Tips For Advanced Drumming

This massive amount of information can be deceiving because students think they have to watch it all. But that’s not the reason we have so many different lessons. The reason we have so many different lessons is because there are so many different drummers who all want to learn something different. We want to help everyone!

So in this article, I want to share with you my five tips for practicing the drums and cutting through the information overload:

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Music On The Floor: 5 Things To Do Before Your First DJ Gig

As an aspiring DJ preparing for your first gig, it’s a given you’ve got sweaty palms and a racing heart. Even though all eyes are on you, you know you’ve got plenty of great music that will get everyone dancing for hours. However, there are several things that must be done to guarantee success. If you’re a beginning DJ and want to make sure your first gig is one to remember, here’s how you can make it happen.

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Social Media Marketing For Musicians: How To Get More Fans On YouTube

This post was written by Jon Ostrow and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog.

Why use YouTube to get more fans

Video has always been an important medium for music promotion. Music videos, documentaries, and concert films, have given fans a way to connect more deeply to the music, and the bands they hold so dear.

So it’s no surprise that YouTube has become a must-use social media platform for musicians.

But beyond just simply being a video platform, there are real tangible reasons why YouTube presents a great opportunity for you to find more fans.

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7 Things I Wish Somebody Had Told Me About Releasing Music

 About 10 years ago, a pretty awful music producer was sitting in his parents spare-room on his computer trying to make sense of Ableton Live, and the world of record labels, sales and music production.

That producer was me, and there are a few things I wish somebody had told me back then.

I’ve come a fair distance since those days, but many of the things I wish I’d been told are still as true today, so I’d like to cover a few for you.

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Music SEO: Know Your SERPs

This post was written by Wes Walls and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog.

SERPs? It stands for “search engine results pages”.

Simple enough. Got that out of the way.

If you’re a musician, especially one who cares about your SEO, then SERPs matter a lot to you. We’re going to focus on Google in this post because that’s where most people go when they search.

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How To Promote Your Music To Bloggers

This post was written by Joy Ike ​and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog.

I know what you’re thinking: Blogs are so 2005.

It’s true, blogs were a big deal back in the day. But they still are – you just don’t know it.

Believe it or not, as a musician, you need blogs. They are the lifeblood of many artists’ careers, and one of the most effective ways for independent musicians to grow their online reach.

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Social Media Marketing For Musicians: How To Get More Fans With Facebook

This post was written by Jon Ostrow and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog.

No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of music you play, we all share a common goal: To find fans and build a fanbase.

There are many ways to get more fans online, but we’re going to focus on the low hanging fruit. The big blue-and-white F-word at the top of the social media food chain: Facebook.

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Social Media Marketing For Musicians: How To Get More Fans On Twitter

This post was written by Joy Ike ​and originally appeared on the Bandzoogle Blog.

No matter how many conversations I have with fellow artists, they always say Twitter is their least favorite, and least used social media tool. Some artists admit that they don’t get it, while others think 140 characters just isn’t enough to make a point.

Whatever the reason, it’s pretty safe to say that artists who do use Twitter can use it more effectively. In this post we’re going to give you a full start-to-finish breakdown on how to create a Twitter account, post effective tweets, and maximize your content and engagement.

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Is Your Single A Flop?

“Oh well, there’s always the next single.”

“It doesn’t seem like anyone is interested.”

These are two things I often hear from bands following the first week of pitching media on a single. This is often after only seeing ten to 20 outlets cover the band. Did I mention it was after only one week actively promoting the release?

There’s often a sense of panic from musicians after that first week – the band invested a lot of money – and it’s already a flop.

It’s not, I promise.

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Truth Bomb

What is the HARDEST part of the music business? #HardQuestions

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make sharing information about the music business easier to follow, and easier to understand. And while I probably shouldn’t, because if an artist REALLY wants this, he or she will put in the necessary time and commitment to learn how to do this correctly. I mean, shit, I learned–I taught my damn self. I didn’t have a ‘me’ to make it easier.

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SEO Keyword Research For Musicians

Want to do your own SEO as a musician? Before you start optimizing, it’s crucial that you get to know your keywords. This is always Step #1 in any SEO project, and it’s no exception for musicians.

Before you read this, head over to Chapter 1 of this multi-post guide to get familiar with your SEO strategy and the Fan Journey

OK, let’s go.

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Music Mailing Lists: Yes Or No?

I used to get e-mails from Paper + Plastick Records about free downloads once a week or once a month (to be honest, I don’t remember which). While it felt a little overwhelming at times, I also found myself being informed about new bands and releases I really cared about. Bands like Flatfoot 56 and The Braces who I’d followed for years were putting out new releases and I was getting mp3s and updates pretty regularly on their new stuff. Facebook worked for this as well, but I didn’t get free music out of it!

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Does The Music Industry Need Publicists When We Can Go DIY?

With more bands and artists going DIY since the revolution of the Internet, is the role of PR and publicity really still needed? The Internet has had a huge impact on the music industry. Bands and artists are now able to reach their fans more easily than they ever could before. But does this mean they can also manage their own publicity? Although the Internet has brought many benefits for bands and artists, unfortunately, it has also increased the competition. Anyone nowadays can call themselves a band or artist, and with affordable recording software, anyone can make music and upload it onto YouTube or SoundCloud. There are a lot of artists out there all vying for people’s attention. The real issue is how a band or artist can make their music stand out amongst a mist of noise.

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Tour Prep: Van Accidents

Henry Rollins wrote a book in 1994 entitled “Get In The Van,” which encourages young artists to put aside previous concerns and take a risk by starting their music career. However, he may have missed the part about when the van flips over… literally. It’s not uncommon for a vehicle accident to happen to bands on tour in fact, The Early November did it within their first two weeks of their first official tour - and look where they are now. So, the he question arises - what are the best ways to prepare, avoid, and handle such situations?

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