About

 In a world still caught between crumbling big business and fierce young entrepreneurs, the gap between good musicians and success can be a difficult world to navigate. 

When an artist works with Everything Independent, we work to turn that gap into your personal bridge to success. We customize affordable and realistic packages towards particular needs that can grow and change over time as careers evolve. All of the necessary elements needed to succeed in this business are available under the Ei umbrella. The major difference between Ei and most other companies is that we allow the artist complete ownership over every step in their career. All our services are intended to help artists navigate through this complicated and misunderstood industry and reach their own success while remaining very personal between the artist and their team. 

Meet The Founder

(Kirby Desmarais and her daughter)

 Kirby Desmarais started booking bands at 16 years old, and at 18, started her first company, Rock N Dolls - groupies who put together a series of major events at venues such as Delancey Lounge, Canal Room, and CBGB's in the last weeks of its existence. The groupies ran the shows, and rather than following bands, they were a methodical business team who helped bands get to the next level. 

The events sold out at best, packed 600 people at worst. Many of the bands have since launched into high gear, and are now major label artists, such as Me Talk Pretty, What About Frank (now called The Parlor Mob), and Sex Slaves. The nights were often sponsored by companies like Monster Energy Drink, Laticia NYC Clothing, and World Famous Clothing. 

Rock N Dolls was hailed by world famous groupies and industry, and even discussed in Pamela Des Barres's book "Let's Spend The Night Together", in a conversation between her and Bebe Buell. Most importantly to Kirby, it was all done independently. No major label was involved, no rights were owned, just bands, groupies, and friends working together to create something big. 

Kirby continued making a name for herself, reaching out in different ways. She worked personally with Me Talk Pretty, providing them with their first major investment funding, commercial radio play, and national tour.

Growing apart from the groupie scene, she worked to expand her ideas into something more all-encompassing, and more mature than the intense parties that once rocked the Lower East Side. While working at Grand Street Recording, she came up with the foundation of her company, Everything Independent. Aimed at helping those not already broken into a bigger scene, Ei's goal is to get bands to the next level without owning any part of the music, and finding a way to make a profitable business without exclusively working with bands already making major profits. 

Kirby's business has thrived with it's five year anniversary just passing, and in addition to helping countless bands, she has spoken on Panels at SXSW, NXNE, and CMJ, interviewed with Jeff Price of TuneCore, and allied herself with companies such as Section 101, Greenlight Go Publicity, RockyRoad Touring, Tourbinder, Fanbridge, and many more. 

Mark Desmarais As of 2011 Everything Independent down sized it's staff and it's roster to offer more focused attention to four bands per season. It also became a Husband/Wife operation. Mark Desmarais has over 15 years DIY music business experience from playing in various punk bands through the 90s to booking national tours for his and many other acts. Originally from Montreal he not only brings  bilingual opportunities to international artists but also a Canadian flair, eh.

Do you share the same fate as Artist "X"?

Artist "X" saves some money and moves to the city with big dreams and a willingness to do whatever it takes. All he/she knows is what they were taught by the countless biographies, MTV/VH1 interviews and articles they read up on their favorite musicians. Most of it comes down to "play a lot of shows, work super hard, and one day you'll get signed." 

So artist "X" makes a demo in Garage Band with their internal computer mic, contacts venues, and maybe gets a gig with one who says "bring a bunch of people and you can have a show". Artist "X" brings 20 people, and worked day and night just to get those 20. The venue isn't happy with the turnout, but loves the music, so they get another show. Soon they're playing small venues on late-night tuesdays and they see a slight increase in attendance and buzz. People really dig the music, but somehow it doesn't last. Attendance starts to drop, venues still won't book a better night, and now Artist X is stuck. 'If I can't even get my attendance up, how am I gonna make it? Clearly fate is telling me to quit music."  

Artist "X" thinks of moving back home and finding a new career. "This field is meant for super-humans, not me!"

Perhaps this is you, or perhaps you've made it further, and you're at another frustrating musical peak. You're booking everything, scheduling everything, and as successful as you are, you have no time left in your life, and you're still not making a mark. You've even contacted bookers, managers, indie record labels, anyone willing to help in some way. In the exciting new industry of independent's, you are sorely disappointed to find that no one is hiring, or even considering hiring. If you want to talk business, you'd better make $100 K first! As if that's not enough salt on your wounds, every once in a while, scam management companies come along and say "oh yeah, we totally listened to your songs, and we want to work with you." When you talk on the phone with them, you find out some random agent is cold-calling you with a ridiculous scam deal for anyone who signs up. 

Or…perhaps you've done very well for yourself, and somehow you've gotten yourself looked at by some major players. What happens next? Big business, big money, big success? You've done your research and you're just not sure what you're in for. You know very well the hidden dangers that come from being signed. 

 How do you break ground? How do you not let the music industry defeat you? 

Everything Independent offers many solutions to your problems. Whether you're a complete startup who needs a good marketing foundation, a workhorse who needs some of that heavy load taken off your back, or someone who is looking to break into new and better markets with better connections, Ei can give you what very few other companies can - a fair deal and a way up the music industry ladder.

 If you've got solid material, you're marketable, and your work ethic is strong, Ei can help you get to the next level of your musical career, without ownership of your hard-earned material. 

In addition to Ei artists, the company works with record labels and other companies who need additional services.