence Lessig, author of Code, professor at Stanford Law School, founder of the Center for the Internet and Society, and CEO of the Creative Commons project

"Finally! A comprehensive and practical guide for musicians that explains how to navigate today's music world without a label. A must-read!"—Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby and HostBaby

"If they gave out Grammys for music career books, Randy and Jason should surely win one. Their Indie Band Survival Guide is a must-read resource for any musician wanting to take the independent path to success—which, these days, is the only way to go. Networking, branding, Internet promotion, live gigs, distribution, publicity ... they cover it all. Highly recommended!"—Bob Baker, author of Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook and founder of TheBuzzFactor.com

"A fabulous & comprehensive 101 guide for any musician trying to make it in the crazy 'new' Music Business."—Ariel Hyatt, founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR

"A practical, down-to-earth guide for bands working in the real world."—Brian Austin Whitney, founder of the Just Plain Folks musician network

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312377681
• ISBN-13: 978-0312377687
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Business
  • #68 in Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > New Business Enterprises

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a survival guide..., January 12, 2009

By 

S. Wolfcale (Park Ridge, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician (Paperback)

Wow! This books speaks to so many audiences. If you are a musician, someone who loves music, an information technologist, a marketeer, or perhaps a sociologist who wants to understand why the Internet profoundly changes society, this book is for you. Did I mention the book also covers the intellectual property rights and issues surrounding the music industry? Written in a rational, concise manner, the authors cite sources and experience backing up their conclusions and recommendations and then follow up with step-by-step instructions on how to navigate your indie band to success.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It had everything I needed, September 18, 2008

By 

Rene I. Ferrer "rf" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician (Paperback)

The book does exactly what the author set out to accomplish. It is a compilation of knowledge and useful tips, usually spread out all over the internet, for all us small bands trying to take the next steps to a more professional level.

Everything is presented in a logical order and progresses from band promotion, gigs, experience and then into recording, production and music distribution, from CD (yuck) to digital

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a competing author and I dig this book, September 10, 2008

By 

Richard "Conned-sumer" (SAUSALITO, US, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician (Paperback)

I'm the author of a book that competes (in a way) with this book and I have to say I am totally into "The Indie Band Survival Guide." It has a very fresh view of what it's like to be in an indie band -- so fresh that it should be called "Indie Band 2.0." It throughly analyzes the revenue streams for indie bands in this post-music biz blowdown era and provides lots and lots of realistic and helpful info.