BTTV BLOG

Got videos of your band? Want to make a little passive cash. Slap some ads on that hoss. Here’s how.

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I was at a digital music event earlier this year, and was shocked to find out how many people had not heard how easy it is to monetize your YouTube channel through Ads.  YouTube will pay you for doing what you already do! Take your money!

Here’s how it works…..

YouTube offers revenue sharing for their ‘Partners’ through advertising that they show on your videos and pages.  You are eligible (in fact, they want artists!) to become a partner by filling out the Partner Application.

Please note that you cannot become a Partner if you cover songs on your channel!  You need the global rights to all video, images, and audio used on your channel.  Just don’t use anyone else copyrighted content and you will be good!

The main benefits of being a YouTube partner:

• Gain advertising revenue
• Advanced channel branding and design (Customize Top Banner and Side Box - See Example)
• Access to YouTube’s Content ID, which lets you track, monetize, or block any uploaded videos using your songs

You would be hard pressed to NOT have heard of Google+, the newest social networking and sharing tool from Google which after one month of existence boasts around 18 million users. Artists are already bombarded with a plethora of tools to help them connect with their fans, but Google+ truly adds some unique features which have great potential for integration into a musician’s marketing arsenal.

Overview:

Google+ consists of a content stream, photos, sparks, hangouts, and chat. While these features are nothing groundbreaking, the feature pulling all of the others together is Circles. Circles allow you to put contacts into different, self-defined groups, which control  what content you see and share. Since there are a number of good articles explaining the basics of the platform, let’s get into how each feature may be utilized by an artist.

Note: Currently only personal accounts exist and Google has suggested that businesses (artists) postpone creating accounts until special business accounts currently under development are made available.

Read more @ MTT

Tour diaries: They are the satisfying sustenance required by every hardcore music fan to feed a band addiction. A glimpse into the backstage, on-tour-bus life of one’s favorite band. Now, thanks to the marvels of modern technology, it’s easier than ever to create a highly visual tour diary to sate the appetite of your friends and followers. One word, my musically inclined friends: Instagram.

Instagram, that increasingly popular photo app that launched near the end of 2010, has become the darling of many a news outlet and brand, but has yet to really catch on among the musician set.

Still, according to Josh Riedel, head of business development at Instagram, more and more bands are getting hip to the site. The most popular is undoubtedly The National (@ntnl). Riedel, for one, hopes to see more bands joining the platform.

“We see bands on stage, but most people don’t get to go backstage,” he says. “Through photos, you can let fans in on what happens when you’re not performing, which I think helps fans develop more of a personal connection with the band.”

Go get the top 10 @ Mashable

Managing your band’s expenses may eventually become an annoying chore, if it hasn’t already. Don’t let it get in the way of you reaching your full potential. Check out Skyclerk and breathe easy knowing there’s a better way of keeping track of all that merch money. Who knew accounting could be so simple?

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Accounting for bands can be tough. One persons is at home taking care of expenses, while the group is out on the road getting receipts and racking up money and debt. Skyclerk is a great web based accounting tool. With plans that include both Free and $9 a month you are able to keep track of your accounting from anywhere in a clean and easy to use interface.

via MusFormation

Doing your own PR/Publicity for your band. There are a few things you should know to get cookin’. Nice interview over at MC with a seasoned pro. A little tidbit is below, then jump over for more. If you can’t tour right now, do some PR.

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When you’re an artist, there are a lot of pitfalls involved with doing your own press or even hiring someone you don’t know directly. What else should people be aware of when doing their own press or hiring a publicist for the first time?

AM:

I think the best thing is to know what your goals are, and what you want out of it, other than getting into Rolling Stone. You have to be realistic and aware that people at magazines and websites and any outlet are very limited with the space they have. They’re being pitched by tons of publicists every day on multiple projects. You really have to be on the same page as your publicist about what you want to get out of it. You want to hire someone that specializes in what you do and that has the time to really focus. I think a big mistake a lot of publicists make is taking on too many things. Choosing your publicist wisely as an artist is knowing who you’re hiring, the kind of time they have for you/that they will make you a priority and that you will both have the same expectations. As a publicist, my job is never done. There’s always another outlet, someone else to pitch, someone else to follow up with, especially in the online world. It’s endless. Knowing you have someone that is really going to work for you and with whom you have the same goals is really important and will make you a good team.

Read more @  Musician Coaching.

A little guest post from the boys at Bandzoogle. We’ve got 3 “ways to impress” right here and 2 more if you jump over to Bandzoogle. Some good common sense ideas coming from someone who spent 5 years dealing with bands like yours.

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I spent three years as program director for two venues here in my home city of Montreal, overseeing 500 shows during that time. Here are 5 ways that you can impress venue bookers and give yourself the best chance to get more gigs:

1. Think 3-4 months in advance

Many venues are booked at least 3 months in advance, and the more popular a venue, the further in advance you should contact them. This is especially true if you’re looking to play on a Friday or Saturday night. So be sure to contact the booker at least 3-4 months in advance.

2. Be patient

Bookers are very busy people, so be patient. If you didn’t get a response right away, it doesn’t mean that they’re not interested in booking you. Chances are, they just haven’t had time to evaluate your music yet. Follow-up politely to see if your e-mail/message has been received, but whatever you do, don’t try to rush them or sound annoyed that they haven’t gotten back to you. Be persistent, but always be polite.

3. Be honest

Whatever you do, don’t lie about your draw. You’re better off being honest with a booker about what your draw really is rather than stretching the truth and disappointing them. If you tell a booker that you can pack the place and only your mom shows up, chances are you won’t be booked at that venue again. But if you were honest about what your draw realistically is and you match or surpass it, then the booker will no doubt want to book you again.

Read more @ Bandzoogle

This is big news for musicians. It’s going to add a whole new dimension to your online presence. Think about all of the possibilities. YouTube is already the site for streaming video, so your fans already know how to find you on it. Here’s a few ideas I came up with on how to utilize the live streaming when it becomes available to you.

Stream a practice every once in a while. Be engaging while doing it. Make your fans feel like they’re hanging out with you in your basement or wherever you practice. It’d be a good chance to throw out some new song ideas and get feedback, or just show your fans that your just as normal (or weird) as they are behind closed doors.

Stream a recording session in the studio. Give a glimpse into your life in the studio. Dish out a few snippets or raw recordings. I mean, when’s the last time you watched your favorite band record? It’s usually something experienced only by the artists and the producer. Make the fans feel like they’re important, too.

Stream a show. Not everyone can make it out to a show. Don’t let time or distance keep your fans from enjoying the live concert experience. Of course it’s not the same as being there, but it would beat watching someone’s out of focus camera phone clips the next day. Have someone shoot from backstage, side stage, or even the crowd.

Stream on the road. Whenever WiFi is available, show people where you are and what you’re doing. Talk about where you’ve been and where you’re going. Let fans know how excited you are to come to their city. All of the time between shows is something usually left unseen. Bring it to life.

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Depending on the status of your account, you may have to play the waiting game for a while. According to the announcement, YouTube plans to begin with a slow rollout of the feature to select YouTube partner accounts that are in good standing. After that, they’ll continue to make YouTube Live available “incrementally over time.” No specific dates are mentioned.

Translation: This option will not be available to the average YouTube user in the immediate future. So, for the time being, your best bet for live streaming continues to be Ustream or Justin.tv.

via DIY Musician

Really interesting piece from NPR about the price of concert tix, where the money goes and how much bands can expect to make. Plus a few interesting stories on how much it takes to actually quit the day job and pull off touring/playing full time. A little taste is below but definitely pull into NPR for the full story.

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“At club level, many [bands] can’t even generate enough to cover basic expenses,” Bongiovanni wrote. “From a club or promoter perspective, the act is only worth part of what it can dependably bring in the door. The stronger the draw, the safer the risk, and thus the artist can command more of the money. At this level it really is eat what you kill.”

Dawn Barger, who manages indie bands – some of whom still play small clubs and some of whom, like The National or The Antlers, have moved on to larger venues – says that’s about right.

“If you look at the finances of having a band on the road at the small club level … you’re barely covering costs in a lot of cases,” Barger says.

For bands at this level, every ticket really does count. Smaller venues – in an effort to compensate fairly – often poll audience members at the door, and pay each band on the bill the portion of the total receipts that corresponds to the number of fans who said they came to see that band play. For groups starting out in this situation, Barger paints a lifestyle ruled by modest expectations.

“I mean, if you’re selling out every night, you’re probably supporting yourself and you’re able to quit your job,” Barger says, “but you certainly have roommates, you’re barely getting by, you’re watching how many hotel rooms you get each night.”

Read more @ NPR