A NOT THAT MUSICAL WEEK

These are the kind of weeks that I don’t enjoy that much, but that from time to time, happen. It’s almost 20 years that I arrived in Andorra willing to become a full time music professional and after all these years there are several things that I’ve learnt regarding what means “Being a musician”.

A ROAD FULL OF SIDE HABILITIES

To be learnt capabilites. This is the part that they don’t tell you. Not that anybody came to me telling me what was going to happen, but knowing that becoming a musician would involve learning, among others:

• 

  Managing

• Accounting
• Web Design
• Marketing
• Psicology
• Teaching
• Sound Engineering

And this is what first comes to mind. I’m sure that if I spend a bit more time about it I’ll find some more habilities that I’ve had to learn throughout the years.

THE HEAD OF THE ICEBERG

Of course, this doesn’t mean that I’m some sort of expert on all these habilities. I think that you need a comprehensive overall learn on those habilities to be able to move forward as a musician. In some of them you need to dig deeper, in some others, you need to learn the surface. I’ve spent 13 of those 20 years teaching music theory, piano and music production which led on me having to learn how to properly do it.

As an example, managing:

Managing is a wide word as it responds to a lot of different stuff but I had to learn how to prepare a tour for Persefone, how to prepare an album release, how to promote it online, and of course, how to play a good show (which is harder than you might think). In the end, managing a band. I had to learn the basics but luckily now we have people to do that, way more professional and with more knowledge than me.

So in the end I found out that playing and making music was like 10% of the work I did throughout the years. Now, I think I have increased that percentage a little bit, but it still takes a lot of time for me to work on other stuff.

A WEEK OF NON MUSICAL WORK

So this is one of those weeks in which I had to do the accounting for Persefone and my own company, meetings, dig on the deep web to find new customers for Sonnos (work that has been doing Pere Revert for us for a long time!). Companies like GoodGame Studios, or our beloved Momonsters by BigBangBox were found back in the day by Pere, for what I’ll be eternally grateful. Of course, after that, Carlos and I had to do music that deserved their attention and the company loyalty to keep working with us, but that first initial seed being planted is priceless.

This reminds me the other hability I’ve been struggling a lot lately: Finding new customers, stablishing relationship with people in the business. It’s not easy, so if you have any hints, leave them in the comments. I’d love to read your advice!

THE UPCOMING WEEK

Luckily, this upcoming week appears to be way more interesting when it comes to music. I have some work to do for Maja Spencer and my beloved Momonsters. I’m working on the tracks for a new videogame, and I’ll be rehearsing with Persefone this week, so all in all, I think the week will be filled with music!

Do what you love and have a great week!

Miguel “Moe” Espinosa

PS: Last week I released the soundtrack of my last shortfilm. Check in the portfolio of below. Remember to follow me in Soundcloud for more updates ;-s