Three Easy Steps to Becoming a Rock Star
Jimmy Cantillon knows a thing or two about the record biz. Since graduating from the Academy of Art in San Francisco (and manning the managerial reins of little brother Tommy’s former band, Holden), Cantillon has worked for both Drive-Thru Records and an independent music publisher. He’s helped get bands like Halifax, Hellogoodbye, and Hawthorne Heights off the ground, and scored placement deals for countless others. Currently, Cantillon is acting as judge and jury of his own L.A.-based management company, JPC3 Management and Consulting, working with bands such as The Mile After (myspace.com/themileafter), Soundside (myspace.com/soundside), and S.B.’s own Tommy and the High Pilots (myspace.com/thehighpilots). Next Saturday, November 15, at Jensen Mainstage (2905 De la Vina St.), Cantillon will host a workshop for budding music makers called It’s NOT All About the Music from noon-5 p.m. The seminar will feature insight from industry execs, as well as talks on how to make a music video, sell out a show, and approach sponsors. Tickets are $49 a head in advance, $59 at the door, and interested parties can sign up in advance by calling (310) 734-6527 or visiting Jensen. Read on for a sneak peak of what you might learn.
1) Come Together: If you’re in a band that’s hoping to make it big, take the whole crew along on Saturday. And that doesn’t mean just your bass player and keyboardist. “I suggest that if bands have parents or friends who are working with them, they all should come,” said Cantillon. “You just never know what will sink in with different people. : Some guys will be great at booking shows, while others will have a knack for building up the online buzz, or even designing their Web site, etc.”
2) The Dos and Don’ts: Among the hours’ worth of information that Cantillon will dispel next weekend, he says there are certain things that all working musicians should and shouldn’t do. For one, he says, be patient. Making it big means working hard every day for new fans: “It’s okay to sell a few CDs at a time. That still adds up.” He also warns artists of the dangers of “yes men.” “Don’t listen to your girlfriends and boyfriends,” he warns. “Do yourself a favor and seek honest advice. Then when you get it, don’t take it personally-grow from it.”
3) Screw the Labels: Cantillon also cautions young acts who think that scoring a big label record deal is the end all, be all. “As an artist, you will make more in two years of touring independently than you will on your record advance from any label,” he explained. “So don’t give everything away for some quick cash. It runs out even quicker than you got it.”
