Inspiring musicians to play for you
With
Katie Melua
What's in the course
40 lessons (2h 33m) · 1 free
01. Getting started, open mics and unpaid gigs
2:10
02. Becoming local heroes and booking tours
6:12
03. Getting creative about gigs
3:44
04. Stagecraft – Jeremy from Everything Everything
2:21
05. Capitalising on your audience
4:50
06. Engaging Direct to Fan
5:32
07. Knowing your online audience and using data effectively
10:31
Lesson transcript
Touring on a Budget: Finding Joy in the Journey
"Yeah, it is really hard if you're on a budget."
I remember when I first started, we had:
- Horrendously Smelly Venues: We just played the most horrendously, smelly, empty venues.
- Transportation Challenges: We had a tiny little minivan, and it was a bit smelly.
We didn't really have any money to go and eat nice food and stuff like that. But I suppose, you know, they got paid a fee for each show, sometimes that's not enough.
Finding Laughter Amidst The Challenges
So, I think for us, it was just about trying to find those moments where we had a laugh.
- It wasn't about hierarchy; it was about togetherness.
- We'd often make humor out of the fact that the food was awful.
- We'd go for a walk in the park or just get out of our routine, escape the monotony of "oh God, another crappy venue" and "oh God, another awful free meal."
Building Connections
"You just need to build. You need to grow links with each other."
- You really do become friends when you're on tour.
- As long as they feel valued and you show how much you appreciate them coming on this maybe not-so-exciting tour, it strengthens your bond.
- Everyone is in it together as much as possible.
The Reality for New Artists
Often in the beginning, the artist isn't getting paid either.
- Artists can end up getting paid nothing.
- Sure, there's the incentive of "this is my music, these are my songs," but the struggles are real.
Lasting Friendships from Tour Life
Some of my best friends are from my first band.
- John Hopkins: A brilliant, amazing musician whom I absolutely love now, and I'm a bit jealous of everything he releases.
- Leo: A dear friend who produces beautiful records for others and his own music.
We've stuck together and stayed in contact.
40 lessons
2h 33m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Katie Melua is one of the UK's most successful recording artists, with more than 11 million albums sold worldwide and a string of multi-platinum releases. Born Ketevan Melua in Kutaisi, Georgia, in 1984, she moved with her family to Belfast as a child and later studied at the BRIT School in London, where she was discovered by songwriter and producer Mike Batt.
Her debut album 'Call Off the Search' (2003), released when she was 19, spent six weeks at No. 1 in the UK and went six-times platinum, driven by the hit single 'The Closest Thing to Crazy'. Its follow-up 'Piece by Piece' (2005) topped charts across Europe and featured her signature song 'Nine Million Bicycles'. In 2006 she earned a place in the Guinness World Records book by playing the deepest underwater concert ever staged, 303 metres below sea level on a North Sea gas platform.
A remarkable run of top-ten albums followed — 'Pictures' (2007), the William Orbit-produced 'The House' (2010), 'Secret Symphony' (2012) and 'Ketevan' (2013) — as Melua refined a sound that moves effortlessly between jazz, folk and classic pop songwriting. 'In Winter' (2016), recorded in Georgia with the Gori Women's Choir and produced by Melua herself, revealed a new depth to her artistry.
Her recent work is her most personal: 'Album No. 8' (2020) and 'Love & Money' (2023) drew some of the strongest reviews of her career, and 'Live at the Royal Albert Hall' (2024) celebrated two decades at the top of British music. She remains a captivating live performer, touring extensively across Europe and beyond.
