As The World Tunes

Goals For The Gold

by Steve Bussey
GeoSynchronous Records

Every month I get a zillion (and that is the English zillion, not those wimpy metric ones!) CDs, tapes, and press kits from aspiring bands and musicians. Frequently there is a letter stating "our goal is to sign a recording contract". A lot of people assume that signing a recording contract is the ultimate goal of every musician, and that it will lead to a gold record, fame, and fortune. This month we will take a closer look at this goal.

First of all, signing a contract is not a goal at all, it is a process to achieve a goal. A musician saying his goal is to sign a record contract is like a surfer saying his goal is to book a flight to Hawaii. The surfer's true goal is to take his surfboard and himself to Hawaii and surf the big waves. Yes, booking a flight there is a start to getting there, but I am sure the surfer would be happy even if he took a boat to Hawaii, as long as he gets to surf there. And what if the surfer flew there but could not surf, due to bad weather, illness, or whatever. Wouldnít he still have met his ill-stated goal of booking a flight to Hawaii? So it is absolutely necessary for the musician to clearly decide what it is he or she wants to accomplish in a musical career, and then and only then decide what steps will get them there.

So what are some musical goals? Make a lot of money, get chicks, be on the radio, get national and even international fame and adulation? Many people have accomplished this thru music, but there are a lot of easier ways to get those things than playing in a band, especially when you are moving heavy Marshall stacks and Hammond organs around!

You need to focus on what it is you want to do or accomplish, and not the material rewards that success will bring. It is best to break it up into smaller goals over a short term that lead to the accomplishment of larger, long term goals. A part time weekend warrior might set the following goal plan over the next 18 months.

1. Write, record, and press a CD.
2. Book 100 gigs.
3. Sell at least an average of 5 CDs per gig, 500 total.
4. Sell 100 T shirts.
5. Build fan mailing list of 1000 fans.
6. Get at least 5 articles in the press.

After the eighteen months, the above cycle would be repeated for a second CD, with higher quantities. After two or three of these cycles (or possibly sooner), the weekend warrior might set goals of full time employment as a musician, national touring, national release of his CD, radio air play, etc. This is just an example, set your own goals. The point is to focus on concrete steps to build your career, and not a intangible "I hope I win the lottery and I get signed"î approach. And the more you reach these smaller goals, the more attractive you will appear to a larger label, and the more likely you are to be approached by them to sign a record contract. Of course, by that time you will have done pretty well on your own, so you might turn down the offers until a golden one comes along!

About the author: Steve Bussey is a singer/songwriter/guitarist and is currently the owner and general manager of GeoSynchronous Records (http://www.pan.com/geosync, Listening Line 800 235 9193, ask for a free catalog), an indie label handling artists such as Les Dudek, Mike Pachelli, Bong Water Taffy, and Big Red & The Bus. Prior to this, Steve earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Acoustics from Georgia Tech, designed sound equipment and guitar amps for Fender, and supervised design of communication systems for the Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center.