Image

Dear Readers, sorry for the long pause since the last post.
I have decided today to write a post about Image, something all bands regardless of size should consider seriously.

In today's over saturated market place you really need to present yourselves as well as possible and in as little time as possible. 
Often people that visit your social media or website will only be there for a short time before they move on, so you need to deliver your pitch as quick as you can and make sure it's very easy to navigate around so people can find what they're looking for.
I won't go in to the ins and outs of design of web presence only to say use some common sense if you design it yourselves. Make everything look good - not overcrowded, easy to navigate and look slick. I appreciate that web design is very costly and unless you know someone who can do it well but cheap then you might have to do one yourselves. I remember starting out as a manager and sorting a website for one band with some decent features- the company quoted me £8,000 ($12,500)! Needless to say we didn't take their offer but we did do it ourselves and the results were fantastic. Now it's even easier with the advent of 'site builder' software that often comes with domain names, these are generally pretty good or if you're after something a little more special one of the bands I managed used a template you can buy for $25 and it looks as slick as any big label artist website.


Image is one of the first things people will notice about you, and, how often have you been on to some bands facebook or site only to find it littered with uninteresting posts and no good info while you have to trawl through to look for some links to any of their tracks? I'd bet it's pretty often! 
Look at the pro bands Social Media and Website and notice how good it is. Why can't ours be like that? Well, simply, it can! Why not?

Something that really irritates me when looking at a bands social media is over use. I see it time and time again where people think they need to post a status to keep the fans interested, this is simply not the case although I can see the logic. 
When you post something, make sure it's a quality post with something valuable to tell your fans. 
I guess I can assume that you're here to progress your music career and because of that you're playing in some somewhat bad venues locally? If that's you - don't put them on Facebook! Use word of mouth for these gigs - it will count for so much more and from your image point of view you're not clogging up your page with a lot of posts about playing your local bar.

You might think that it doesn't make any sense to not promote the shows - I had a huge falling out with one singer because of this - so it's best if I tell you my views on it. 
If some new fans from out of your hometown look at your page they are looking at your image, if all they see is you playing your local bar every weekend then that's what they are going to assume you are doing all the time. They will not get excited about you at all. However, if you don't post those shows and selectively pick which shows to boast about then they will think 'Wow, I didn't know these guys were so good!' because that's what your image will tell them.
Another aspect of this is that you have to think 'who are you promoting to?'. 
It's often the case that your hometown fans are your friends or people who have heard about you through your friends - and that's exactly what will happen with word of mouth, you don't need Facebook to do that and it's a lot more powerful this way! If new fans from your hometown check you out then they will see your profile and think Wow because you're showing that you're getting out there and getting big!

Band Image

This is always a tough one because it really does rely on the way you want your image to be. But from a managers perspective - if you all look like a band that's what matters. Please don't go on stage like a few guys who just finished work, you won't make any impact (plus most bands do this anyway so you'll stand out better).
The most important things about the way you look is that:
1- It's consistent for every member (not the same clothes - just that you pick something that unifies you - like dark colors, use your imagination here)
2 - It looks good
3 - You look like you're supposed to be there

I can't tell you what to wear neither can anybody else, it has to come from you guys and it has to be something that fits in with what you're doing (a pop band who's songs are really happy would look ridiculous in dark clothing and eyeliner)

Professionalism
Do your best to always be professional.
I had one band that from the very start were always hugely professional and well mannered with industry folk and everybody said it was a huge pleasure to deal with them and they would gladly take the time out for them.
One very influential A&R guy was called by one of the band members during his lunch hour (and we all know how A&R guys are..) but because the band member was so pro and well mannered the guy had no problem talking to him and even thanked him for calling and gave him his personal number to call at any time he needed anything - he did that because it was so refreshing for him to deal with a band who were so professional! It goes a hell of a long way.
When you turn up to gigs, when possible always be early.
When you have a meeting, be early.
These things will pave the way to dealing with these guys again and making sure that these guys WANT to deal with you.
Even if your songs are amazing but most of your band are total tools, it's unlikely that you'll ever get attention because it would be so hard to deal with you.