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Become A Better Musician – VintageLogos Hours, Covid 19

Category Archives: Live Performance

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Become A Better Musician – VintageLogos Hours, Covid 19

Posted on March 26, 2020 - 11:38 am by

It’s Shawn & Jennifer the owners of VL. Now is the time to pickup your instrument and practice, write songs & prepare your music for future gigs. This will help you become a better musician.  We totally appreciate everyones support over the past 23 years and plan to remain open through this difficult time. Check out VintageLogos.com for FREE shipping on Custom Bass Drumheads and more. See you on stage soon, ROCK ON and Stay Safe!

Modified Business Hours – Covid 19

Mon & Tues: 10am to 5pm EST
Wed: Closed
Thurs: 10am to 5pm EST
Fri: 10am to 4pm EST

Phone:
Toll-Free USA & Canada:
888-351-0075

Phone:
513-351-0075

How To Choose The Perfect Portable PA System

Posted on January 29, 2019 - 12:01 am by
Portable PA System

Performing live is the oldest form of entertainment. It started with a king’s personal minstrel and has formed into something completely new yet completely the same. If you want to stand out and be prepared nowadays, you’ll probably need a portable PA system.

The question is: how do you choose the best one for your situation?

Frequency Of Shows

First, you have to figure out if buying a PA system is even worth it. Do you play out enough that it warrants an investment like this? Or would it make more sense to rent a sound system from a local company?

If you play shows on the regular, you’ll probably need a sound system, unless every venue you play provides one. And if you only play out every once and a while, it may make more fiscal sense to rent.

Inputs

Next, you should think about how many inputs you need. If you’re in a band, you’ll have to break down every single wire for every instrument and figure out how many inputs it will take.

Once you figure that out, it’s better to round up. Get a PA system that has more inputs than you think you’ll need, just in case.

Venues

Now you’ll need to figure out what PA system will work best for the venues you’ll be playing. If the venue does not provide a sound system, you should take into consideration the size and capacity of the venue.

The first detail to think about is how far away the back of the room is from the speakers. You want people in the back to hear every note you play, but you also don’t want to damage the hearing of those in the front row.

It’s all about balance.

Here are some general guidelines for how far away your PA system speakers should be from the back of the venue or the edge of the outdoor event:  

  • Coffee shop, bar, brewery, restaurant: 15-30 feet
  • Auditorium, small outdoor festival, club: 30-100 feet
  • Arena, large outdoor festival, concert hall: 100 plus feet

Make sure you, one of your bandmates, or your music-savvy manager stands in the back of the venue during sound check, just to make sure the volume is loud enough but not too loud.

PA System Power

Knowing how many watts your PA system needs is also very important. Again, it’s about balance. Not too much power, not too little.

So here’s a general idea of how many watts your PA system needs depending on the venue you’re playing:

  • Coffee shop, bar, brewery, restaurant: 250 W or less
  • Auditorium, small or medium outdoor festival, club: 250-3,000 W
  • Arena, large outdoor festival, concert hall: 4000-15,000 W

Presenting The Best You On Stage

Having a high-quality PA system not only helps make your band sound awesome, but it also shows people you’re serious about your craft. Plus, a good sound system takes away the frustration that sometimes comes with shows. All you want to do is play music and an issue with the sound is screwing everything up.

That’s why buying the right PA system for you and your band is so important.

Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter and producer based in Austin, TX. He’s also the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time musicians succeed.

How To Form A New Band

Posted on January 17, 2019 - 12:00 pm by
how to form a new band

Starting a band can be super tough, as you may know. And if you do it the wrong way, it can make things even more difficult. It’s crucial to know how to form a new band the right way.

So here are the basic steps to starting a band.

Know What Type Of Band You Want

This is a super important first step. You have to know what kind of group you want to start.

What’s the general genre you want to play? What instruments will you need? Will you primarily be gigging or recording, or both?

Knowing what you need ahead of time will help you find the right people for your band.

Find Musicians

Now that you have a basic vision, it’s time to find band members. You’ll need them to be talented (obviously), reliable, and easy to get along with.

Here are some ways to connect with other musicians:

  • Visit parts of your city where buskers play — maybe you’ll hear someone playing on the street who would be interested in joining a band
  • Join Facebook groups for musicians in your area and post a “wanted ad”
  • Go to local songwriters or musician groups that meet in your city on a regular basis
  • Use the old fashioned “poster on a telephone pole” method with tear-off tabs that list your number or email

Then interview potential members like it’s a job interview. Come up with a set of questions to ask each person and try to get a feel for their vibe.

Could you be in a band with this person long-term?

Create Band Rules

Even Coldplay, one of the biggest and most successful bands today, has a list of band rules. It’s basically a number of things that each member agrees to do or not do, and rules for the group as a whole.

You should have something like this.

I’m not saying you should be fighting about recording or songwriting royalty splits (if you are, that might be a sign that it’s not going to work). You have to have a joint mission, a common vision, a passion for the same things.

So a simple list of rules for every band member to follow is a great idea. That way, everyone is on the same page.

This could include things like:

  • When and how often will you practice?
  • Where will you practice?
  • Where and how often will you play shows?
  • Who does what in preparation for shows (booking, merch, setup, teardown, etc.)?
  • How do you make decisions as a band? Is someone “the boss” or will you vote on it?

Start Playing Gigs

This one is obvious. The only way to get better as a band is to play together as much as possible. Practicing together is the first step, but playing for a live audience is a whole new thing.

The more you perform together, the better you’ll understand how each member handles their instrument, what their onstage demeanor is like, and whether or not you’ll bond in the process. This is where you’ll really see if this group of people can make this band work.

– – – –

Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter and producer based in Austin, TX. He’s also the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time musicians succeed.

VintageLogos Has The Best Design Services Around — Here’s Why

Posted on January 8, 2019 - 12:01 am by

Every custom drum head we make is driven by people like you. We strive to help musicians and bands succeed, and we do that by improving their image with the best design services out there.

We seek to help you visually communicate your awesomeness to your audience.

But you probably have some questions, so let’s cover those now.

Why Should I Brand My Drum Head?

What is one thing that will make your band stand out from all the other bands? First, your music has to be heads above the rest (we already assume that’s the case).

But the next thing is to enhance your image — your brand. The best way to do that is to improve your stage presence by branding your drum heads and amp grill cloths.

When people look at you and your band on stage, whether you’re opening for an all-star group or playing at a Battle Of The Bands, they need to know your name. Custom drum heads do this for you.

Branding your band helps define your stage presence, sets you apart, and makes you look like the professional you are.

What Do Other People Think?

As we’ve seen from our previous clients, getting a custom design from us changes things for the better.

Here’s what our customers think about us:

“VintageLogos knocked it out of the park again! Best advertising out there! Super fast, and perfect every time!” – Tom

“This company is by far the BEST professional graphic company that I have EVER seen! They did a great job doing my bass drum heads, and people everywhere that I play just drool over my Custom bass drum heads! Way to go, Vintage Logos!” – Joey

“Great product looks awesome!!!  This is THE place to go for great graphics!!” – Jim

What Options Does VintageLogos Offer?

If you decide to work with us to help brand your band, we offer a ton of great services.

We can help you with designing your logo and even making custom hand-drawn illustrations for you. VintageLogos’ staff has talent, experience, and professionalism when it comes to logo design. You’re sure to end up with an image that fits your band perfectly.

On top of our custom design service, we can also clean up your existing design. Maybe you already have a logo that you love, but it just needs a little help. Or maybe you have a photo that needs some retouching or photoshopping. That’s no problem — we can smooth it out, make it snap, and generally just clean it up and make it look professional.

How Quickly Can I Get My Design?

Simply put, we work fast. Have a big show next month or even in a couple weeks? You can count on us.

Here’s the breakdown of our turnaround times:

  • Simple Production – 1 to 3 business days for the first set of proofs (M-F)
  • Advanced Design – 2 to 4 business days for the first set of proofs ( M-F)
  • Premium Design – 3 to 5 business days for the first set of proofs (M-F)

Like we said, we’re fast.

Sounds Great — How Do I Get Started?

We thought you’d never ask. To learn more, you can check out our Design Services page and hit the “Get Started” button. That’s where you can tell us exactly what you need — what design service(s) you need, what products you want, upload your image or logo, and when you need it.

Plus, we’re super nice and friendly.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

We know what it’s like being a DIY musician, so we purposefully made our prices reasonable and doable.

Here’s what you can expect to pay for our services:

  • Simple Production: $25 to $100
  • Advanced Design: $130 to $225
  • Premium Design: $325 and up

See what we mean by “doable”?

 

vintage logos design services

Being A Drummer In 2019: New Year’s Resolutions That Offer Hope

Posted on January 1, 2019 - 1:01 am by
Being A Drummer

I’m not going to tell you what to do. Every musician should create their own goals and career trajectory, especially because being a drummer in 2019 can look very different depending on the person.

But there are creative ways to go about reaching your goals. And if you’re looking for some New Year’s Resolutions ideas, this is the post for you.

Here are four things you can do in 2019 to boost your music career and give you hope for the future.

Join Or Form A Band

If you’re not already in a band, you need to be — especially if you’re a drummer.

I’m not saying drummers need a band to succeed, but the whole idea of drums is that they work best with other instruments. Plus, it’s just way more fun to play music with friends.

If you don’t have musician friends or you’ve just moved to a new city, you can look up a Facebook group specific to your area.

For example, go to the Facebook search bar and type in “Nashville musicians” and check out the groups that show up. Then post in that group that you’re looking for fellow musicians to start a band.

You could also meet people the old fashioned way — in-person. Check out local artists who are playing concerts in your area, stick around after the show, and introduce yourself. Make sure you have business cards so you can quickly exchange contact info and websites (VistaPrint offers cheap and good custom business card).

Create A Practice Schedule

You’ll never be in a band if you’re not good enough. Yeah, you could do all the right networking steps and connect with other artists, but if you’re drumming is not up to par, it will all be for naught. It will go nowhere.

That’s why it’s super important to have a practice schedule (you may already be doing this). Having a schedule keeps you accountable. It tells you to practice even when you may not feel like it.

Sticking to a practice schedule will make you a better drummer. And the better you are, the better chance you have of being a successful drummer and having a hopeful future.

Focus On Advertising Your Band

Once you join a band, that’s when things get fun. You can start practicing as a band, booking gigs, and getting your name out there.

The only problem is that last step — promoting yourself.

Many musicians cringe at the thought of advertising or promoting themselves or their band, but it’s necessary if you want to stay a band.

And one simple way you, as a drummer, can do that is to get a custom drum head with your band name and logo on it.

Find New Venues To Play

Once you’ve joined a band and practiced together, it’s time to get out there and start playing shows. You could play the venues that all the other bands in your genre are playing. But you can also get creative.

You can look into some more unexpected venues to play to tap untapped audiences, like people’s houses, certain restaurants, and local record stores. And as long as you figure out the right rates, you can make money as a musician this way.

If you commit to these resolutions for the new year and apply yourself, you may find yourself with more hope for your drumming career and a success-focused path.

– – – –

Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter and producer based in Austin, TX. He’s also the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time musicians succeed.

Get Your Musician The Perfect Gift – Custom Drumheads & More

Posted on December 4, 2018 - 12:01 am by

Get Your Musician The Perfect Gift 

VintageLogos is offering a coupon this holiday season — for a limited time, save 10% on all of our products.

To save 10%, use the promo code XMAS2018 at checkout. This is good until March 15, 2019, so you may want to act fast. It’s the perfect personalized gift for yourself or the musician in your life!

Don’t know what to order? Give a gift card. Your musician can design their own Custom Bass Drum Head, Speaker Grill Cloth and Bass Drum Shield Logos. Check out all of our custom products and band merch @ VintageLogos.com

VintageLogos wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday

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