Oct 06
RyanMerch digital download, e-commerce, merch, online store, paypal, zen-cart
Alright, so maybe the future you envision is one free of commerce and greed. Maybe the future you see and sing about does not involve discount coupons, big box stores, and slogans. And just maybe you will get it… someday.
Until then, and maybe even in order to get to that point, chances are you need to sell something to keep your music going. Chances are you have bills to pay for the products and services you need to get your message out. Or maybe you don’t.
However, if you do need to sell things, and the merch table at the show is not enough, maybe you should give a few minutes of time to check out what the folks at Limited Pressing are offering. A few days ago they were giving away the band package for free, but it seems that offer has run its course. That being said, the free non-band option may work just fine. I’m still tinkering with mine, and I’m not 100% sure if it is the solution I’m looking for (digital downloads require a credit package, which runs from $10-20), but a good store is something you should be searching for. Free is obviously the best option, but sometimes free doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you might need.
That being said, if you’re looking for free and you have some knowledge of PHP, HTML and CSS, I have been using Zen-Cart for a few years without spending a penny on it. It has led to sales for sure, but the work to get it up and running can be daunting. Plus, making it attractive or embedding it into your site takes more work than it should. I pretty much gave up after I connected it all to PayPal and had a few products listed, but maybe you have more time and determination?
Personally, I’m going to work with my new store and see if I can get better results.
Sep 06
RyanMerch lady gaga, music hackday, piracy
Although I was initially drawn to the post to find out about Lady Gaga’s touring carbon footprint, which is apparently good, I have to say I have more interest now in the other hack mentioned.
Thanks to the Music Hackday event held in London in September, TrackDropper/Piracy is one of many new and interesting apps available for the curious artist.
Although I’m sure the major labels (side note: Universal was a sponsor for this past hack weekend) may kick and scream about it, I think an app like this has great potential for artists to create excitement about their music.
Imagine employing a street team to drop all the tracks from your new album across major cities a week or two before it is released. Your website could then be the central location for your fans to find clues to the whereabouts of those tracks. Basically, you create a musical scavenger hunt.
Obviously, you would have to include something more tangible for the fan at each site they visit. Something to encourage them to get outside and hunt around for the music you crafted. After all, if they can get it all for free from the comfort of their own home, why leave the computer screen? Depending on your fanbase the chance of simply meeting other fans out on the hunt, or maybe even members of the band, might be enough. Stickers, notes about the track, and ticket presale info are other things that come to mind.
Another possibility would be to simply include a few tracks outside the venue you are playing in each town on a tour. Find a local fan and have them drop a few new tracks in the hopes of enticing people in to hear the real thing. Your tour posters could also mark places where tracks are dropped. A simple note on each poster could explain how people could listen to a track at that very moment.
You could also drop tracks yourself around a city detailing places you love, song inspirations, childhood memories, past romances, etc… Hinting to your fans about the locations of these tracks later on your website could build a great bit of buzz each time you hit their hometown.
Just like so much else on the Internet, I think this new app has a lot of promise. You just need to be creative with it all, and as a musician I hope that is the easy part.
Aug 17
RyanMerch, Music crissi cochrane, fan funding, fundraising, kev corbett
Although the big boys (and girls) may still be crying over the supposed slaughter of the cash cow they know as the music industry by the hands of mean ol’ Mr. Internet, chances are you’re embracing it like a lost puppy. If not, you may want to get back to your day job.
For this of you who are on the train, you probably already know I’m standing right next to you. I’ve raved before about the benefits of the Internet and social media when embraced, and this article is just another step in how to make all those 1s and 0s your best friend.
The Musicians Guide To Fan-Funding – MTT – Music Think Tank.
I know numerous musicians who have undertaken a project that involved fan-funding (Crissi Cochrane and Kev Corbett for example), and as far as I know the results have been great. So, stop bothering your folks for one more loan to keep you from getting a desk job. Stop pleading with your other half to pay the power bill one more time before you make it big, and start thinking of ways to involve your fans in the process. Just be sure to make it worthwhile! Chances are you’re not the only act they love that is asking for their money, and that other act might have someone who can easily knit a lovely tea cozy with a “Thanks [insert fan's name here]” quicker than you can sign an album.
So, be creative. Have fun with it. At the very least you may end up playing your grandmother’s tea party for her seventeen cats, and the tea will stay warm while your record is being pressed in some factory.
RP
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