"Aussie Band Asks For $0 To Keep Making Music & Touring" 

Hey guys, Cabba here. I was about to launch a Patreon campaign for $0, but thought the better of it. Our new album is coming out in a few months, and thanks to your support we've been able to fully self-fund it, so we don't need more of your money. Especially in the Forged In Flame era over the last 3 years, thank you so much for buying the album, buying the merch and coming to our gigs, it means the world to us and allows us to keep going. 

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US - KEEP YOUR MONEY! 

Being in a band is…

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"Sharing music success – How to run a band meeting" 

“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery  

Musicians are pretty cvlt and cool, but no musician is too cool to hold a band meeting. There must be a reason that you’re in a band, whether it be purely for creative expression, active touring, making killer albums, fame and glory or just to hang out with your band mates, whatever the reason it is imperative to ensure you are on the same level as the rest of the band, therefore effective communication is a must.  

You might jam with the…

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"Practical Solutions – The art of drumming without drums" 

It’s pretty rare these days for a drummer to have access to a space where they can practice comfortably on an acoustic kit. With many musos living in flats, apartments, student accommodation and share houses, it can be pretty hard to get in a practice without disturbing anyone or getting kicked out.  

Here are some tips and alternatives for you drummers out there.  

ELECTRIC KIT  
This is a great but expensive option. If you’re in a house or well-insulated apartment you should be fine, but the pads…

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"Short & Punchy, how to design a captivating bio for your band" 

A well-structured and eye-catching bio is an extremely important part of introducing your band to professionals and fans, and yet so many bands fail to deliver information that is relevant and compelling.  

Today we look at putting together a write-up that would be the first contact point when people encounter your band. This bio may be used when approaching record labels, venues, promoters, radio stations, street press, webzines, as well as having it displayed on your websites and social media.  

Think…

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"Recording with Claim The Throne, an Ash Perspective" 

Album number 3….where do I start?  
I guess by saying hello to Amos Polglaze, because he’s probably the only person reading this.  
I’ve never written a bodge before, and aside from 3 highly fucked Farthing Wheel albums, I’ve never recorded an album. Big mistake right?  
Well I’m too old to care about anything except my greying hair and thinning pubes, so I’m doing it anyway.  
How did I convince the band to go along with this?  
It all started with the Triumph and Beyond demos we did way back in 2009. They were…

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"10 Step Guide to Booking your Band a Successful Gig" 

The benefits of booking your own show are a plenty, with the ability to take complete control of the event, maximise exposure for your band, and enjoy greater monetary rewards.  Consider this 10-step guide to running a successful live show.  

1. Book a venue  

Date and location play a super big role in planning a successful gig. You want a venue that is easily accessible for punters on a date that doesn’t clash with other events. The best venues require a big notice period, sometimes being fully booked…

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"How to prepare for a band audition or fill-in spot" 

Recently I filled in for a local band ‘Wrath Of Fenrir’, after their drummer broke his hand 3 days before their show supporting Korpiklaani.  I hadn’t listened to their stuff in over 12 months so I thought I’d better get cracking! The scenario reminded me of a common and possibly more daunting instance – the audition. Here are a few tips that have helped me out in the past.  

GET HOLD OF SOME RECORDINGS  
If the band has any demos or releases, get hold of the tracks and have a listen through. Don’t get…

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"5 Online Marketing Tools for Band to Check Out!" 

Want to build your band’s online presence and keep up with the latest music marketing technology? Check out some of these upcoming online tools for musicians!  

RSS FEEDS  

Some hear the term ‘blog’ and get immediately angry. You may be surprised however as to what actually constitutes a blog (you’re reading one now!). They don’t necessarily have to be ‘opinion’ or ‘articles’, in fact your band could just post your news into a blog.  

Rather than just having a text file on your website, a ‘blog’ is a…

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"Opening Shows, how to get a support slot with your favourite band" 

Although it may seem unrealistic to some, it IS possible for hardworking musicians to play the same stage and lineup as their favourite bands!  

Not only can it be a dream come true, it is awesome exposure for your band. The perfect opportunity to play in front of bigger crowds and the potential to gain new fans is massive. It’s sad but true that many punters don’t go to local gigs. They go to live shows when their favourite overseas band is in town but it stops there. However, if the support act blows…

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"Flawless Victory – Don’t miss a thing by writing a gig worksheet" 

You booked a gig yourself? Good on ya mate, the scene needs more people like you! You’ve got the venue and lineup sorted, now it’s time to communicate with the other bands to ensure it’s a successful and smoothly run show! Not only is a worksheet an essential communication tool, it can be a handy checklist for promoters to tick off all aspects that need covering.  

So bring up a blank word doc or spreadsheet, pour yourself a peppermint tea, gather round to listen to Cabba and start building your template…

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