Reviews
Hands down, the most valuable resource available for aspiring musicians!
- Jeffrey Zeigler, cellist, Kronos Quartet
In an age when many say the arts are dying, Cutler writes to musicians with authentic and accurate optimism. If you've ever wondered why someone else succeeds instead of you, read this book. Much more importantly, you will discover countless ways to make sure it's you that people are wondering about the next time!
- Jeff Nelsen, hornist, Canadian Brass
The Savvy Musician makes it quite clear that it s YOUR business and YOUR career. My advice: Not reading this book is an enormous risk.
- Dame Evelyn Glennie, solo percussionist, Grammy Award Winner
Cutler deals beautifully with every dimension of a musical career visioning, missioning, marketing, financing, and most importantly, musicing weaving them together in a well-presented mosaic.
- Tayloe Harding, president, College Music Society (2005-07)
An inspiring book, with an education on every page. The case studies alone are worth the price!
- Greg Sandow, veteran critic for the Wall Street Journal
As I read The Savvy Musician, I kept nodding my head "yes," and saying "that's right." I've been in this business for over 20 years, and each chapter affirmed my past, confirmed my present, and inspired my future.
- Kim Nazarian, jazz vocalist, New York Voices, Grammy Award Winner
The beauty of The Savvy Musician is its broad approach. Cutler paints a holistic picture of what it takes to prosper as a contemporary artist. His insistence that musicians look both inward and outward is progressive and needed.
- Gary Beckman, founder, Arts Entrepreneurship Educator's Network
The Savvy Musician unveils a vision for a healthy musical future, articulating 99% of what we need to do. The missing percentage is YOU, the reader.
- Ranaan Meyer, bassist and composer, Time for Three
LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 2009
Cutler, an independent musician, composer, educator, and consultant, has produced an indispensable guide for the budding performer who wants to take his or her career to the next level. Filled with case histories and relevant interviews with over 165 musicians, Cutler's book focuses on the entrepreneurial side of the music business. Emphasizing the value of creativity, risk, and, yes, branding, Cutler demonstrates that many of the qualities necessary for good musicianship are applicable to the business side of an artist's career as well. Over 1000 links to additional resources—e.g., job listings, blogs, camps, homepages for interviewed musicians, lists of recommended books and magazines, networking sites—are available for free on the companion web site, www.thesavvymusician.com.
VERDICT Packed with tools and strategies for funding, marketing, recording, and performing, this is an essential read for aspiring performers who want to remove the word starving from their vocabulary. Highly recommended.
—Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR
Summary
So you’re talented, well trained, and passionate about music. What next? The professional marketplace is flooded with outstanding musicians, forced to compete for a shrinking number of “traditional” opportunities. The Savvy Musician helps balance three overriding aspects of your professional musical life: (1) building a career, (2) earning a living, and (3) making a difference. Filled with clearly articulated concepts, detailed strategies, and 165 vignettes about actual musicians working to create a meaningful and prosperous career, this book examines critical elements often overlooked or misunderstood by musicians, and helps you take control of your career. Discover how to build an immediately recognizable “brand,” capitalize on technology—from Internet tools to the new recording paradigm, expand your network, and raise money to fund your dreams. The Savvy Musician is an invaluable resource for performers, composers, educators, students, administrators, industry employees, and others interested in a thriving musical future.
About the Author
David Cutler balances a varied career as a jazz and classical composer, pianist, educator, arranger, conductor, collaborator, concert producer, author, blogger, consultant, speaker, advocate, and entrepreneur. In all these pursuits, he works to push boundaries while connecting with new audiences. A multidimensional composer who listens to a colossal range of styles, his eclectic output reflects this musical world. His music regularly features interdisciplinary components, and his playing is as wide-ranging as his composing, stretching what it means to be a pianist. Performances regularly incorporate improvisation, humor, audience interaction, choreography, technology, costuming, unique collaborations, and secondary instruments.
Review
Small Press Bookwatch: October 2009
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
Doing what you want is hard when that want is playing music. “The Savvy Musician: Building a Career, Earning a Living, & Making a Difference” is a guide to the aspiring musician who wants to make their living doing what they love. A strange blend of music and marketing book, David Cutler encourages musicians to learn how to sell themselves and adapt technology to their approaches, to get themselves out there with a recognizable brand. An honest book about making it in the music industry, “The Savvy Musician” is a read that can’t be missed by music lovers.
Review | Summary | Author Bio | Reviews | Order Info | Savvy Musician.com
