Many people jump into the world of music head first with the best intentions, and a passion to express themselves to a wide audience. To expand that audience, a band needs to build a solid base of dedicated fans that will be at each show. The trick then is to stay connected with these fans to keep them informed of what the band is up to but in a way that does not open you up to let them into your personal life. These days stalkers are a reality and with the advent of sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Share My Guitar, fans have a deeper level of access to the artists they love so getting info about gigs is a snap. Unfortunately getting info about you and your personal business is just as easy. So here are a few solid, “Do’s and Dont’s” when it comes to building a fan base and keeping the weirdos at bay!

Do

Start a mailing list of email addresses and build a database (or excel worksheet). Email the contacts about every 2 weeks to a month in order to keep your band name crossing their eyes. Also offer those people first dibs at joining your street team or fan club and sweeten the deal by offering a special shirt, an unreleased song, or something of the like to get them excited to go to work for you!

Don’t

Whatever you do, don’t give out your personal email address, Facebook account or phone number to a fan no matter how cool they are. People will quickly latch on and not let go and that’s when things get strange. Create a separate email for band only stuff and keep the replies and responses to a minimum when people write to it.

Do

Talk to people at your shows and engage in short appreciative conversations about your performance. Taking a second to hear a fan tell you how he saw you at another gig or how she has had your CD in her car for over a year really makes their day so take the time to listen and be thankful.

Don’t

If people ask personal things just politely decline to share the info or give a very vague answer. People will pry into your life if given the chance, so to avoid any future fan drama, it’s best to keep things to a minimum and let them know as little about you off stage as possible. It’s easy to answer a question like “where are you from” too openly and next thing you know, you have a crazy fan hanging out at your neighborhood Starbucks waiting to run into you.

Do

Respect the fact that your fans want to feel a connection to the band the way they feel connected to your music, so find ways to connect with your fans that keeps the focus on that musical connectivity. Let them know you appreciate the support and that you know you wouldn’t be where you are without them.

Don’t

No matter how nice or friendly you are, don’t become everyone’s new best friend. Once you treat them as your pal, they will start to demand your friendship and things can get ugly real quick.

The bottom line is, we all need others to enjoy our music, frequent our gigs, buy our CD’s and sport the t-shirt around town and you can do all that and have your fans really look up to you without having your life invaded. In my own experience, being Mr. Nice Guy to everyone, I’ve learned quickly that you can’t be too sure of anyone’s motives when they approach you so be careful what you put out there because it will most likely come back to STALK you!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

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The famous Crying Indian shedding a tear from the Keep America Beautiful campaign!

Hitting the open road with your band can be an exciting and rewarding experience. To travel to new places and experience the beauty of nature and it’s surroundings in each location is a privilege in and of itself, aside from the thrill of the stage. But with so many bands out there touring, it’s important to take a moment to think about Mother Earth, so that we can insure the longevity of this beauty that we so often take for granted. After all, if she dies, then the beauty that inspires us will be lost and there will be no more roads to travel, and ultimately no more audience to play for. So in the spirit of all my Tree-hugging brothers and sisters of yesterday and today, I’d like to share a few simple tips that can help your band do it’s part by staying as Earth friendly as you can while on the road.

Turn It Off!

Whether touring in a van or a bus, staying at a hotel, or crashing on a sofa at a fans place, it’s easy to become complacent and leave things like lights, TV’s, radios, computers and other electronic devices on when we leave or are not really using them. It’s true that the hotel pays the electric bill, but the key is to conserve power so the less you use (even when away from home) the more we conserve. Little tiny things like unplugging your phone or iPod charger when not in use (which still draws power from the outlet even though it’s not plugged in to your device) can make a big difference and over time can add up to a lot of savings. So unplug more often and always turn off that light on your way out of the room!

Drink Up But Recycle!

Plenty of icy cold and piping hot beverages get guzzled down on the road and they all get poured out of some kind of container which in many cases just becomes a waste product. On one 2-3 week tour 4-5 guys or gals, plus crew and management can burn through enough soda cans, water bottles and beer kegs to fill a double decker tour bus till the windows are poppin’ out. So invest in a cheap stainless steel or reusable plastic water bottle and refill it when you can. Many venues will have a water cooler or sink with a filtration system and carrying your own bottle on your hip all day will also insure you stay hydrated too! Also put an extra bag in your van or bus for cans and bottles and either periodically or at the end of the run, drop them at a local recycle station. It’s the small efforts that makes a huge difference!

Spread The Word!

The best thing that you can do is set the example and then encourage your fans to do the same. I can remember looking at the floor after countless shows and seeing beer cups, cigarette butts and empty packaging all over the floor and wondering why people are too lazy to just throw it away when a trash can is 10 feet from them. Encourage your audience to join with you in your efforts to clean up the planet and ask them to respect the venue and throw away their trash and to help do their part to “join the band” in healing our Mother Earth. You’ll be surprised at how many fans will follow in your footsteps if you just lead the way!

So turn it UP, then turn it OFF! Drink it UP and SAVE the container. Charge it up then UNPLUG it! You CAN make a difference and that my friends is music to Mama Natures ears!!!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

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Fight For Your Right To Bond

Many aspiring guitarists move past the daily regimen of bedroom boot-camp to go fight victoriously in the real world of ROCK BANDS!!! Finding and forming that band and preparing for the battles ahead is no small task of it’s own, but the real secret to a winning band of rockers is to build a bond that will last.

Often, we just get so caught up in the rush of excitement with each show that we tend to forget that we are part of a team and each member carries the same weight within the unit. By working to build a bond between band mates early on, you are respectfully working together collectively to express your talents, making everything you do so much more expanded and infused with energy plus it all transfers over to the ears of the listener!

Dude, You Rock!

There are many ways to build a band into a brotherhood or sisterhood and just honestly caring about the other person can make a huge difference. It’s not the drummers fault that he had 26 pieces of gear to load in and outta the van and you have your axe and a modeling amp and that’s it! Give the man a hand and see if anyone else needs a hand with something. After all, once you graduate up to a refrigerator sized rack of gear, you’ll need a hand too! Also complimenting elements of the show that you liked is a great way to boost band morale! Everyone is a bit self-conscious of how they just performed so it’s nice to know your ‘homies’ were watching when ya done good!

I’ve Got Your Back Man!

Respecting each others space is also very important and has a few different meanings as well. First, it’s important to grant your band mates a certain amount of personal space. An example here is in the rehearsal room. Don’t be a space hog, work to create a balance of symmetry across the room, instead of making sure you have enough room to showboat and do the windmill! Another example would be when traveling in a van, be courteous of the others around you. When you pack 4-8 people with little sleep in a van and drive them over bumpy roads for 5 hrs, things can tend to annoy you quickly, so being courteous to your friends may rub off on them as well. The other aspect of granting space is to do so creatively. It’s great to help your band mates grow, but be sure not to butt in too far when it’s not necessary. Often, each guy or gal will favor their own tones, set-up, etc. so make suggestions lightly and don’t come off like you know it all.  Also keep in mind that creative people are often stifled when others suggest too many things before they’ve had a chance to really express their full idea. Being patient enough to hear everyone’s ideas played out will assure you the same attention gets paid to your input!

The bottom line is that when your in a band, you all need each other and have to have each others backs all the time. Too many good bands end over petty arguments and inflated egos and you, the elite readers of Share My Guitar are much too wise for such rubbish to bring down your band!

Can’t We All Just Get Along

So go down to the rehearsal spot, give your bassist two more inches of floorspace for his amp, tell your drummer his cymbals are shining like a freshly waxed Camero, and tell your singer that you totally know he can still sing as bad ass as Bruce Dickenson, and watch your band transform before your very eyes!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

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Photo by notsogoodphotography

For many years, bands from the U.S. have been told that the key to big time success requires making it big in Europe and Asia, then coming back to the States and building off of that success. In many ways this formula can work, but for a young band with a meager budget, touring overseas is no easy feat! After recently completing my first ever European tour, I felt compelled to share a few insights with the Share My Guitar audience in hopes of shedding a little light on both the possibilities and difficulties of touring abroad.

Getting The Gigs

Obviously the first step is getting the bookings. There are often independent club owners and show promoters who will want to book your band (many just off the fact that you are an American band), however it’s important to book enough gigs to make the trip feasible. That means that you will have to work out a budget and factor in all the expenses versus the dollars being brought in per gig. Don’t be afraid to ask the club or promoter if they can recommend other venues in neighboring cities or countries, as many promoters know each and work together, so they may find ways to cross promote events.

Promotion Is Key

Once you have lined up a dozen gigs over seas, it’s then time to hammer out a promo strategy. If you have a label or PR firm handling business, stay on them and make sure that they are getting the materials needed to each venue. If you are doing it yourself, then get on the internet and pound the virtual pavement! The internet is a huge means of communication and promotion in other countries (more so than in the U.S) and by attacking fan forums, Facebooks, etc., with quality info about your gigs, you can spread the word pretty quickly.

Equipment

Then there is the issue of gear. In most cases, shipping your full stacks, indoor pyrotechnics, and the quadruple bass drum kit is just not cost effective and can ruin your chance of breaking even or making a profit. With that in mind, requesting backline be provided is the way to go. Since the power and voltages are different in other countries, you also need power transformers for things like pedal boards, laptops etc., so ask for those as well. Keep in mind that you may not get everything you request but you can usually substitute a Mesa Boogie for that Bogner and dial in a pretty similar tone to back home. In a nutshell, only take what you absolutely need to get the job done and keep it light because it all costs money to ship.

Travel & Currency Exchange

The main thing to consider when looking into touring outside of the U.S. is travel and all the little things that come with it. Many countries are close together, making it easy to take a train or rent a van (and a driver too) which in the end is MUCH cheaper than flying everywhere. The other thing to consider that may be a hassle from time to time is getting the currency for each place you visit. It’s kind of like driving from LA to San Diego, and all of a sudden the money and the language is different. Doing a little research ahead of time can save you a great deal of hassle and aggravation when you are standing at McDonald’s wanting to buy a cheesburger for 5 Euros when all you have is 20 Kroners!

At any rate, touring abroad can be a great experience and an awesome way to build a whole new fanbase. The main thing to do is  make sure that you have all the peices of the puzzle in place before you go.

Happy Trails!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

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Over the past three or four decades, heavy music has seen many different levels of evolution. In the mid 1960s, there was a big influx of blues-based rock bands hailing from the U.K., many of which were developing stylistic elements like loud distorted guitars, power chords and up-tempo rhythms that would later become the hallmarks of heavy metal music.

Rock band Kiss in full glam flare, now go on and join the Kiss army!

Artists such as The Kinks and The Who started experimenting with feedback and created the now infamous wall of amps that paved the way for a new level of intensity in rock and roll. By the late 60s, songs like Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild and Iron Butterfly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida introduced rock radio to a beefier sound and lengthier song format. In 1969, the world was introduced to Led Zeppelin, who have come to be one of the most influential bands of all time, especially among metal artists. The 70s kicked right in with the emergence of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, two bands that have long been hailed as the originators of heavy metal. In the mid-70s, metal was in full swing, with bands like AC/DC and Judas Priest hitting the scene followed by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) that gave us bands like Iron Maiden and Motorhead, among many others.

By the late 70s, a new crop of rising stars such as KISS and Alice Cooper emerged that created a larger-than-life theatrical element, including stage makeup, that would lead the way for the dramatic music of the 1980s.

In the early 1980s, a whole new conglomeration of young rockers, such as Ratt, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, and Van Halen dominated L.A.’s famous Sunset Strip, MTV, and radio waves with their glam-rock imagery, technically proficient musical skills and anthemic vocal melodies. Also rising in the mid-80s was an underground insurgence of thrash metal’s meaner and faster sound that gave us legendary bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. By the late 80s, heavy metal was in full effect and taking the world by storm.

With the unfortunate passing of two iconic figures in Heavy Metal this week, Ronnie James Dio & Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, I felt it appropriate to honor their memories by honoring the genre of music they held dear to their hearts! Here is PT. I of my 2 part series… History and Evolution of Metal!

FEEL THE VIBES!

All vibration carries within it a frequency of sound. Some vibrations are inaudible, but many are detectable by the human ear. If you look at the insect and animal world, you see many examples of the living vibration of sound. All people carry their own frequency of vibration, and this frequency resonates throughout our bodies and touches us somewhere deep within. This is why each of us is drawn to a particular sound and style of music, and why what brings satisfaction to one person’s ear may be pure racket to another.

IT’S METAL, IT’S HEAVY…

So, with this in mind, let’s think for a moment about what draws many of us to be moved and uplifted by the ferocious and sonic onslaught of Heavy Metal. For many, it’s the release of a frantic energy that we build up inside of us; for others, it’s the raw power and passion behind the music. Metal has often taken a great deal of criticism for its dark and largely misunderstood lyrical content, but, in fact, metal has long been one of the deepest and most spiritually uplifting forms of art and has touched the hearts and minds of millions worldwide.

Photo by Roadside Guitars

Identify The Problem and Fix It!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been going over my guitar rig to get it all fixed up and ready for an upcoming tour. As I was soldering wires, velcro-ing pedals down, and getting all of the buzzes out of my axe after a good restring, I realized how much the preparation of the gear is much like the preparation of the player.

Life’s Like A Box Of… Screwdrivers?

Much like our gear, sometimes things get a bit tweaked, misaligned, and ultimately out of tune. Sometimes we just need to take out a screwdriver and see what’s going on for ourselves. For example, I fixed a Wah pedal just by looking inside and finding a little piece of cardboard misaligned. When you think about it, that was kinda like learning a solo then checking it against the music to tweak it back to perfection. I also re-wired an electrical plug. This was something that I hadn’t done before, but I looked at it, figured out how to make the repair and fixed it (without causing a fire too!). That was much like when you listen to a song and want to learn it but you think you can’t play it. Once you try and realize you can, then you have the power in your hands!

When it comes to being creative we often think of the need to “get in the creative mindset” which could take on many forms or ritual practices in the efforts to conjure up thy inner mojo. But there are many opportunities where the juices are flowing and a great idea comes a knockin’ and yet we choose not to open the door. Some of the BEST music was created in a moments time and started with a simple idea or melody that just seems to spring up from out of nowhere. These are the inner inspirations that speak to us and show us how to expand out creativity and over all ability as an artist.

Photo by rockmixer

The important thing is to act on the impulses when they begin to knock at you. I recently finished a tour in which one of the sponsors fed us quite often too. We all walked around the backstage and the bus humming little tunes about the delicious food we were eating and when I got home I was still humming this little melody in my head. That’s when the little creative gobblins started knocking and I graciously let them in. I sat down with my guitar and in less than two hours I had recorded guitars, bass, drums, and vocals and even mixed an awesome little jingle for that fine food establishment. I sent it to them and they LOVED IT! So creativity can come in even the smallest and most obscure manners and those are the opportunities that can transform your musicality and make you think outside the box.

You have to also remember to be receptive. It’s like the concept of emptying your cup so that you can pour more in it. We have to let go of our comfort zone and be willing to step outside the realm of what we know we do well and try to reach for something we know is something we must yet learn. Many times there is a self-confidence issue that looms over ones ability to just let go and try something new. So don’t be afraid to let loose and see what happens! You may just be pleasantly surprised!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

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What is “Self-Discovery?” The name implies a journey or a quest that will end in the finding of a personal treasure buried deep within oneself. This is esoterically correct, as self-discovery becomes a journey and the jewels we unearth do come from within. So often though, our tendency is to get stuck on the concept of the journey, always seeking another map leading to the treasure, ready to cast off for shores beyond the farthest horizons in search of it. But self-discovery really simply means self-realization, and to find it, you need look no further than yourself. It is the realization of who you are and for what reason you were given this talent and desire to express that which you are.

You Are Unique For a Reason

We have all been uniquely created and each embody our own essences, strengths, and weaknesses. The realization of the nature of our own uniqueness leads us to a fuller understanding of self. In the realization that we are all created so that we may express our individual uniqueness, we come to appreciate the unique qualities of others, thereby creating more harmony in our lives. It is by each individual’s expression of his or her own being that the whole creative force of life manifests itself in this world. Without the expression of your own individual spark, the fire of your desires will never burn and our world would become cold and stagnate.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Life is blessed with variety, and each of us is moved to action by a different means than is someone else. This is how the great symphony of life is composed. Each of us carries our one pitch, or our own note, and we are strung together in a harmonious balance, our note becoming an integral part of the music of life. We would not be graced with so many wonderfully unique genres of music had it not been for someone taking a chance to express an idea by putting his or her own spin on that which had brought inspiration to them. So, it is by this expression of individuality that the creative energy of our world expands.

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

Like this post? Then you won’t want to miss the other awesome posts we have planned. Subscribe to Share My Guitar and get new posts delivered daily…for FREE!

It’s easy to get yourself amped up and rockin’ when you are learning your craft as a guitarist.  When you strap on your favorite axe, plug in to your amp, hit that first note and feel the vibration surge through the air, it’s electrifying! At that point the adrenaline kicks in and you are on fire! But there often comes a time when you have reached a peak and the creative juices seem to lie stagnate or even dry up. So I pose the age old question (one I hear many aspiring actors say here in Hollyweird), what’s your inspiration?

Find Your Inspiration

There are no limits to what can be a source of inspiration and it matters not if you are a songwriter or just a hobbyist, inspiration and motivation are key components to perfecting your craft. You have to have a desire to play or practice and that desire is usually sparked by something that inspires you to want to pick up your guitar and be expressive.

One form of inspiration is listening. Just simply listening to music and dissecting the instruments, their tones, and the overall vibe of the song can do wonders to expand your musical horizons and make you want to emulate the things you hear that strike a chord with you.  I can remember spending hours with my former co-guitarist just playing songs for each other and pointing out the different textures of sounds, rhythms, progressions, and how they all came together to make the song interesting. This is also a great way to discover new things that you yourself may have never given a chance (I even liked Insane Clown Posse when my buddy pointed out certain nuances in their production value).

Check Out the Local Music Scene!

Another GREAT way to get inspired is to go see your favorite bands or live shows in general. Nothing gets you pumped to play like seeing your idol on stage tearing it up! Seeing Joe Satriani for the first time for example, I went home and immediately plugged in and played guitar till about 3am… or until my mom told me to turn down the racket, I don’t remember!

One of the things that helped me to push myself and motivated me was seeing other guitar players in the local scene as well.  When you’re striving to be the best and there is a kid down the block who is creating quite a buzz, it pushes you to keep up and stay ahead of the pack. Having a competitive spirit can inspire you to better yourself but don’t be competitive to be cocky (see my last post), but to push yourself beyond any limitations you may find that you have but others don’t. Just knowing that someone else can do it should inspire you to be able to do the same.

Don’t Give Up!

There is no limit to what may inspire you. Whether it is music, nature, art, movies, beauty,  just be excited to have an outlet to express yourself artistically. Take all of that inspiration now and put it to good use as it is just a precursor to the REAL effort that follows. The great inventor Thomas Edison said it best:

“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration”.

So get inspired, then GET TO WORK!!

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Scott “SVH” Von Heldt is a staff writer for SMG. Scott is currently the lead guitarist for Brian “Head” Welch (ex-Korn) and has worked with members of White Zombie, Cirque Du Soliel and many others. In late 2008 he released the first book of his Mystic Art of Self-Discovery series entitled Mind Over Metal: The Musician’s Guide to Mental Mastery.

Email: SVH@sharemyguitar.com

Like this post? Then you won’t want to miss the other awesome posts we have planned. Subscribe to Share My Guitar and get new posts delivered daily…for FREE!