Band Marketing Power

The other day, I caught the tale end of a solo performer onstage that blew my mind because of the power he had. He easily excited, engaged, and moved a massive audience into following his demands and fun actions for a wonderful and captivating performance of music. It was one man on stage with an accordion. His name, Jason Webley.

He has been noted in many music circles from Punk Rock to Folk Music. He is a powerful and most importantly, a genuine heartfelt performer. He performs with passion.

The most powerful way to capture him is through a live stage performance or any stage performance recorded. Watching him and feeling his performance as you listen to the music resonate from him is amazing. Then you add the fact that his communication skills with the audience are extremely skillful and commanding, he is a great example to learn from. He offers some excellent top skills to practice and embrace for your stage technique.

If you get a chance to catch Jason on one of his many performance stops around the world… it is worth your time to do it.

See if you can catch him performing on a stage on YouTube or elsewhere (See below for an example).

You can learn more about Jason at his website or on any search for his name:

Jason Webley
http://www.jasonwebley.com/

When you are about to get onstage or perform your music for anyone...
Why do you do it?

If you don't know that, then...
What do you feel like doing first?

Understanding what drives you will give you the perfect reason why you can improve and where to focus 90% of all your energy in order to deliver something incredibly powerful for your audience to enjoy. This will make you better and help you build a stronger, larger, more passionate Fan following.

KISS had makeup and costumes. David Bowie had a distinct sound and style. Dolly Parton had her look and still keeps it up.

Knowing what certain elements are part of your image and identity are your choice to make, however realize that your audience does find you and identify with you quicker and easier if you stick with your look and identity. Remember this... If you keep changing your package, it makes it hard for your audience/Fans to find you and follow you.

Enjoy this entertaining clip of Dolly Parton speaking about discovering and maintaining her image and identity and let it start you thinking of all the ways Bands and Musicians you like present their Identity... And what would happen if they changed it?

There are many things that compete in the new world of music entertainment. Below is an example of an animated video made by a company that makes music entertainment for the television. It is used successfully as background visuals along with recorded music played at parties and social gatherings. This style of music entertainment is a competitor to the live musician, however can never replace the "Power" of a live musician.

Granted, the creations are very entertaining, and they do have their place in the market. It is critical for you, the live musician, to realize what you individually have to bring to any performance you do.

There is nothing like the live performance of music and watching and feeling the performers give their life energy to you (as an audience). This is valuable and special. It is the gift you have to give and share anytime you perform live. Realize its value. Sell it properly to people when you are booking gigs/shows. Know what you have to bring to the stage/live show that identifies you so you can explain it in three words to the person booking you.

Yes, the world of music entertainment is changing, however that just means that the live performer is in an even more specialized market niche. And... Specialists make more money than non-specialists.

Know what you bring to a live show. Sell it. And charge appropriately. Just because everyone else is doing it a certain way, or because 'they' (the booking person) only pay, everyone else, a certain amount for doing shows... doesn't mean you have to do it that way. The more specialized you can be and focus your Band's offering, the more money you will make and the more referrals you will get from people. Your Fans will be more powerful as a unified group and will be more passionate about you.

So, for now... Enjoy the Music Video Entertainment below, and while you are watching it, think about all of the things you have to offer that are different to people paying for the Music Entertainment. Maybe even get a piece of paper out and write them down.

Many times, I share information in these Article Blog entries, about the importance of knowing the ‘purpose’ of your Band. Well, I thought I would share that sometimes that purpose is more temporary than long-term.

Sometimes a Band is organized and united for a very temporary goal. This kind of Band is focused on a Project. Instead of planning and developing things for the Band to last through a career length of time, the Band work and effort is targeted on accomplishing an event or show.

I have worked with Bands that were simply pulled together to help raise funds or to play for a run of shows that are designed with a particular format and character.

You can create a Band to operate like this. You might have a show in mind that you want to do, however don’t want the Band to last more than just that run of shows or maybe just for that one show.

A structure to your music career might be to set up more of an entertainment company that creates a series of themed shows. Therefore, a Band is created for each performance run and dissolved afterward. Like creating a series of different show episodes for Television… you can create a Music Entertainment Company that can create a series of different performances that people get to watch; each performance has a new Band to excite the audience and to give you variety.

They key is to have a purpose for creating these different shows for your audience. What are you saying or sharing with them that would make them think, “Wow! I want to come see that company’s performances again and again.”

Bands are, primarily, built by the members onstage. There are critical members of the Band that work in the background offstage, however without the onstage people, there is no Band. Many times, the onstage people have strong personalities and carry strong Egos. I think that is okay and wonderful, yet it does bring about the chance for conflict.

Without the Ego, there wouldn’t be a sense of confidence that is required to stand onstage and present your own ideas and feel good about it. It takes passion and belief in your own needs and identity. When you mix a handful of these strong passionate people together though, you can have a tension built on the difference of opinions.

Beware of the conflict that comes from this and respect it. This energy, many times, is the same thing that makes your Band ‘tick’. Sometimes it is the conflicting interests and desires that bring an exciting energy to the performance and experience your audience enjoys.

It is a challenge to keep the Band together when Egos battle. Realize this and make it a goal to work through the challenges you have together.

Do you think that there are strong and conflicting Egos on a professional Basketball or Football team? Well… There are, and without the continued efforts of the coach and the team members, working together on a unified goal like a championship title, then the team would fall apart and the championship would only be an unattainable dream.

A question that I’d like to ask you is, “Why do you have a Band?” The following sentences are going to be a series of questions to trigger your thoughts:

Have you ever thought about this? Do you know why you want to have a Band in the first place? Have you let yourself enjoy visions of what you see yourself doing with your Band? Can you hear exactly the tone of your music that you play to your audience and the echoed response they share with you? Can you feel what you are giving and enjoying while you are onstage or playing for others, and what type of energy your audience of loving Fans are giving back to you?

Can you imagine not getting the response you want from your audience?

Are you enjoying your purpose while you play for your audience during your shows?

So, why do you have a Band? Are you interested in being pure entertainment, or do you have a message you want to share? Are you a blend of both?

I have seen many different types of Bands out there and there is not one type that is better than another, in general however, knowing what your purpose for having a Band is, remains critical for understanding what you want to do with it.

Some people want a Band simply to just have fun, never make it a lifestyle and only to meet the opposite sex because they have trouble reaching out any other way. Then, there are people that focus in on the effort to make it a lifestyle, make the music addictive, and sell it to everyone they know and meet. You can see quite a few of these types of artists showing off their “Cribs” on MTV, VH1 or elsewhere on TV. I even know some artists that have a passion for getting their music out to as many people as possible because they have so much fun making it that they think others like them, need to have access to it.

Whatever your reason for making music and forming a Band, understand it more. Than, share it with others for that reason alone. This will be your quickest way to building a bigger more influential Band. It will also make it more fun for you.

I only live about an hour and a half away from the ocean, and when I can, I love to “escape” there to relax and feel connected again (at least that’s what I say to myself). I finished a performance on Saturday evening, and felt like I have been going and going before that. I wanted just a little break from my pattern, so I decided to hop in the car and drive to the coast just to stay over night, because I had to be back by the following afternoon.

Just being there helps me relax and change gear. Hearing the ocean waves soothes me and helps me think of what I like and where I want to go next with my work.

This is the same experience I get when I go to see a band, go to a concert, show or any other type of entertainment environment I like.

This is what a Band offers to its Fans, an escape.

A Band brings an environment that helps its Fans escape from their regular life pattern. It helps them feel connected to their community. It helps them connect with themselves and realign with their passionate goal path. Many times a good band helps them speak and radiate the emotional and mental energy the Fan hides away the rest of their day. Then, at the Band’s show, the Fan can let loose, relax, and feel like someone else shares the same feelings or thoughts that they do. This is why a Fan wants to listen to the music over and over when they go through their day, and why they love to get to the show when they hear of show tickets going on sale.

Imagine the example of a someone who is very angry with the way people treat them through their day, they have to wear clothes that they don’t like for their ‘job’, or they have to work under abusive conditions. Then, they get to go out at night and see a hard-edged Band that screams out lyrics that sympathize with their emotions and thoughts. They can crazily bounce around and sweat out their energy. It helps them cope and fall asleep better.

Now, imagine a person who works in a fast paced environment, loves what they do however feels like they are moving at warp speed every second of their day. Then, at night, they get to go out and listen to a Band play a mellow dream-like musical show. Everything about it helps them slow down and process what they are doing now in their lives and what they want to do next. This person goes home and sleeps much better.

Next time either one of these people need to escape from their day, they will remember the benefits that they got from 'that Band' last time and get excited when they see that they are playing again. And… They most likely will take some of their friends (similar to them) that they already told about the Band last time they enjoyed their show.

What type of environment do you offer your fans? What do your lyrics say for them? What kind of energy does your music help them release or enjoy?

What kind of people like what you have to offer? These are your potential Fans or already your Fans.

Are you aware of what you offer to your audience? Do you let people know this when they ask: “How would you describe your band?”

Now, I am writing this entry to share something simple and fun… I will not say that the movie “Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny” is a deep film, however I will say that hidden in the simplicity are powerful tips that can be used by anyone to improve their band’s success.

FIRST:
I went and saw the film. I enjoyed it. It was a touch of the Who’s “Tommy” mixed with Twisted Sister’s music video from the 1980’s for the song, “I Wanna Rock”, mixed with Alice in Wonderland, mixed with Ben Stiller’s “Zoolander”. I’m a sucker for fun silliness, especially if it is mixed with music.

Wrapped into this movie are pure truth tips about what a band can do to improve their stage show and performance power. You will see the importance of having a team working together for stage power, practicing how to perform in front of a difficult audience, practicing stage choreography and moves, having a good introduction by someone else before you enter the stage, going off stage before you enter to start your show, being passionate when you sing and play your songs in front of others, being committed to what you are doing onstage in front of others, the importance of finding a fan that is passionate about your band and supportive, and performing your music and message as good entertainment for your audience.

KEEP IN MIND:
Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D (who acted, wrote, and produced much of the show) have been around and performed music professionally since 1994 and have played large venues POWERFULLY since year 2000. They are great first hand source of the right things to do onstage to be great (even though they are comic in their presentation).

It’s amazing the information you can get from movies like this. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes the idea of building a Rock Band. Watch for the inside secrets they share in their goofy adventure story.

Other goofy movies share similar insights, like “Spinal Tap”, however that is a future BLOG entry.

More about the movie:
http://www.tenaciousdmovie.com

More about Tenacious D:
http://www.tenaciousd.com

A stronger Bio about Tenacious D:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/tenacious_d/bio.jhtml

What do you bring to the stage? Do you share your passion as you play? How do others see you, hear you, and feel you?

It is critical to be true to yourself and to share your passion with your audience. If you try to do a false act, or try to share untrue emotions through your performance, your audience will detect it and turn away. What do you bring to your audience?

In this article, you can see some raw video footage I caught of Larissa Rudeen at her house with her family. Larissa, an 18-year-old Blues Musician, plays her song, "Boss Man". She plays with passion whenever she shares her songs. And I wanted to catch her unique and focused performance on video. For Larissa, it doesn’t seem to matter where or when she plays her songs for you, she plays it with 100% focus.

Musicians... Ask yourself do you share this kind of passion when you play for others?

See Larissa in action singing her song, “Boss Man” (below). This is a no frills performance with no special lighting, sound, atmosphere, or location… Just her and her guitar.

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A strong and unique true-to-you performance will make you worth talking about. Do you have anything that makes you stand out? Please share it with me… you can easily email me on the site: www.HowToBand.com. There is an easy-access-direct-email portal on the site on the ‘Contact’ page. Or just email me at: Eric@HowToBand.com

INFO: You can learn more about Larissa Rudeen by visiting her at: www.MySpace.com/LarissaRudeen

If you compare a professional act to a new local band, and look only at how the two start and end their show… You will see a big difference.

I won’t go into details now, however Dare You to see a local band and then watch a professional show (on video or live), and just pay attention to the band member’s entrance and exit.

What do you notice different? What can you do with your live shows to match the skill of the Professional Show? Be the Professional. You don’t need to spend big money to just simply enter and exit the stage like a pro.

Have fun and make money.

- Eric