Mobile App Could Provide Various Outreach Means for Care Resource’s Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Care Resource website viewed from mobile device.

It is a brave new world. We are constantly being reminded of this fact when we try to approach life in the traditional ways we used to enjoy. Any trip to your favorite eatery for a meal will reveal just how different times are. Typically, you’ll find everyone gathered at the same table but checking mobile devices for updates or posting pictures of their outing. The truth is mobile devices have become a staple in how we interact with the world and they put a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips.

Contemplating just how impactful mobile devices can be, I am compelled to ponder how a mobile app could assist an organization like Care Resource be more effective in its efforts to support those infected with HIV/AIDS. This organization works closely with the LGBTQ Community to provide medical and social services. According to the AIDS.gov, Gay and Bisexual Men, irrespective of race, are the “most severely affected” group with HIV. Let me state here that I have very profound, personal reasons for seeing an organization like Care Resource fulfill its mission. Over the years, I have seen too many people perish because of HIV/AIDS. I have seen too many families suffer unnecessary loss in dealing with this horrendous disease. Therefore, I am invested in helping people avoid the tumultuous journey that HIV/AIDS presents. To that end, I think Care Resource, and organizations like it, can be vital in getting people educated, tested, and counseled.

At present, Care Resource has a dynamic presence on the web. The organization already uses Facebook and Twitter. They also have a very informative website. This website is viewable on mobile devices, however, the content can be a strain to see and navigation on mobile devices can be inefficient. Care Resource could benefit from a mobile app that made the pertinent information on their site easily accessible to its target audience. My vision of a mobile app for Care Resource would be one that allowed patients to receive reminders of upcoming appointments as well as schedule their appointments in just a few screen touches. My proposed app would also have updates for volunteer opportunities and link to Foursquare or some similar app in order to point out events in close proximity to the user. Additionally, my ideal app for the organization would give updates on fundraisers and community events. It would list all the organization’s current programs and provide an expedited means for clients to sign up for service consultations. Finally, my app would include contact information prominently and include emergency numbers and information. This measure would give clients a degree of security that they could have access to pertinent information at all times. My app would accommodate English, Spanish, and Creole speakers in the South Florida target area. I think that creating an app with these specific purposes in mind would help Care Resource bridge the digital divide that exists in the community it services and reach those that vitally need the resources that the organization has to offer.

Tired of Being a TUMBLR? Get a PULSE on Your Business With Mobile Apps.

Interestingly, as I was contemplating topics for my proposed podcast series, I started to brainstorm mobile apps and their benefit to creative and creative professionals. I had no idea that I would be asked to write this blog post at the time. Mobile apps have become a mainstay in our fast-paced, digital society. Increasingly, people are looking for ways to have apps help them with productivity while they are unable to tie into the traditional office or cubicle. But, which apps are best for the tasks of the PR or Entertainment industry professional on the go? In this post, I will examine two apps that I have found most beneficial in my career thus far.

TUMBLR

Many people may not agree with my assessment hear but I’ll give it anyway. I thoroughly enjoy Tumblr from both a professional and personal perspective. Tumblr has allowed me to get better acquainted with some of those that I follow on Twitter. It has allowed me to keep up with some of the happenings with celebrities that I find interesting. Professionally, posting to Tumblr is easy and it ties into my other social networks with ease. The reason I think the Tumblr app is so beneficial is because it is easy to use and you can post photos, videos, links, animated GIFs without breaking a sweat. It’s practically a two-touch operation. Another great thing about Tumblr is that your posts are a cinch to repost by others who wish to share your information with the rest of the world. This allows you to conveniently tap into their networks and gain a wider audience. Any PR/Entertainment professional should be looking at Tumblr’s connectivity and ease of use as a means to showcase their creative prowess.

I’ll add here that while Tumblr is not as widely known as some of its counterparts in microblogging its ability to connect to other social networks is a definite plus. It connects to Twitter and Facebook as well as Instagram and many others. However, don’t expect to jump on Tumblr and automatically be popular. Building and audience on Tumblr requires the same work and patience as any other network. Therefore, if you are looking at using Tumblr as a central hub, you’ll have to do some serious work gathering followers. However, as a gateway for disseminating information across other networks with a creative flair, Tumblr’s app is a wonderful tool.

Tumblr screenshot

PULSE

As a PR/Entertainment professional a key component of success is staying abreast of news and developments in the industry and world-at-large. You can’t stay ahead of the issue if you never see it coming and it’s always beneficial to know the proverbial word on the streets. Therefore, every serious PR/Entertainment pro needs a solid news aggregator. I liked using Pulse powered by LinkedIn.

This app connects to your LinkedIn account and allows you to get news in a centralized place from channels that you follow. You are able to choose those channels that interest you and really customize your news experience. Additionally, you can expeditiously share your information with everyone in your network. This app puts a wealth of information at your fingertips. This app also allows you to tap into your audience on other platforms. One tap opens the window to let you share news with connections on Facebook and Twitter as well as email and LinkedIn. Interconnectivity is a must in today’s digital landscape. To this end, I would say that Pulse is one of the more exciting news apps I’ve seen.

Pulse screenshot

The bottom line is that you’ll have to find the apps that work best for your task list. If it were left to me, my ultimate app would allow me to create, edit, and disseminate video and audio materials for PR/Entertainment in one place. Since, it’s difficult to put all of these elements together without having an app that is too busy and bulky, you’ll likely need more than one app to get the job done right. The aforementioned apps can be a solid start to running your PR/Entertainment business on the go. Still looking for apps? Start by checking out this article on PRNewser about 10 great apps you can use.

Happy hunting and feel free to share any apps you’ve found useful in the comments section!

Reducing the Clutter.

After a short, summer hiatus, The Dreaded Indie is back and ready to get everyone on track. I have spent the last few weeks watching people discuss various forms and reasons for getting organized and slimming down. People were trying to fit into their bikinis. They were trying to clean up their houses. They were trying to organize their offices. The whole premise was to get mentally and physically in shape for what is to come.

So, how does this apply to the indie artist? It just so happens that I ran across an article that gives this concept perspective. Writer Dave Cool gives some extremely great advice to artists in his article, Keep It Clean: 10 Ways to Unclutter Your Band Website. I had to chuckle when I read tip number 4, “Have 1 music player”. I was one of those artists that had music EVERYWHERE. Quite honestly, I can see how that strategy failed to deliver concrete results and the auto-start concept is just downright annoying.

Dave Cool makes a lot of valid suggestions that are well worth the time to review and implement. The concept of keeping it simple goes a long way. Further, a simple, clean website that showcases your talent can go a long way to getting your seen and heard.

Blog!

By this time, everyone should have a keen understanding of what blogging is and how vital it can be in this digital age. As a musician, band, performing artist, if you aren’t blogging you could be missing an important opportunity to connect with fans, share knowledge, and display your prowess in the industry.

Blogging has become so vital that this Wednesday, May 8th, the SBA (Small Business Administration) is offering a webinar on the matter. If you haven’t yet grasped the magnitude of how crucial blogging can be, let me help you understand some of the things that a blog can do. First, a blog can increase your level of engagement with your fans. Blogs can allow them to leave comments, take polls, leave opinions. All of these things can help you hone in on areas that fans like and dislike, showing you what you should keep doing or try revamping.

Second, in most cases, you can start a blog for free and it can substitute for the cost of having a custom page, at least for a while. With services like Blogger and WordPress, you can start a pretty good looking blog with some really pristine themes for free. This gives you a professional page that can be used as your home on the Internet until you have the cash to spring for a custom page with cool, one-of-a-kind graphics and interactive content.

Third, a blog is an ideal place to strut you proverbial stuff. You can use your blog to show everyone how much you know about you band and your brand while also giving them insights on some other issues that make your world spin. It’s a great platform and those who visit your blog will be captivated by all of the cool insights you have to offer.

Finally, blogs are easy to connect to other social media sites which means that you can easily begin to establish a social media marketing campaign. You will have content to share on other platforms that can gain more followers that will be exposed to your music, art, literature. Who couldn’t use more exposure?

Bottom line, whatever your reservations, blogging makes sense. Again, even the SBA is offering a webinar about it. So, what are you waiting for?

The Problem With My Resume.

As a one-time aspiring artist, I found myself living in two realms, if you will. In one realm, I had a 9 to 5 that I used to try to pay bills and scrounge the money for studio time. In the second realm, I was a performer trying to gain experience in my craft that would likely never mean very much in my first realm. In the first realm, I knew exactly what my resume needed to say so I could obtain the next, higher paying 9 to 5. However, the question of my resume for the second realm was always a fuzzy abstract. I always knew that a bio was expected and I took great pangs to make sure that I had one that best spoke to my personality and talents. I did not even contemplate a musical resume until just two short years ago.

One of the challenges that I faced immediately in the endeavor to create my music resume was the information that I needed to include. After all, I did not want it to be just a bio in an outline form. I had to ask myself what I sought to accomplish with my music resume. I found the task of creating my music resume extremely difficult, in part, because I had such broad focus. It was not until my Full Sail courses began that I really began to firm up my musical career goals. That had changed since I was last a performer on stage.

In trying to determine the best way to construct my music resume I found an articlethat proved very useful. Heather McDonald lists four areas that one should examine to include on their resume; experience, reliability, list of music related accomplishments, and related education. Each area has distinct considerations that could make or break your music resume. However, I think that the most valuable thing about developing your music resume is developing your career focus and assessing your strengths and weaknesses. My journey through the music resume revealed the areas that I needed to gain more experience in to accomplish my professional goals. This is important because having a plan, even if it is only a vague outline, can aid tremendously in keeping you on track to your destination.

Stop Dreading Your Business Plan

My last post spoke on the importance of having a business plan. Yes, it’s a dreaded part of doing business that cannot be avoided. Yet, as a creative it is a part that is overlooked. As a recording artist, I never had the thought of creating a business plan. This could be a factor that contributed to my lack of success on the scale that I had desired. Perhaps if I had taken the time to map out the plan, I would have achieved the level of success that I always envisioned as a child… MEGASTARDOM!!

Now, as I contemplate turning talents toward helping others reach their desired vision, I can truly say that I get it. Megastardom does not just happen. Someone plans it. If it’s not the star, it’s their management team or record label. The point is that someone maps out what needs to happen for the star to become and remain a star. As an indie artist, chances are, you are paying too little attention to the planning parts of your journey. Most indie artists know just enough not to make it and, more often than not, they think that success will miraculously find them.

Let me give you the benefit of some information I just learned. First, it’s always good to map out the financials in your business plan. Know how much things cost and how you are going to pay for them. Know how much you are going to make, how much your talent is truly worth. Know how much you will need to pay others for their services on your behalf. However, more important than your financials is translating your vision and personality in your business plan. You should work to make certain that your business plan fully conveys your creativity.

One of the most important changes I plan to make in my own business plan is reevaluating to see where I can begin to interject more of my vision and personality. Since I cannot be with the person who’s reading it while they are reading it, the best I can do is make sure that it is a solid representation. That may be enough to get me in the room with potential investors.

Secondly, research the industry. Know the trends and how they will affect your bottom line. Know what you will need to make your vision a reality and how much it will realistically cost you. This is another aspect of my own business plan that I intend to change. Having more accurate projections about performance and profits can help you make much more sound business decisions. You can clearly begin to determine what paths are going to enable you to get where you want to go.

Overall, the need for a plan is key. Your plan doesn’t need to be as detailed as, perhaps, Microsoft’s. However, the more detailed the plan the better the insight. Finally, remember that plans change. Just because you write out a plan does not mean that you are completely locked into every step of it. However, it can be a useful tool in your journey to the top.

Do You Need a Mobile App?

This week, as I contemplated this blog, I was cognizant enough to take a look at all of the people around me that were accessing content from mobile devices. I happened to be at a party and noticed that everyone at my table had used their smartphone to check in on Facebook. Besides, they were posting pictures directly to Facebook as we were taking them. With all this immediacy in mobile computing, it would be only logical for musicians to contemplate creating mobile apps for their musical pursuits. The question is whether a mobile app is appropriate and cost effective.

There are several things that musicians should consider when looking to create a mobile app. One of the first things is cost. Shoutem offers to mobile app hosting that is both iPhone and Android compatible, has notifications, unlimited usage, and automatic updates for $49 per month. This is billed annually so you’ll pay $588 for the year. If you want Shoutem to build the app for you, you have two options. Professional setup costs $450 and allows you to import outside content. With the VIP setup option, you’ll get that plus “two rounds of designs” and custom script sync for personal content and APIs for $950. Of course, as an indie musician, your first thought is likely the route that allows you to be the architect of your mobile app so, you’d likely forgo having Shoutem build your app. I’ll say this, while it seems relatively easy, I have learned that if I can pay a professional to administer services that they are trained in, I am doing myself a huge favor. Unless you are already building mobile apps, I’d suggest letting them set it up so that it gets the functionality it is supposed to have and that is going to have you paying about $1000. By contrast, Mobile Roadie will start you out at $99 for your app and, depending on the services you add (i.e. analytics, design packages, developer tools, etc.) your cost could go as high as $499 per month. Is it worth it?

Marcus Taylor, guest writing for Mic Control, suggests that musicians should weigh their audience and determine whether they are able to recoup these costs repeatedly via music sales, merchandising sales, and concert ticketing. Therefore, musicians who have smaller fan bases will likely not benefit from a mobile app because the cost to create and maintain it would be too high to justify. I happen to agree with this logic. Any cost that cannot be recouped through projected profits is probably one that a musician should reevaluate before committing to paying it. There are ways for musicians to have a mobile presence without the hefty price tag. Mobile websites can work effectively for smaller acts that don’t have the fan base to support the mobile app costs. Of course, the ease and intimacy of a mobile app is a bit more elusive with mobile websites but this is where marketing and promotional savvy can be a useful tool. Plus, developing these skills will aid you, the indie musician, in future opportunities.

The bottom line is that you want to have a stake in the mobile arena. There is no question that mobile computing is here to stay. People are constantly plugged in. However, if you can’t afford to create a mobile app right now you don’t have to miss the train. You may ride in coach for a minute, but what indie artist doesn’t?

photo courtesy of The Flack

Copyright’s “Blurred Lines”.

This summer saw one of the greatest dance hits in recent years. Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams made heads nod and toes tap with the break out hit, “Blurred Lines”. The song jetted up the music charts one the flow of a funky, familiar groove. The song did not come with its degree of controversy.

First, there was the issue of the video for the song in which scantily clad women pranced around the set. Once that died done, there came the controversy of the possible copyright violations. This issue is one to watch for anyone who peddles in intellectual property.

For the uninitiated, according to the United States Copyright Office, copyright is “form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of ‘original works of authorship,’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works.” It is an integral part of dealing intellectual property. Understanding copyright is a matter that I have discussed in previous posts but it seems that it still stands in a place of ambiguity for most people. That ambiguity could be very costly.

Let me say here that I suggest that if you are creating original materials you register your copyrights as soon as possible. It is incredible the way that things get around and it does not feel good to hear your ideas being credited to others while they reap financial benefit. So, it is important to put yourself in a position to have some recourse if this should happen.

With that being said, looking at the case of Robin Thicke, I must admit that the tune sounded instantly like something that I had heard before. Before I had any concept of a potential copyright issue, I had already attributed that funky bass line to Marvin Gaye. However, I thought that the typical route of copyright protection had been respected. I thought that the necessary permissions had been sought and obtained. Seeing as though it was not, Robin Thicke offered the family of Marvin Gaye a settlement to avoid going to court. It is feasible to think that Robin Thicke has seen a great financial turn because of the hit’s popularity. The question is whether the Gaye family is going to see any of it and how much.

Reducing the Clutter.

After a short, summer hiatus, The Dreaded Indie is back and ready to get everyone on track. I have spent the last few weeks watching people discuss various forms and reasons for getting organized and slimming down. People were trying to fit into their bikinis. They were trying to clean up their houses. They were trying to organize their offices. The whole premise was to get mentally and physically in shape for what is to come.

So, how does this apply to the indie artist? It just so happens that I ran across an article that gives this concept perspective. Writer Dave Cool gives some extremely great advice to artists in his article, Keep It Clean: 10 Ways to Unclutter Your Band Website. I had to chuckle when I read tip number 4, "Have 1 music player". I was one of those artists that had music EVERYWHERE. Quite honestly, I can see how that strategy failed to deliver concrete results and the auto-start concept is just downright annoying.

Dave Cool makes a lot of valid suggestions that are well worth the time to review and implement. The concept of keeping it simple goes a long way. Further, a simple, clean website that showcases your talent can go a long way to getting your seen and heard.

Blog!

By this time, everyone should have a keen understanding of what blogging is and how vital it can be in this digital age. As a musician, band, performing artist, if you aren't blogging you could be missing an important opportunity to connect with fans, share knowledge, and display your prowess in the industry.

Blogging has become so vital that this Wednesday, May 8th, the SBA (Small Business Administration) is offering a webinar on the matter. If you haven't yet grasped the magnitude of how crucial blogging can be, let me help you understand some of the things that a blog can do. First, a blog can increase your level of engagement with your fans. Blogs can allow them to leave comments, take polls, leave opinions. All of these things can help you hone in on areas that fans like and dislike, showing you what you should keep doing or try revamping.

Second, in most cases, you can start a blog for free and it can substitute for the cost of having a custom page, at least for a while. With services like Blogger and Wordpress, you can start a pretty good looking blog with some really pristine themes for free. This gives you a professional page that can be used as your home on the Internet until you have the cash to spring for a custom page with cool, one-of-a-kind graphics and interactive content.

Third, a blog is an ideal place to strut you proverbial stuff. You can use your blog to show everyone how much you know about you band and your brand while also giving them insights on some other issues that make your world spin. It's a great platform and those who visit your blog will be captivated by all of the cool insights you have to offer.

Finally, blogs are easy to connect to other social media sites which means that you can easily begin to establish a social media marketing campaign. You will have content to share on other platforms that can gain more followers that will be exposed to your music, art, literature. Who couldn't use more exposure?

Bottom line, whatever your reservations, blogging makes sense. Again, even the SBA is offering a webinar about it. So, what are you waiting for?

The Problem With My Resume.

As a one-time aspiring artist, I found myself living in two realms, if you will. In one realm, I had a 9 to 5 that I used to try to pay bills and scrounge the money for studio time. In the second realm, I was a performer trying to gain experience in my craft that would likely never mean very much in my first realm. In the first realm, I knew exactly what my resume needed to say so I could obtain the next, higher paying 9 to 5. However, the question of my resume for the second realm was always a fuzzy abstract. I always knew that a bio was expected and I took great pangs to make sure that I had one that best spoke to my personality and talents. I did not even contemplate a musical resume until just two short years ago.

One of the challenges that I faced immediately in the endeavor to create my music resume was the information that I needed to include. After all, I did not want it to be just a bio in an outline form. I had to ask myself what I sought to accomplish with my music resume. I found the task of creating my music resume extremely difficult, in part, because I had such broad focus. It was not until my Full Sail courses began that I really began to firm up my musical career goals. That had changed since I was last a performer on stage.

In trying to determine the best way to construct my music resume I found an article that proved very useful. Heather McDonald lists four areas that one should examine to include on their resume; experience, reliability, list of music related accomplishments, and related education. Each area has distinct considerations that could make or break your music resume. However, I think that the most valuable thing about developing your music resume is developing your career focus and assessing your strengths and weaknesses. My journey through the music resume revealed the areas that I needed to gain more experience in to accomplish my professional goals. This is important because having a plan, even if it is only a vague outline, can aid tremendously in keeping you on track to your destination.

Stop Dreading Your Business Plan

My last post spoke on the importance of having a business plan. Yes, it’s a dreaded part of doing business that cannot be avoided. Yet, as a creative it is a part that is overlooked. As a recording artist, I never had the thought of creating a business plan. This could be a factor that contributed to my lack of success on the scale that I had desired. Perhaps if I had taken the time to map out the plan, I would have achieved the level of success that I always envisioned as a child… MEGASTARDOM!!

Now, as I contemplate turning talents toward helping others reach their desired vision, I can truly say that I get it. Megastardom does not just happen. Someone plans it. If it’s not the star, it’s their management team or record label. The point is that someone maps out what needs to happen for the star to become and remain a star. As an indie artist, chances are, you are paying too little attention to the planning parts of your journey. Most indie artists know just enough not to make it and, more often than not, they think that success will miraculously find them.

Let me give you the benefit of some information I just learned. First, it’s always good to map out the financials in your business plan. Know how much things cost and how you are going to pay for them. Know how much you are going to make, how much your talent is truly worth. Know how much you will need to pay others for their services on your behalf. However, more important than your financials is translating your vision and personality in your business plan. You should work to make certain that your business plan fully conveys your creativity.

One of the most important changes I plan to make in my own business plan is reevaluating to see where I can begin to interject more of my vision and personality. Since I cannot be with the person who’s reading it while they are reading it, the best I can do is make sure that it is a solid representation. That may be enough to get me in the room with potential investors.

Secondly, research the industry. Know the trends and how they will affect your bottom line. Know what you will need to make your vision a reality and how much it will realistically cost you. This is another aspect of my own business plan that I intend to change. Having more accurate projections about performance and profits can help you make much more sound business decisions. You can clearly begin to determine what paths are going to enable you to get where you want to go.

Overall, the need for a plan is key. Your plan doesn’t need to be as detailed as, perhaps, Microsoft’s. However, the more detailed the plan the better the insight. Finally, remember that plans change. Just because you write out a plan does not mean that you are completely locked into every step of it. However, it can be a useful tool in your journey to the top.

Perhaps You Should Consider Your Business Plan

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How important is a business plan? Often, when considering our career goals, we don’t realize how important having a blueprint is. Your business plan is your blue print. It is an important indicator of your objectives and desires as well as a great tool for translating your vision to others who may be willing to help fund your dreams. That’s right, INVESTORS.

What aspects of your business plan will most attract investors? We information are they looking for and why is it important? Having answers to these questions can be a great help.

According to lawyer and small business expert, Steve Strauss, you should “wait on revealing the cost”. Steve Strauss believes that the strongest part of your plan should be succinct writing, great supporting information, and clearly defined benefits your business will bring. Strauss surmises that once you dazzle potential investors with this information then you should reveal the financial aspects. Strauss takes the view that this compels investors to want to buy into the business.

Dave Lavinsky, business planning and venture capital expert and founder of Growthink, makes a point of stating the hard truth about business plans and that venture capitalist fund about 1% of the business plans that they are presented. Further, he states that angel investors only fund about 11% of the business plans they see. This can be a daunting scenario. However, he also states that successful business plans have 5 things in common:

1.    The Right Value Proposition

2.    The Right Marketing and Sales Strategy

3.    The Right Business Model

4.    Action Plans Developed From Reverse Engineering Success

5.    Are Communicated Brilliantly

Again, note that the financial aspects of your business are not at the forefront of this list. The bottom line is that investors really want to know what need your business will fill and how you plan to fill it better than anyone else. If your business plan covers this in a creative and compelling way, you can likely attract the people who are willing to see it through with you.

Steve Strauss is a USAToday.com columnist, author, and small business advisor whose website, TheSelfEmployed.com, offers articles about all manners of business ownership from franchising to home-based business.

Dave Lavinsky is the co-founder of Growthink, a resource for entrepreneurs that offers advise on business plans and finding capital. Lavinsky is described on the site as a “serial entrepreneur”.

Do You Need a Mobile App?

This week, as I contemplated this blog, I was cognizant enough to take a look at all of the people around me that were accessing content from mobile devices. I happened to be at a party and noticed that everyone at my table had used their smartphone to check in on Facebook. Besides, they were posting pictures directly to Facebook as we were taking them. With all this immediacy in mobile computing, it would be only logical for musicians to contemplate creating mobile apps for their musical pursuits. The question is whether a mobile app is appropriate and cost effective.

There are several things that musicians should consider when looking to create a mobile app. One of the first things is cost. Shoutem offers to mobile app hosting that is both iPhone and Android compatible, has notifications, unlimited usage, and automatic updates for $49 per month. This is billed annually so you’ll pay $588 for the year. If you want Shoutem to build the app for you, you have two options. Professional setup costs $450 and allows you to import outside content. With the VIP setup option, you’ll get that plus “two rounds of designs” and custom script sync for personal content and APIs for $950. Of course, as an indie musician, your first thought is likely the route that allows you to be the architect of your mobile app so, you’d likely forgo having Shoutem build your app. I’ll say this, while it seems relatively easy, I have learned that if I can pay a professional to administer services that they are trained in, I am doing myself a huge favor. Unless you are already building mobile apps, I’d suggest letting them set it up so that it gets the functionality it is supposed to have and that is going to have you paying about $1000. By contrast, Mobile Roadie will start you out at $99 for your app and, depending on the services you add (i.e. analytics, design packages, developer tools, etc.) your cost could go as high as $499 per month. Is it worth it?

Marcus Taylor, guest writing for Mic Control, suggests that musicians should weigh their audience and determine whether they are able to recoup these costs repeatedly via music sales, merchandising sales, and concert ticketing. Therefore, musicians who have smaller fan bases will likely not benefit from a mobile app because the cost to create and maintain it would be too high to justify. I happen to agree with this logic. Any cost that cannot be recouped through projected profits is probably one that a musician should reevaluate before committing to paying it. There are ways for musicians to have a mobile presence without the hefty price tag. Mobile websites can work effectively for smaller acts that don’t have the fan base to support the mobile app costs. Of course, the ease and intimacy of a mobile app is a bit more elusive with mobile websites but this is where marketing and promotional savvy can be a useful tool. Plus, developing these skills will aid you, the indie musician, in future opportunities.

The bottom line is that you want to have a stake in the mobile arena. There is no question that mobile computing is here to stay. People are constantly plugged in. However, if you can’t afford to create a mobile app right now you don’t have to miss the train. You may ride in coach for a minute, but what indie artist doesn’t?

photo courtesy of The Flack

Unlocking Your Creativity

Inevitably, it happens that the indie artist will find his/herself grasping for a new spark. Reinventing oneself is often a greater undertaking than we would like to admit. Getting past these moments can be difficult and it can take a toll on our outlook. It can often make us doubt our mettle for our craft.

As I contemplated this dilemma, I found a jewel on TED.com speaking on 4 Lessons in Creativity. Julie Burstein, author of Spark: How Creativity Works, speaks on the importance of embracing new experiences and letting go of encumbrances and the liberation that brings to our endeavors. It becomes easy, through her examples, to being to glimpse how to harness the natural urge to create.

As a performer one of the greatest challenges I found was taking the same set and making it new each time my band performed it. This was in part due to the resistance of band mates. It was also, in great part, due to the fact that I began to be weary of the material. The solution was not always as simple as singing new songs. Adding new material meant having to have the time to practice and perfect it. The easiest solution was to revamp the material. Create new segue ways and intros and interludes. Often, this is the challenge that artists find most compelling. Even the greatest, most renowned artists struggle with how to spice up their material over time. As Julie Burstein points out, embracing the nuances of life will help unlock the creativity in you. Embracing life’s experiences, your limitations, your joys, your loss, and your vision can open the floodgates of creativity for you.

I tell those who ask never to shy away from leaving your life on a track. Of course, people have apprehension about giving too much. However, those are the tracks that make hits. Anyone listening to any music I have done has a snapshot of my truth. I have been my most creative when I have let go of the fear of being vulnerable.

We must all come to our own understanding of what makes us creative and what helps keep our creative fuel firing. However, I would venture to advise that you start by watching Julie Burstein’s video and assessing the experiences you have to draw from. If you still feel stifled, it may be time to get some new experiences.  

The Real Cost of Digital

I recently came across an article on Digital Cowboys that outlined the true impact of the digital era on the sale of music. The article, found here, stated, “Music is a much smaller and less significant part of many people’s lives than 10-20 years ago”. I beg to differ in the following respect. I don’t think music has a lesser role in our live but I do think that less of our resources go into purchasing music. There are so many other ways to hear the music we love and ownership, as defined by this article, isn’t as important as enjoyment.

I use Spotify to listen to music online. The library is diverse enough that it allows me to hear the music I love without having to spend thousands of dollars on CDs or downloads. I don’t have to worry about my music taking up space on my hard drive or in bins in my closet. Through this service, I have been able to regain access to music that had previously been lost or stolen from me. I realize that this does not translate to sales for major record labels but I think that this makes more room for the little guy to be seen and heard.

No doubt, I am all for the little guy. That is one reason why I fully embrace the digital revolution. I would love nothing more than to see the music industry delivered into the hands of the people. Permit me my soapbox for a moment… I, for one have grown weary of the cookie cutter dynamic of major labels. Real talent and innovation in music has too long been stifled. I support almost any movement that deems to turn the “business as usual” concept on its head.

I digress. I think that it is incumbent upon major labels to figure out a better way to navigate what the digital era and, particularly, cloud music and music streaming have manifested. I, personally, can’t fathom paying for a lot of new music that comes out. For me, it’s not a question of cost but of quality. Additionally, I am so oversaturated with the same tunes on traditional radio that I don’t need to own the tracks to even play in my car. What it boils down to is this; major labels need to find a new formula. Until they have one, the canvas is wide open for dedicate indies to take a stake in the game.