The Blog
Articles, Rants, and other writings shared from musicians and venue perspectivesSurvival of an Original band – A look at some hard realities and what actually matters in my opinion
I had started on this article a while back. It was a painful article to write to be honest. I wanted to hit delete many times as this article started outlining some real pain in the industry which would frankly not be accepted well by musicians (and I didn’t want...
Pro Tip #47: Understanding Envy
There I am, 18 years old, criticizing band after band. “Angus young sucks because he can’t play arpeggios”, “Yngwie has no feel”, “Poison sucks because they look like girls – maybe that’s still true LOL”. Point is, I’m reminded of that guy often and how much I want to...
Pro Tip #46 – 7 Factors That may Lead to a Band’s Demise
As our local music scene welcomes new bands, I've always been eager to facilitate connections among musicians, hoping they'll create something fresh and impactful in our community. Yet, the journey of forming and sustaining a band is undeniably challenging. Keeping a...
Rant: Are PROs Killing Off Small Businesses That Want to Support Live Music?
Many musicians may not realize it, but every time they perform live, the venue hosting the event is required to pay fees for any cover music played. These fees are mandated by Performance Royalty Organizations (PROs) such as the American Society of Composers, Authors,...
Pro tip #45: Leadership, from revolution to evolution
Harmony is a vital part of what makes a band sound great. The ability to harmonize throughout a melody immediately causes listeners to take note. However, many leaders fail to recognize that the most important harmony in a band is not audible. It’s the harmony that’s...
Pro Tip #44: Support other bands (a.k.a. Be like Val)
This short article was inspired by our own local legend Val Smith, from the band Midlife Crisis. If you are on the Facebook, inevitably you will see posts and shares from Val in regards to just about any live music event and band. What's most impressive is that he...
“Pro Tip #43: We’re in the entertainment business”
In the dynamic landscape of the music industry, live performances have evolved into a captivating visual experience. The era when exceptional sound alone guaranteed success is fleeting. Today, concerts are immersive spectacles, incorporating video walls, dazzling...
Pro Tip #42: The Cost of Deception: Consequences of Lying to Fans as an Artist
Introduction: In the dynamic world of the music industry, artists and bands often find themselves navigating a delicate balance between artistic expression, marketing, and maintaining a positive relationship with their fan base.When I started this article, I wanted to...
Perspectives on Band Success from a Venue Owner
In crafting this article, I want to make it clear from the outset that this is, above all, an opinion. It reflects my personal views, shaped by my conversations with numerous fellow venue owners over the past four years. That said, I'm always open to hearing diverse...
Rant and perspective: Adam, you suck but thanks for reminding me of opportunity.
Recently, I posted a picture that shared comments from Adam Levine regarding cover bands. Although you can’t trust everything you see on the internet, the image and content did spark some mixed feelings. I've always been one who intentionally tries to explore...
Pro Tip #41: The Importance of Trademarking Your Band Name: Safeguarding Identity and Success
Safeguarding your band name or finding out you are infringing on another band using the same name!
Pro Tip #40 – Why Playing Locally Too Often Is Bad For Your Band
By Ken Kirkland OVERPLAY ? at Pinky's Pub.... Again..... Why Playing Locally Too Often Is Bad For Your Band. Two main traits of bands able to sell out gigs (talent aside) is their tendency not to excessively gig in the same area and their commitment to giving each...
AI and it’s tips for musicians
I've been working with Artificial intelligence (AI) in my real job for a amount of time. I'm amazed at how far it's come but also a bit concerned about it's role in future art creation, to include music. For instance, it's not going to be an issue for someone to click...
Pro Tip #39: 5 Quick Marketing Tips for Bands
It's been a moment since I've written an article. This particular article was written because I've been asked by several bands how to effectively market. I can only speak on my experience which has worked for me but I'm sure results vary. Below is a list of 5 things...
Pro Tip #38: What is your bands velocity? and what the heck is Velocity?
ve·loc·i·ty: the speed of something in a given direction. In this article, I’ll scratch the surface into its meaning specifically with project management and how it might assist your band in delivering on your goals and managing expectations. In no way is this short...
Pro Tip #37: 4 signs you might not be as professional as you think
In any profession I know of, being professional is what sets you apart and makes you desirable. It puts you at the top of your game and creates credibility in each of your actions. It builds trust and relationships. However, for whatever reason, there are always some...
Pro Tip #36 – How Stella got her groove back and how you can too!
By Ken KirklandWhat exactly is "groove"? I've spoken with other musicians about it and there's not really a clear cut definition. Most people say it's just something you feel. But what if you don't? Let's try to dive in and figure it out exactly what groove is and how...
Pro Tip #35 – The Wish List
It’s Christmas time and as I think about something to write about, it seems appropriate to maybe write something about a wish list. I’m not talking about that perfectly tuned and amazing SUHR or LUXXTONE guitar (hint hint – tele style with tremolo please LOL), rather...
Pro Tip #34 – Yeah, book it… Wait, didn’t we just play there?
By Ken Kirkland In some of my other pro tips I've mentioned the importance of playing often. However, I need to add a disclaimer: it isn’t just about the quantity of shows played, it’s also about the quality. While in theory, it sounds good to perform as much as...
Pro Tip #33 – TIPS FOR OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT
by Ken Kirkland "His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti, He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready" I have a musician friend (yes I have like 4 of those) who confessed to me that she feels...
Pro Tip #32: The art of banter (Oh crap, I have to talk?)
Written by Jason Harlow The band is melting faces, the music sounds better than ever and the energy in the show is electric. You’ve got that amazing moment where you are like “this can’t be real; this is way too much fun and it sounds too good to be true!”. The song...
Pro Tip #31: Tips For Finding Committed Band Members
By Ken Kirkland We've all been there. You are trying to find new band members. You put out flyers, ads, or even post on social media. Then, whenever someone shows interest in your band (they call you or audition), they do not have the same drive and ambition that you...
Pro Tip #30: How much should we charge?
Maybe the article should be called "10 Questions and considerations to finding the magical number, or more specifically, value worth playing" but please read on. This is a controversial article to write and I expect people to totally disagree, which is cool. If you...
Pro Tip #29: Pursuing your dreams / goals and understanding the haters
Written by Jason Harlow I was in Church yesterday and the message touched on something personally I’ve dealt with in my entire music career or life in general. For those that know me, I’m somewhat ambitious, I like to sometimes go against the grain to simply prove...
Podcast #2 – Phil Lenz & Ken Kirkland
We dive into the brains of Phil Lenz and Ken Kirkland.. it's all about dat bass!
Pro Tip #28: Ramblings from 3 years – The negotiation
Over 3 years ago, something magical happened in the Wiregrass. Musicians of the Wiregrass area gathered at a small upstairs location in Ozark, Al (now known as the VIP room at Live at Harlow’s). It was an invite only party which offered free beer and beverages, a full stage with gear, and nothing in the way of doing what we musicians do… rock face.
Pro Tip #27: Where is everybody?
by Ken KirklandIt happens more often than you might think. Especially when you’re playing at a new venue. Maybe they had booked a different band that cancelled at the last second and you're filling in. Maybe you’re playing on a Monday, or the venue down the street has...
Pro Tip #26: WHICH PICK DO YOU PICK?
by Sam WilderWith all the money we spend on guitars, effects, amps, and more guitars it’s hard to imagine how a little piece of plastic that costs almost nothing can make such a noticeable difference in your playing. And up until right now you probably didn’t even...
Pro Tip #25: How to be the douchy band nobody wants to play a gig with.
By Sam WilderMy band, the G.O.A.M.F.T. is, well, the greatest band of all MF time. We’re so awesome, in fact, that bands on the same bill as us never ask my group to play another show with them because they know they just can’t keep up. We just end up embarrassing...
Podcast #1 – Ken Kirkland
We dive into the brain of Ken Kirkland, local legend and bass player for the bands Midlife Crisis and Giants Among Men! https://soundcloud.com/liveatharlows/live-at-harlows-podcast-1
Pro Tip #24 – Live Performance Tips
By Sam Wilder At a live show, music lovers get to taste music in a whole different way. It is an epic experience for both the musicians and the fans which allow them to connect through the performance. Whether you are an amateur or you have done it so many times...
Pro Tip #23: Tips for engaging with your Audience
By Sam Wilder Engaging with your audience while you are performing live will allow you to connect with them on a deeper level. It’s like giving them an open invitation to your world while performing on stage. The more engaged your audience is with your performance,...
Pro Tip #22: Practice vs. Rehearsal
By Sam WilderPracticing and rehearsing are not at all the same thing. When a rehearsal doesn’t go well or when it seems to drag on with very little being accomplished, it’s usually because someone went to the rehearsal expecting to practice…So what’s the difference?...
Pro Tip #21: How to Get Your Musical Passion and Drive Back
By Sam Wilder I was asked, “How do I get my musical passion back? I know what I want but it's always being put on hold because of reality.” This is a really hard question to answer because it's a struggle that musicians face everyday. I'm going to try to answer that...
WMAA XR18 Sound Clinic
Female Singer Application
Pro Tip #20: Ways to Support Your Local Music Scene During Quarantine
From Ken Kirkland COVID-19 is infecting our health and our wealth. That might not be too big of a deal to Wall Street and large corporations but for us normal working-class musicians and venue owners it definitely is. Musicians who put all their work and money into...
Pro Tip #19: 10 Tips To Becoming A Professional Musician
By Sam Wilder So you always wanted to be a professional musician? See your name in magazines, your band logo on album covers or postered all over town, hear your songs on the radio, and don't forget that rock star life you dream of. But without a doubt there are a ton...
WHY BANDS PLAY THE SAME OLD SONGS
By anonymous local area musician Why do bands play the same old tired covers? Lazy musicians? Over the years, I have been surprised at how many musicians cannot put in the time to learn a tune. It could be that they don't have time, don't have the ability, don't want...
Pro Tip #18: 9 Tips to Improve Your Stage Presence
By Sam Wilder "People hear more with their eyes than they do their ears" - Some random musician in Kansas He's right though. Here's 9 things you can do to improve your stage presence: 1. Break the sugar bowl2. Look interesting3. Be energetic4. Involve the crowd5....
Pro Tip #17: How to be a great bandmate
By Sam Wilder A band is a friendship, a collaborative partnership and a business all rolled into one. Although it might be less personal and intimate than a romantic relationship, it is quite possibly more complicated. That's...
Pro Tip #16: 13 Band Marketing Tips For 2020
By Lisa Occhino Once you’ve decided that you’re getting pretty serious about this whole music career thing, you know that you have to start putting in the work to come up with effective band marketing ideas. But if you haven’t...
Pro Tip #15: Do you perform? Or do you play?
Written by local Shawn Pawloski (Guitarist from Midlife Crisis) There is a drastic difference. Some people climb up on that stage and strap on their instrument. They may get behind the drums. They strap on that awesome bass or get behind the mic. The very first song...
Pro Tip #14: Tips On How To Practice
It's not a no brainier.by Sam Wilder How many times have you wished you could be better at your instrument? Or wished you could be a better singer? We all know that the best way to get better is to practice our craft. It’s the biggest no-brainer there is about being a...
Pro Tip #13: Tips For Auditioning For A Band
By Sam Wilder Whether you answered a musician "want ad" or someone reached out to you, the next step in the process is actually going to the audition. So let's talk about it. I’ve played in several bands and projects over the years and have been to my share of band...
Pro Tip #12: Things NOT to do when your band plays live
By Sam Wilder So your show is booked and your band is heading out to the venue, ready to play a great show. Nothing else to worry about, right? Not necessarily. You see, while wowing the crowd from the stage is definitely a priority at any gig, your off-stage antics...
Pro Tip #11: 7 Things you need to know in order to build a successful band
By Sam Wilder Ok so you want to be in a band (who doesn't) but there's some things you need to know in order to build a successful band. We'll call them rules for the sake of this Pro Tip. Rule 1: If you are surrounded by musicians who are truly success minded, there...
Pro Tip #10 – 5 things every cover band needs to know
Written by Ken Kirkland "What do you want to do with your life?!” the crazed dad shouts to the 14 year-old kid, barging into the bedroom, fed up with the sound of loud, non-stop music practicing. “I wanna rock!” the kid says. (Enter long-haired rock musicians. Cue...
Tis the season to be …. Depressed?
Written by Judy Rodman "We know that there are some for whom music is so compelling and innately powerful, they are unable to contain it within themselves. They can no more separate themselves from music as they could their own limb.” - Musicians and the link to...
How to promote your band
Thanks to Mary at band-vans.net for this excellent article. Many bands think that if they master their instruments, write good songs and maybe even have some fans that the rest will somehow fall into place. They forget to ask themselves how other potential fans shall...
Pro Tip #9: Commitment rules!
This article was taken from Tom Hess, professional touring guitarist and recording artist. I couldn't of said it better! Have you ever been in this scenario? You are trying to find new band members. You put out flyers, ads, or even post on forums online. Then,...
Making the band / jam!
Entries are currently closed (we're filled up!) Thank you all who entered! Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to a new idea to network among musicians and do what we all love, play music! Because this is a grass roots effort, we need participation to make...
Pro Tip #8: Knowing Value – Part 2
If you read part 1, you probably were thinking I was saying we should all play for free (don't do it, unless a charity) and we should all just hug and sing John Denver songs (real name Deutschendorf BTW). Nope, I'm like any warm blooded human and American, show...
Pro Tip #8: Knowing value – Part 1
“Hey dude, you playing at Wombats, that new bar in town?” Hell no man. “Why dude?” Not enough money man. “What do you mean? Isn’t some money better than no money? No man, we know our value. As someone who has booked myself and artists, I have actually used the phrase...
Pro Tip #7: The Ruinous Monster of the Unchecked Ego
By Carey Henderson I’ve been playing guitar for nearly 31 years. I started like many people: my parents bought me an inexpensive guitar, because they were smart enough to start this way to see if I’d stick with the instrument first, I took lessons (from Jason Harlow...
Pro Tip #6: Practice at home / Rehearse with your band
Oh no, pucker factor 10! (pucker factor – the amount your butthole clinches up during a tense situation) In a world far far away, this is a fictional story. Jim Smuckatelli, bass player who played with the band “Sasquatch” comes into rehearsal with a new band called...
Pro Tip #5: It really don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing…
Written by Jason Boyd - Professional Drummer When Jason Harlow invited me to write an article, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about first… Groove. Groove is such an important element of music that I find is too often overlooked. In my opinion it is what makes...
Pro Tip #4: That’s how we role
Have you ever stepped back and considered all the moving parts of a band? It’s a miracle things actual happen at all given how humans interact.Ever thought about your role in a band? Am I a support or lead musician?Am I a volunteer or getting paid?Will I be allowed...
Pro Tip #3: Bands, have the same goals
“Dude, we should totally be a Slayer tribute band” / “no man, I think we should only do country music!”. Yeah, that’s real. It exists. Two musicians discussing their goals and desires to form the ultimate band. Houston, we have a problem. Most of the bands I’ve seen...
Pro Tip #2: Learn your band members love language
“Great Job Man”... for some, the most important thing you could ever say. More powerful than money, gifts, or acts. Why? Because these folks respond to “words of affirmation”. Admittedly, this is what drives me and I think it probably drives most musicians. At the end...
Pro Tip #1: Have the same commitment
Note: These are some perspectives, opinions, and truths I’ve found from my travels and dealing with humans for many years in music and business. These are no brainers for many but I hope these thoughts may assist you in building a great band and make you a better band...
Bands/Artists, looking to play Live at Harlow’s?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjjSXeAzdKU&fbclid=IwAR37BkqlCEaFO039tJgnxGr_0hnB5F_aCyz0clh0JqdhhDpeMRcUvqyu8iE Thanks for inquiring. We get a lot of requests to play our venue so this is to help explain how to go about booking with us, who we are, why we are...