At Musformation we read a lot about music, marketing and even self-help philosophy. One thing you often hear about in the latter category is the idea of using the “power of no”. Now, how does this relate to your band? Many times, especially in the early stages of a band, people are willing to take any gig that is offered them. One classic example is the WAY out of town gig where you know you will receive little to no exposure and spend more in gas than you will make. It is important to respect yourself as an artist enough to think about how something will potentially benefit your band instead of just wildly grabbing at any scraps that fall your way. In the case of one of my old bands, after many years of hard work we were offered an independent record deal (with a very band contract). Many of our very talented friends’ bands were already on this label and we wanted nothing more than to join them, expecting subsequent fame and fortune. It took a lot of holding back, but we said no and went on to better things releasing our records independently (while our friends suffered heavily under the same awful contracts that we were offered). Don’t think about saying “NO” as a negative thing, but instead think about it as saying “YES” to better future opportunities. Just like the bloke at the bar with low self esteem who will try and corral any heinous heifer back to his house, some bands have a scarcity mentality when it comes to their potential – they think the last offer they had was their only chance. While you don’t wanna be “too good for things”, don’t underestimate your value either. There are plenty of people who will take advantage of you and your band, whether on purpose or not. Always be on the lookout for opportunities, but remember that saying “NO” is often the best decision you can make.
