The Musician's Guide to Making and Selling Your Own CDs and Cassettes
Author: Stanfield Jana
List Price: $18.99
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ISBN: 0898798086
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Sales Rank: 117,228
Average Customer Rating: 4.42 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Totally revolutionized my ideas about recording my music!
Jana Stanfield makes a very convincing case for singer/songwriters recording and marketing their own music. After reading this book, I realized that what I wanted was to become more involved with my own destiny and now I have the guide to make it happen. She is very thorough about all of the small details that would slip up someone who is beginning to take on a project such as this. I first read it through my public library system and was so impressed that I had to buy my own copy! Thanks, Jana!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Jana's book hits the mark for this singer-songwriter wannabe
When I purchased Jana Stanfield's book, The Musician's Guide to Making & Selling your own CDs & Cassettes, I had no idea just how appropriate it would be for me. While I have not yet heard Jana's music, I confess immediately that I'm in the choir she is preaching to. I am a singer-songwriter "wannabe", but I also have fifteen years of continuous self-employment as an attorney behind me. The result is that I recognize the business wisdom Jana brings to her topic. And that wisdom is substantial and obviously acquired in the school of hard knocks. Yet she has managed to maintain a very positive and inventive perspective on life as a working musician. A handful of topics addressed in the book could certainly have been dealt with in more detail, such as royalty computations and the companies that collect them, and business tax and accounting matters, to name a few. But given her motivation and qualification, I think Jana has done a very good job of raising flags above these issues so that readers are warned that they require additional attention. Elsewhere, the insights into the daily life of a performing songwriter are wonderfully revealing. Jana dispels numerous myths attached to this world. She makes a powerful case for retiring the dream of major-label stardom in favor of a well-lived life. And she's done it in spite of the fact that there really is no "circuit" that these musicians travel. She offers living proof that anyone can create their own, customized circuit. Her approach to taking the grind out of traveling is refreshing. Above all, I came away genuinely reassured that with inventiveness, persistence, flexibility, a degree of talent, and zero reliance on luck, I could do it too. And without having to ditch my current life and moving to a major music center. Thanks, Jana!
Rating: 5 out of 5
A Definite Keeper
I'm seldom motivated to submit reviews on "how to's", however Jana's book is definitely worth the time. As a singer/songwriter, I've just released my first CD, independently published, and I found this book to be more than helpful... especially in creative marketing. There are some great detailed books on the "step by step" process of the music business, but few remark on the psychological/motivational side of "doing it"... whether we want to admit it or not, we ALL need encouragement at some point. Jana's stories of personal experience make it a very enjoyable read... "hey, I can relate" kind of feel. It may not be all that big bands look for, but every singer/songwriter should add it to their library. Similar Products
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Sell Your Music : How To Profitably Sell Your Own Recordings Online
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