Nashvillian Making New Friends & Wanting To Help

[brandonstrings]

Hey GUYS & GIRLS,

My name is Brandon.  I'm from Nashville, TN.  I wanted to try a forum out to offer any advice that I might have to help you guys and maybe learn a thing or two.  I've been all over the world touring professionally for 15 years now.  So, whatever you guys want to know or I can help just let me know! 

 

I'm a musician first and learning the ways of being an entrepreneur at the same time.  My first A-list band I played for was a band called Evanescence.  Before you get to excited, I was never a member.  I was the funny dude that got to hang with the band in 2003-04 that got to play guitar every once in awhile.  From there I've played with Frank Sinatra Jr., Kris Allen (American Idol), and even my own project for Fox's America's Next Greatest Band...It Sucked!  Then moved to Nashville!  Since then I've been the Christian music genre playing for Sidewalk Prophets, City Harbor, Royal Tailor, Wavorly, to name a few.  Then a couple of years ago I wanted to try country.  I played with Brandon Lay (Universal Recording Group) and currently playing with Olivia Lane (Big Spark).  

 

I own Tour Solutions & Agency.  We are a head-hunting agency that seeks musicians and tour personnel for touring commercial artists and managements.  Basically, Kelly Clarkson needs a guitar player and a Front of House guy they call us!  New adventure and it has been amazing.  We are also in the works for a weekly podcast as a free resource for anybody interested in the music industry.  It's called Surviving the Music Industry (SMI).  My co-host, business partner, and I have a total of 58+ years in this crazy industry.  So we want to be a resource that is useful.  We invite guests in all aspects of  the industry (Stylists, Models, Guitarists, Artists, Techs, Crew, etc.) and get them to share their crazy stories and give you some insight on how they are surviving working in the industry.  We are gearing up to release our first episodes in May of 2016.  Below is some more info if your tired of me rambling!!  Love to help in any advice that I can offer.  Talk to you guys soon!

 

1. Do you sing, play an instrument or instruments? 

 

What instruments?Guitar, Banjo, Bass, Keyboards, Accordion, Bazooki, Violin...anything with strings

 

When did you start playing?I studied violin at 6 then picked up a guitar at 16/17.  I then studied classical guitar i loved it so much.

 

Did you teach yourself?violin...no. Guitar...the early years...yes

 

2. Are you in a band or bands?

 

What is the name of the band? I currently play for Nashville country/pop artist Olivia Lane

 

What do you play? Lead Guitar

 

What other instruments are in the band? Rhythm guitar, Mando, Bass, Drums, and a ton of Tracks

 

Do you have a band website?....She has one somewhere, eh?

 

3. Do you write songs?

 

Do you write lyrics, music or both? I love writing.  I don't get to do it much these days and i decided to shift my focus on other things.  I do have a couple of cuts but nothing lucrative what so ever.  

 

Do you have a writing partner? This town is built on co-writes 

 

4. Do you record your music?

 

Do you use a home studio? If so what gear do you use? I do have a very basic home set up.  My gear is mostly used for live playing than the studio.  So much gear, so little space.

 

Do you use a recording studio?I do session work from time to time.  I get hired a lot to look and play the parts.

 

Do you have music available on the web? if so where?  I decided to support other artists a long time ago and it has been very lucrative for me.  Their maybe something out there in the abyss. 

 

5. What other roles do you perform in the music business?

 

Management? Label owner? Publishing? Promotion? Other?  I own Tour Solutions & Agency and soon Surviving the Music Industry Podcast.

 

6. Are you a tech head? eh, yes and no.  It has to work for me and what i'm currently doing.  

 

7. What country do you live in? USA

 

8. What are your ambitions? To be a resource for the Music community and to be the best musician entrepreneur i can be!

 

9. Do you draw/paint/write stories/computer art/dance or other creative pursuit? No, not really.  I work FULL-TIME

 

What are your pastimes?Sports.  I like watching just about any sport.  But more than anything I love music and people.

 

10. What would you like to get out of Songstuff?  I'd like to meet like minded individuals.  Also, I really just want to help anybody that is interested in the music industry.  I definitely don't have all the answers.  I just have my stories, but I'm happy to share.

 

 

 

[john]

Good to meet you Brandon. Welcome to Songstuff!

 

btw, you might be interested in creating a blog on Songstuff, and in contributing to our new member's articles section (accessed via the hubs > member only articles, or indeed contributing to the main site articles as a Songstuff author. If interested in any of the above just drop me a line. You could set up a blog or possibly contribute to the member only articles without assistance from a member of staff, but sometimes a little help goes a long way.

 

Good to have you aboard.

[brandonstrings]

9 hours ago, john said:

Good to meet you Brandon. Welcome to Songstuff!

 

btw, you might be interested in creating a blog on Songstuff, and in contributing to our new member's articles section (accessed via the hubs > member only articles, or indeed contributing to the main site articles as a Songstuff author. If interested in any of the above just drop me a line. You could set up a blog or possibly contribute to the member only articles without assistance from a member of staff, but sometimes a little help goes a long way.

 

Good to have you aboard.

Hello and thank you,

I am interested in all of the above.  I would love some guidance or even where I could be used more.  I'm sure you wanna see more works to pursue avenues like a Songstuff author, right?  I'm afraid I don't have anything...but I am happy to contribute.  It's nice to know someone on the inside   Thanks and happy to be led in the right direction(s)!

[brandonstrings]

5 hours ago, tunesmithth said:

Hell of an intro...welcome!

 

Tom 

Thanks Tom! Happy to get to know people like yourself on here!

[Janeva]

Hi

 

Welcome to the Songstuff forums.

 

I hope you enjoy being a member here.

 

Jan

[Amram]

On March 3, 2016 at 4:04 PM, HoboSage said:

Hi, Brandon.  You should use the stage name "Nash Villain, The Nashvillian."

 

David

 

Haha, what a great name.

[Bridget Murphy]

It sounds like you have quite a diverse array of instruments under your belt! Starting with violin at a young age and then delving into guitar, including classical guitar, must have been quite a journey. It's impressive that you studied classical guitar and found such passion in it.

[Mahesh]

On 2/29/2024 at 11:15 AM, Bridget Murphy said:

It sounds like you have quite a diverse array of instruments under your belt! Starting with violin at a young age and then delving into guitar, including classical guitar, must have been quite a journey. It's impressive that you studied classical guitar and found such passion in it.

Just curious, I hope you realise this introduction topic is from 2016 @Bridget Murphy. Did you actually mean to interact with the OP?

[Bridget Murphy]

On 3/1/2024 at 9:34 PM, Mahesh said:

Just curious, I hope you realise this introduction topic is from 2016 @Bridget Murphy. Did you actually mean to interact with the OP?

I wish, but I forgot to note the date. Sorry.

[starise]

Yeah, I wonder where he ended up.

Easy mistake to make Bridget. I have done it here.

[Bridget Murphy]

On 3/3/2016 at 7:07 PM, brandonstrings said:

Hey GUYS & GIRLS,

My name is Brandon.  I'm from Nashville, TN.  I wanted to try a forum out to offer any advice that I might have to help you guys and maybe learn a thing or two.  I've been all over the world touring professionally for 15 years now.  So, whatever you guys want to know or I can help just let me know! 

 

I'm a musician first and learning the ways of being an entrepreneur at the same time.  My first A-list band I played for was a band called Evanescence.  Before you get to excited, I was never a member.  I was the funny dude that got to hang with the band in 2003-04 that got to play guitar every once in awhile.  From there I've played with Frank Sinatra Jr., Kris Allen (American Idol), and even my own project for Fox's America's Next Greatest Band...It Sucked!  Then moved to Nashville!  Since then I've been the Christian music genre playing for Sidewalk Prophets, City Harbor, Royal Tailor, Wavorly, to name a few.  Then a couple of years ago I wanted to try country.  I played with Brandon Lay (Universal Recording Group) and currently playing with Olivia Lane (Big Spark).  

 

I own Tour Solutions & Agency.  We are a head-hunting agency that seeks musicians and tour personnel for touring commercial artists and managements.  Basically, Kelly Clarkson needs a guitar player and a Front of House guy they call us!  New adventure and it has been amazing.  We are also in the works for a weekly podcast as a free resource for anybody interested in the music industry.  It's called Surviving the Music Industry (SMI).  My co-host, business partner, and I have a total of 58+ years in this crazy industry.  So we want to be a resource that is useful.  We invite guests in all aspects of  the industry (Stylists, Models, Guitarists, Artists, Techs, Crew, etc.) and get them to share their crazy stories and give you some insight on how they are surviving working in the industry.  We are gearing up to release our first episodes in May of 2016.  Below is some more info if your tired of me rambling!!  Love to help in any advice that I can offer.  Talk to you guys soon!

 

1. Do you sing, play an instrument or instruments? 

 

What instruments?Guitar, Banjo, Bass, Keyboards, Accordion, Bazooki, Violin...anything with strings

 

When did you start playing?I studied violin at 6 then picked up a guitar at 16/17.  I then studied classical guitar i loved it so much.

 

Did you teach yourself?violin...no. Guitar...the early years...yes

 

2. Are you in a band or bands?

 

What is the name of the band? I currently play for Nashville country/pop artist Olivia Lane

 

What do you play? Lead Guitar

 

What other instruments are in the band? Rhythm guitar, Mando, Bass, Drums, and a ton of Tracks

 

Do you have a band website?....She has one somewhere, eh?

 

3. Do you write songs?

 

Do you write lyrics, music or both? I love writing.  I don't get to do it much these days and i decided to shift my focus on other things.  I do have a couple of cuts but nothing lucrative what so ever.  

 

Do you have a writing partner? This town is built on co-writes 

 

4. Do you record your music?

 

Do you use a home studio? If so what gear do you use? I do have a very basic home set up.  My gear is mostly used for live playing than the studio.  So much gear, so little space.

 

Do you use a recording studio?I do session work from time to time.  I get hired a lot to look and play the parts.

 

Do you have music available on the web? if so where?  I decided to support other artists a long time ago and it has been very lucrative for me.  Their maybe something out there in the abyss. 

 

5. What other roles do you perform in the music business?

 

Management? Label owner? Publishing? Promotion? Other?  I own Tour Solutions & Agency and soon Surviving the Music Industry Podcast.

 

6. Are you a tech head? eh, yes and no.  It has to work for me and what i'm currently doing.  

 

7. What country do you live in? USA

 

8. What are your ambitions? To be a resource for the Music community and to be the best musician entrepreneur i can be!

 

9. Do you draw/paint/write stories/computer art/dance or other creative pursuit? No, not really.  I work FULL-TIME

 

What are your pastimes?Sports.  I like watching just about any sport.  But more than anything I love music and people.

 

10. What would you like to get out of Songstuff?  I'd like to meet like minded individuals.  Also, I really just want to help anybody that is interested in the music industry.  I definitely don't have all the answers.  I just have my stories, but I'm happy to share.

 

 

 

I'm particularly fond of the guitar, banjo, bass, keyboards, accordion, bazooki, violin—anything with strings, really! Each instrument brings its own unique flavor to the musical palette.