Presenting Yourself to the World
January 1st 2009 02:35
Times have changed so much over the last few centuries that musicians that are new to their scene might get left in the dust. With Social Networking and Marketing abound, if your not in the loop, you'll have to jump through more hopes than the globtrotters favorite basketball.
There are other important techniques that are useful to know and great to have around when you really need them the most. Things like Business Cards, Press Kits, CD's and Merchandise. I find time and again that I will meet plenty of bands that I would love to book, but they have no readily available information for me.
Most bands today already have a Myspace account, as myspace has become what I like to call The Super Social Network. They have captured nearly every aspect of social marketing, media and networking and wrapped it up into a huge easy to navigate website. It has attracted more than 1 billion users and is the most used by venues and talent scouts when it comes to finding their next big hit.
I did not get into this article to tell you that your band needs to have a myspace, what I really wanted to share with you is a common mistake made by many bands. It happens for many reasons. Sometimes no one in the band is putting any effort into keeping the information on the page updated and fresh. Sometimes it is because no one in the band has ever put a layout or backround.
You know what I am talking about. The difference between looking at a page that is set at default and has no unique features or characteristics other than a music player with old music, compared to a band page that has a relative backround, pictures of previous shows, a short bio, an updated music player, and lots of comments. I know everyone reading this article has seen at least a similar example to what I am talking about. You might have also have seen the other side of things, when you hit a page that is so full of 'crap' that you can't load the music player or half of the page.
Being that most venues, promoters, labels and talent scouts are using myspace as a virtual press kit, it is sooooooooo important that your bands myspace represent your band.
As a Musicians Liaison, when I go to research the bands that have asked me to promote them or book them at show, there are plenty of generalized things that I could say, like;
*The more effort you put into your band page = the more effort you give to your band/music
*The more presentable the band page = the more presentable the band will be
*The more page views = the more attention the band gets
*Updated and clean cuts of music = a professional musician/band
*New songs every month or so = a band that will keep people interested
*Lots of comments on the page that are newer than a week old and from fans not other bands = a popular band with loyal fans
*A reliable calander that is not over booked = A band that has time to do a show i book them and the time to promote them
Now, there are plenty of times that a myspace page can be decieving. A band might have been to busy touring because they got paid right away, but they are also missing out on plenty of opportunities because of what their page lacks. There have also been plenty of times when bands will have fantastic pages that own no true bearing on how the band really is, hence they are really good liars.
Those cases are usually in the minority though, and I find that any online sites for bands can be the best first impression you will get from a band. Even going to a live show to see them will not tell you as much.
So! With all this information curddling your brain, it is time to get to the point! You need to be careful how you present yourself to the world. Making sure your myspace is up to date, that you have professional looking business cards on you at all times, and don't p.o. anyone! You never know who they might be or who they might know.
Here are some helpful hints:
-Don't over fill your friends list with other bands and people from out of state. I check every friends list of every band and I find that a band with only 100 friends on their page is probably more likely to bring fans than a band with 2000 friends. I also make sure to look at where the majority of their fans are from. I.e. are they local? Are they in an area that I don't book in? Are there a lot of fans in one general area. Looking for those things makes it extremely difficult when I have to look at 5 pages of other bands and venues.
-Make sure your business cards, CD's and any merch are clearly marked with your bands webpage link on it and a reliable phone number and email. This way you will never be caught off card by an unsuspecting talent scout or fan who want to see you again.
-It is more than a good idea to carry at least a few Demo CD's on you at all times, but please please please, at least make sure to take some to your shows. Even if they don't sell, you can pass them around and earn some more listeners.
-Don't be shy about telling anyone and everyone about any music you have posted online. Enter contests, get into chat rooms and make sure you are heard!
There are other important techniques that are useful to know and great to have around when you really need them the most. Things like Business Cards, Press Kits, CD's and Merchandise. I find time and again that I will meet plenty of bands that I would love to book, but they have no readily available information for me.
Most bands today already have a Myspace account, as myspace has become what I like to call The Super Social Network. They have captured nearly every aspect of social marketing, media and networking and wrapped it up into a huge easy to navigate website. It has attracted more than 1 billion users and is the most used by venues and talent scouts when it comes to finding their next big hit.
I did not get into this article to tell you that your band needs to have a myspace, what I really wanted to share with you is a common mistake made by many bands. It happens for many reasons. Sometimes no one in the band is putting any effort into keeping the information on the page updated and fresh. Sometimes it is because no one in the band has ever put a layout or backround.
You know what I am talking about. The difference between looking at a page that is set at default and has no unique features or characteristics other than a music player with old music, compared to a band page that has a relative backround, pictures of previous shows, a short bio, an updated music player, and lots of comments. I know everyone reading this article has seen at least a similar example to what I am talking about. You might have also have seen the other side of things, when you hit a page that is so full of 'crap' that you can't load the music player or half of the page.
Being that most venues, promoters, labels and talent scouts are using myspace as a virtual press kit, it is sooooooooo important that your bands myspace represent your band.
As a Musicians Liaison, when I go to research the bands that have asked me to promote them or book them at show, there are plenty of generalized things that I could say, like;
*The more effort you put into your band page = the more effort you give to your band/music
*The more presentable the band page = the more presentable the band will be
*The more page views = the more attention the band gets
*Updated and clean cuts of music = a professional musician/band
*New songs every month or so = a band that will keep people interested
*Lots of comments on the page that are newer than a week old and from fans not other bands = a popular band with loyal fans
*A reliable calander that is not over booked = A band that has time to do a show i book them and the time to promote them
Now, there are plenty of times that a myspace page can be decieving. A band might have been to busy touring because they got paid right away, but they are also missing out on plenty of opportunities because of what their page lacks. There have also been plenty of times when bands will have fantastic pages that own no true bearing on how the band really is, hence they are really good liars.
Those cases are usually in the minority though, and I find that any online sites for bands can be the best first impression you will get from a band. Even going to a live show to see them will not tell you as much.
So! With all this information curddling your brain, it is time to get to the point! You need to be careful how you present yourself to the world. Making sure your myspace is up to date, that you have professional looking business cards on you at all times, and don't p.o. anyone! You never know who they might be or who they might know.
Here are some helpful hints:
-Don't over fill your friends list with other bands and people from out of state. I check every friends list of every band and I find that a band with only 100 friends on their page is probably more likely to bring fans than a band with 2000 friends. I also make sure to look at where the majority of their fans are from. I.e. are they local? Are they in an area that I don't book in? Are there a lot of fans in one general area. Looking for those things makes it extremely difficult when I have to look at 5 pages of other bands and venues.
-Make sure your business cards, CD's and any merch are clearly marked with your bands webpage link on it and a reliable phone number and email. This way you will never be caught off card by an unsuspecting talent scout or fan who want to see you again.
-It is more than a good idea to carry at least a few Demo CD's on you at all times, but please please please, at least make sure to take some to your shows. Even if they don't sell, you can pass them around and earn some more listeners.
-Don't be shy about telling anyone and everyone about any music you have posted online. Enter contests, get into chat rooms and make sure you are heard!
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