This was fun, and emotional for me. When I found the old audio that explained how I started the “Musicians Cyber Cooler Newsletter” in 2001 I went, “Holy Cow I’ve been doing this for 10 years.”  I’ve changed the name before. I dropped the word “Cyber” when most people associated it with sex. I’m changing the name of the Podcast to “Marketing Musician Podcast.” To me the name is a bit more obvious, as opposed to having to explain that “it’s like a bunch of musicians hanging around a water cooler.”

So today we hear some very old audio, and every ID I could find. I had fun listening to the different accent from across the globe. I smiled when you hear people pimp their myspace pages (see marketingmusician.com). Thanks to everyone who has ever been on the show. I really appreciate it. I’ve always said, it’s not my podcast its OUR website. I’m going to need new IDs so send them on in to dave “at” marketingmusician “dot” com. You can still call them in at 888 563 3228.

Joe Bonamassa Vintage Interview

Back when this was only “audio on the website” an unknown blues guitarist named Joe Bonamassa had just released his 5th CD (Joe is now THE blue guitarist, and recently played the Royal Albert Hall with Eric Clapton and many other superstars). I wanted to share this with the audience as Joe is a great example of working with the fans, going the extra mile, using social tools like twitter and youtube.com

The interesting thing about this interview is that its from 2004, and you hear Joe’s take on going the extra mile for his fans. Seven years later he’s playing Royal Albert Hall. He’s just released his second album with Black County Communion and he has the schedule now to release an album (or two) each year, tour, and continue to grow his audience. He has a show on Sirius satelite radio, and he uses affiliate tools so his fans can get paid to promote his CD. He continues to work hard, so that his hussle matches his talent. Its obviously paid off.

Check out Joe’s music in iTunes
or Amazon.

Marketing Musician On Deck

I look forward to working with everyone in the future. If you have an idea for a future podcast, please let me know.

We are always looking for:

Tales from the road

Cool New Tools on the Internet

Gear reviews (seriously, did you buy some gear? Call in a review).

Anything you think a musician would find interesting.

See you in a few weeks

The band I’m in started mid year. This is a horrible time to try and break into clubs. Then one of the clubs we were booked for the rest of the year decided to dump bands. We have no gigs for the rest of the year, so what do we do?

1. Divided the state into sections with each band member taking a section.

2. We will focus on follow-up.

The idea is to not follow-up that we are annoying, but so that we can implant the idea into the booker’s head that we are the “cancellation band.” (hoping they don’t think that WE cancel). This way when (not if) some other band cancels a gig the name that will come up in their head is my bands. We will be the band they call. Once we get the gig, its ours to lose.  Things we can do to stay in their face.

1. Invite the booker to hear us if we play a club near theirs.

2. Drop of merch if we have any.

3. Send a post card (You can use a service like Vertical Response and do this without leaving your computer).

Some people say audible.com is saturating the market by supporting podcasts. To this I ask, “What is the number 2 audio book company?” By keeping their brand in front of their target market (people who listen to audio), audible is the first name we think of when it comes to “I’d like to try listening to a book.” What audible is doing is keeping in the face of their target market.

A Great Resource For Sharing Musical Ideas

If you are looking to share”Musical Ideas” with your band, check out dropbox.com This is a cool site that not only lets you share files, but it synchronizes folders between computers. I use it with my Podcasting Clients, and I love it. Not only does it work on computers, but it works in iPhones, Androids, etc.  For more information go to www.musicianscooler.com/dropbox 

This podcast took 58 minutes to record, edit, and publish.

I just stumbled across a website that allows you to upload your music for free, and then put a player on your site. It’s mixcloud.com It’s based out of the UK, and currently I don’t get the  catch. They are all about streaming (no legal rights to deliver downloads) and there seems to be a community growing over at this site for people who love club / DJ type music. You can also upload talk shows (so I through a Cooler episode up there). When you upload a file you can then add chapters that allow people to jump to different sections and leave comments.

In general they want you to send your visitors to their website so they can try and sell advertisements. However, if your music fits this genre, and its free, I’m thinking, “What they heck.” Takes about 2 minutes to sign up and file out a profile.

We’ve talked about in the past that musicians need to be able to keep up with technology, and embrace the tools that are available (while not spending 24 hours a day on the computer and losing the magic that is meeting face to face). Many moons ago I interviewed David Codr about his Music Phone book. This was a great resource for keeping up on all sorts of contacts in the music business.

That was back in 2007, and things have changed and keep an accurate version of anything is hard when things change so fast. Consequently, the Music Phone book has now morphed into musicpage.com where you can list a profile, and search for venues, booking agents, music stores, etc in your area. When you find them you can add notes that only you can see.

When you call Steve at the Rusty Rhino bar and he says to call back next Tuesday you can use the service to send you a reminder next Tuesday via text message. Best of all its free. There are some great features that you do have to pay for (this is good, typically resources that never charge for anything go out of business).

When I logged in I see where there are some resources on the site, but as its brand new there are some area that are a little bare. One area I would like keep void of information is the section of the site that helps musicians find stolen gear.

The way the site does stay in business is through one advertisement per page (when I logged in) and its targeted. For example if you say your a guitarist, you will more than likely see adds that has guitars. If you are a pianist you will see (you get the idea).

To get access to the “uber cool” features for six months, use the coupon code musicianscooler when you sign up.

Someone had sent in an email about what shopping cart I use. I found a WordPress Plugin called estore that stops people from sharing the download link. The customer never receives the actual link to the file (its encrypted). You can use it create packages, it accepts coupons for paypal, and if you need to give special instructions to your customers. If you are using amazon S3 to host your files it works with that. They make adding a shopping cart SO EASY by adding snippets of code to your website. You don’t need to have a reference guide to remember the codes, you click on a box and select what type of button you are adding (subscription, buy now, add to cart) It’s very, very easy. Best of all (as we all know scripts don’t always do what they are supposed to do) there is great support, and a big community. Best of all there is a one time fee of $49 and there is nobody else involved with the sale of your digital goods, just you and paypal (no monthly fees).

Dave has cracked the door of marketingmusican.com and he created a video for youtube to help explain why YOU should be managing your website (and the fact that you can do it for around $10 a month).

It’s Too Big To Fail – Why Every Musician Should Manage Their Own Website

David Lee Roth once said that he jumps around on stage because he wants the audience to jump around. In his immoral wisdom he said, “You just need to do it without throwing a rod man…”

I was listening to a jazz station this Sunday morning and heard some old Bennie Goodman (my mother was a big fan and taught me to jitter bug as a teenager). I will be talking about Bennie if a future Musicians Cooler Podcast. But I went and found this youtube video, and I notice something half way through as these guys took their solos. They were smiling (hard to play Clarinet and smile but Bennie did), if you watch the back row, all their knees are bobbing up and down to the beat in unison. Could it be this band is (gasp) having fun?

If your audience is dead, not paying attention to you I ask, is your band dead and not paying attention to them?

The Band Cheap trick dodged a bullet and now the Country Band Sugarland decided to “wait a second” before going on stage. This is video is shocking to watch – especially knowing that four people died. I point this out to say “the show must go on” is not a true statement when it’s raining sideways.The wind was crazy that day. My condolences to all the families of those who lost someone.

When you are trying to get your first gig, you want to explain to the club or event how THEY are going to benefit. Late night TV infomercials help you understand the problem you didn’t know you have (Is your cheese crooked? Do you hate having wrinkled cheese?), then they explain how their product eliminates all the hassles (It’s a cheese straightener – but wait there is more). The bottom line is EVERYONE loves to benefit. When you describe your band, instead of explaining how people will love you because everyone loves you, think of what their pains are and explain how your band will not cause those same pains.

This CD is also short (clocking in at around 10 minutes), but gives the booker a decent idea what the band sounds like, and understands how we want to work with  them not so much for them to create not just another gig, but an event.  We provide seasoned musicians, great music, and no headaches.

This is just one of the ideas in my book Get Your Band Out of the Basement (and keep them out of the asylum).Available for $12.99

Also mentioned on this episode:

www.stageclothes.net – because they see you before they hear you.

www.audibletrial.com/dave – get a free audio book for signing up.

If you are looking to create a website for your band, please contact me as I can start your website for free.

One of the keys to being a great singer is having a unique voice. John Corabi was in a band called The Scream, and later was tapped to replace Vince Neil in  Motely Crue 1994 (I loved the Crue with John). He was also in a band called Union with Ex-Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick. I read that he was getting ready to release an acoustic album. Cool! I thought, and Googled and found his website.

His website is dismal.

It has his schedule, and if you want contact him manager, see his facebook, and twitter. If you want to hear or see him you are out of luck?After all, why would want to HEAR a musician?

I was depressed. On a talent level he is up there. His website looks like it was made in 1996 with Microsoft Front Page.

What’s missing?

How about links to your discography? (OK, I get that Union and the Scream are out of Print – but where is a link to the new “Give me Air” album?)

How about a bio?

How about Videos? When I went to Youtube there are some good videos with John Solo, Motely Crue and the Scream.

What about photos? For those you have to go to his managements page.

Check out his website at http://johncorabi.com/

John if this post ever gets to you, please contact me so I can build a website for you that matches your talent 888-563-3228

I just read about this service at punchtab.com where you can build your own loyalty program. While they have a built in catalog that gives away gift cards, you can make your own. Your fans/visitors get point for doing certain tasks each day at your site.

For example:

Visiting your site every day – for their first visit to your site every day your users will earn 100 points
Liking your content on Facebook – for their first Like on your site every day your users will earn 100 points
Tweeting your content – for their first Tweet on your site every day your users will earn 100 points
Google +1 your content – for their first Google +1 on your site every day your users will earn 100 points
Commenting – for their first comment of the day your users will earn 100 points

You an also do a one time giveaway (where actions give you entries into the drawing).. It takes just a few minutes to install this on your site, and you then get statistics on your site and you get your own “leader board.”

I see this tool as a way to pull some of the traffic from Facebook over to your website, while giving another reason for people to visit your site.

Check it out at www.punchtab.com