Ari Herstand

Until you have real fans who passionately love your music. Who fall asleep to you. Wake up to you. Drive to you. Work to you. Play to you. And make love to you. You need to figure out ways to get people out to your shows.In your early stages you won't have fans. You'll have peopl...

Fill up your business card pocket protector containers. Unwrap your CDs. Update your email signatures.The first Ari's Take meetup has arrived!I'd been planning on holding some form of gathering of minds in the physical world for sometime now after many reader requests. As much as...

I don't own a television. 10 years ago that would have seemed ludicrous. But now, in a Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go world, it's quickly becoming the norm. At least for those under 30. So, needless to say, I haven't watched much of the Olympics this year. I was on a Southwest flight the...

Last night I went to a spot in Koreatown known for their coffee. I learned this after I went in. Actually, I was just walking around the neighborhood looking for a cafe and found this spot because they had a sign out front with a photo of a sexy looking coffee cocktail.My brother...

Pandora Radio just quietly updated their submission process to allow anyone to submit music for consideration WITHOUT a physical CD.Finally.For as long as I can remember, the submission process for independent music has been an incredible headache. In the past, you had to submit...

I'm sitting in on trumpet with another band at a gig tomorrow. The bassist (and head 'chart maker') just sent the horn section a Dropbox link to the charts and mp3s as a refresher to listen to before the gig.I clicked the mp3 link hoping it would open a player and I could just pl...

If LA has taught me anything, it's the importance of networking. I go on lunch and coffee dates (and set even more potential 'let's grab lunch sometime' dates) like I'm starving and undergoing life threatening caffeine withdrawal.The thing is, sometimes my dates are late. And I'v...

Many of you have been following the MondoTunes drama on Twitter (here), (here) and (here). I reviewed them (and 6 other digital distribution services). Before I posted my full report, the founder, Steve Norris sent me a looooong email trashing the other services. I ignored it and...

We're nearing the holidays and musicians have been asking me what rates they should pitch to buyers who request their services. Be it a corporate holiday party, rotunda in the mall or a corner in a restaurant. This is an entire business in it of itself. I have friends, well, one...

They say a picture tells a thousand words. Well, a video tells a million. You need that video that shows who you are. What you do best. Shows a bit of your personality. And sells you. Anyone who watches this video will think, 'yeah these guys got it.' This video you can pass alon...