The musician as his own administrator... how annoying that is! Well, annoying, yes, but helpful and better on the budget, absolutely.

If you are like me then you've got ideas flowing out of you all day long. That there is always someone that should be contacted about a gig or some random bit of PR or media visibility. That there is always something to do. You know that this business is a 24-hour thing. Especially since I have tried to keep myself growing overseas, then it really IS a 24-hour thing.

Musicians, and basically all creatives and performers, should all dig themselves into the trenches for a time and do their own management, or direct marketing, or some form of their promotions. Not only is it cheaper, like I said above, but it is also a good way to get a handle on yourself directly (to discover yourself as a brand). But you also know that job that needs to be done when the time comes to bring someone else in to do it. Imagine the bar manager that hires bar staff but doesn't really know what the bar staff has to do.

Anyway, I have always enjoyed teetering over the edge to the other side of the business, the management and PR divisions, the administrative branches. So, after years of this, I have finally decided to put a little company together; well, two companies to be exact, but I am only going to focus on Indie Solutions for the time being. Why? Because this is the one that works for other people; the other one still needs some time.

Indie Solutions (www.indiesolutions.net) is the culmination of years and years of hanging around the business listening to people, doing things on my own and working really hard to exist in music, theatre, publishing and film. I have used the name assisting film productions, music festivals, small labels, and independent artists. It's stayed under the radar for the past couple years, but this Monday, September 14th, in NYC at the Nolita House, Indie Solutions throws a little party. We'll have the city's own country-rock songstress, Erin Sax Seymour, Bleecker Street rock 'n' roll debutantes, the Doormen, and more, along with the Nolita House's fantastic offerings.

Anyway, the point of this company is to assist people in doing it themselves, which is one of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the years in this business. If I need to, I must be self-sufficient. So if you can, come on by the Nolita House next Monday, or just check Indie Solutions online.

Questions? Comments? james_dalton@hotmail.com.