A calling card with a good plan on it can benefit a wide variety of people – not just tourists and travelers. The thing is, phone bills tend to burden pretty much everyone who leads a more active social life, and knowing how to avert the effects of those large bills and how to deal with one’s finances properly in general can be quite beneficial. If you’ve ever had to call a large number of people to get them in one place for a music gig, you’re probably aware that it can cost quite a lot afterwards on your phone bill.

Getting a good phone card for a one-time event like that is very easy – these are the most popular types of calling cards around; in general, every popular company offers at least one deal on short-term calling cards that can allow you to make a good deal of phone calls without having to worry about hefty charges – for a one-time fee, you’re getting access to lots of calling minutes!

Of course, phone cards sometimes come with good conditions on their contracts for people who’d like to keep the card and use it later on when the need arises again – this is a perfectly valid option with many providers of calling cards, so you should find a card of this type to be a mostly good deal if you have plans to call many more such meetings for your favorite concerts later on.

Trying to put together a band used to be quite the challenge a few decades ago, with communication being so difficult to manage – especially as the band grew in members. However, nowadays, it’s far from so and it can be very easy to stay in touch with the other members in your band if you’ve got a good calling plan. And the right calling card can give you all the benefits you need to enjoy constant connectivity to your music partners!

The best thing to look for in a situation like this is a calling card with free calling plans on it – these can vary from provider to provider, but as a general rule, if used right they’re highly beneficial – a lot more than signing up for a regular contract. An important thing to keep in mind at all times is that all band members should be using the same type of card (this is a clause with most contracts, at least). Otherwise, you won’t be able to get the benefits of free calling and you’d be defeating the whole purpose of getting your band fitted with their calling cards.

It can be very convenient to help you organize your relationships with your managers, fans, etc – you can easily dedicate the phone line that the calling card provides for band-related purposes, and know that any incoming call on that line is an important one that should be taken ASAP.

Just like any other band these musical icons experience a lot of obstacles before they achieved there legendary status. Starting a band requires a lot of effort and requires a lot of luck. Luck, in a sense that choosing band members does not come easy as anyone would like to think. Even though the Beatles had paved the way for rock and roll music to be appreciated by English listeners, pop culture was still the dominant music that Britons mostly listens. For a starting band like Led Zeppelin they were facing insurmountable odds. Forming a band was hard enough they needed a lot of patience to perform countless gigs in order to get noticed by a music company.

Finally, the band was given their chance. In 1968 the band managed to get the attention of the music industry. There album was finally was set to be released. In 1969 when the album was released it was a hit. It was not surprising because their song offers so much influence. Their music was a blend of blues, pop, rock and many more. They captured the heart of not only Britons but also Americans as well. There concert tours was a sure hit that was why Atlantics Records investment did not go to waste. They had a signing of 200,000 dollars which was at that time the biggest ever made in history in the music industry. The record company did expect that the band would be popular but not to this extent. Concert auditoriums were always full and tickets were always sold out.

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You have a lot of your self written songs hidden somewhere in your garage or inside your bedroom, and you and your band mates had been singing these songs over and over during your practice sessions. But, how come nobody recognizes them during your gigs? Why not use your charm and try to join Song writing Contest, check out first from your area or your nearby town. If your song wins either first, second or third prize then you have your ticket now to join bigger Song writing contest, like; upload your song to International websites that caters to new talents, join a televised program or even go to radio stations and ask for slots where you can ask them to play your song(s). These actions can help you a lot to also promote your song as well as your band. So,why not try it?

(Photo Source:You Tube)
“You Tube”? Most musicians nowadays uploads their music videos via the You Tube, because they know they can be seen worldwide and chances of being discovered is high! Make a video with a catching title and perform as if it will be your last. Some or even most record producers are searching for new talents via the Internet and the most popular venue for this type of search is through the You Tube. There are a lot of new talents who were discovered only through this medium and they are making waves already, so what are you waiting for! Gather your band mates and start making your video, so the road for stardom will open for you. Goodluck!

Getting and signing a record deal is the dream of every amatuer musician and band. It doesn’t matter if you are playing in your garage, have local gigs or just got together with a couple of friends to make a band page on MySpace. Even people that only sing in the shower dream of getting a record deal. record deals are such a desired item that it is the top prize for what is probably the most watched show in the world, American Idol. The American Idol winner gets a lot of screen time, gets to go on tour, but what they are all striving for is to get the recording deal with Simon’s record company.

You need to be talented to get record deal, but what is considered talent is up to the listeners. It’s kind of like “Beauty is in the Eye Of The Beholder”. If you are good enough that people want to pay to listen to your music you have some kind of talent. That is really all the record companies want, to make money. They will sign anyone that can sell enough CD’s to make a profit, even if the songs are just downloaded from iTunes. If you can make them money, the record companies will sign you. There will always be people that don’t like certain kinds of music. I personally don’t like country music, but you can believe that I would have loved to have been the agent that signed the recording contracts for Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and any of the other country music superstars. I don’t like rap music either, but I wish I owned a piece Def Jam Records.

The internet has brought with it lots of ways to get your music out into the world to be heard. One of MySpace’s biggest sections is for music and bands. All the popular bands, and even the unpopular bands, have their own profiles on MySpace. The profile pages contain information about the bands like: upcoming gigs, contact information, song samples for download. The profiles also normally contain video clips of the bands recent live performance or a couple of their music videos. The most important thing your band or personal profile has to contain is a link to your own website.

Having your own website on the internet is probably the most important thing to getting your name and music out into the world for the record company reps to hear. Having your own website gives you much more control over your information than just having a profile page on MySpace. Hopefully your band name will still be available to register. One of the biggest bands of all time, Journey, didn’t register their own name as a website and they have been around since the 70′s. They ended up with JourneyMusic dot com, and you may have to do the same thing.

The days of the recording company’s A&R reps touring the country looking for the next big band are basically over. They still exist, but you need to give them a reason to come see you play. Now they search the internet looking for talent to sign to a recording deal, and that is the reason you need to get your name and music on the internet.

Music is a business. You have to decide how seriously you want to pursue your personal enjoyment versus making money. This is not to say that you can’t have both and sometimes if you plan carefully you can have a rewarding experience in every way.

Many of you have played music on different levels and it’s good to talk to other musicians to get ideas and learn from their experience. Some musicians are happy to rehearse together only, some are happy to do cover songs and others write and play original content and go for the big time. No matter what you decide, the planning of your endeavor is a most often ignored and important part of your success.

DEALING WITH CHANGE AND KEYS TO SUCCESS

I think it might be a tie between the number of bands I’ve been with and the number of cars I’ve owned, especially when I was younger. Playing music can be very frustrating. There may be times in your life when you will participate more and sometimes less. Keep at it! Music keeps you young and alive.

Change is all about being adaptable. Music styles, Band Members, Gigs, and most of all – you change. Keep you eye on the prize – playing as often and for as long as you can.

Don’t get locked into the same old music. Some songs are treasures and you will want to play them forever. Put some new stuff in there every once in a while to challenge yourself and keep things fresh. There is nothing more frustrating to hear a good band, and years later they are doing 80% of the same old stuff. If you have old hit songs that may be the exception. Don’t be afraid to do original music. Economic times are tough. People want to enjoy themselves when spending their money listening to music. Give them your all.

Circumstances cause changes in band membership. The band will usually be different when a member is replaced. In one band we lost our keyboard player and went on without one. We wound up with a tighter sound, more gigs, and more money. Pick average musicians you can get along with rather than superstars who want to run the entire show. After auditioning replacements, talk about what you have to change. You new guitar player might not be the soloist your old one was but maybe he can sing better and open up more avenues of songs for you to do. If you get a chance, read “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson, MD.

Music is all about entertainment. I am not suggesting you get a monkey and organ grinder. Act like you have an interest in what’s going on. Have confidence. You’re probably much better than you think. If your band makes mistakes on stage (I call them clams), don’t turn around and look at the guy on stage like he just wet his pants. If your whole band screws up a song, keep going or restart and make a joke of it to the audience.

“Dead Air” is your biggest enemy. Don’t let time go by without communicating to the audience. I played in “show” bands where your every move and words were rehearsed. I think I would have rather worked at the steel plant. A natural, honest, and upbeat presentation will keep your audiences attention until the next tune.

Communicate with each other on stage. Hand signals or a few words can serve as a reminder for stops, endings, dynamics, and a variety of things. Speaking of dynamics (getting louder or softer is a general definition of dynamics), they can make or break you. Music with a constant loud or soft approach has little feeling. Build your songs and make great dynamic endings. If you are doing covers, don’t be afraid to change things. Make each song your own.

Right now I have been in a great band for over two years. We enjoy rehearsal, gigs, and have tons of fun with oldies, blues, and a little country. I hope whatever your musical experience is, that you make it fun too.

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As a starter, you should make your demo tape. A demo is instrumental in getting you gigs. Nowadays, a demo “tape” is usually a CD, and sometimes you upload them to your self made website with your songs on it. How many songs you wanted to include really depends on how many you have: you could have a whole album’s worth or as few as three or four to one. Since a demo generally isn’t for sale, you can feel free to include covers as well as your original material. A well-recorded demo is better than a poorly-recorded one, and don’t worry because a demo doesn’t have to be “radio-ready.” Sometimes the quality of the recording can be rough but as long as you maintain the quality of your songwriting and performance, and as long as the demo gives the listener a good idea of what you play and how well you are playing it. You can record your demos on a home studio, your PC, a digital recorder, or even a tape recorder(if that is still acceptable or if yours is still working.)

Around the pubs and clubs in the UK there are still many bands playing for only a few pounds to demanding audiences who simultaneously request Chuck Berry and the Arctic Monkeys. Keeping all these different people in the audience happy is never easy, but not impossible either. With good stage craft and clever of songs at a particular venue, a good band can make everyone happy.

The organisation of these bands is extraordinary. They must find like minded musicians that are committed. Then they must find somewhere to practice. This is not easy as most cannot do this at home. If you are fortunate to have a house big enough, it is unlikely you can get round the neighbours, as it is so loud! It cannot be turned down as everything must be as loud as the drums. A band usually hires a room to practice, at great cost to themselves.

A band must also spend literally thousands on equipment. PA, lighting, guitars, drums etc.

The next hurdle is transport. For some reason most drummers cannot drive! Cars are usually inadequate as you would need a fleet of about 5 for your gig, very expensive on the fuel, and impractical. Most bands have to hire or buy a van, again at great cost to themselves.
When they have finally rehearsed all there material over weeks or months, they are ready to play live. It is an exciting day, one of wonder, excitement and slight fear. You turn up to the venue to find one man and his dog. And that man is very drunk, wants to be your manager, and giving you all the benefit of his ‘wisdom’ in the music game! The landlord is also drunk, and you cannot work out if he likes you or not.

You get poorly paid, if you get paid at all, and return home usually out of pocket.

However the real rock heroes come back for more. They find the best venues, gain a reputation, and play at some great places. Sure they still have bad gigs, but the good ones make up for it. They make it look so easy, but it is not. One such band can be seen at [http://www.thehalfmonty.tk]

The Half Monty have had there share of ups and downs. They have been ripped of at gigs, played in the most dodgy venues, and heckled to death. But they are still here, bigger and better than ever having learnt from their early days.

So remember, when you see a local band advertised at a pub or club, go see them and support them. It is not easy for the lads and lasses. Perhaps buy them a beer after the performance if you really enjoyed it. , for these are the true heroes of rock.

In days gone by the guitar was a quiet, well behaved little instrument. In the nineteen thirties in America, you could barely here it in swing bands trying not to be drowned out by drums and horns. Sadly, it was fighting a losing battle. The guitar in acoustic form simply lacked the design dynamics to make it an instrument that was loud enough to be prominent in a full band situation.

All this was to change in Los Angeles, where it is said that George Beauchamp invented the first crude electric guitar. Hawaiian music, which he performed, is credited as the inspiration for the electric guitar. This is due to the fact that in Hawaiian music, the guitar is primarily responsible for melody. The sound of this humble instrument needed to be amplified.

The first electric guitar, as with most groundbreaking innovations, was met with some criticism. It quickly became apparent however that a new domain was created that allowed for guitarists to express their own unique abilities and style. The selling point of those early, crude guitars was simple… volume. Guitarist were now empowered to choose creative melodic lines as opposed to only strumming rhythm. Suddenly music was heard that showcased a new featured voice. The guitar was no longer satisfied with its obscure place in the band.

The design of the guitar was forced to evolve over time. The hollow sound chamber was prone to feedback. With the invention of guitar pickups, the next natural step in the electric guitars evolutionary process was the creation of the solid body electric. The progression was swift. The first mass produced solid body electric (the Telecaster) was birthed in 1950, courtesy of Leo Fender. It was called the broadcaster at first, but the company was forced to change the name because it was already in use by another. The popular Les Paul appeared in 1952 due to a collaboration between the Gibson company and guitarist, Les Paul. In 1954, Fender introduced the legendary Stratocaster, and the rest as they say…was history. These instruments started finding their way into the hands skillful artists who would amaze the world with their technical proficiency. The age of the guitar hero and the mind-blowing guitar solo had dawned.

The emergence of players like Chuck Berry, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Van Halen would revolutionise the world of music forever. These and other iconic guitarists would inspire generations of young musicians who would change the face of popular music as they themselves had done. With electric guitars being affordable and easily accessible, most every boy (or girl) could mimic the techniques of their idols and propel this musical revolution into the future. The electric guitar had burst onto the scene, and it was clear that it would not be leaving any time soon.