facebook interaction

[gush]

When I joined my current band things were just so so. Our crowds were less than stellar and it seemed difficult to get people interested in us.

About a year ago our drummer decided to push our FB page with real commitment and dedication. Together with his wife they have been taking photos and videos during our shows and spending the time needed to edit them. We still need to get the audio quality better but we are working on that.

I've spent some time today reflecting back on our shows and I have to admit that the FB efforts really seem to make a difference. Back in the day it was hanging posters everywhere but not so much now.

My last band was very good but towards the end we could not generate a crowd. I couldn't understand it then but I realize now that we did zero FB interactions and that's probably what killed us.

That take away from this is if you don't fiercely push social media then your band is invisible to the public.

What are your social media tactics?

 

[veinbuster]

I have no tips to add, but I think you are spot on with your Facebook observations. I have a few friends who have gotten much more net rest in their events through active promotion on Facebook.

 

[Mixstar]

Get your own website (it's cheap as chips these days - DO NOT USE GODADDY) and link back to that from FB and any other sites, like this one, in your signature. Properly set up your band meta information will spread worldwide.

 

[Whitecat]

Social media mastery is *essential* for any kind of musical success nowadays IMO.

If you're chasing a record deal, for example, record companies will absolutely want to see that you've already built a dedicated following. They will help you improve it too of course, but if you haven't already got an active page with decent engagement, that's a strike against you.

 

[Kazz]

If you have all of your audio run through a mixer, record straight out from that and sync it up with the video later (also record on-camera audio just to make it easy to match up).

Otherwise you could probably use one or more good mics to pick it up from the audience, and again match it up with the video later. Unless you're using a pretty high-end camera with good XLR inputs, even a cheap little Zoom/Tascam/etc. recorder with XLR and a decent mic should give you *much* better results than an on-camera mic.

If you have questions I might be able to help with, let me know. I'm an independent filmmaker, so while I haven't done professional recordings of concerts in particular I do have a decent amount of knowledge about how to record/edit/etc.

 

[László]

If you're chasing a record deal, for example, record companies will absolutely want to see that you've already built a dedicated following.

This isn't always the case. However, it's still a good idea.

 

[John Beef]

If you have all of your audio run through a mixer, record straight out from that and sync it up with the video later (also record on-camera audio just to make it easy to match up).

Otherwise you could probably use one or more good mics to pick it up from the audience, and again match it up with the video later. Unless you're using a pretty high-end camera with good XLR inputs, even a cheap little Zoom/Tascam/etc. recorder with XLR and a decent mic should give you *much* better results than an on-camera mic.

If you have questions I might be able to help with, let me know. I'm an independent filmmaker, so while I haven't done professional recordings of concerts in particular I do have a decent amount of knowledge about how to record/edit/etc.

One time I was doing a promo video for my work. I recorded the audio and video separately, but did not have time code. When I put them together in whatever video editing package I was using, I could sync up one moment but within 30 seconds there was a noticeable gap, at least 250-500ms between the audio and video. It was unusable! We had to re-do the whole dame thing just using the crummy video camera mic. How the hell does that happen?

 

[Whitecat]

One time I was doing a promo video for my work. I recorded the audio and video separately, but did not have time code. When I put them together in whatever video editing package I was using, I could sync up one moment but within 30 seconds there was a noticeable gap, at least 250-500ms between the audio and video. It was unusable! We had to re-do the whole dame thing just using the crummy video camera mic. How the hell does that happen?

It's called "drift" and it happens with kit that isn't "locked". It's because consumer-level kit doesn't ever record at exactly the same speed. Pro kit can be synchronised properly via a variety of methods so this isn't an issue.

One way around it is to simply use more than one camera. You can cut to the other angle just before the drift becomes noticeable, then back again, etc...

 

[John Beef]

Nice, I'll remember that for next time! Thanks!

I also wanted to chime in on social media. Our band started a Twitter account in 2011, and didn't use it much at all. We had no followers, so why bother? Back in the fall (2015) I started tweeting random stuff out of nothing other than boredom. Now people are following us more and more each week.

 

[Mixstar]

Post your Twitter ID I'll follow you.

Edit: If it's as per your signature "The Bovine Fury" is well listed in Google so something is working right.

Edit: (again) I've followed you.