Eat, Drink and Get Paid!

I had recently written an overview of the Zoom R24 and the simplicity of recording without a computer, interface, and all that comes with setting up a computer based work-station.
After all, I am all about getting ideas documented in the the easiest fashion – without straying away from the creative process and falling into the depths of mouse clicks, knob turning, cables and connections.
Today, we are going to explore a product that is so simple to use, cost very little in terms of buying gear, and turns the isea of recording into your computer into a matter of one usb connection.
The Icicle is a USB converter and mic preamp combo that allows you to connect any XLR microphone directly into your computer via USB
Made by a company called Blue, known for making amazing microphones, Blue has taken the confusion out of getting music recorded digitally.
Here is how Blue describes the Icicle:
“The Icicle is Blue’s new stylish USB converter and mic preamp combo that allows you to connect any XLR microphone directly into your computer via USB! The Icicle features a studio quality microphone preamp, 48V phantom power, fully balanced low noise front end, analog gain control, and driverless operation. Setup is a snap! “
It is true. Not only is the retail price below $60, all you need is a microphone and a computer.
I had a recording in less that 5 minutes – that’s total time of starting up my Mac, launching Garageband, plugging in the Icicle, and hitting record.
The unit has a cool retro ice blue glow when plugged in, and a level knob to adjust gain. It really doesn’t get any easier than that.
I recommend anybody wanting a uber-simple way to document music digitally, to check out the Blue Icicle and other great Blue products here :
http://www.bluemic.com/icicle/

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

Tube Lamp

I was in Austin, Texas for a week this month and as it was my first visit to the “live music capital of the US” I was blown away.
Who would have thought that you could find so much music in such a small place. Austin is a large city, but exploring it seemed like visiting a bunch of small town neighborhoods. The hospitality from folks was such a shift from busy California, and everything from the food ( so many places, such great eats – so little time!) to the music ( more music than you can imagine) to the artisans that are almost everywhere.
You get a sense that Austin is a town built on a foundation of creativity. I have to say that just the designs of storefront signs alone were amazing.
One artist in particular stood out to me, and he had a small un-assuming booth in the SoCo district of Austin.
His name is Justin Telpak of Indio Arts and he is an amazing woodworker, guitar builder/ repairman, and overall creative guy. What drew me to his booth was his retro-looking Tube Lamp.
A hand-made table lamp that glows with the retro vibe of old tube radios and electronics from the 50′s and 60′s.
Justin has his tube lamp’s set up on a reostat (dimmer), so a turn of the vintage knob brightens or dims the 40 watt tube like bulbs to a bright, warm , or smoldering low glow. I purchased one for my recording studio as a cool, vibey, light source, but the design, and workmanship would warrant a great table lamp in your house.
Super nice guy, great workmanship, and a fantastic, unique design.
Learn more about Justin and Indio Arts at http://www.indiarts.com
He sells the tube lamps for $150 and he gladly ships them to you.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

These days the amount of gear to record and capture a performance is mind blowing. From minidisc to Pro Tools, Garageband to stand alone recorders, technology has made it easier and easier to record audio.
When I started recording my songs, I used a portable cassette recorder. I would record the rhythm tracks into the portable, take the cassette, play it through my home stereo, then with another blank in the portable, add a track with the original blasting behind me. Rinse, repeat until you have a whole pile of sounds on one tape. Yes, it was primitive, but the joy was the unexpected results one would get. True depth of field recording and many surprises.
These days, the element of surprise has been lost with pristine audio and technological advancement.
For the past 10 years I have been using a computer based recording system. What started out as a HP PC running Cool Edit has turned into a Mac G5 running Logic Studio with tube pre’s, software plug-ins, interfaces,…and so list goes on and on.
Lately, however, I have been longing for the simplicity and fun capturing sound was and have been scouring the internet looking for quick, easy tools to write and record.
Before I buy, I have a few prerequisites :

I spent a few weeks reading reviews and checking forums. Browsing all the major online retailers and comparing products. Time to pull the trigger.
Funny, out of all the products I looked at, the most affordable and function friendly ones I found were from the SAME company : ZOOM by Samson

Zoom R24 Recorder : Interface : Controller : Sampler

I absolutely cannot believe how much is in this small footprint of a tool. 24 tracks, built in stereo condenser mic’s, Interface with Phantom Power, Sampler and the the unit can be used as a controller for your DAW – except Pro Tools. I’m running Logic and Garageband so it just works for me.
I’m not going to review the unit, but here is a youtube video of the demo from Summer NAMM 2010 :
Zoom R24 – Summer NAMM 2010
Check it out for yourself – street price of $499.

Zoom H4n – Handy Recorder

Talk about simplicity, the Zoom H4n – Handy Recorder is just that. A field recorder with x/y stereo mics, the ability to record four tracks at once, and use it as a computer interface.
I run a line out of my Bose L1 into the H4n, and record my live performances in pristine digital.
Check it out here:
Zoom H4n Handy Recorder
With a street retail of $299 it doesn’t get much better than that.

Stay musical!!

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

Get a gig already…
As I have been adding to this blog, emails have been coming in from around the globe. Apparently musicians actually read this thing.
We are so lucky to live in a time were information can be shared so easily at the click of a button. Plus, who likes licking stamps.
I have written about equipment, getting a cd together, blah, blah, blah….but never about actually landing the gig.
Woke up this morning and I received an email from Matthew Dorhauer in Australia asking advice on landing a gig in Sydney.
Matthew is a finger-style guitarist looking to get a gig, and had a few questions regarding the negotiation.
Here is what Matthew wrote:

Hi Vincent,
Hope you’re well! I came across your blog today and thought that some of the tips you offered were really smart. I myself am just starting out playing fingerstyle guitar arrangements like those of Tommy Emmanuel and Andy McKee in restaurants here in Sydney.
I was hoping to get a quick opinion from you if you don’t mind. I simply love playing but the income helps support me. I have approached a few intimate venues and offered to play for 2 to 2.5 hours a night for $150 (AUS) a night which is around $138 (US) for your comparison. On the proviso that I get a regular booking once a fortnight. I am a solid player and play some nice arrangements, but I don’t know what anyone else charges, is that high or low?
I would very much appreciate your opinion. You’re half way across the world but I’m sure you’d be able to offer some advise based on your great blog.
Thanks in advance Vincent,
Matthew.

My advice for you would be to take any gig you can get. Don’t fret (pun intended!) about the amount of money right now – this can be addressed later. Restaurants are a great launching pad to bigger and better things.
Not only is it a great live environment to rehearse your material in a low stress environment ( not a stage with lights and big sound), you have the ability to meet people that could potentially hire you for far more lucrative events.

There are a few qualifications and considerations for the job. Style is probably more important than repertoire – how you play it more than what you play. Jazz standards, folk tunes, classical pieces, pop-rock songs, Brazilian and South American stuff, I play mostly my own tunes – they’ll all work if you play them in a style that works with the venue. Throttle back a bit and create an ambiance conducive to dining and talking. Like it or not, basically you are musical wallpaper.

There are the basic requisites:

Dress the part (remember, you are on stage – albeit a tiny one, you represent the restaurant!) and not creating a disturbance when you’re setting up or tearing down (people are probably eating).

Keep the equipment to a minimum – I don’t bring my extension speaker cabinet that I use for bigger gigs. Most of these owners have put a lot of thought into the look and feel of their establishment, and they don’t want a bunch of electronic gear cluttering up the joint.

The volume is critical. Get a few steady customers to complain about you being too loud, and you’ll need to have one of those uncomfortable discussions with the owner (like being called to the principal’s office). A restaurant owner has never asked me to turn it up. A club owner, yes, a restaurant owner, no.

For me, the restaurant is marketing heaven for musicians. The potential client already hears your playing ( the audition), obviously likes it enough to inquire, and you can develop a personal relationship with this person – give them a business card, cd, whatever it takes.
The majority of my income is from private parties and events that come from my weekly restaurant gigs. Once you become a regular feature, it quickly becomes a void when the live music is not there.
I would find a few places that I think my music would be a perfect match. Approach them with the opportunity to have you perform in their restaurant. It is even better if you do this as a customer – ask for the manager, tell them your having lunch and you think that your music is the perfect fit for the place.
Before you even talk, make sure you have a website,business card, and music on CD or online all set up prior. CD is better as you can ask them to play it in the venue right then.

Offer a free night -( I know, sounds crazy) in exchange for tips and a meal. At the end, if it feels right, then approach with the money talk and a weekly performance schedule.
My first gig in a restaurant, the owners came in as patrons. I played for four hours solid – without a break – and landed the gig.
The next week, I not only had a weekly gig, but played a private party at their home. Yes, I was stressed. Yes, I repeated some songs. Best of all, I still have the gig and a personal relationship with the owners. They own two other bistros in town, and that one gig turned to three.

Small things matter – be smart.
Be friends with the establishment – including the staff.
Play well and have a great time. Nobody wants a frowning musician.
Best of all – get paid!!

* Portions of this were taken from an excellent article by Dan Lambert : The Solo Restaurant Gig – Guitar A La Carte *

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

It still amazes me how many musicians that have a cd, do not have a website, Facebook or MySpace page, and aren’t digitally distributing their music online via iTunes & and other various outlets.
What once was a process solely for computer experts, is now accessible by anyone with any amount of computer prowess.
Now, with the advances of social media, your personal website, performance schedule, cd releases, and everything pertaining to your musical scene, can be distributed across many different sites with a click of a button.
See the buttons on the upper right of this page…go ahead take a look. Those are social media buttons that allow me to publish this blog to various different sites. Go ahead and click away – share it. Life is good.
Not only can you communicate with your listeners, it allows the artist to place themselves in markets that normally wouldn’t be accessible.
I have an account with Reverbnation, a social networking site for musicians. I opened a free account, uploaded my mp3′s, added my biography, and added a photo.
I watched it for about a month, and checked were my music was most being listened to. I am from the US, and assumed it would be here. Wrong.
My music was getting played heavily in, and get this, a few Arab countries, Taiwan, and Italy. After one month, I had found a market on the other side of the globe.
Cd Baby will distribute your cd’s and digital music for a small cost – a small blog about Cd Baby is here
Facebook is THE social media to be on. Get in contact with other artists – even the biggest stars have a Facebook
page.
Although not as popular as Facebook, MySpace is still pretty powerful as a way of connecting with listeners and artists.
Reverbnation – Social networking for musicians. Plus, they provide great tools to market and promote with widgets that can be placed on your Facebook & MySpace pages.
Twitter – This is like text messaging for the web. Allowing only a 160 character limit to your message, people “Tweet” straight to the point. Also, people have the ability to “follow” your tweets – deliver news about new releases, performances, whatever….real time notification.

These are just a few valuable tools to get your career as a musician online and on the right track. After all, all we really want to do is play.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

Every acoustic guitarist has the same dilemma : replicating what our guitar sound like naturally during performance.
It boils down to a few options, but each one has limitations and drawbacks.
Lets go over the menu:
Miking
Seems like the obvious solution – place a microphone in front of your guitar and and deliver your natural sound. Close, but not always.
First, in restaurant, you are dealing with allot of extra sound ( Blenders, chatter, utensils clanking )the last thing you want to project along with your sound is that.
There is also the always present feedback situation. To get a good strong signal to your mic, you have to run a pre-amp or for a condenser, phantom power. Again, feedback.
For low volume, quiet rooms, there really isn’t anything like a mic’d guitar for intimacy of sound.
But for us working musicians, you have to have a pickup.
Options…options
Endless options.
From the simple and inexpensive Duncan Performer Maverick Soundhole Pickup ($29.00)

to my favorite, the B-Band A2.2 XOM Acoustic Guitar Preamp ($189.99)


you are going to have to install a pickup.
Depending on your budget and bravery, a few holes will be drilled in your beloved, and the natural sound will change a bit.
Otherwise, you will end up with a pretty decent sounding “performance” guitar and the ability to tailor your sound more accurately to your venue.
A sound minus the clinking of wine glasses…

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

Get to know me
Our position as Musician in an eatery is one of unique stature.
Technically, we are kind of like a server – we deliver music table-side. We are also part Chef – creating the flavor of the room and making that dish taste a bit better. Part host as conversationalist to diners in between songs.
What is the most important aspect of performing in a restaurant other than actually performing?
Easy. Knowing the staff.
Make it a priority to know and befriend the staff. Not only will they accept you as a part of their team, they are the direct link to your customers.
I make a point to meet everyone in the staff, including the Chef.
Over the course of a few weeks at a restaurant, I give every staff member a CD. It is a small gift that will reward you for months to come. Trust me, a happy staff is a happy room. And happy rooms always prove successful gigs.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

The magic hour
I have been performing in restaurants and at private events for the past five years. Believe it or not, you start to realize certain patterns and pacing that happens.
One particular that is a steady is the “magic hour”. Basically, 9 o’clock in the evening.
The time when the drink & the food start to settle in, and something fantastic starts to happen.
Conversation becomes quieted, couples become closer, and the room starts to breathe in a more intimate way.
This is the moment that you play the song….the “make out song”.
For me it is a song I composed that consists of “I love you” chords. Major 7ths, and it works every time.
Couples start kissing and at this point the music is thick in the air. The wine starts pouring, and for about 5 minutes all is calm and peaceful.
Live music is a powerful element in a restaurant, and if you as the musician can be aware of your room, than you can command the mood.
Be selfless, serve the song in the right moment, and you are guaranteed a musical experience. Learn to read the room, the details of the night, and you will have many successful gigs.
Above all, respect the “magic hour” and you cant go wrong.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

So as we learned last time, we have managed to get to the gig, set up, and basically get ready for the night.
The set up
Well, not really a set up, but a friendly reminder that monetary appreciation is gladly accepted : the tip jar.
When to put it out? Where to put it? Should I add money in the beginning?
Dont be ashamed of the tip jar. The servers arent ashamed to accept a tip. The Valet sure doesn’t mind.

The musician absolutely loves it!

Before I set up my gear, I put my product and tip jar out. First thing. Not only does it say that you are a professional ( You have a cd?) it also says that you are setting up for business.
I also “prime” the tip jar with a $5 bill. I used to feel strange about it – until I realized that most people are looking for the tip jar, and and with a table filled with colorful Cd’s and business cards, if that $5 bill isn’t sticking straight up, they will walk away. Think of it like a Peacock plume inviting them in for a visit.
These methods aren’t Earth shattering, but they will help you get a bit of money in your pocket.
The get up
I had a year long gig in an upscale 5 star resort restaurant. Every Saturday night, I would dress the part. I went out and purchased three suits ( one black, one light Grey, and one charcoal Grey) had them tailored and wore alternated every week.
I didn’t do it because I like to wear suits ( although I have to admit you gain a bit of swagger in a suit that fits right) I did it because I was being presented like anything else in the restaurant.
If the diners are willing to shell out $400 for a meal, you bet I’m willing to wear shiny shoes and a suit.
So here is the deal : Look better than the patrons and the patrons will give you money.
You are on stage – although it may be a tiny corner by the bar, none the less, it is a stage. And you are on it.
Not only will the patrons accept your music more, the owner of the establishment will feel much better about paying you to live your passion out in their restaurant.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com

So you walk into the restaurant and there is one couple in the whole place. Right next to you. I mean right NEXT to you.
Could be a bit awkward if you let it.
I perform weekly in a place were my setup is almost rubbing elbows with the table next to me. Sometimes I come in and the table is already occupied and I have to set up while they are dining.
First Rule : Dont bug the diners. I know…it’s a tough one because your over there tuning and sound checking trying not to look and sound like a guitarist has just entered the place.
My entrance goes something like this : “Hi guys, sorry I’m late. Thanks for saving a seat.” That one gets a 99% tip and a good conversation out of it while you are setting up. Distraction for them, and you are almost in place by the time they realize you just moved in with them.
Almost always you get ” So, what are we going to hear tonight?”
I am a Flamenco guitarist – so, I say with the straightest possible face ” Oh, a little Flamenco Guitar, some Bossa Nova, and a bit of Rap.”
Then I either get an “oh” and a strange look, or a smile and I’m in.
Reading the room can be challenging, and I will be covering the holy grail of performance in a restaurant in the next week : How to read the room
Everything from set up, what to play when, volume control…you name it, Ill cover it.
Buckle up, school is in session.

Vincent Zorn is a professional recording artist/flamenco guitarist that makes a living performing at restaurants and private events in Santa Barbara, California.
To learn more about Vincent and his music, please visit his website at: http://www.vincentzorn.com