Branden Barnett Music

and i mean nobody.

I know you put a lot of time, feelings and pride into your music.  You bang out release after release with the requisite release show at skully’s.  You pander daily for likes and requests on facebook.  I get it.  I do the same thing… but… NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ABOUT YOUR BAND.

This is the single most important piece of knowledge i have discovered over the years and i think it is responsible for the modest amount of national success that my band has cultivated.

What do people give a shit about?

1.  How you make them feel

2.  If you are a genuine, real, open, nice person.

3.  If you care about them as real people.

way to common scenario:

Let’s say you have a show at a local (or hopefully bar out of town because you MUST tour… that’s for another rant though) club… you get there and load in.  This is your first time playing said bar with your new, life-altering band.  After load in you skulk in the corner nursing your free beer and text your girlfriend until showtime.  when you take the stage you make sure to have your aloof, disconnected rock face on and proceed to tell the audience with your body language that you don’t care what they think… you do it for you… for the art… man… Afterwards you give a few “oh… thanks man” followed by you turning around to get more free beer… The sound was horrible… you couldn’t hear anything… so you, being the artist that you are, go ahead and tell the club owner how bad the sound was and that they need to get their shit together.  This is the second conversation you have had with this person in your life.  Finally, you head to your watering hole of choice and tell everyone there how bad the sound was and how awesome you were.  “you should have been there man”

SHUT UP

you have failed at life

you have done real damage to your ability to thrive and make music in whatever town you were in.

Here is the easy fix

1. You GET to do this.  Playing your music in front of anyone is a privilege.  If they like it and want to tell you so it is a BIG DEAL… every time it happens.  This must be at the forefront of your mind at all times. (shane sweeney told me this and it changed my life)

2. Talk to everyone for the sake of connecting to them as another human being. Introduce yourself to the bartender, the promoter and the door person.  Talk to them.  You are all at work together at the same job all night.  If a member of your band is “not good with people” or tortured or sad or busy scribbling lyrics down and being awesome… Put them in the van until show time.  They are and will always be a liability to your  band, livelihood and reputation.

3.  Your fans are your life.  They are your friends.  These are people who believe in you…like your friends or your mom.  Treat them like that.  Cultivate real friendships with them.  You make records to express your demon filled soul but you play out to connect with people.  Don’t be a dick.  Connect and enjoy the process of meeting like minded good people.

so remember…

NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ABOUT YOUR BAND

they give a shit about you

only if you give a shit about them.

love,

Branden

1. Yesterday I was punched in the face by a homeless person.
2. This weekend i was attacked and mauled by an 8 pound dog.
3. I have somehow gained the nickname “Busquit” in the last 72 hours.

This is what life looks like right now.

I have a new job.  In this job I drive to homeless shelters and do psychotherapy on said homeless people.  It’s pretty fun but sometimes you get punched in the face.  After i found myself waking up everyday at noon with a headache, worrying about my late rent and 4 months of unpaid utilities… i finally had to get an adult job… at 30.  Well done.

Bis-quit and Gravy

A few days ago i was in buffalo, Ny sitting in the loft of an old barn with headphones on my ears.  I was enlisted to produce Micah Schnabel’s new solo record a few months ago.  It was a manic, tall boy fueled three days of sweat and dog bites.  i played bass, micah played drums and sam composed several orchestras to lay over the songs.  In the end i think we made something meaningful.  I can’t stop listening to it and i wish i could share it with you all right now.  Knowing micah he will probably “leak” it to some people very soon.  Micah has become one of my closest friends and brothers in arms.  We have nicknames… I’m bus-quit… he is gravy… yup… that happend.  Here is our first listen to the first track we finished complete with dance party.

Hear a new Micah Track and see our sexy asses shake here

Kickstarted

So i kickstarted and won.  I want to thank everyone who helped fund my new record. I feel loved and my music feels legitimized.  Thank you thank you thank you.  After producing Micah’s new songs i am left with a “back to the drawing board” feeling. I think i can do better so i’m spending the next month editing and adding new songs to the track list.

Talk soon,

Branden