Happy Tax Day, Artists

tax tips for freelancing artists

Brewing Up a New Music Concert: the finances, the timelines, the troubles

One of my life goals is to encourage transparency around making a living as an artist--how much we make, how we do it, and all of the gritty details that are rarely-of-ever discussed in the real-world, home, or academia. So in this low key rando blog post, I will discuss in depth, the collaboration, finances, …

iOS Live Streaming DIY Tech

During the month of June 2018, I had the pleasure of writing a four-article series for New Music Box, the publication of New Music USA. I received this invitation after presenting an hour-long talk at the 2018 New Music Gathering, at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Although live streaming has gained a bit of popularity, it …

Something to Hunt

Since the fall, I have had the pleasure of working with ÆPEX Contemporary Performance to produce and present a concert of music by living, diverse composers. I am the only "white" male composer on the program. This concert is today and you should either come or live stream it. I present two arguments for supporting this project. …

Go Fund Yourself

I recently released my first guest blog with The Portfolio Composer. It's about making your own opportunities and it's specific to composers and musicians. You can read it here. The conversation surrounding how to make it as an artist- 5-9, freelance, or something in between- is never ending. It is always changing. It's also something you …

Talking about Live Streaming

You should be live streaming. This is why I spent an hour talking with composer Garrett Hope, mastermind behind the Portfolio Composer Podcast, about the subject. Music and video work so well together, and it has never been easier. There is no excuse for not streaming your work. The podcast discusses some of the technical nature …

Dear (Music) Students

Dear (music) students, I bet this semester will be filled with hours of practicing, too many required courses (like music theory), and many hours of self-doubt, wondering how these activities will lead to a job. Well, I bring you this encouraging message: "they won't." All of these things we want you to do will not …

how to be a composer 3): don’t wait for inspiration

As a high schooler who wrote songs for his ska band, I relied on inspiration to compose my songs. You all know the feeling... something inspires you to create and you are filled with a surplus of motivation and ideas. It feels good, it all sounds right, and then, as if someone snuffed out your flame, …

stream THE BEST THING EVER now

What else is there to say? This will be THE BEST THING EVER. Stream will start around 7:20 PM EDT. Here is the program: AS_BEST_THING_17_PROGRAM And here is how you can support What is Noise: https://www.gofundme.com/whatisnoisecd    

What is The BEST THING EVER?

All about the concert premiere of Adam Schumaker's "The BEST THING EVER"