A picture is worth a thousand words

I speak to two leading, live music photographers and do the legwork for my own photography in order to relate why it is so important to invest in good photography and how to get the right image for you and your band.

Firstly, as an independent band, you will need photos for the following:

• Press kits – to give promoters, venues, management, media etc…
• Support to media for articles and publicity
• Promotional materials like flyers and posters
• Websites – including social networking avatars
• Album art

These photos are not to be taken lightly. It will be the images that represent you to the world and will be used for when you get publicity in newspapers, magazines and blogs. So do you really only want the only options for a journalist to be you holding a mobile phone in a mirror? And don’t forget the impression you will leave with a music industry exec about your professionalism.

Robert Lawrence of 616 Photography in Birmingham said, “Having an exciting, professional photo when you pass over the desk of some record label rep could be the deciding factor as to whether they keep it or bin it.”

Strike a pose – live music shots

Lacuna Coil, Birmingham O2 Academy, 1/02/10, Copyright 616 Photography, Alternative Vision

Lawrence is a freelance photographer and music journalist for Alternative Vision. He has photographed little-known unsigned acts to the majors of rock and metal.

His take on photography relies strongly on giving a visual sense of how the band makes its fans feel when on stage. – “I really look for action shots at live gigs. I love it when the band jumps around and the lights hit from behind. It just shows people how stimulating and enjoyable the band is when it performs.”

Ed Salter, an award-winning photographer based out of London and Oxford agrees, “It’s always nice when the band plays up to the camera a little bit, a bit of interaction with the camera goes a long way.”

Tips for the live photographer

Salter has photographed household names like Duffy, Sum41, The Charlatans and Feeder.

He gave me his tips for a photographer that is tasked with capturing the essence of the live performance.

“At a live gig you usually get to shoot the first 2-3 songs with no flash and you have to deal with the crowd and bouncers at front spilling beer on you! Sometimes things can get a little messy at the front, especially when it’s a metal/punk band.

“You obviously can’t tell the band how to stand, so you have to move around to get the shot. I always get to the gig before the band I am shooting comes on to get an idea of lighting and the stage setup. Often the lighting will be very different between the support band and the headliners though, which can be pretty frustrating as you can’t predict it at all.

“Shooting RAW files is a must I think to get the right white/colour balance.

“Get the fastest lenses you can afford, but be careful the lens can focus in low light. The 50mm F/1.8 lets a lot of light in, but really struggles to focus in the low light situations of gig venues.

“Using a longer lens, for example 70-200mm enables you to take more unique shots of the musicians and their emotions, as opposed to the more typical full length shots (though typically magazines do tend to still print more of the full length shots).”

Picking a photographer for a live gig

Fear Factory, Wulfrun Hall, 17/02/2010, Copyright 616 Photography, Alternaive Vision

Photographers like Lawrence are freelance and usually will offer an unsigned band a good deal if you want to hire him for a live music gig.

He said, “Bands would be looking at around £30 for the night plus my expenses for travel etc. I would retain the copyright because that can get expensive for bands. But if the band wants to buy the rights of a couple of shots for use on albums then we can negotiate.”

In my experience, it’s all about the networking. You’ll find good live music photographers at gigs. Often they are hired by a venue / promoter to be a resident photographer-type.

Talk to other bands too about who did their photography. You’ll soon find someone.

You can also take a chance on college students. They will often work for nothing so that they can increase their portfolio and work on their technique.

Ready for your close-up?

So live music photography is important but so is the studio shot of you and/or your group.

In order to find out how it works, I did it myself. I set out to find a decent studio photographer to take shots of me. I had a budget of £100 and a good idea of how I wanted my photos to look.

I started cruising Modelmayhem.com and Starnow.co.uk to find photographers in my area. Obviously, the key thing for me was to look at their portfolio to see their capability and quality of previous work.

If the portfolio ticked the right boxes for the style I was going for, then I contacted them with my needs and enquired about rates and availability.

Here’s where the stumbling blocks appeared. The lesson I learned that I pass on to you is shop around.

One photographer was going to charge £100/hour with full rights to photos, another was going to charge me £30 as a sitting fee and then £10/photo after that.

Other amateur photographers like Spatch Photography (the resident photographer for the Hakamou acoustic nights) would only charge £40 and then 50p/photo.

Some of the college kids would do a good deal but due to schedule conflicts couldn’t fit into my timescales or could only do outside shots because they didn’t have access to a studio.

www.foto-smith.com

In the end, I found Steve Smith whose bread and butter is wedding photography but is no stranger to the local music scene and was keen to get some new material for his website. We negotiated a deal and set a date. Two hours was enough time to get tons of shots in about five different outfits and settings.

Speaking to Lawrence again about his thoughts on studio shots, he immediately said it can be a bit boring and tedious to get the right shots especially when you are dealing with three, four, five members of a band.

Studio shots are great for album artwork and publicity use.

Salter says, “I think having good quality graphics and photographs are really important even in this day and age. When records were the main medium, it gave quite a large area for the photo to be printed on which in some ways was better.

But today with iPods etc having artwork on them is still important. As devices get bigger screens this will help make it even more important to have great artwork.”

The techie bit

According to the authors of the DIY Music Manual, here are the formats that you will need in your possession and when to use said format.

• Web – GIF and JPEG files
• Press – TIFF or BMP, but can get away with high res JPEGs
• Printers / Merchandise – TIFF, BMP, JPEG or GIF

In summary…

• Play up to the camera during live photographs – it shows future attendees of your gigs what they are in store for
• Network to find good photographers for both live and studio settings
• Have a good idea of budget and style and be prepared to shop around for the right photographer
• Be willing to negotiate on copyright to maintain affordability
• Get some high res photos just in case
• Start taking your photographic images of you and your band seriously as integral to the overall brand and reputation of your act and performances
• And don’t end up on this blog…or this Top 100…

Challenges to overcome in your social networking promotions

I stumbled across this paper called the 4 challenge areas for digital public promotions  on the Social Media Forum website.  Although its audience is not independent musicians, I still wanted to share some highlights that are totally relevant when looking at a music online promotional strategy.

Ethics and Best practice

It’s all about “delivering a positive impact”.  This means no spam comments.  And if you are doing email newsletters, make sure you are not spamming them in their inbox either with useless drivel. Excuse the cliché but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Strategy vs. Tactics

This is really just focusing on making sure that your various web pages are all working together. And that a Myspace music page is not the end all and be all of your online promotional strategy.

Here’s a excerpt from a recent interview conducted by Music Think Tank with SXSW magazine.

How does the social-networking aspect fit into this, and how can musicians make better use of it? What needs pointing out is that “social media” is just an idea. [Edit: I prefer to use the term, Social Web] The term “social media” feels like it was dreamed up by marketers, who, believing the web is like TV, wanted to create “channels” to reach people online. Remember, as Chris Anderson of Wired wrote in a Tweet recently “the Internet is one of those ‘once in a century’ inventions and the web is just an application that sits on the Internet. There are, and will be other applications.” 

Social networks are simply places where people gather online. Anthropology takes care of the need for humans to be constantly in touch, technology just shortens the distance between us via, say, the web or mobile devices. Therefore, I’d argue, that bands need an online digital strategy worked out in advance. Having a MySpace page or Facebook fan page is not a digital strategy for musicians.

Now that Google has delivered Google Music Search and Twitter provides real time search, I argue that musicians must now have their own url. If they did, then they would benefit from those searches by having their url come up in the results. If they don’t then their MySpace url will come up first.

A digital strategy would ensure that the intended actions of a fan landing on the musician’s web page might include buying some music, a T-shirt or signing up to an email list. If you are just one of millions of bands on MySpace I’d say those are difficult result to achieve. All those social network tools should simply be used as part of a strong digital/online strategy.

Performance and Return-on-investment

Basically ask yourself, are you getting back all the effort, money and time that you are putting in to your online promotions?  If not, then find a better, efficient way of doing it. 

Scale and Impact

This obviously leads from your return on investment efforts. Once you start having some success with your online promotional strategy, you will need to consider how you are going to create an even greater awareness. 

So you got 10 reviews of your new album.  Or you got mentioned on a local radio show. You got 7 more people to sign up to your newsletter. 

How can you increase that coverage? Are you going to pay for it?  Can you even increase your current efforts?

I’ll be attending a fantastic event in March about social media called Social Media World Forum Conference and Exhibition, and in particular attending workshops ran by Facebook Develop Garage on Return on Investment and viral marketing as well as RealWire’s presentation on online press releases. So I hope to come back with some great ideas and best practice which of course will be passed straight on to you  guys. *thumbs up*

Social Media Forum in London next month

In an an ever-increasing quest to keep up-to-date with the latest in marketing, I am attending the Social Media Forum in London next month.

Rene Byrd and I will be viewing  the exhibits, taking notes during the workshops and then hopefully applying any new knowledge to her launch of her new album. And obviously passing on to you guys on here.

There’s some awesome speakers that I will get to see including…Facebook and Bebo bigwigs.

The Social Media World Forum Conference and Exhibition, taking place on 15-16 March 2009 at Olympia in London announced new line up of social networks speaking at the show. The five conferences at the show combined will feature more than 200 speakers over Social Media, Social TV, Enterprise, Mobile Social Media and Cloud Computing.

Would you like to promote your music on Radio?

Of course you do.

It seems a daunting task though to try and get your unsigned/independent music on the radio airwaves.  But I’ve got some tricks and a few places to start that will get you some radio play in the UK.

The Tricks

• Start a database or excel spreadsheet of contact details and submission instructions of potential media outlets (this includes radio) at hand so you can track your activity or quickly set up mail merges when sending out press releases etc…
• Gigging outside of your home town? Then contact the media on your stops and let them know you are coming!!
• Make sure your news is updated regularly and easily accessible by the media.  This includes your websites and various other profiles you have on the internet.
• Compile a press kit – includes your CD Demo (unwrapped), if a whole EP or album – suggest recommended tracks, a document that includes band bio, photos, gig dates, truncated press or fan reviews and if you want some merch like bumper sticker, t-shirt etc…
• After you submit your news/demo for radio, make an effort to confirm receipt and acceptance.

Radio Opportunities in America

If you are in America then I feel this task is not so daunting.  The radio market in the US is much more competitive and local stations are a dime a dozen. 

If you hit up your local radio presenters and college stations, then it’s pretty much guaranteed that you can get some air time. (Disclaimer: Make sure the quality of your music is radio worthy though!)

Radio Opportunities in the UK – BBC, Commercial, Community and Online

The majority of my readers are on the British Isles, so this particular article will concentrate on opportunities UK-side with significant emphasis for the Midlands and London. 

We’ll start with the giant that is the BBC.  BBC’s Introducing is all about what it says on the tin…introducing new and unsigned talent across the UK.  There are also local versions of this like BBC Weekender in Northampton.

The BBC is pretty open about how you get involved, submit your music and your news.  So just read the instructions, follow them and good luck!

Next up are  the opportunities on commercial and community radio stations.  Commercial radio stations would be like your Heart FMs *gag* but you can’t tar all commercial radio stations with the same brush as this and many do offer a special spot to showcase homegrown talent. 

For example, my favourite commercial radio station, Kerrang FM out of Birmingham broadcasts The Unsigned Show on Sunday nights.  You can submit your music by post but please note they get hundreds of submissions weekly.  It appears they also use the music discovery platform Slice The Pie when considering music for the playlist.

XFM in London also often features unsigned acts particularly during the programme called X-Posure.   

Other commercial radio stations may not showcase local, unsigned music but they still accept demos for “consideration” especially if they host events and would want a local band to provide entertainment.

Community and college/university radio stations are littered across the UK.  For instance, Vision Community Radio in London are always on the look out for up and coming artists. There are also stations like  Corby Radio that predominantly concentrate on that which is local and that includes music. For a list of current community radio stations, check out OFCOM’s directory of licensees.

Colleges and universities that have a radio station rely heavily on music and content provided by local acts.  Coventry University’s Source Radio is more than willing to accept demos and has the capacity for live in-studio performances.  Pretty much every university from Stirling to Southampton offer some form of media whether printed or radio.

Finally, I look at internet radio stations and podcasts. Brumcast is a podcast-based programme that features music from what it dubs the “Underground” scene.  The Homegrown podcast is all about independent music, poetry and prose.  If you want, you can also trawl through Live365’s directory of internet radio stations that cater to independent music both at home and abroad.

Looking for interesting ideas for promoting music online?

I actually read this paper, Best practices of the online promotion of new

musical content, written by one of my LinkedIn connections, Bas Grasmayer, a few months ago. 

It’s a very interesting study of major artists’ promotional strategies for online marketing – Radiohead’s pricing model for In Rainbows to Mos Def’s bundling with merchandise.  I highly recommend reading it when brainstorming for ideas or to understand the marketing theory applied in such crucial activities as an album launch.

Exposure artist gains Universal deal

Here’s a story that just goes to show that unsigned artists wanting to “make it” shouldn’t ignore the song and BoTB contests and competitions out there.

A guy that entered a recent Exposure Music Awards won a total of four awards for his talents.  A week later, he appeared on one of the awards’ sponsor radio stations and later that month he snagged himself a global deal with music giant, Universal. Kerr-ching…hopefully.

The next award show is happening here in the Midlands in March at the Front Rooms in Cheltenham.  Registration for the Live Performance Showcases  is closed but artists can still register up until 28th February for the Music Industry Experts awards.

Great advice from Nashville-based “Indie Connect” Magazine

February's Cover of Indie Connect Magazine

Indie Connect blog is a great little FREE source of information perfect for indie bands. 

I signed up to their mailing list about a month ago and have been impressed with its comprehensive advice articles written by experts.  They also produce an online magazine.

New promotional outlet for Midlands’ bands started on Myspace

Bands looking for easy promotion and the opportunity to get a review can find it with a new venture called Midlands Music Maniacs.  Della has started this music profile on Myspace dedicated to giving local bands a leg up with publicity.

“We’ve been going for just over 3 weeks now.  I’m amazed at how fast it’s taking off!”, said Della. 

Midlands Music Maniac’s profile is on average receiving 200 hits per day and it’s also starting to get the attention of music industry professionals too.

I asked her why she decided to start this page.

“I’ve been promoting bands for the past two years on a smaller scale and looked into what was happening in the Midlands. Basically, I found there was a huge gap in the market. What I’m eventually planning to do is get someone on board who can go out to the gigs and video short interviews with the bands to put up on our page.

“A lot of these bands won’t have had this type of experience of being reviewed, interviewed and promoted in the media before. We hope it gives them something solid to include on press kits and show industry execs. We’ve also got a facebook page going to encourage more fans to support their local music scene, hopefully this will lead to bigger crowds at gigs.”

Della maintains a rolling list of upcoming gigs.  She also features 10 bands every month with songs and a review by yours truly.  Bands can also check out her “Daily Post” blog with a list of opportunities bands can take up like festival auditions, band vacancies and venues wanting talent.

Guitarists wanted for documentary

Photograph Copyright Marc Hankins

I stumbled across this little gem on Twitter.

A film director from London is looking for guitarists with incredible stories to tell – unique style, interesting location, life-changing influence etc…

Some of the latest submissions are already published on the site along with links to the respondents’ websites.  I particularly like the story about how a young UK man had a horrible accident and despite disability, he continues to play guitar.

Successful submissions will be included in the filming.  This is an extraordinary opportunity to get your music heard!  Rules and entry requirements are also available on the site, deadline is end of March.

It’s not what you know but who you know

A company out of Florida has launched myMusicCircle.comwhich is a new website providing an international platform for musicians to source help on everything from producers to legal counsel and even image consultants!

Or vice versa music industry professionals can find work by creating a profile complete with a portfolio, hourly rates and CV.

According to the website, myMusicCircle.comwas created with the understanding that the world of music is changing and the way that music gets created continues to change.

There are five categories of professionals: Talent Discovery, Copyright & Advisory, Production, Distribution and Sales & Promotion.

People are just starting to sign up and create profiles. Signing up is free for now but I don’t know if that is likely to change when the site gets more established. So get in while the getting is good.

Black Scorpions Promotions launching blog for “incomplete” Brum bands

Birminhgam based promoters, Black Scorpions Promotions announced yesterday that they will launch a blog dedicated to helping Brummy bands find missing members. 

“We’re forever seeing (Band name) R.I.P., DRUMMER WANTED, SEEKING BASSIST, GUITARIST REQUIRED, WE NEED A VOCALIST…This weekend we’ll set up a blog for Birmingham bands only to try and help these bands out. If you’re seeking musicians for your band, send details and we’ll add it to the blog. This is a trial, if it works we’ll keep it up.”

Email blackscorpion@sky.com and put in the subject field ‘Musicians Wanted blog’

Midland’s band done good takes time off and heralds the end of indie guitar genre?

According to BBC’s Newsbeat website, Coventry band, The Enemy are taking time off and this is seen as one sign of the apocalypse of indie guitar bands.

The article quotes failing sales, indie bands laying low and only 3 are in the UK top 20.

I heard a news report on BBC 1 on my return home from work today when the announcer quoted a listener saying that the indie guitar genre is not failing, it is merely going back underground.

If that listener meant underground in terms of only being able to get local gigs in seedy bars…yeah sure it’s underground.

I don’t mean to be controversial or drag down indie guitar bands.  But as a casual observer of my own local music scene, I have started to notice an increase in otherwise little traversed genres from young artists like blues, funk, rockabilly, thrash, and mod rock.

Theres a heck of a lot of open mics and acoustic gigs popping up all over the place.  And the dub and dance industry is really pushing through some impressive acts in the mainstream.

I guess there are two potential lessons that independent bands can learn from this revelation in the media…

1) Be prepared for limited success if you are mediocre in a failing and increasingly underground genre.

2) Innovate, innovate, innovate…the acts that sustain themselves in the charts have strived continually to always be on top of their game and rather than following trends…they start them.  Yeah, sure, record labels do try and find cookie-cutter acts that will, fingers crossed, give them success…but it’s historically documented as fleeting.  I suppose you have to ask yourself which you prefer…

Last call from Surface Unsigned

Surface Unsigned would like to remind any unsigned bands that want to take part in the 2010 Festival you only have until January 31st 2010 to apply.

Starting in February, the 2010 Surface Unsigned Festival will tour the UK, giving artists from cities such as Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, London, Brighton and Portsmouth the chance to compete for £60,000 worth of prizes.

The eventual winner will pick up £5,000 in cash, a slot at the 2011 Sziget Festival in Budapest – playing to a potential audience of 65,000 people – a digital distribution contract with Zimbalam Digital and various other incentives.

“The quality of the bands that have applied so far for 2010 has been amazing,” says Surface Unsigned managing director Jay Mitchell.

“We’ve already started to book acts for this year’s Festival.”

Surface is still accepting applications and anyone interested should visit the website at www.surfaceunsigned.co.uk.

The top 16 bands from Surface Unsigned in 2010 will play an industry showcase at London’s IndigO2 and support a major touring act.

For bands interested in applying to the 2010 Surface Unsigned Festival please visit www.surfaceunsigned.co.uk and fill out an online application.