Indie Girl: From Starting a Band to Launching a Fashion Company, Nine Ways to Turn Your Creative Talent into Reality - Softcover

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Table of Contents

1. Start a Band

2. Publish a Zine

3. Put on a Play

4. Film a TV Show

5. Create an Art Exhibit

6. Form a Dance Troop

7. Launce a Fashion Company

8. Hold a Poetry Slam

9. Make a Parade

Start a Band

"In our history, as an all-female band, we have faced some discrimination in the music business. Before we would play shows people would ask us if we were the girlfriends of the band playing, or if we actually played our instruments. Sometimes the assumption is made that other people write our music or that we don’t have a hand in the business side of things. By self-managing, booking our tours, and writing our own music we hope to dispel some stereotypes in regard to women in music."

— Mona Tavakoli, drummer for Raining Jane

iRock!

It’s hard to imagine a life without music. Music defi nes everything in our lives, from

the clothes we wear to the posters tacked on our walls to the people we hang out with. And iPods, iTunes and iMboredWithRadio make surrounding ourselves insomeone else’s music really easy. But have you ever considered making your own?

A lot of people think music is something magical that only someone famous can make — that "normal" people don’t have the skills to create melodies and rhythms on their own. But the reality is that you don’t need prodigal talent or a father named John Lennon to make great music. You just need soul — and a little motivation.

The Beatles are a perfect example. This historically famous foursome, which most rock critics consider the greatest musical geniuses of all time, couldn’t read a lick of music when they started out. They picked up chords by watching other bands

and friends play. In fact, their arrangements are so simple that, if you have a basic knowledge of chords, you can go to any tabs website (where they have arrangements of songs for the guitar) and in about five minutes learn to play some of the top Beatles songs. It could take more effort and time to decide whether to buy the new Britney Whoever or Hilary Icouldntcareless CD than to learn how to play some of your favorite pop songs. And once you have a few songs down, you’ll be writing your own in no time. Then, lo and behold, your best friend will reveal that she has always wanted to play drums and — voilà! — you’ll have a band.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Instruments

Rehearsal space

Performance space

Microphone

Computer

Merch (T-Shirts, stickers, paper, printer, computer design program)

"Music is a form of expression, and you can put into your music what it is hard to say in conversations. And that energy you get when you perform is like no other feeling in the world. It is truly amazing."

— Una Rose,13, singer/guitarist for Blu¨bird

RESOURCES

www.girlsrockcamp.org

Look here for info on this Portland-based rock camp, locations of other rock camps

that might be near you, and more inspiring information.

www.azchords.com

A thorough website with guitar tabs and chords for just about every song in existence.

www.audacity.sorceforge.net

Free editing software.

www.apple.com

Go to this site to download GarageBand, a free editing software program.

www.cafepress.com

An excellent, easy-to-use website where you can make and sell your merch online.

First Things First

First Things First:

What to Play

K, so you’re feeling the power within you, the need to kick out the jams. But then it dawns on you — "I don’t know how to play any instruments!" No problem. Sid Vicious learned bass after he joined the Sex Pistols. The Donnas, an all-girl rock group that emerged in the ’90s, organized their band when they were in eighth grade and taught themselves how to play as they went along. You don’t need to already know how to play — but you do need to choose an instrument. Choose the one that most appeals to you, and choose it for the right reasons. For instance, don’t pick bass because it seems easier or opt to be a vocalist because some people think girls shouldn’t be drummers. A musician’s relationship with her instrument is an intimate and powerful one, and you’ll never be happy in a band if you aren’t playing an instrument that sings to you.

Not sure where to start? Well, how about trying out an instrument to see what it sounds and feels like. Go to your local music store and ask if you can test the drums or strum a guitar. Don’t get intimidated by male clerks who may assume that you don’t know what you’re doing. Bring a friend along for support, and assert your right to rock out! And don’t let your outside appearance defi ne what you play — you might be the shyest and gentlest girl in school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t thrash on a drum kit with the best of them.

If you don’t want basic rock/pop instruments — like guitar, bass, drums, keyboard,

or vocals — pick something alternative, such as adding distortion to the flute you play for the school band or programming beats on your computer. JD of Le Tigre programs much of the band’s music, and Mona of Raining Jane will often play a wooden box and other interesting percussion. Most important is that you play what you like and you like what you play.