Bandvista Blog

9 Ways Musicians Can Make Money Online

There's an expression that goes, "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." Such may come to mind when someone tells you there are ways you, as a musician, could potentially be making money online. And, hey, that's understandable — you can't swing a stick these days without hitting a scam.

However, there really are tried-and-true ways to make a few extra bucks (and in some cases, a lot of extra bucks) online as a musician. Are they easy? Well, easy is a relative term but it's safe to say that anything worth doing requires a little effort.

But if you're willing to put in the effort, the following methods of making money online could give your bank account a boost.

1. Listing your goods and services on online classifieds.

People are always, always looking for a good deal on great musicians to book for special events — whether that be a gala for work or to find a singer for their own wedding. Another idea? Music lessons! Most of us know at least one person who has expressed an interest in lessons, so why not capitalize on that interest? Offering music lessons for children and young adults may prove to be particularly popular. You can also try your hand at selling your music and merch through these sites (think Craigslist).

2. Searching the "gigs" section of online classifieds.

Another idea for Craigslist and other similar sites is to search the "gigs" section. Jobs for musicians are generally listed under the "talent" tab and vary in size and scope. In full disclosure, it's probably best to do a search in the gigs sections for "bands" or "musicians" — otherwise, you're going to have to sift through quite a few ads looking for "females interested in modeling" and "glamour models."

3. Sell directly through your website.

There are many benefits to selling your EP or album directly through your own website, namely that you don't have to shell out a big chunk of your revenue to a secondary seller. Stocking your online store with band merch like t-shirts and car decals also isn't a bad idea. Those sales won't make you rich, but they'll add up over time and aren't too cost-prohibitive to create.

4. Offering pre-order sales.

If you have an EP or full-length album in the works, offering pre-order sales accomplishes a few things. First, it obviously establishes a revenue stream for the release to build upon. Second, it hypes the release. There's hype inherent with pre-orders, because fans like feeling like they will hear the music they love before the proverbial masses. The more momentum you're able to build prior to release, the better yield you'll have once the album drops.

5. Auctioning gear and other music memorabilia.

There's a market for pretty much everything online, and music gear and memorabilia is no different. Is your band upgrading sound systems? Find an auction site that accepts used music gear (Google "auction music equipment") and list your old sound system. You can sell essentially anything this way, as long as you are willing to follow the rules of the auction site's reserve.

6. Blasting a flash sale.

Using your mailing list — if you don't have one, start building one now — send "flash sale" newsletters to your subscribers. Everyone loves a deal! By building special sale campaigns around special events (i.e. an upcoming show) or holidays (i.e. Christmas), you can unload everything from albums to merch to signed prints at a discounted rate. It's a smart way to move inventory that has been collecting dust.

7. Maintaining a YouTube presence.

While being discovered via YouTube and becoming a seeming overnight success isn't the most likely outcome, keeping your YouTube channel filled with fresh content will help you build a following. In turn, this drives traffic to your website, potentially boosting sales there as well as attendance at your shows. Just think of your YouTube channel as a living, breathing business card.

8. Submitting "bids" through online job sites.

As a musician, you are an expert in your field — you can levy that expertise on job sites like ODesk, Guru.com, Get a Freelancer, etc. The catch, of course, is that most of these sites are primarily a resource for writers. That can work in your favor for a few reasons, though. First and foremost, you are an actual musician who can generate music content based on personal experience. Second of all, the fact that you are a musician first could set you apart from the pack. At the very least, it's a great way to meet and make connections that could lead to gigs down the road.

9. Trying affiliate marketing.

This one definitely requires some thorough research and an understanding of what affiliate marketing is before you can determine if it's the right fit for you or your band. However, it goes without saying that there are plenty of bands who use affiliate marketing through their websites to generate income successfully. You can find a decent briefer from ProBlogger here.

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7 Bad Habits Bands Should Shake Off, Stat

Hey, don't feel bad — we all have habits we need to break. I bite my nails. My husband sometimes wears socks with sandals. But these things haven't affected our careers (at least not that we know of, although that socks-and-sandals business is pretty dicey). There are some bad habits that musicians are particularly prone to, though, that could very well curb a band's potential and growth. In other words, they need to go.

While it's never easy to admit you could be doing life a little better than you are, accepting that certain behaviors are problematic is the first step to fixing them. And fixing them? Well, that could be the first step toward putting your band on the map.

Check out the following issues bands often grapple with so you can be more mindful not to make them moving forward.

1. Not playing to your strengths

I love a good cover of "Simple Man" as much as the next person, but I'm also very aware that I don't have the vocal range of the late great Ronnie Van Zant (or Johnny Van Zant or Shinedown's Brent Smith, for that matter). I'm also not fronting a band trying to build its following, in which case I would want to downplay my weaknesses . Some songs just aren't a good fit for everyone. If your vocalist is struggling to hold onto long notes or your guitarist can't seem to master the riffs, don't include it in your set ... no matter how many times that one guy in the front row keeps yelling, "Play some Skynyrd!" The very best bands are the ones who know their strengths and highlight them.

2. Skipping out

Band practice may not be as exciting as standing on a stage pandering to a pumped up crowd, but skipping it is a bad idea. It'll essentially ensure you'll suffer some mortifying moment in your band's career that could very well have been prevented if you'd logged a bit more rehearsal time. A vocalist's voice is his or her instrument, and it must be trained. The other members of the band aren't off the hook, either — drums, guitar, and keyboard are all crafts that require practice if you expect those skills to stay sharp. Even worse than skipping out on practice, though? Bailing on a booked gig. Barring true emergency situations, you should never cancel a performance. It's a pain in the ass for the venue to find a replacement, and it could lead to bad word-of-mouth. You don't want to practice (and/or live, no judgment) in the basement forever, do you?

3. Trying to be something you're not (like, for instance, perfect)

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: you're not perfect. You'll never be perfect. No amount of practice in the world will make you a perfect performer, because perfection is unattainable. It's like the horizon — an invisible line that recedes the closer you get to it. The most seasoned artists in the world with tell you the same, so stop wasting your time and energy trying to be a flawless version of yourself. Sure, keep striving to be the best version of you that you can be! But don't forget that it's human to err, and it's our self-perceived flaws that make us unique. In an industry as competitive as the music scene, you need something that makes you stand out. Your "flaws" can be your selling point if you simply learn to embrace them. Fans crave authenticity. Give them something authentic to remember you by.

4. Bailing on other bands

If you're booked to perform at a gig and two other bands are scheduled to come on after your set, try to stick around — especially if the bands are local. It's important to support your local music scene to cultivate interest and connections. It's also important not to seem like a bunch of dill-holes who think they are too good to stick around and listen to the quote-unquote competition. Granted, if you have a super early gig the next morning or have to hit the road early that night, by all means bow out. Do so gracefully, though, by telling the other bands booked that night to break a leg (and mean it only in the nicest sense of the expression).

5. Changing your band name

When it comes to a band's brand, it all starts with the name. Your band name is the first thing people see or hear about you. It's what is printed across the merch they buy when they become your biggest fans. It's the thing they scream when you come out on stage. In other words, a band's name is an integral part of their image. It's important, then, to pick a name and try to stick with it. Every time you change your band name, you risk losing the brand you've worked so hard to build. There are extenuating circumstances, of course, such as starting with name that lacks brandability or being forced by a larger band to change your name for infringement reasons. But if you've simply grown tired of your current name, think twice before making a change.

6. Expecting music writers to make the first move

Music writers and bloggers can be a band's best friend. You want them to take a vested interested in your story. You want them to promote your music. If a potential fan knows nothing about you and wants help deciding if your sound is worth pursuing, they turn to music writers to fill in the blanks for them. And, occasionally, you might hear from a music writer who came to one of your shows or whose curiosity was piqued by your buzz. But, as an entertainment writer, I can tell you there's not enough time in the day to pursue all of the pitches sent our way and still have time to reach out to every local band out there gigging. Don't expect coverage; work for it. If you were to email me and tell me I'd be missing a huge opportunity if I didn't interview a band as badass as yours, I'd email you back. Be respectful, but be persistent too. It could mean all the difference in the kind (and amount) of coverage you get.

7. Feeling bad about self-promotion

When asked about why they don't use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to promote their music, many bands will tell you they feel bad about barraging their friends, family, and fans with updates. In not doing so though, you're failing to capitalize on one of the easiest tools of self-promotion available that — bonus! — also happens to be free. The key is to find the right balance. If you under-post, you likely won't see much movement in your fan base or community involvement. If you over-post, you risk alienating your followers. Start by creating a few band-specific posts per day and work up or down from there. The people who dig what you're doing musically will want to hear what you have going on. Don't feel guilty! Get out there and get the good word out to the people.

Welcome to the Slideshow

Welcome to the slideshow! We just released a new feature that allows you to quickly and easily add a multi-image slideshow to your website.

Adding a slideshow is a great way to keep your site looking fresh and add some visual flair. Show off each member of the band, a new album release or different shots of your live performances. It literally takes just seconds to change up the look and feel of your site.

We offer three different configurations for the slideshow feature:

◦ Carousel Fade: Select this for a smooth transition from one image to the next.

◦ Carousel Slide: Each new image quickly slides from right to left.

◦ Page Reload: This shows a new image each time a user reloads or visits a new page.

The video example below shows the 'Carousel Fade' setting, which is the most popular choice so far. Try each of them to see what works best for you!

To try your own slideshow:

1) Login to your account and click the change image option from your site editor, or navigate there by clicking design at the top and selecting the header images option.

2) Drag and drop new images or add to slider galleries from your existing media library. Create new galleries for later use, inserting them into the page when you are ready, and easily discard old galleries with the quick click of the remove button.

We'll be adding more to this feature in coming weeks and would love to hear your feedback on how we might improve this for your experience! Shoot us an email or give us a call if you have questions or comments.

The 6 Must Haves in your Digital Press Kit

There are many possible benefits of having a press kit accessible on your band’s website. It’s a section of your website that is dedicated to giving a professional snapshot full of useful information and images that people from the media can in various different ways. By putting this information together yourselves, you avoid the possibility that the media will use whatever photos or sound clips of your band that they can find online. It goes without saying that this has the potential to be very unflattering.

It’s best to take the whole situation into your own hands before this happens. Here is a list of some of the important things that you should be including in your band’s press kit:

Bio

Take the time to sit down together and write out a well organized biography for your band that really captures the image and purpose of your music. You should include different levels of information for those who might just need a quick bio and for those that might want to include more information. You can do this by writing a brief bio, one that is more descriptive, and then one that is your full complete biography.

High Quality Photos

Having photos that are professionally taken available on your band’s page is invaluable for preserving your public image. By having these available for the media to use for their blogs, events pages, and write-ups you can avoid having images put out there that are old, unprofessional, or unflattering. You should include several band photos and individual photos of each member of your band.

Contact Info

Make sure that you include a way for people to get in contact with your band whether that be an email that your band uses or the contact information of your booking manager. It’s important that the media can get ahold of your band in case they are interested in getting more information on a show, your band, or getting a quote for their article.

Links To Your Social Media Pages

Social Media is vital for bands in today’s cyberworld. It is an amazing tool for fans to stay connected with their favorite bands and stay up-to-date on tour information.It can be difficult to find your band’s page, however, especially if you have a name that doesn’t particularly stand out. Many people working in the media might not take the extra effort to try and look you up on their own, but, if you have links to all your pages on your media kit page, they will be just a quick click away.

Demo Music

You should include about three or four of your band’s best songs on your media press kit page for those wanting to write about your band. This is the perfect solution for those who might not be willing, or have the time, to make it out to your shows. This gives them an opportunity to hear a high quality recording of your music to get a good grasp of your sound. This also prevents them from having to resort to listening to fan recorded video on YouTube that might not be very representative.

News Clippings

A collection of your band’s previous interviews, reviews, and articles are a valuable asset to have on your press kit page so other writer can quote them, and get a good feel of the public opinion of your band. If your are using links from a news outlets page you should regularly check to make sure these links are still working as news outlets often take down older stories. You can avoid this by buying digital copies of interviews and stories from them for a small fee.

5 Ways to Have an Unforgettable Show

One of the best ways to really set yourself apart from other bands and make a lasting impression on fans is by putting on a live show that is unforgettable. Providing a great show can make up for a multitude of shortcomings as well. If you don’t have to best vocals or best guitar solos around, a killer live performance can make up for that. Here are a few ways to bring your shows up to the next level:

Special Guests

Do you know anyone that performs in another local band, or just another artist that is popular locally. Consider bringing them on stage for a song or two as a special treat for the crowd. This simple act accomplishes a few different things. First, it makes that particular show special and unique from your other shows that the same crowd might have seen. Second, it makes people in the crowd feel like they are almost getting to attend two shows for the price of one! Lastly, it’s just fun for everyone to have some surprises tucked up your sleeve. No one likes going into a show knowing exactly what to expect.

Giveaways

Everyone loves free stuff. There is no exception to this rule. It could be anything t-shirts, posters, albums, picks, buttons; the possibilities are endless. You can do the giveaway in various different ways as well. You can have giveaways for the first or hundredth (or both) person at the show, random raffles, or simply make it all rain on the crowd during your show. Any way you do it, giveaways are sure to be a hit with everyone at the show.

Photo Booth

Having an area set up for photos is a really fun idea. Just pick a spot in the back to set up a backdrop and camera. You can have a laptop, tablet, or phone set up next to it to set up the timer that the show goers can operate themselves. Afterwards, you can have a mobile photo printer set up, or have an option display to have the photo emailed to the fans. It’s as simple as that. Bonus: Have a box of props set up at the photo booth for people to use in their photos. You can use anything from hats and signs to scarves and mustaches!   

Take Yourself Seriously

On a serious note, it is important that you take the show and yourself seriously during your performance. You need to make sure that you go into the show having had plenty of practice and rehearsal time. Everything should be tuned, set up, and ready when you get on stage ready to give it all. Play every show like your band’s future depends on it, and really focus on giving the crowd a show that they will walk away from and talk about for a long time.

Have Fun

Having said all that, make sure that you are having fun on stage. People can tell if you are not really into the set, and it’s going to set the mood for everyone there. Play up all your strengths and make sure to interact well with the crowd. Get them to participate and join in on the fun. After all that is why everyone is there in the first place: to hear some great music and have a good time!

5 Reasons to be Involved In Your Local Music Scene

Starting a band in your hometown can be a lonely experience at first until you start to build up a dedicated fan base. The best way to fill that void and have a better experience as a band is to connect with your local music scene and really get involved. The benefits of surrounding yourself with others that are working towards the same goal as you are plenty. Here are just a few in case you need some persuading:

Support

Connecting with other bands and those involved in the music scene in your town can provide and endless well of support for you in time of need. You never know when you are going to have an emergency like a busted amp or a broken down vehicle, but, if you make some meaningful connections within your local music scene, it is much less likely to be a serious problem.

There will also be times when you may not know exactly how to obtain the sound you are looking for or where to go with a song that you are stuck on. Having other musicians to call during these times can be a huge relief.

Network

Trying to get your foot in the door at a venue or concert series can be near impossible if you live in an area that is already saturated with bands and musicians trying to make it. The best way to get your name out there is by knowing other people that are already connected with the venues, promoters, and community leaders. Networking is possible the best perk of being heavily involved in your local music scene and it invaluable to the up-and-coming band.

Swap Meet

Do you need a new distortion pedal that will give you that sound you have been striving for, but don’t have the funds to head to the store to buy a brand new one? Being in contact with others that play the same instrument as you quickly pays off when you are able to buy off some of their old equipment that they don’t need anymore. You could even organize a swap meet for all the local musicians that you know in the area, and really score some great deals. You can also get rid of some of your own equipment that you have outgrown and make a few bucks!

Fan Base

In the beginning days of your band, you will have little to no fans that are interested in keeping up with your music. Other musicians, often times, will be your biggest fans starting out. Not only will they be regulars at your shows, but they will also tell their fans about you and tell them about your shows. Established fans are typically very open to the opinions of some of their favorite musicians on other music, so getting some more established musicians in your area to give you a shout out at their shows or on their social media goes a long way.

Hometown Love

No matter how far your band goes, or doesn’t go, your hometown fans will always be the most loyal and the most enthusiastic about your music. They will always be the ones to buy your music first, and go to your shows every chance they get. That’s why the most important reason to build a strong connection to your local music scene is for these hometown fans. If you are good to them, they will be good for your and help spread your music far and wide.

The Band Should Play On

It should come as no surprise that the number one reason we see when a band cancels their website is because the band broke up. Whether someone's ego gets out of check, creative differences build over time or drug abuse interrupts the band's schedule, there's a long list of reasons why bands break up and some probably should.

However, there are plenty of situations when the band should play on.

Being in a band requires a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Coordinating schedules for ample practice time, hammering out new songs, networking with promoters and booking agents for lucrative gigs, building a fanbase and selling merch are just a few of the tasks that make this industry truly a labor of love.

What if the majority of your band is on the same page, but you have that one "problem member" that just can't seem to get their act together? Why not consider finding a suitable replacement instead of starting a new band from scratch? Finding replacements can be easier than you think with musicians classifieds!

BandVista powered websites come with premium access to the leading musician classifieds site, BandMix.com. Search for local musicians, contact them individually or create online auditions, so the musicians come to you.

So how do you start using BandMix Premier Membership? If you don't already have a BandMix account, you'll need to sign up for one here or if you're outside of the United States, at the version of the site that serves your area. BandMix provides service to numerous countries across the globe!

Linking your BandMix site to your BandVista account is easy. Simply log in to your BandVista site builder, click the "Site" button at the top of your dashboard and select "Link BandMix". There you'll be able to log in and automatically upgrade services at no additional charge.

The 5 Band Support Members You Need

As far as band members go, you are already aware of the basics: guitarist, vocals, drums, bassist, ect., but if those are the only members of your band then you are really missing out on some opportunities. For example, who is taking your pictures while you are performing or rehearsing? All the selfie sticks in the world can’t help you out there. That’s when it is going to pay off to have a support system of people that are ready and willing to lend their talents to your band. Here are a few of positions that you should be trying to fill:

Photographer and Videographer

As mentioned above, you really need to have someone around that can take some high quality photos of you and your band in action. Most people have at least one friend that dabbles in some photography. Find that person and recruit them to take some quality pictures of your band. People are very visual and they want to see pictures of you on your website, social media, and even posters. Your band will look all the more professional if you are using images that are high resolution.

The same goes for video. A lot of people will look up a band that they are unfamiliar with before going to a show to see what they are getting into. If you don’t have any videos online of your band playing some songs then you could be missing out. Find someone that is interested in taking some video of your band at shows and post it on your website, Youtube channel, and social media pages; it will go a long way.

Artist

There is no limit to the potential that having an artist hanging around can have. You are going to need unique art for posters, album covers, t-shirts, and so much more. Find someone that will draw up some awesome art that really reflects what your band is about. That’s one of the pluses of recruiting someone that is close to you and your band, they are much more likely to produce art that will be representative of your band and your sound.

Web Manager

So, you have accumulated all this media from photographs to original art, but you need to make sure it ends up in the hands of your fans. Select someone to update your website frequently. You will need them to add your videos and pictures, update your calendar, and maybe even design your website. This is a non-negotiable thing in today’s world. If you don’t have a website, you don’t exist. The good news is, BandVista makes this easy to do with no web development experience needed. 

Merch Team

A lot of bands staff their own merch tables before or after a show, but it is very beneficial to have someone that is willing to do that for you. That way you can spend the time before your show getting ready and pumped up and the time after your show meeting fans. You also want to have the merch table running during the show for anyone that comes in late, has to leave early, or just wants to grab a cd while the crowd is died down. It’s an easy job that anyone you know could probably do, and they would get in free!

#1 Fan

This might just be the most important person on this list. You need to have a superfan that is always in your corner and spreading the word about your band. It’s like having a marketing team without having to hire one. This person will tweet and post about all your shows, bring friends into your fandom, and share pictures and video of your band. That is invaluable to you as you are starting up and trying to get the word out about your band. You can even bring this person in sometime to sample new songs of yours or even work your merch table. The possibilities are endless so keep this person around if you are fortunate enough to gain a megafan!

6 Places to Gig Beyond the Club

It can become repetitive playing the same clubs and bars in your area, especially if you live in a small area. It can also hinder you from getting your name out to people that are not interested in heading out to bars in their free time. One way to remedy all of this is by looking into different types of venues that your band can play. By doing this you will expand your fan base and show people that you can be versatile, opening up even more opportunities for your. Here are some suggestions that can get you started thinking outside the “normal” live music scene:

Museums

This may not seem obvious at first, but it is a great venue to get your music out to a new scene of people. I once arrived to a museum for their exhibits and found an amazing jazz band playing in the lounge area that was a perfect addition to my evening plans. Museums are all about the arts and culture; music has always been a huge contributing factor in both of these. Try reaching out to your cities museum to play a night that they highlight local artists.

Live Radio

You might have thought of this one, but performing live on local radio is a great way to get your music out to a lot of people at once while also having an opportunity to promote your band. Many colleges have radio stations that would be perfect for something like this. Many radio DJ’s are heavily involved in local music scenes anyways, whether that be performing or just attending, and are very interested in featuring new local talent.

Colleges

Aside from appearing on their radio programs, many colleges look for local talent for events that they have on campus. It definitely pays to get in good with the event coordinator at your nearest colleges (and even high schools) to play at formals, events, and celebrations. This is also a great opportunity to play in front of a very influential demographic in the music scene.    

House Parties

A fan favorite, house parties are always fun and energetic. This is a perfect way to let people get familiar with your band on a very intimate level. This is also a great environment to test out some new material as well. Fans will love these shows because they will be able to get up close and personal with their favorite local band. All you need is some friends or contacts with a great, spacious house that they are willing to host your band in.

Corporate Shows

Here is a great opportunity to bring in some really good money for your band. Several corporations hire bands for events that they host to introduce a new product or program, and it could be a great chance for your band to introduce yourselves to a new group of people and network. Many companies also throw parties for their workers and families every year that would be another opportunity to work together.

Parks and Recreations

The Parks and Recreations Department in your town is another great outlet for shows that you could be using for your band. Many across the country host live music events showcasing local musicians during spring and summer. Get in contact with the event coordinator for your town and see what you can do about being added to the schedule. These events have huge potential for reaching a lot of people in your town that could start coming to your regular shows.