When I thought about writing a book about being a working musician, a few things went through my mind. Who am I to write a book on this subject? Am I really an expert on this? I spoke with more and more people who have known me for a long time and know my history. They all gave me a resounding, "Yes! You are in the business and have seen all areas of the business, go for it!" In my travels all around the world, many aspiring artists and musicians have asked me questions about touring. Many of the questions are similar, but some really stand out. Nevertheless, I've always made notes on what questions were asked. When I started writing this book, I quickly realized I was writing more than just a book on touring. It is a guide for the music business and solid musicianship in general. This is for the working musician who may play on the weekends for a hobby, but aspires to do more. Some "Notes" may be fairly basic. Others are for the advanced musician, who has already moved to Nashville, L.A., or New York. Everything in this collection is for any musician (or music lover) looking for secrets and tips about being on the road and beyond. This book is a personal account of this business from my humble opinion and experiences. Some may agree on certain points and some certainly will not. Often, there are no clear-cut guidelines in this business. The following notes are some of mine. Enjoy your read and leverage my experiences (and mistakes) to help you on your musical journey. I hope it helps you become successful in whatever aspect of the business you pursue. Don't let anyone stop you... go for it!
About the Author: You wouldn't think a musician who's played behind Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Kenny Loggins would have made any mistakes along the way, or second-guessed himself as he went along. But Chad Jeffers says that the road to success is paved with plenty of pitfalls, and knowing the ropes beforehand could have saved him a lot of time. That's why Chad, a highly-respected guitarist, dobro and pedal steel player with worldwide tours and years of experience under his belt, has authored 25 Notes for the Successful Musician, a self-help book packed with practical advice and guidelines for aspiring musicians - novice or seasoned. "It's basically everything I've learned in the last 15 years that I wish I would've known when I started out," Jeffers explains. "I've written the book the way it would be if I could have sat down with myself over drinks at the beginning of my own career and said, 'Tell me about everything you know now to help me with my music career!' That's how I've written it - very conversational, full of all the details and unwritten rules that I've learned the hard way." Jeffers has been working on this book almost since he began his professional career. He started keeping a journal and writing down his observations as he went along, documenting not only what he saw but also the advice others passed along to him. "There are things in my book that I've never found on the internet or in any other book," he explains. "I think people can actually save five years (or more) of their professional life with 25 Notes, because it gives an in-depth look at how the music business really works. It takes the gloves off - there's no sugar coating on anything. It's everything I've learned or been taught by the musicians I've worked with."