It is not enough for the modern musician to only have one gig. Even top selling artists take advantage of many different revenue streams. This is sound business. In fact, I don’t know anyone better at diversifying revenue streams than drummer Andy Ziker. If you’re in a place where you are trying to make a leap from day job to working musician, I know this interview will help you!
Interview: Part 2:
- What about the other more elusive revenue stream, how would you recommend a musician go about launching their own music related product or idea?
- In the case of the Manhasset Drummer Stand, it was something that I first determined was a need, first realizing its value in the drum teaching studio environment. I developed and tested it out over many years.
- When I was sure that I had the right design, I went to NAMM (a huge tradeshow of every music product imaginable held in Anaheim each year) and had an interesting conversation with the GM of Manhasset. I wanted to peak his curiosity, but I knew that I couldn’t give away any detail about this potential product. What came out of my mouth was probably pretty comedic: a string of ambiguous statements about the Drummer Stand.
- It worked, because after another month or so, the GM contacted me back, and their lawyer then worked as an intermediary to broker a deal.
- Patience then came into play as over the next year I had to send Mahasset a proposal (very similar in scope to a publishing proposal), negotiate a deal, and then wait for their board of directors to approve it.
- My intuition told me that this was the right way to go (selling my idea to a corporation). However, you also have the option of patenting your product and then trying to distribute it yourself. A friend of mine from Philadelphia named Sam Ruttenburg invented a drum practice tool called HingeStix, which he then sold himself for a couple of years. They attracted enough attention that he recently signed a contract with one of the big drumstick makers to distribute his product. However, because he owned and was able to keep the rights to his sticks, he was able to get a much better deal than I did for the Drummer Stand.
- I think that the way I approached it or the way Sam did are both effective. Either way, you will most probably have to forge some kind of partnership with a big company.
Andy, you’ve given my readers a lot to chew on! really amazing insight, so one final question: What advise would you give someone who wants to transition out of the “day job” to a full time musician?
Miss the 1st part of the interview? Read it here.
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