Making It in the Music Business: Another Day is Another Success Story

Fifteen minutes before their show in a Scottsdale bar was supposed to begin, John and Phil, the guitarist and drummer of Another Day, are waiting for the singer/keyboardist Gabe to arrive with the microphone cord. "Writing songs and performing is not the hard part; what's really complicated is getting everyone to be at the same place at the same time," acknowledges John. Rounding out the group is Pino on bass. Another Day can be categorized as an eclectic mix of musical styles that together makes for a truly original and soulful, yet edgy sound that combines rock, funk, reggae, and rhythmic international beats.

Despite the initial stress, the show started on time, and the live sound met the standards of the recorded songs, no surprise given Another Day's discipline and wide experience. However, it took a while for the band to achieve the "right" sound. When they recorded their first album, three years ago, they had a vague idea of what they wanted their music to sound like. The band freely shares thoughts and ideas, bouncing from one member to the next. "We were young and had a lot of money; we didn't know what we were doing. Consequently, we were not happy with the sound when we recorded the CD. However, that was just a part of the process of learning, and it only shows that schooling does not help in this industry-you learn from experience." Once the album was recorded, the guys had to promote it and find a way to get gigs. "There are a lot of great bands out there that will never be heard. It is not about talent; it is about who you know." Another disadvantage of young bands is their lack of choice when it comes to performing conditions. At first, the promoter is the one dictating how things will go. "However, once you get a little experience, you get to set your own conditions."

When considering the biggest costs of a young band trying to promote themselves, they reply that having a middleman in both recording and promoting is the biggest issue of contention. Beginners might not be aware of the fact that having a record company and a promoter is not necessary. Phil has his own studio where the band records their songs, and for the most part distribution is done online. Even if bands do not have a friend with a recording studio, they can still find out where their favorite bands record and opt for that place. When it comes to having songs played on the radio, the band members consider it necessary to have a record house. Depending on the band's resources and situation, though, promoting via radio may or may not be essential.

After the release of their first album, the band went on a tour of Mexico, Arizona and California. At the time, they still lacked experience dealing with promoters. "We had to learn the hard way: we got double-booked, played free shows, and got told that we were not scheduled to play when in fact we were. However, we do not regret any of those experiences, because without them we would not be where we are now."

Another crucial aspect of being successful performers is being able to please the crowd. Another Day never plans the sequence of songs prior to a show; rather, they wait to get a feel for the audience and then play what they believe most appropriate. "We have played shows in front of rappers, as well as in front of old people, and we got both audiences to enjoy it. When it comes to performing, it is all about reading the crowd." Also, playing different genres helps develop bigger audiences. The more diverse the music, the more that different groups of people can identify with it.

When asked about what has been holding them together through two albums and countless disappointments along the road, the band members reply with the kind of ease possible only with time. "It's like a bad marriage: if you get divorced, you lose the kids. And we certainly don't want to ruin the kids!" Experiences accumulated over six years create an unbreakable bond. Although not easy to invest oneself fully in a band making relatively small amounts of money, the journey is still worth the risk. "You don't want to jump into a foot-deep pool; but you don't want to give it up either. It's hard not knowing the direction events are going to take, but you can still hope to be in the right place at the right time." Even if they play a show for five people, in the long run, that might produce some benefit. "Those five people might not have connections at that point, but they may be able to help out a few years later." And if they survive the test of time, bands will invariably become embedded in the local or regional scene.

While true that the goal of every performer is to be known and respected on a national level, doing so requires a huge budget. "The music industry is very cutthroat. The top two percent have 98 percent of the money, and the rest fight over leftovers." In such conditions, regardless of talent and skill, not many musicians stand a chance. Therefore, the best a starting band can do is to make sure they have an audience on a local level. Although all this hard-won insight might cause others to give up, one thing Another Day does not convey is pessimism. They are aware that the hardships they have been through in the past six years are what allowed them to be where they are now, and have deepened the appeal and quality of their music. They are also realistic when it comes to making it big. "It takes 10 years to blow up overnight." And above all, it takes patience and a lot of work. "Write a million songs and pick your best 15. Then you'll have a great record. To go national, you have to be really good, you have to get lucky, you have to meet the right people and you have to go about your music like a business." As in most professions, giving up a passion because of obstacles would be a mistake. Embarking on a journey in the music industry might be risky, but with the right attitude and expectations, it is manageable, and as the example of Another Day shows, quite rewarding.

Written by: mmiocevi (for uwemp.com)