Voyno: Is Social Media Killing Your Band?
(# mashsmday #smday)
In the few short years since Social Media has invaded our lives many artists have been steamrolled into picking up the technology, but few have been trained in how to use SM. Not that there is a huge difference between how an individual uses Twitter vs the way a band uses Twitter, but there is a difference.
Band SM means you must know how to interact on 2 levels. You must have an idea of what is appropriate for your social group (your fans) and what media (twitter, fbook, YouTube) will work for you. Blasting away on Twitter about anything and everything may work for you IF you're a singer songwriter whose already revealed much in your music.
But some (read: many) artists benefit from mystery. Bowie would not have become Bowie if he video blogged his entire career. He had a mystery that intrigued the world. Taking away the mystery may have revealed things that would turn off fans, that would hurt his career.
Of course this is all hypothesis but in today's world of RSS everything there is such a thing as overexposure (Lindsay Lohan anyone). Early on in the NewRockstarPhilosophy book we ask you to make sure you know yourself as an artists. When you have a solid idea of the artist that you are, you can choose the type of SM that works for you. You can keep your fans engaged and still leave them wanting more. So spend some time and figure out what kind of Social being your band is, figure out what SM you are comfortable with, and figure out what part of your artistry/personality you will reveal to your fan base. That way you will be using SM to add to your band rather than simply adding to the noise of your band.
—Voyno, author of NewRockstarPhilosophy
Bowie was successful in a different time, using different channels to connect with his fans. New artists are connecting with music fans via social media, which provides immediacy and a closeness we’ve never had before. Fans can use this to follow favorite bands, and bands can use this to understand and know their fans. I agree that you want to avoid “noise”, but bands should reveal themselves to fans, and let fans reveal themselves to the band. It will only make the bond tighter over a longer period of time.
Btw – if Bowie had video blogged his entire career, new fans would have a wealth of information to explore and understand him as an artist. As a music fan myself, I love the historical story behind a lot of the groups I follow. Imagine what it would be like if Mick blogged from France while making Exile, or Paul while making Sgt. Pepper’s. This would allow me, decades later, to feel like I was there…
SM supports a relationship between artist and fan. Bowie knew how to do it then and would have this figured out as well today. Some folks have no clue, they would have failed then and will fail now.
The old adage still works, garbage in, garbage out, no offense to the great MS Manson.
Many Band or artist have been succesfull with social media. most of them hired social media manager whow will handle all the work and needs to promote themselves..
like on Facebook, users have the option if they want to join your fan page depending what they like or their music genra.
I my self have a few fan page that I joined
http://www.loudbeats.com
i agree with Dekema – though the artist has to be careful to make sure the video blog doesn’t betray his character, having additional access to an enigma will only get people who like that personality more excited.
I disagree with Evan and Dekema and agree with the author’s point of having an air of mystery about your band or self (If it applies to you). It is not always best to broadcast your entire life or how much you are practicing and rehearsing and how you come up with your song ideas.
Some people like to wonder and use their own imagination about things, rather than just have everything revealed to them.
It’s like going to see a magician. Sure it is cool to learn how he does all his illusions and tricks, but if you leave a great show confused and bedazzled, it is going to keep you thinking about that magician, guessing how they he was able to saw himself in half under water and still survives.
That “not knowing” is exciting. Knowing too much can be boring.
I disagree that bands need to reveal themselves to their fans in all cases. For some yes they should definitely, but for bands like Tool, or ones that are more obscure, experimental, and non mainstream, I think playing the mystery card may suit them best.
I also think that some bands get carried away with their SM usage, rather than getting down to actual practice and honing their skills and songs.