advice

[Photo by: FallOutBoyVevo/YouTube] The music industry is constantly changing, meaning there's always something new to learn. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned professional, we've gathered a list of books every person within the industry can benefit from. Check out our list of must-reads below! Read more: 10 essential tips for songwriters, from […]

For a band to survive, all members must work for the band’s greater good. If one member doesn’t contribute, they become an “anchor,” effectively causing a slow down on your band’s progress. Many bands often have one member carrying all the weight, which is not only  unfair, it’s counterproductive to your success. Here’s a list […]

I got into music photography by chance. [Photo by: Alyson Coletta] I was a student at a music college, I had a starter DSLR, and as a result, all of my classmates needed photos for gigs, promos and live videos. I didn’t take an intro course in photography or the business of it. Most music photographers […]

[GIF by: Popkey] The music industry can be a scary place: Bands with little music industry experience often get taken advantage of. Let’s face it, there isn't a college course on how the music industry works. Most people draw their own conclusions and often get scammed. Below are a few schemes to avoid. Read more: […]

A note from the author, Sept. 2017: I’ve found what I believe to be the happy medium to pursuing my dreams. Instead of dropping everything and forgoing my main source of income, I’ve been easing off working and dedicating more time to the things I love. For example, although my main band broke up, I’ve […]

[Gif by: gifimage.net] Hey, being in a band can be expensive! Replacing cymbals, paying for gas, buying a tour van — it all adds up. Usually, bands foot the bill from their day jobs, but there are other ways. Here are some additional sources of income for your band. Read more: 11 ways to completely destroy […]

The music industry is a beautiful place, but it can also be a total nightmare. I’ve helped bands become huge success stories, but I’ve also seen bands make some serious mistakes (that destroyed their careers). Below are some cautionary tales to help you navigate the chaotic waters of  the music industry and prevent you from […]

[Photo by Carter Perrier] The biggest driving force for any musician’s career is built on the amount of fans you have. It’s a no-brainer: The more people who listen to your music and attend your shows, the more success and leverage you have (obviously, right?). This is true from the smallest aspect of the music […]

On APTV's intimate series Note to Self, As It Is members open up about hardships they went through growing up as well as what advice they would give to their younger selves.  Singer Patty Walters talks about his lack of self-confidence growing up and how he went against the odds by later becoming a musician.  […]

New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert says to focus on the importance of the overall band when the going gets tough. In this latest Ernie Ball: PLAY Warped Tour video, Gilbert talks about keeping a band together despite the difficulties, and he has a unique perspective. “For us, everything we've seen in the world, every […]

APTV caught up with former Flyleaf frontwoman, now solo artist, Lacey Sturm at Welcome To Rockville festival to find out what advice she would give her youngers self. Sturm encourages herself not to give up even when she feels afraid of the future, knowing now that her own darkness will turn into beautiful creations that […]

In this brief video from the Ernie Ball PLAY Youtube series, New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert gives his advice on how to develop a unique sound. “What worked for us is we truly wrote music that we liked,” he says. “A lot of times you can get lost in what other people want to hear […]

Chad Gilbert, the guitarist of New Found Glory, shares his tips for efficient recording in this video, which is part of the Ernie Ball PLAY Warped Tour Series. Gilbert says he uses a voice memo app on his phone to record ideas as they arise. “I could be walking around a supermarket, singing into my […]

In this brief video, part of the Ernie Ball PLAY Warped Tour series, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert shares what he thinks makes for a good live show. “You put on an energetic live show,” he says. “For New Found Glory, there's so many people I've met that have heard our albums, and were […]

Adam Siska and William Beckett of The Academy Is… wouldn't give very much life-altering advice to their teenage selves, if they could. Even at that age, the two bandmates were already living the dream. Siska would tell himself to appreciate his younger years. “If I could go back and give myself any advice, it would be […]

In our new series “Note To Self,” artists let you in on who they were when they were younger and give themselves advice from having grown up.  In episode one, New Years Day talk “ugly duckling” transformations, shyness, fear of failure, “devilish” behavior, being weirdos and more.  “If I could go back, I would tell […]

Good Charlotte's Dean Butterworth and Joel Madden give advice to aspiring musicians in this APTV MI Conversations Series episode, hosted by Ryan J. Downey. Butterworth encourages young musicians to practice as much as possible. “I still practice every day,” he says. “You just have to have that drive, that nothing's going to stop you.” Madden […]

Sublime got it right when they sang “summertime and the livin’ is easy,” but just because the air freezes doesn’t mean the gigs do, too. Many bands around the world play shows right through the winter season, which means dealing with icy roads, snow storms and cold gear. As always, it’s important to be ever […]

Some people look to magazines for advice on love. Others ask friends. Me; I think the best advice can be found in songs. Musicians always are talking about love and heartbreak, so they must know a thing or two about it. If you listen to enough songs you can find tips on first dates, advice […]

Timing is everything as far as your fanbase is concerned. There’s a thin balance between consistent momentum and leaving enough intrigue to keep people wanting more. Knowing when to switch from one mindset to the other is crucial. Photo by Ashley Osborn Staying in the public eye is a key step for any new band […]