Itching To Perform?

Today we are highlighting five burgeoning open Mic venues (in the greater Los Angeles area) that we feel every artist should attend. While most musicians would jump at the opportunity to skip directly to doing stadiums we’ll give you a couple leads on some more realistic locations until that time comes.

Canter's Kibbitz Room 419 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA.

Located in the heart Los Angeles, Ca. Canter Kibbitz boasts an old town feel in a modern setting. The food aside the building itself serves as an obvious attraction magnet for attention (consistently bringing new clientele and potential fans).

Fais Do-Do 5257 Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

Fais Do-Do is another great venue conveniently located in city of Los Angeles. With open mic sessions held on the third Tuesday of every month, this spot provides a welcoming environment and well promoted showcase. Because the location doubles for a variety of other showcases it often brings out a diverse crowd, which is often a reflection of the performers.

The Gig (Hollywood) 7302 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA.

The Gig (West L.A) 11637 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.

With two easily accessible locations The Gig is one the few locales dedicated specifically to performing. While the schedule for their open mics were not listed they state that information is available upen request. To acquire more info on their shows, call (323) 936-4440 for Hollywood and (310) 444-9807 west LA.

Hard Rock Cafe (Los Angeles) 8600 Beverly Drive in the Beverly Center, Los Angeles, CA.

The Hard Rock Café, which has been a staple in southern California for years, is but another tool for the aspiring performer. Until recently I myself was unaware that individuals could actual perform at the venue. According to their site they hold a Performance night every Tuesday, with Sign-ups starting at 7:30 p.m. and Shows beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Until next time…

Distribution For The Indie Artist

In this the installment we take a look at two of the most popular distribution companies available to the independent artists. With the help of these companies individuals can begin to level the field in ways few people ever imagined possible previously. Essentially, through these avenues musicians are given the opportunity to eliminate the need for traditional record labels. While these sights do little to actually promote the artist (without additional fees), they do help to minimize the fees normally associated with the process of distribution.

CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com) has solidified itself as a leader in both physical and digital distribution. The company, which was established in Portland, Oregon carries the moniker of “the biggest little record store in the world”. The company, which was established by artists for artists, was established in 1997. However, the company received a massive boost in popularity when it was acquired by Disc-Makers in 2008.

Through use of the site, users can set up an account and customize a profile. Not only does the company provide a dedicated page but it also aids the user the cumbersome process of placing it in others sites digital catalog. This includes but (is not limited to) Rhapsody, Napster and iTunes.

Another emerging force in the field is the company Reverb-Nation. With over 3 million register users, the company has become extremely popular with both males and females between the ages of 25 and 44. According to Quantcast.com (a website devoted to finding statistics of the other websites) Reverb-Nation is also highly favored amongst African Americans.

While both companies provide a similar service there are two distinct differences, their cost and interfaces. With Reverb-Nation, the company serves as its own platform (social network) and is free to sign up and begins distribution of your digital content immediately. However CD Baby allows for both digital and physical distribution with an added 35-dollar start up fee for each CD. Either way, both companies are invaluable tools in the conquest of independency for an artist.