Interviewee Quotes
Mike G.
John Elmo Szetela
Constance Day
"You've got to shoot your shot 1001 times"
"Don't take advice on how to chase your dreams from people who are too scared to chase theirs' "
Constance Day
John Elmo Szetela
Constance Day
"If you drop a song, [and] you have no plan, who the hell is going to hear it?"
"You have to look the part, and be the part, and play the part, and act the part... you have to be the complete package"
John Elmo Szetela
John Elmo Szetela
John Elmo Szetela
"Don't try to get everything out of one job or artist, as being our own bosses, we can work with as many people as we want, or not..."
Book Reviews
A. Reader (Amazon KDP)
The Irreplaceable Musician is not some "follow your passion" pep talk. It is an operating manual for running a freelance career, full stop. What sets it apart is its authenticity and street-level grounding in the music business. Specifics, not platitudes: pricing, contracts, negotiation, insurance, taxes, branding, investing and how to leave a gig without burning the bridge behind you. It tells you what a gig should pay, what a travel day should pay, how to price rehearsals, and how to size your first merch order without drowning in unsold t-shirts. The frameworks stick: the Rule of 2 out of 3 — good money, good music, good hang; two out of three makes a gig worth taking. So will "Who you know is something. Who knows you is everything."
This book is for working and semi-pro musicians, obviously, but also for music students, music educators, and especially parents of any kid who is serious about music. This book is both the reality check and the roadmap that takes you there.
Ken S. (Amazon KDP)
A comprehensive guide to music in the AI era.