Humility

is a valuable commodity. I think the goal is misdirected. Industry hot shots don't make a band succeed. Individually effecting the lives of music lovers does. You can do that from your phone now (back when I stared gigging that concept was some alien supernatural s h * t).

Young bands quickly get frustrated when they aren't "discovered" by someone who IS successful. That's way too short-sighted. I've been in this game for over 20 years. Back then WE needed to warm up to Radio program directors on the phone or solicit music to record labels through the mail (yes- envelope, stamp, blue box, white truck - MAIL) and find that dude or chick that had their irons in the fire and could make us famous, but YOU don't!

Look around you. We have the internet now. F * * * the labels (unless they really do have money and really do want to push your band they are USELESS).

Attention Bands: *clears throat*

Advice for you (take it, leave it, make fun of it, at least read it)

Game plan:

Get your own .com with the EXACT name of your band (no excuses - if the .com isn't available then you really should change your name) same with myspace, reverb, facebook

Record music. Record good music. Record more good music. Repeat. (don't be surprised when someone says you suck. Make better music and fix it)

Upload your tunes man! Broadcast it! It's free!

Don't complain if you're band has no momentum. You have no right to complain if you're not working your band every day (your band members too).

Don't be rude.

PLAY ON STAGE!!!!!!!! Get ready to work part time in exchange for gigs man!!! Then go full time with music when you can afford it. Canceling or refusing a show because a band member has to go to work is UNACCEPTABLE! That person needs to be replaced NOW! We have jobs and kids and 2nd and 3rd jobs and our families are under duress too...who isn't having a tough time with life? Life's a pain in the a$$. Get over it.

Get in the VAN!

Interact with fans and don't be a nuisance. Believe me, when we have new music I want to blast everyone on the internet and showcase it. DON'T SPAM. You will create enemies. When someone becomes an online fan of yours communicate with them. Even one sentence, "thanks for listening". You may have better luck with them if you don't beg, "vote for us", "buy this", me me me me me. That turns people off.

Keep the band together no matter what. I was just chatting with Matt from Caustic on Facebook. You guys know this town and you may know our history. I hear the grapevine and I know some of the sources because this town is small and it always gets back to us. We realize the public opinion of our band, we're not stupid, but we didn't sell 50,000,000 albums, we're not Van Halen, BNS is very insignificant on the grand scale. We still get work and we still write music. Good attitude is king: How could I bitch about band members leaving Brand New Sin when Caustic has gone through 23 members and they're still at it. They still tour and they still believe in it. That's what it takes!

-Kevin