Musicians and LinkedIn
I've been thinking about this over the last couple of days. Suffice to say my buddy and colleague, Rahsun McAfee has me inspired.
Why dont musicians use LinkedIn to their advantage. I know the site touts itself as being for the working professional (i.e. programmers, business nerds, and other suits), but think about it. Who is looking for a job ("gig") more often than the working musician. And where is the the value of networking EFFECTIVELY more prominent.
I've been a musician for nearly 12 years now, and I've played in bands that played in good shows, crappy shows, and more basements than I care to remember. I have seen how much having "friends" in the industry count for. But let's get one thing straight, a friend on MySpace counts for little more than an online doorstop when it comes to a band really being successfull. The best of the best MySpace friends MIGHT come to a show, but chances are, those are also your real life friends, who are gonna support you anyway.
What I think musicians can profit from regarding LinkedIn are the real movers and shakers within the industry. I wanna see who booked you for that show with the national artist that more than helped sell out the venue. I wanna see who recorded that demo that got you that show. And I wanna see who designed the t-shirt that you you sold at that sold out show...that you coincidently ran out of before I got one. There is value in those names.
Musicians have the benefit of an ingrained community behind them when they go out to a club. Why cant they make this work for them online, where the tools are already in place. Albeit a little more than scattered. Granted it takes a bit of a culture change. First bands have to create their profiles, make the band a company, and make sure the members all have their own profiles. Then you gotta get the people you work with (like your booking agents, merch designers, and producers/engineers) to sign up. But with a little work, you can give the value of a thriving community an exponential push that can be easily monitized. You might even be able to leverage it for that big break everyone needs to pay the bills.
Why dont musicians use LinkedIn to their advantage. I know the site touts itself as being for the working professional (i.e. programmers, business nerds, and other suits), but think about it. Who is looking for a job ("gig") more often than the working musician. And where is the the value of networking EFFECTIVELY more prominent.
I've been a musician for nearly 12 years now, and I've played in bands that played in good shows, crappy shows, and more basements than I care to remember. I have seen how much having "friends" in the industry count for. But let's get one thing straight, a friend on MySpace counts for little more than an online doorstop when it comes to a band really being successfull. The best of the best MySpace friends MIGHT come to a show, but chances are, those are also your real life friends, who are gonna support you anyway.
What I think musicians can profit from regarding LinkedIn are the real movers and shakers within the industry. I wanna see who booked you for that show with the national artist that more than helped sell out the venue. I wanna see who recorded that demo that got you that show. And I wanna see who designed the t-shirt that you you sold at that sold out show...that you coincidently ran out of before I got one. There is value in those names.
Musicians have the benefit of an ingrained community behind them when they go out to a club. Why cant they make this work for them online, where the tools are already in place. Albeit a little more than scattered. Granted it takes a bit of a culture change. First bands have to create their profiles, make the band a company, and make sure the members all have their own profiles. Then you gotta get the people you work with (like your booking agents, merch designers, and producers/engineers) to sign up. But with a little work, you can give the value of a thriving community an exponential push that can be easily monitized. You might even be able to leverage it for that big break everyone needs to pay the bills.
posted by Todd Little | 3:36 PM 
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