Caleb J. Murphy is a singer-songwriter and music producer based in Austin, Tx., and the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time musicians succeed.
Did you know Barry Manilow wrote the State Farm jingle? You know, “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” Of course, he’s also written jingles for McDonald’s, Pepsi, KFC, and many others. So why does this matter to you? He’s proof you can make money writing jingles. And if your jingle is great, you...
Instead of investing a lump sum of cash into merchandise that may or may not sell… Think differently. You can sell merch that costs very little (or nothing) upfront. This is good news for indie musicians — any chance you get to save money without sacrificing quality, take it. So here are three types of...
Vocals are the key to a professional recording. Your music might be top-notch. But if your vocals are too bassy, too harsh, or aren’t sitting in the mix properly, it will ruin the whole song. Fortunately, there’s a simple EQ exercise that can help you mix better vocals. What is this mixing exercise? This is...
Haters gonna hate. But do they hate you? Only famous and successful people have haters, right? So if people don’t hate you and your music, should you be worried? I want to dive into what haters are and what to do if you don’t have any. What Are Haters? For the sake of this post,...
You will never reach perfection as a musician. Because here’s the thing… If you’re a driven person, what you want your music to sound like will always be at a higher level than where your music is today. And I say that to encourage you. This means you’ll never stop getting better. Year after year,...
Maybe you’re stuck inside. Or maybe you’re an introvert like me. Whatever the case, I’m betting you want to make some money doing what you love from home: producing music. The great thing about music production is that you can do it remotely if needed. But I think working with other musicians in-person is more...
Lately, I’ve been struggling. I’ve been so concerned about what people think of me that it’s getting in the way of making music. Let me explain. I write and produce songs from home. I also run a blog that helps part-time musicians start their careers. My concern is that people will think that because I...
I recently did something I never thought I’d be able to do if I didn’t have a portable recording studio setup. I recorded a baby grand piano for one of my songs. I don’t own one. My friend does, and I recorded him playing some beautiful stuff for my track. And it was easy to...
The more I learn about how comedians operate, the more I realize they’re similar to musicians. Specifically, producing music. It’s a lot like improv in many ways. So in this post, I want to explain the “Yes, And” improv method, why it can be a powerful tool in music production, and how you can practically...
I’m a sucker for cello. Put it in your song, and I’ll most likely love it. I’ve used quite a bit of cello in my music — both live cello and MIDI cello. And I have some insights about which is better for different circumstances. The Pros And Cons Of Real Cello Real cello played...