Many people interested in music in New Zealand will have heard of Blink - his real name is Ian Jorgensen but you get the feeling now that it is probably only his immediate family that might call him Ian. 
Blink was/is a gig photographer - he takes a great shot, he was at every gig snapping away. And then that love of music morphed into producing a magazine, starting a label, producing, making mixtapes and compilations, booking bands, managing artists and promoting.
Most of his endeavours are collected under the name A Low Hum - and he's possibly best known for the annual hipster-fest, Camp A Low Hum.
Blink has recently released a guidebook called D.I.Y. Touring The World - and it's a great read; a handy tool no doubt. But in recommending it I have to say that it's very unlikely I'll be touring the world with a band - or promoting gigs or managing a band. I mention that to show that the book is worth reading for music-fans, for people interested in the industry without actively looking to follow the book's advice.
And then of course it is perfect for local musicians, managers and people connected with tours - from the friend called in to help do the driving, to the guy or girl designing the nice poster for free tickets.
In fact I read the book on the plane on the way to America - and there were practical tips for travellers - let alone gigging musicians.
Thanks to Blink I was able to point out that it was quite common not to find an electric jug in homes in America - every house we stayed in had the old-fashioned stove-top whistling kettle.
But the real strength of this book, I think, is in the hope that it gives - a real hope filled with practical know-how and learned-on-the-job nous; not the faux-hope that NZ On Air gives so that the likes of Autozamm can continue to make ghastly music that sounds like Dave Grohl covering the feelers (or maybe it's the feelers covering Dave Grohl?)
Blink's book should be a must-read for Kiwi musicians - you don't have to wait, with hand out, for funding. You don't have to pretend you're on a hip-hop fact-finding mission that rips off the government; you don't have to move to Australia and sink into an unsettling obscurity or join the church crowd over there...
Instead you get a copy of this book - you pick the brain of someone who decided that it could be done. You get your best mates to support you, you get your best tunes ready and you hit the road. You work it like it's a holiday - a hard-working holiday. Nobody owes you a career but why not go and see the world and play some music while you're at it.
That is why I loved this book - it wasn't sugar-coated, it wasn't filled with "advice" that came off as sanctimonious or pretentious. It offers a warts-and-all reality of driving long hours, eating two-minute noodles and sleeping in cars - playing house-parties for tips and free beer, playing 35 shows in 30 days. It also points out that some of the "designed" options like international music conferences are tantamount to a scam; a way of sucking money from bands who can't afford it - offering exposure that never really amounts to much.
The book is smart and easy to read. It's filled with passion. And knowledge. And insight.
And it's a bargain at $10.
This weekend Blink is concluding a series of release shows - so tomorrow night he'll be at Mighty Mighty in Wellington with Disasteradio, Golden Axe, Quarks and Name UL on the bill. The gig is free - you can buy the book for a tenner.
And on Saturday it's the Wine Cellar and Whammy Bar in Auckland. From 8pm at the Wine Cellar there'll be Emily Edrosa, Bookself and Abraham Kunin. And after 10pm at Whammy there'll be Mean Girls, Ghost Wave, Headaches, Carb On Carb, Totems, Shanalog and Ralph. Again it's free entry and you can pick up the book for the price of one Kate Sheppard.
Click here for more details.
If you can't get to the shows - or they don't interest you but the book still does - you can pay $13 to get a copy shipped anywhere in NZ or $15 for shipping anywhere in the world. You can order from Blink at his alowhum site. (And there'll be a pay-as-you-like digital/download option from July 1 via the site).
Here's a review of the book from The Corner.
What do you think? Have you picked up a copy already? Or does this sound like something you're keen to read? And maybe you have your own tips for D.I.Y. touring - if so do share.
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I've loved Blink's guides since his "A Local Knowledge." That guide gave me an idea of what it was like to take a band around New Zealand. I'm not a musician, but love the gory stories and practical advice from the road. I owned the draft/beta version of "D.I.Y. Touring the World" and just placed an order for the updated shiny version. I'm here in California, and it's been great to chat w/ musos about booking tours and traveling conditions and to be of help when I can. (For the record, I never microwave my tea and my 12+ year old electric jug was made in New Zealand. ;))
Blink is the patron saint of NZ indiedom. I am looking forward to buying and devouring his book. Much respect to you, Ian.
I think Blink is doing sterling work and his book is a great idea. NZ has a pathological fixation on grants and awards and it's eating at our culture. Honestly we'd be better off spending the money on affordable work and rehearsal spaces for artists and let the fans sort out who succeeds. I hope he inspires a few talented acts to get out there and do it. Ups.
Glorious hipster fest that it is, Camp A Low Hum is still the best music festival in the country
NZOA should buy his entire stock and hand them out free, because that would have more effect than throwing endless $$$ at lost causes like Autozamm, the feelers et al.
Touring isn't easy and you often have to rough it, but that's half the fun, thinking of ways to keep yourself feed and watered and the show on the road. Unless you are a trust fund kid you have to figure these things out yourself, hopefully without resorting to anything unseemly or illegal. As a musician your creativity isn't limited to the music and performance.
Nice one Ian, a long over due resource.
Damnit!! Gutted this is on Friday! Opossom are playing at san fran!
Looking forward to grabbing a copy of this though.
Simon, I love your blog mate. Whenever I feel totally desperate at the state of music in NZ and the lack of enthusiasm I have to make music I read your blog and suddenly feel not quite so alone in my opinions!
If there was a medal for someone who makes negative feel positive... You'd win it! Or if there was a badge system that incorporated stars (think McDonald's in the 80's) for good work you'd need two badges.
Man's a champ even if everything gets lost on the web, well i appear too, sounz worthy to fill in the floorboards, little gibbing not jibing, now if I could get a gig t-hee, its not all screamo ya know.
Despite quite often doing things his own way and trying to reinvent when it wasnt needed, Blink is absolutely one of the the most important people in NZ music today, in a few years, he will most likely be THE most important. So many upcoming musicians have been helped directly its scary, and the indie touring scene exists now, largely because of the Low Hum tours a few years back.
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The Welly gig (according to the FB event page) is $5 at the door. Not free. But what's $5 these days, eh?