Bandvista Blog

Politics and Music

In times of crisis, music isn't just entertainment – it's inherently political. Music both shapes and is shaped by sociopolitical occurrences, whether it is to mark events that have already occurred or to inspire people to action.

These days, we hear a lot of talk about musicians needing to “stay in their lane,” “mind their own business,” or “stick to entertaining.” But what some of these naysayers forget is that musicians are not just entertainers; they are people. Musicians are citizens, taxpayers, voters. They are students, parents, teachers, businesspeople, and so much more. And since so much of our public identities are linked with what we believe politically, it stands to reason that music and politics are inextricably linked.

This isn't a new tradition. We have music hundreds of years old that speaks on political issues and occurrences, from lays sung of great battles to bawdy songs about the misdoings of kings and queens. And it does not stop there – plays, books, epic poems, paintings, and every other art form has served as political commentary or as a call to action. For this reason, in times of political crisis, the arts have sometimes been strictly censored – even to the point of executing artists for what they produced.

And yet the arts have served to call attention to important events and people that the citizenry may not have been aware of, or a perspective that they may not have previously considered. The arts have great power; they are both a hallmark and cornerstone of civilization. The arts have made and unseated rulers, have incited rebellions against injustice, and comforted the oppressed. They have irritated and even incensed the powerful, and infused the people with strength and determination.

For all these reasons, musicians – and all artists – should feel free to ignore statements that they should not use their art to call attention to political issues, whether in their own nations or in countries abroad. Nightwish's “Creek Mary's Blood” was written about the oppression and genocide of the Native American peoples, in spite of the fact that the band is Finnish. Serj Tankian's “Yes, It's Genocide” was written about the Armenian genocide by the Turkish, also referred to as “The Great Wrong” and rarely taught in American schools. Music connects peoples worldwide – in both shared suffering and shared power.

Music as a political force cannot be denied. So musicians, the next time someone tells you to “stay in your lane,” remind them that you're not only in your lane – you're participating in a millennia-old tradition of helping to shape and inform history.

Five Ways to Manage Your Health on Tour

For a lot of musicians, touring is the experience of a lifetime – whether it's your first or your twentieth. But touring takes its toll, from organizing dates with promoters and band managers to the long flights and the longer drives.

Being on tour presents unique challenges to musicians in terms of managing their health – many, if not most, tours are fraught with bad food, little sleep, and loads of stress. But a little planning can go a long way in staying healthy and rested while you're on tour, making future tours much more likely. Here are five ways to manage your health on tour.

Schedule Downtime

One of the biggest keys to good health is getting enough sleep, and on tour, getting enough rest is even more critical. For musicians with incredible stamina, touring for a month straight with little sleep might not tax them as much; but no matter how strong, fit, and healthy you already are, you'll want to make sure to schedule downtime during your tour. Think of your tour the way you'd think about your job – working too many days in a row with no days off at all wears you down and, eventually, can make you sick. Schedule days off throughout your tour where you can sleep in, relax, and prepare to move on to your next tour location. It will make all the difference to your energy levels – and help keep your immune system strong.

Don't Overdo It

All dedicated musicians care about putting on a fantastic show, but a lot of musicians totally overwork their bodies onstage, resulting in both short-term injury and long-term mobility issues. Many a musician has had to see a doctor or visit a hospital following a show because they absolutely shredded their bodies during the gig – and over time, doing this too much can result in a number of long-term physical maladies like arthritis, bursitis, and shin splints. It's normal to be a little sore after a show, but don't work so hard that you're in real pain.

Skip the Booze and the Energy Drinks

Both alcohol and caffeine heavily dehydrate the body, and dehydration interferes with everything from cognition and memory function to restful sleep and muscle responsiveness. Sure, having a drink here and there is fine, but don't booze up before and after your shows, and take it easy on the caffeine. If you  really need a boost, try an espresso over an energy drink – or try foods or supplements that slow-release big amounts of energy over time, like granola, protein bars, or power green smoothies.

Eat Real Food

This is one area of touring where planning is especially careful, because while a lot of touring musicians live off fast food and Waffle House while they're touring, not eating real food seriously depletes your energy, leading to sickness and exhaustion. When you're making your tour schedule, look at where you might really need to stop off for food rather than making something – like if you have two locations far enough apart where you have to drive hard and fast to make it in time. The rest of the time, though, make time to hit the stores and farmers' markets to get real food. Eat whole and nutritious foods – including lots of produce, lean proteins, and whole grains – and it will make all the difference to both your overall health and your energy levels throughout the tour. Even if you can't cook, a sandwich and a piece of fruit are still a way better bet than just stopping off at Taco Bell.

Don't Overextend

It's tempting to pack in as many dates as you possibly can into a tour – but the biggest temptation is to extend the tour if you get a lot of gig offers. Even if you're taking care of yourself, touring is exhausting, and more than one musician in the annals of touring history has had to spend months recuperating from a lengthy tour once they got home. Generally, you'll want to limit your tour to four to six weeks, max – and that's if everyone in your act is in relatively good condition with few or no chronic health conditions to manage. If you're getting a ton of gig offers, take the ones that make the most sense, and take a rain check on the others for your next tour.

Managing your health on tour isn't the easiest of tasks. The heavy amounts of travel, the late nights, and the constant on- and off-stage activity can be grueling even to the most seasoned musicians. However, taking the time to ensure you're getting enough rest, enough nutrition, and enough relaxation will make for not only a better tour, but better performances – for the tour you're on and the tours to come.

5 Ways to Write Better Lyrics

From operas to pop ditties, writing good lyrics is a keystone skill of any good musician. Whether you write ska or punk, art songs or song cycles, here are five ways to write better lyrics.

Read Poetry

Lyricism is a form of poetry, and so it stands to reason that reading (and writing) poetry can make you a better lyricist. Read all forms you can get your hands on, from pantoums to iambic pentameter, by poets from all over the world. You'll eventually land on a few forms and poets you really love – and will inform your lyrics writing.

Listen to (a LOT) of Music

Of course, almost all musicians are total music junkies, and we waltz through the word to our own eternal playlists. But listening thoughtfully is a whole other level. Listening thoughtfully means mentally recognizing themes – like love, death, humor, or sadness – rhyme schemes, word flow, vocabulary, and everything else that we see and hear in the use of language. Pay close attention to vocal music that really moves you, both melodically and linguistically. Figure out why you love it, and if you want to model your own work after those styles.

Practice

No one ever became a brilliant lyricist overnight, so make sure you practice! Writing lyrics frequently – even if you wind up not using them on that next album – will help you develop your chops and really flesh out your personal style. Sing or speak them aloud – how do they sound? Do they have the impact you're looking for? Try sharing them with other musicians as well to see what they have to say – constructive feedback can help you grow.

Explore Themes

Themes are incredibly important in good writing. Some writers make thematic lists that they consult before they sit down to write, and if you're the kind of person who likes to take things in steps, this might be a great method for you. Whether you want to write about death and zombies or love and romance, read material that features those themes and their offshoots.

Don't Regurgitate

While that old saw “nothing's original” certainly has something to it, rehashing old work over and over – whether yours or someone else's – is never the way to go. If all your lyrics sound the same – or sound too much like someone else's – consider what you might need to do to develop. Maybe you need more practice, more study, or more feedback; maybe you need to expand your subject matter. It's impossible to be influenced by other writers without some similarities cropping up, but make sure you're not just regurgitating.

Lyrics writing isn't just for performing artists – whole teams of lyricists work for record companies and studios, contributing their talents to some of the most famous voices of the day. Whether you write for yourself or for other musicians, becoming a good lyricist is yet another key to success in the music industry.

Bang, Bang: Guide to Better Drumming

Drumming is more than just providing the beat. Good drumming guides the entire band – the backbone of its rhythm section. It both supports and enhances good music, and for that reason, the drummer is arguably one of the most important members of any solid band. If you're a beginning drummer and want to be the bee's knees when it comes to holding down rhythm, check out this guide to better drumming.

Practice Daily

To get better at any instrument, daily practice is absolutely. Daily practice doesn't mean you have to spend hours in a practice room, though – whether you do twenty minutes or two hours, do what you can in the time that you have available. Whether you spend that time learning new time signatures or improving your snare roll, you'll learn something every time you practice.

Study Other Drummers

Studying the technique of other instrumentalists can help you not only get better, but can help you to diversify your technique. If you see a drummer who really rocks at weird time sigs or shows off a killer solo, pay close attention to what they're doing and how they're doing it. Even better? Talk to them about their work and find out what resources they've used to become a great drummer.

Take Lessons

A lot of drummers are self-taught, and even some of the greatest drummers alive didn't start taking lessons until well into their careers – but lessons will help you perfect and advance great drumming technique. Even if you only take a couple of lessons a month, having a private instructor will help you get better faster – and will help you adapt your drumming to your personality and physiology.

Do Drills

If you've been letting all those tech books collect dust on your bookshelf or under your bed, now's the time to dust them off and put them to use. Doing drills isn't the most fun activity (at least for most), but doing them will help you to master foundational techniques of drumming and develop speed, accuracy, and mastery of dynamics. Incorporate drills into your practice sessions a few times a week, and marvel at how your precision develops.

Good or great drummers are not a dime a dozen, and a skilled drummer can find themselves much in demand for everything from live shows to session work. If drumming is your greatest love, following these steps to better drumming will help you advance your technique – and your career.

Versatility Equals Employability: Why You Should Play More Than One Instrument

Naturally, every musician has an instrument they're best at – their primary instrument. But your primary instrument shouldn't be all you play – you should have secondary instruments, too. Whether you're a singer that plays viola and keys or a guitarist that plays percussion and bass, expanding your versatility as a musician is a major key to employability.

Most serious musicians want to make music their only career. And regardless of what shape that career takes – from performing and composing to teaching and tutoring – knowing how to play more than one instrument will only add to your credibility as a musician. Here are three reasons why you should play more than one instrument.

More Session Work

Session work has been called the bread and butter of performing artists, and that's the hard truth of it. Musicians who do session work successfully are often paid excellent wages for what they do, and they'll frequently work with the same studios and recording companies for years at a time. Playing more than one instrument – particularly if you're a singer – will open up a lot more opportunities for you to do session work, especially if you play instruments that aren't super common.

More Performance Work

If you're down to work with more than one musical act at a time, knowing multiple instruments can help you land multiple work offers – sometimes with prestigious groups. Some groups will only hire musicians that play two or more instruments, in light of the fact that they want to keep the lineup small but still have versatility of sound.

More Educational Work

Some musicians go the educational route, but even if you have an advanced degree in a specific instrument, educational institutions also value versatility. If you've studied a variety of instruments and can play several with proficiency, you're more likely to be able to effectively teach students outside the area of your main instrument.

If you plan to teach or coach, take the time to study multiple instrument groups while you're in university or conservatory – like one from strings, one from brass, several from percussion, and so on.

Versatility is a valuable commodity in the music industry no matter what you do. Versatility also often demonstrates commitment to excellence in music – and that commitment will impress your seriousness about music on everyone you work with. No matter what secondary instruments you decide to take up, know that doing so will enhance your career in music as well as help to ensure greater creative and financial success.

Stay Connected With Newsletters

Staying in touch with fans via email is essential to any artist's success, and that's why we are excited to announce our newsletter feature upgrade. In this blog post, we will go over what's new and how best to use new features.

Before we dive into the fun stuff, keep in mind that to send newsletters, you'll need to set up email using BandVista and your domain name. If you do not have one already, log in to your account and visit the 'Mail' option at the top of your page, selecting 'mailboxes' and then add a mailbox you want to send from. All of your email addresses will be available to send from when setting up your newsletters.

Now that you know what email address you are sending from, it's now important to know who you're sending to. Email subscribers can join your list from your site if you have the newsletter widget enabled. You may also add email addresses by pasting them in or by uploading a CSV file. Make sure when you add the email address on your own, that they are valid subscribers that are expecting to hear from you. 

When adding a CSV file, you may also add custom fields that will allow a more advanced use of your fans both in the newsletter and in future product updates. Your spreadsheet may include first name, last name, email, and physical address. You'll be prompted to match these fields to your list during upload.

Make sure when you add the email address on your own, that they are valid subscribers that are expecting to hear from you. Otherwise, you are spamming, a violation of our terms of service.

Okay, now it's time for the fun stuff! You now have four templated options when sending newsletters, so let's dive right in to what each of them does.

Free Form

The free form option is great for sending plain text email updates to your fans. Customize your emails by adding a featured header image, and if you have your full contact information uploaded to BandVista, add a personal touch by adding the {firstName} wildcard in your introduction to address each of your fans by name.

This option also allows for HTML for custom newsletters you may want to send. To do this, simply click the 'source code' icon in your editor, where you can then paste your HTML. Keep in mind; you are responsible for any third party HTML you use.

Blog

As the name suggests, this templated option allows quick and easy delivery of your latest blogs to your fans. Select the blog you would like to email, and this option will automatically insert your text and featured image from the blog post. If you don't have a featured image on the page or want share something different in an email, you can upload a new image.

Upcoming Events

Keeping fans informed on where you'll be playing is probably the most important thing you can do, and this template makes that very easy. This template pulls from your current events calendar, so make sure to send it right away or schedule it once your calendar is up to date. This template shares everything your fans need to know, though links to your events on the page are included.

Store

Releasing a new track, or a new batch of merch ready to be mailed to fans? Send the store template to share items your fans might like to purchase.

We hope you like the new upgrade. If you need help using it or any feedback for us, chat with us online in your builder or give us a call at 1-877-875-4470.

Your Site is Secure

Making that most important connection between artist and fan is a top priority for all of us, and your website plays a key role in that. To help earn fan trust, we are happy to provide an extra layer of security by enabling HTTPS for all current BandVista platform powered sites. So lets review why this change as made and how it benefits you.

Added Security and Trust!

The added layer of security on your website insures all information entered through it is encrypted. While your login pages and eStore payments have been secure for a long time now, offering it site wide tells users everything they enter on your site will be. Adding that s at the end helps gain their trust when they see the green lock and secure text in all modern browsers.

Improved Search Results

Major search engines like Google indicate a ranking boost for sites that are secure. While that is only a modest signal to the search engines right now, all signs point to this being a more significant factor in the future.

It's FREE with BandVista

While purchasing certificates can range from $60-$250 per year, your BandVista powered websites come with this for FREE thanks in large part to Let's Encrypt, a free service our development team worked to implement on your behalf. The Internet Security Research Group (ISRG) works hard to help create a more secure and privacy-respecting web.

Thank you for powering your website with BandVista, and we look forward to sending you more feature rich updates in this blog very soon!

How To Build A Solid Home Recording Studio

Home (or “project”) studios have become so common in today's music industry, that even well known artists with access to commercial studios have been known to do tracking and production from the comfort of their home. Whether you're looking for a place to explore your hobby and master your craft or you plan to build your career as an artist, producer or recording engineer, having a proper studio at your fingertips is of utmost importance. With the right space, materials, tools and budget, almost anyone can build a project studio.

Finding The Right Space

The first and most important aspect of building a studio is handling the acoustic space. If you just moved into a new home and have the option of choosing a room for your studio, you'll want to choose one that isn't a perfect square shape so as to avoid common reflection and frequency issues. Other ideal room characteristics may include odd and larger dimensions, a walk-in closet that could be used for a vocal/instrument booth, and room dimensions that are not divisible by each other or the same number as Home Studio Corner advises. Once you decide on a room, grab a tape measure and get ready to have some architectural fun!

Analyzing Acoustics

Now you'll want to measure the dimensions of the walls and ceiling to determine what type of acoustical treatment will work best for your studio. Every room is different, so don't make the mistake of just buying a foam kit at a music shop without determining the proper set up. The RealTraps and Auralex websites provide great resources for the science of where to place acoustical treatment and what kind might be needed for your listening space and iso booth based on the room dimensions. There are also room measurement kits such as Room EQ Wizard, as well as special microphones that can record the frequencies of your room for honing in on specifics as to how to arrange your listening position.

Absorption and Diffusion Materials

As AudioRecording.me explains, sound absorption refers to removing sound from a room, while diffusion means to distribute the sound waves throughout the room. In a properly balanced studio, there should be a combination of both processes occurring. Perhaps one of the most important elements of absorption in your control room is reducing the buildup of low frequencies. You can either build or purchase bass traps that are typically placed in the corners of the room that will reduce the excess of these powerful low frequencies. Bass traps are most effective (and affordable) when you take the DIY route. Along with absorption panels for your walls, bass traps can be created using rock wool insulation (which you can purchase for cheap at Home Depot or Lowe's), wood slabs and linen. Absorption panels and foam wedges for walls and ceilings are also very important as they will reduce more mid-range and higher frequencies. Taking an extra step by installing plastic or wooden diffusors to evenly spread the sound waves also can't do you wrong.

Monitoring, DAWs and Recording Interfaces

The world of recording equipment can be overwhelming, as there is an endless supply of hardware and software options at your fingertips. Fortunately, sites like Sweetwater, Sound On Sound and Gearslutz provide great resources for reviews,ratings, how-to's and specs on a range of products. Studio beginners might start with basic but trusted studio monitors such as KRKs. However, if you have a heftier budget, opt for more professional caliber monitors, such as Adams or Dynaudios. When choosing a recording interface, you'll want to make sure you find one with the right amount of inputs and outputs for your tracking and routing needs. Focusrite, RME, Apogee and Digidesign all make solid quality interfaces. Your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is your recording and production software. There are many resources that will help you weigh the costs and benefits of DAW options, but the main contenders are Protools, Logic, Cubase and Ableton. There are versions of each DAW ranging in price depending on how deep your usage will be, so be sure to read the descriptions thoroughly.

Building a home studio is a learning process that involves everything from the science of sound waves to computer software knowledge. The learning will never stop as you will find yourself updating and maintaining your space and equipment to reflect the evolution of your craft and skill. However, once you have your initial studio set up, you can finally focus on what motivated you to build it in the the first place—the music!

How to Write Songs with a Band — Without Wanting to Break Up

While it's true some bands have a principle songwriter or source from an independent professional, some bands tackle songwriting as a team.
If you've ever endeavored such a feat, you're likely all too aware of the unique challenges posed by writing songs with a band. Between conflicting personalities to nailing down the most efficient songwriting process, it's not necessarily for the faint of heart.
But if you find your stride, writing songs together can help bolster your band in a big way. The following are a few sound strategies for approaching the process.

1. Establish a "leader"

If there are only two people in your band participating in the songwriting process, you can probably get away with approaching from a co-writing perspective. But if you have three or more members working on songwriting together, you're going to want to have a designated "lead." This person would be responsible for mediating in the event of creative disputes and, ultimately, making executive decisions should the group as a whole come to an impasse.

2. Be humble

Particularly if you're the quote-unquote leader or the person in the band who is considered the head songwriter, be humble. If you come at your band mates from a place of condescension or superiority, the process will be over before it ever really begins. For songwriting as a band to be successful, it has to be collaborative — and people are much less likely to communicate openly if they feel alienated.

3. Don't get defensive

When defenses go up, momentum goes down. Nobody likes to hear their work critiqued, but in a group setting it's highly unlikely everyone is always going to be on the same page. Besides, sometimes a suggestion or edit to an original idea leads to something even better. When bands write songs together, everyone has to be open to suggestion or you'll just end up butting heads non-stop.

4. Set aside the time

Songwriting is a creative process, sure, but it should also be treated like a job. If you commit to writing songs as a band, you should schedule time to devote your attention fully to doing so — your group isn't going to write the next lyrical masterpiece if half the band is too busy playing Titanfall 2. When you come together for a writing session, writing should be your top (read: only) priority.

5. Talk about logistics

Once your band's brainstorming yields some solid lyric and you've set those to music, you're probably going to be ready to hit the ground running. However, if it isn't a conversation you haven't already had, you need to talk about the technical and/or legal logistics. How much does a band member need to contribute to the songwriting process to get a byline? Will non-writing members of the band share any credit or income? How will revenue be divvied up? These are all crucial questions you'll need to answer before you ever begin recording or marketing the music you've just written. Decide as a group, and then put it in writing.

5 Ways to Keep Dead Air from Killing Your Live Shows

Imagine you're in the middle of an engaging conversation and the person you're speaking with simply stops talking or puts you on hold. Sure, it happens — we've all experienced awkward silences at some point — but that doesn't make them any less annoying.
For fans, that's essentially sums up what it's like when dead air strikes at a live show. And while audiences are willing to forgive minor inconveniences, we all know they can turn on you if you let dead air become the star of the show.
Onstage, silence isn't golden. If it does happen to befall you mid-show, don't beat yourself up for too long (it's likely a lot more common than you think). Instead, shift your focus to the following tips and tricks for avoiding dead air onstage.

1. Don't lead with silence.

Have you ever been to a show where there is no music playing as the stage is being set up? It can be painfully awkward for everyone to stand around in the venue making small talk while waiting for the talent to appear — not to mention the collective letdown every time a PA enters the stage from peripheral view and the audience realizes the show isn't about to start. Since a show can't happen without the setting up process, you can't avoid it. However, you can set the mood with pre-show music that'll take the audiences mind off of the fact they're waiting.

2. Keep the audience informed.

If you need an extra minute between songs, give the audience a heads up. If there's a miscommunication about your set list between band members and you need a second to sort it out, just be honest. The more authentic a musician or band is, the more relatable they are to their audience. Plus, it's far better than the alternative of letting fans sit in silence wondering what's going on.

3. Come prepared.

And not just to play . . . that much should be a given. Come prepared for as many contingencies as possible. Plan for the worst case scenarios. What if someone forgets the lyrics mid-song? What if the mic stops working? What if someone breaks a guitar string? Knowing what you'd do in the event these things happen will keep you level-headed when they actually do, and being level-headed will help you avoid the dreaded dead air that often accompanies stage disasters.

4. Don't underestimate the power of small talk.

Granted, you don't want to talk through half your set. However, strategic small talk can act as social camouflage when something goes wrong. If you hit a glitch and need a few minutes to get it squared away, engage the audience. For the most part, fans only get to see the performance version of musicians. When they feel like they're getting to see a more personal side of you onstage, it makes you more memorable. The more memorable you are, the more likely they'll look you up again.

5. Be on the same page before you start.

Chatter between band members should be minimal once you hit the stage. Why? Because you've already had the big discussions beforehand: exactly what songs are on your set list, what order you plan to play them, how you'll handle transitions, etc. When a lead singer covers the mic and turns away from the audience to discuss something at length with a band mate, it's a segue straight into dead air. Plus, it comes off as amateur, which is never a good message to send to your audience.