The Power of MySpace in Promoting your Band

Myspace - FunnyYou may be wondering whether your band would benefit from the publicity which is associated with MySpace. The truth of the matter is that social media is always a welcome development for artists. It allows them to access audiences that would ordinarily be closed to them. At one point this website was the absolute king of communication. FaceBook came along and changed everything. Now they have to settle for the scraps. You might have thought about customizing your pages in order to keep up with your fans. The question is whether you are better off concentrating on Twitter and FaceBook.

1) The role of promoters: Despite the declining popularity of MySpace there are many managers and journalists who are linked up. You can use it as a reference point especially when it comes to arranging auditions. The music industry is very enthusiastic about this social network and that is ample justification for participation.

2) The punters: Fans are not necessarily on MySpace but they can utilize some of the programs to pick up new music. If your presence is not there then you will be missing out on this prime opportunity. Recommend a band on FaceBook and then play the samples on MySpace.

3) Specialization: In the wake of the FaceBook onslaught MySpace has decided to upgrade its music features. There are millions of fans who are waiting to listen to interesting music. The editors have a New Music Matters section which might be of benefit to aspiring artists. First set up a page before asking for assistance.

4) Search engines: For some reason the major search engines prioritize MySpace content over many of the other content categories. That means that the clients or listeners will not have to go beyond the first page in order to get your piece. An obscure band can use this to increase their profile and edginess.

5) Existing fans: If you already have fans on MySpace, it is imperative that you maintain contact with them. Do not abandon them just because the other social media networks are having a ball. Remember that it is very hard to buy a fans dedication. At least keep the accounts running simultaneously.

6) A fickle industry: There is no guarantee that Twitter and FaceBook will be on top forever. The problems that are facing MySpace may soon find them. Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Instead make sure that you have a presence in all the major networks so that your fans can easily access the band.

Having looked at these issues you may concluded that it is not time to close your MySpace account. You may not give it a lot of attention but at least you will maintain some contacts within that sphere. There is no problem with having multiple websites. A feeder system can mean that both categories of consumers can get information about the things that you are doing. These are the things that can take your band to the next level of achievement.

Five Killer Facebook Apps for your Band Page

If you are one of the musicians trying to hook the attention of music lovers, Facebook offers a wonderful platform, where you can now create your own band page.

Apart from creating a profile that talks about your band and music, you should also make use of other sources that aid a band to get closer to the audience through the means of social networking sites. In case of Facebook, you should make good use of five killer Facebook Apps for your band page, which becomes a surefire way to hook the attention of music buffs. What are the top picks for bands that can be downloaded as apps for the fan page profile?

Apart from taking efforts to post video, lyrics, songs, concert dates, venues where the concerts are held, discography and all relevant information about your brand in the brand page, the brand or the musician should provide focal attention on some of the killer facebook apps. The app related to the Music by Reverb Nation is one such an application that allows the band to post innumerable songs for downloading or streaming, add band photos and even sell the band music varieties, where it is considered to be a good platform to share the band’s music with friends and fans. This application provides a link to the band’s homepage on Facebook, where 30 songs can get added to the Facebook Band Page.

 Vod:Pod is yet another application that ought to be used by the band that looks to increase its fan base through Facebook. With this application, the band can create small videos which then can be shared with the fans. This application is ideal one as when the band is keen to show their videos to a large target audience. This is an ideal destination for the band to display live shows, concerts, backstage moments and the music videos.

Another killer facebook application takes the form of iLike Music Tab, which is one of the top applications for bands as it allows the band and the artists to load a huge banner. With this application, the brand on the facebook can make a decent Continue reading →

Seven Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job to Become a Full Time Musician

Things You Should Consider Before Quitting Your Job to be a Full Time Musician

Seth Doud - Seth Doud Music

Become a musician. It has been your dream for many years. You started playing your instrument when you were a child and it’s one of the activities you enjoy the most. Your present job is kind of boring, and you are wondering- should you take the plunge? Here are a few things to consider first.

1) Most musicians don’t make their living solely by performing.

Even musicians in major orchestras supplement their orchestra pay check by teaching private lessons and by accepting outside performing gigs. Some other musicians supplement their income by working in a music store, by doing arrangements, and by composing. Today with self-publishing programs like iTunes, it is easier to get your music out there where people can buy it, but that doesn’t mean that they will.

Just as their are plenty of great quality Kindle books available on Amazon.com that never sell more than ten copies, there is lots of music on iTunes that doesn’t sell enough copies to pay even one month’s rent.

2) You may not be good enough.

Sorry, but it had to be said. Your best chance of getting an honest opinion about that is probably to speak with other musicians you have played with.

If you solicit opinions on this subject from fiends and family, they will probably either go easy on you, or simply tell you that you are not good enough. It is hard for most people to imagine members of their own family member up there on stage, starring in a televised musical production. On the other hand, not having much talent is not a barrier to a successful career as a musician in some types of music.

It would be hard to achieve much success as a classical musician without at least some talent, but there are plenty of successful hip hop artists out there who have little musical training and can barely carry a tune. The first time I heard a punk rocker perform on TV, I thought it was some type of parody. He was only using one cord to accompany his song! If your cording skills are that limited, you will need to pick a similar type of music. Whichever type you pick, you want to make sure that it is one that you are happy playing or singing. Even the most untalented hip hop artists, usually like their own music and believe in it. Continue reading →

A Story of David Carson: Graphic Designers Influential Spotlight

David Carson Offices - Graphic Designer

David Carson’s story could strike a chord with younger people because he didn’t start off as a graphic designer, but a sociology teacher. After being introduced to it, he was designing for things that he liked and knew about: magazines for skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing, using a style of grunge typography that was his favorite.

I’d say this appeals to younger artists because he not only didn’t have much experience in the discipline, but he was able to pave his way and start a trend using a style all his own that he loved. Most graphic designers, once they’re out in the world, are confined to working with what the client wants and are held back from self-indulging. David Carson himself stated that his style is the opposite–shamelessly self-indulgent. For most of us, that would hold us back in our designs and careers, but for David Carson, it meant work with companies like MTV, Pepsi-Cola, Levi-Strauss, Mercedes-Benz, and the band Nine Inch Nails. It suggests that yes, I’ve done it, and you can do it, too, by doing what you love and that conformity is not always necessary. Carson even won the “Most Famous Graphic Designer on the Planet” award in London of 2004.

This is a perfect case showing how influencing the masses comes into play in new media and old. Carson’s ability to understand how to influence the public through typography, brand identities, and graphics is still something we can learn from today. Quotes about Carson’s career include: “He changed the public face of graphic design” and “the most popular graphic designer of our time” along with a long list of others.

There is talks about a film about Carson’s life and influence on the design industry. The film will document the design process of Carson and will have interviews with some of the top names in Design now, one’s who were highly influenced by Carson himself. SeaWorthy Films and BFG Communications are documenting the art and design process of Carson. We will share details once the film is released.

Social Media for Artists and Musicians: Creating Your First Twitter List

If you are an artist or a musician who wants a local following, then learn how to build your first twitter list.

Twitter Lists - Never ending, like task lists!
Like your "Honey Do List" - Your Twitter List Is Never Quite Done.

Social networking, is one of the fastest ways you can build a following. Sure, it can take a little time and effort but it will be worth it. You will be getting the word out about what you do to local people who will come as see your show.

There are many artists on twitter these days and for good reason. With Twitter, you can provide people with quick updates about where your latest show is playing or you can interact with people on a personal level. Twitter lets you speak out to others. Continue reading →

5 Best Sources for Creating an Online Art Gallery

 If you are a professional artist, you need to have your own website. A website is considered the  primary contact medium for any professional in today’s world, and that includes the artist.

There are several misconceptions that keep artists from taking that first step to creating an online presence. There is the assumption that professional looking websites are costly to create and complicated to manage. Neither of these needs to be true for the artist. Listed below are five of the best website sources for artists. Each of these services cater specifically to artists and can provide professional looking website galleries for your art for minimal prices, and in some cases, at no cost at all.
The Top Five.. Continue reading →

Four Ways in Which Local Musicians Find New Venues to Perform

With an audience, the artistic spirit is pizzazed.

Local musicians are always looking for opportunities to perform and hopefully make some money. Some of the standard techniques which are used include social media like Twitter and Facebook. The musician might decide to call the venue members of staff or visit their social media address for commentary. An informal approach can work very well as long as it does not border on harassment. You can actually visit the physical venue in order to get an idea of the things that they are doing. Everybody like live musicians, no matter how small the town.

 1) Local gigs are very valuable – never give up, utilize social media Continue reading →

Artists Who Are Reclusive and the Reasons They Are That Way

The life of a recluse would not be enviable for the ordinary members of the public but many celebrities make that choice.

The problem with the world of entertainment is the fact that virtually everyone is concentrated on judging and assessing particular artists. If your hit single is followed by a dud, then there will be demoralizing coverage that you are in effect a one-hit wonder. The reality shows that are used as a promotional platform end up putting pressure on their participants to humiliate their families in the public eye. Going into Big Brother is the ultimate challenge for the celebrity because you may end up losing the respect of your audience Continue reading →

Top the Top Ten Artist FaceBook Pages and Applications

Artists have found that social media such as Facebook and YouTube are absolutely brilliant if they wish to penetrate a competitive market.

This article looks at the pages that have managed to attract the attention of the industry experts while at the same time promoting the talents of a particular artist.

 

The decline in physical album sales has meant that many people have to turn to the world of social media in order to remain viable within the industry. Instead of wasting time on temporary MP3 sales which are prone to hacking, you can try to establish institutional allegiance. That will help when selling tickets, increasing your fan base, and building loyal fans. Anyone can do it and there are free Facebook fan page apps that can make you look like the pro’s.

 

1) The preferred pages on Facebook  Continue reading →

How to Promote Local Artists Effectively Using Smart Marketing Techniques

Some of the standard marketing methods which are used to promote local artists include localized searches on Facebook and YouTube. The key is to identify an audience and then stick to it in terms of the way that the genre is promoted. Self promotion is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you have a methodical approach to it. Without big capital investments, publicity will enable you to reach a wider audience. Good PR ensures that you do not carry negative connotations for the public.

 

1) Setting realistic goals Continue reading →