**Now updated with a 2nd edition and forthcoming 3rd edition**
The Indie Band Survival Guide (2008 edition) is a tremendous resource for musicians looking to record, distribute, market, and sell their music for less than most rock stars spend on green M&M's. Musicians and web gurus Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan cover every step of the process. With nothing but creative talent and the Web, they've gotten tens of thousands of fans for their band, in addition to being hired to write music for film, television, theater, and other media.
Professionally, Randy Chertkow is an Information Technology specialist with over twenty years of experience in Fortune 100 enterprise environments. He has a Bachelor's in Business Administration in Information Systems and an MS in Computer Science: Data Communications, with a secondary concentration in Artificial Intelligence.
Randy has played music all his life, including jazz, rock, and classical music. His instruments include baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones; flute; Bb and bass clarinet; guitar; bass; and, really, anything else he can get his hands on. He started at the intensive New Trier High School Jazz program and went on to study jazz at Berklee College of Music and then completed a Perfect Set course at the Bloom School of Jazz.
"Indispensable ... This lively book offers such essential guidance in these changing times, no band should be without a copy." --Publishers Weekly
"The Internet is an extraordinary opportunity for musicians to make and profit from their music. This clearly written and comprehensive book shows exactly how. A perfect balance between the mess of the law and the promise of the technology, it should be read by anyone who wants to take their talent and share it--for the love of sharing, or for the profit." --Lawrence Lessig, author of Code, professor at Stanford Law School, founder of the Center for the Internet and Society, and CEO of the Creative Commons project
"Finally! A comprehensive and practical guide for musicians that explains how to navigate today's music world without a label. A must-read!" --Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby and HostBaby
"If they gave out Grammys for music career books, Randy and Jason should surely win one. Their Indie Band Survival Guide is a must-read resource for any musician wanting to take the independent path to success--which, these days, is the only way to go. Networking, branding, Internet promotion, live gigs, distribution, publicity ... they cover it all. Highly recommended!" --Bob Baker, author of Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook and founder of TheBuzzFactor.com
"A fabulous & comprehensive 101 guide for any musician trying to make it in the crazy 'new' Music Business." --Ariel Hyatt, founder of Ariel Publicity & Cyber PR
"A practical, down-to-earth guide for bands working in the real world." --Brian Austin Whitney, founder of the Just Plain Folks musician network