So I want to build a "Internet 2.0" type of website for a band. I want to use some cool FLASH type stuff, but do not know much "coding" Is there any semi-simple web design publishing programs that you can recommend besides Frontpage or Dreamweaver 8?
Thanks for the answer, could you build an entire website beginning to end with Flash alone?

Practice with the Free Geocities software you get with a free Geocities.com page. Then you will understand some of the quirks and fun stuff you can do to get a better Idea of what software you would pay for. And you could be up and running.

If you want ownership of your web page, and commercial affiliations, get one hosted at Yahoo!.com…And then, when you are ready you can transfer, your Very Popular Bands super page to it and save yourself some time and money.

Purchase the domain name when you pay for the hosting package and it will be included in the Hosting package free. If you have an idea for your bands web address better check now to see if it is available in the domain areas of .com or .us or .org or .net or .biz or .us .uk. .af .de etc.or whatever your preference.

They’re generous, they’re consistent, they’re giving…and most of all…they love your music. They’re your fans and they come to every one of your live shows, fork out money for cover charges, CDs and t-shirts, bring your band gifts, throw you house parties, and spread the word of your music on the internet and beyond. Your fans are the single most important ingredient to the success of your band. Without them, you’d be rocking out in your Aunt’s basement to an audience of none…well, maybe her cat.

But there can be a dark side to the hoards of happy humans drunk on your future #1 hits. Sometimes the folks barreling in to see you play, or flooding your websites with their online presence are causing more harm than good to the reputation of your band. Rude behavior, message board flaming, compulsive sticker-ing and flyer-ing, may all seem like helping to your flock of followers but to club owners, industry and those newly interested in your music, they may seem like trouble-makers, belligerents and vandals.

It may be simply a case of over-exuberant fan zeal. Your fans think they’re preaching the gospel of your band to anyone with eyes and ears: by dropping your postcards all over town like a bird with irritable bowel syndrome, by filling up strangers email in-boxes with bulky MP3s and HTML photo-heavy notices about how much you rock, and by yelling your band’s name at the top of their lungs during another band’s set like a parrot with Turret’s Syndrome. These unsolicited over-promotions…albeit well-intentioned…are hard for the average person to separate from your band’s own promotional efforts and may not be appreciated in the way they were intended. On the other hand, it may be that your fans are so revved up by the love of your music that they’ve become arrogant, aggressive and just plain out of control in any arena (or cyber place) your band inhabits. At any rate, you may find that you need to dial these folks back a bit to create a environment that is fan-friendly without comprising your band’s opportunities.

The following are a few tips that will help you to guide your supporters in their quest to be adamant fans without allowing them to turn into an obnoxious, rowdy, gang of rabid baboons.

1.) Communicate With Your Fans—A lot of problems can be eliminated by simply setting up a line of communication between your band members and your fans. For instance, if you know that a particular club forbids setting around flyers, postcards or other promo materials, post it on your website with the upcoming show info-blast. Set guidelines for your band and for each individual show and let your fans know that they need to follow these simple rules or they’re no longer permitted to attend live gigs and to post on your cyber message boards. A little information can go a long way and your fans will be happy that you let them know what they can and can’t do at any particular show.

2.) Learn From Experience—Sad but true, often the best way to learn what’s not appropriate at shows is for inappropriate things to happen. When fans begin their overblown behaviors, benign-intentioned or not, you will learn by the reaction of the clubs, the industry and your other fans what’s okay and what’s not going to fly. A good example is this…placing bumper stickers on club walls may be encouraged at some places but forbidden at others. The first time you get a call from a red-faced bar owner screeching through clenched teeth that his men’s room walls have to be repainted, you’ll know that it’s time to email your fan base and let them know to leave their reserve of band stickers at home when the band plays that club again. In another example, it may not occur to your band that certain fans are behaving rudely to club personnel or to your other fans, at your shows, until someone makes you aware of it. At that time, you may need to email your naughty fans and let them know that certain bad attitudes are unacceptable at shows, and on your message boards, and that fans who can’t be pleasant will not be invited back.

3.) Friends And Family Are No Exception—As awful as it sounds, often times a band’s family and friends are the most out of control and obnoxious at shows…and on the web. Maybe it’s because they’re more emotionally invested in the band and its members, or maybe because the musicians forget to remind their loved one about fan etiquette. You and your bandmates may think it’s a given, but some of the biggest jerks, idiots, and rebel rousers at gigs are your loved ones. It doesn’t matter it’s the bass player’s ten year-old brother to the drummer’s 60 year-old dad, you don’t want to be banned from your favorite showcase venue because granny kicked the bouncer in the shin. Don’t be afraid to sit your friends/family down and spell out the live show/internet rules for your band. Sometimes you can’t control the fans you don’t know, which makes it all the more important than ever to control the fans you do.

4.) Lay Down The Law—Once you become aware of the “problem” fans, it’s time to explain to them what they can and cannot do at your gigs and on your website. Before banning anyone from visiting the band’s shows and sites, try sending out a polite, but firm, email with some specific guidelines and a serious warning that the next step will be cutting these bad elements out of the band’s loop. It’s important to try not to make the email too harsh, as it may insight further acting up. So, just deliver the message in a casual way, explaining that their actions are hurting and not helping the band…a fact that they honestly may not realize. Honestly, you may need to give it some backbone so that your jerky fans really understand that their jig is up. If you’re having trouble with someone you know well…a particular friend or family member…a phone call or face-to-face meeting might better do the trick. No matter how the message is executed, it’s important to let your fans know that certain behaviors will not be tolerated by the band under any circumstance. Most fans would rather shape up that be cut out of all of the fun, and the band’s reputation will be safe from troublesome followers for the time being.

It’s true that fans are a band’s biggest asset. But left uncontrolled they can also be the biggest liability as your band takes on the responsibility and reputation for the antics that its fans pull at live shows and on websites. Like crazed leprechauns, full of mischief, each fan’s silly stunts and nasty attitude problems will eat away at your band’s good name with tiny bites…like a school of piranha in a stream eating a full sized goat down to the bone in seconds…until your band is left, a former shell of itself, wandering your town trying to figure out why you can’t get booked and no one visits your website. It’s not a good sign when you see a tumbleweed blow through your music career. Nip it in the bud now. Control your fans behavior. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did.

Sheena Metal
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/fan-etiquette-are-the-people-who-love-your-music-ruining-your-bands-reputation-223062.html

Kenyan music video called “Lalalala” by Manjeru and Just A Band.

Just A Band Website: http://www.just-a-band.com

Duration : 0:3:57

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: band, boomba, genge, indie, jazz, just, K2, kapuka, kenya, kenyan, lalalala, love, manjeru, mbithi, music, nairobi, r&b, song, soul, world

I'm in a band and i want to have a website to our selfs so we're looking for some one who can please help

I would be willing to assist in this. My prices are very reasonable and I offer quality web designs.

Visit my site and see if you would be interested.

Pulse Rated Radio has offered to Support ‘Be The Band’ and it’s not just for Christmas.

The ‘Be The Band’ project which hopes to raise £1million for charity through the creation of an online virtual student band and release of a single next year, is already celebrating Christmas early with news that Pulse Rated Radio the worlds leading internet & satellite radio broadcaster is going to support the project.

The project, which went live on the 19th of November, has already attracted 270 students from across the UK and beyond. With members of the website fulfilling a variety of roles from band members, music production, animators and graphic artists there is something for everyone.

Everything from the style of the music to the band members themselves will be selected through an online voting process that will involve all the registered users of the website. If you are struggling with the concept try and think of what ITV’s X factor would have been like if the Gorillaz had entered and the whole thing took place online.

Pulse Rated will be providing coverage for the project and regular updates through its internet and satellite radio station program. This will provide ‘Be The Band’ with exposure to over 8 million homes and will be a real shot in the arm for the project.

One of the driving forces behind the project Mike Harding from thestudentzone.com had this to say

“I’m really excited about Pulse Rated’s involvement with supporting the project as their style of broadcasting really fits in with the concept of ‘Be The Band’. The whole project is really based in cyber space and to have a digital/web broadcaster of this calibre supporting us is a real boost.”

The project founder Emma Reilly from studentcribs.com is encouraged by the involvement of Pulse Rated

“Having Pulse Rated on board is just fantastic for us. It really validates the project as a whole and will hopefully allow as many people as possible to hear about Be The Band. The more people we get involved the more unique this project will be.”

Pulse Global CEO, Richard LaBrum, said:

“Pulse Rated champions new, unsigned, and emerging music, which is why we’re pleased to support Be The Band.

It’s a unique and exciting project, and it’s raising money for Nordoff-Robbins – a charity who are doing some amazing work with music therapy.

Be The Band deserves to be huge, and we want to help it on its way by spreading the word on-air, as well as online at pulserated.com.”

With the involvement and support of all those associated with the project including the website members it is hoped that ‘Be The Band’ can reach its goal of raising £1million for Nordoff-Robbins music therapy charity from the sale of the resulting single and also raise awareness for such a worthy cause.

If you’re a student and would like to help or be part of such an amazing project, please visit the website and register at www.betheband.co.uk as they are still looking for animators, artists, graphic designers, music producers, band members and song writers.

Note To Editors

Website www.betheband.co.uk

Myspace www.myspace.com/bethebandproject

Mike Harding on:

+44 (0)1271 344738 or email: mike@betheband.co.uk

Emma Reilly on:

+44 (0191) 2640943 or email emma@betheband.co.uk

Mary Sweeney on:

0870 142 3456 or mary.sweeney@pulserated.com

Mike Harding
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/pulse-rated-radio-gives-the-be-the-band-online-charity-project-an-early-xmas-present-82412.html

like, i know you can use the band's official site, but if there aren't shirts there are there any other good websites?
yeah, i've used interpunk, but i'm looking for pop band shirts, and since i don't normally get this stuff, it's harder for me to find

it depends on what you listen to.,
interpunk.com is very good for everything alternative/indie/punk/whateva
angryyoungandpoor.com is a good source for punk shirts and related material.
those are the only two sites i'd get my stuff from when i ordered, well besides band's official sites\

edit: drstrangerecords.com another punk site forgot bout them. also sourpussclothing.com
and as much as i hate to recommend it smartpunk.com

I want my band to get some attention if u no what i mean. is there a free website that i can post a video that people an see how we are, and discover us.

youtube.com,myspace.com,aol.com they are verry popular and alot of people will see you band trust me

Boy, I really detest how some people do websites. Bands are some
of the worst. Seems like any band that wants to look
“professional” feels they must create a website using pop-ups
and flash. Why? Cuz that’s what the Majors do?

I tried to go to a friend’s website today to find his email
address. He’s in a band. “Click here if you have a pop-up
stopper.” Now is that a stupid way to start a website or what?

So I clicked… dreading the outcome… For the next minute the
minute flash loaded… A MINUTE!

Meanwhile, I was enjoying some wonderful music by Angelo
Branduardi, a wonderful Italian world folk musician. Then
“BLLAAAAARRRR.” The frickin flash program was trying to play
music that was causing problems with the music I was enjoying…
All I wanted was an email address, not a headache!

I find it intriguing. Do you really WANT to alienate journalists?

I publish this newsletter and the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine,
and I have to steer clear of Flash websites, because they cause
problems. I skip them. NO Band is so good that I’m willing to
put up with that crap!

Not to mention Flash websites hinder my ability to review the
band. You see, when I start researching a band, I go to their
website, copy and paste some info about the band, finish my
comments, and voila! There is NO copy and pasting available with
Flash. Again, you’ve cut your opportunities for getting decent
reviews in half.

I know you want to take advantage of the cool technology
available, but technology is useless unless it is used with
intelligence. So seriously folks, lay off the Flash websites

Bard Marc
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/best-way-to-improve-your-music-journalist-relationship-76.html

I'm trying to buy some band t-shirts of the rockabilly, psychobilly, punk, ska, and oi areas but im trying to find a cheap site that takes paypal. any ideas other than ebay or amazon?

hm try www.rarepunk.com and angryyoungandpoor.com =)

HP- Tell us something about yourself.

CD- I’m a Mumbai goan looking forward to being a Goa goan very soon. I’ve reached two important milestones in my career. One is, after decades of playing everyone elses music i’ve development a style of my own and the biggest compliment I get these days is when someone recognizes my bassplaying on some tune they heard somewhere, they call up to confirm and..voila! The other milestone is probably every musicians dream, to produce music out of my own studio. A dream that will come true for me within this year when I setup my own state of the art studio in Sangolda. I’ve also setup an organisation called Jazz Goa with the help of fellow musicians and jazz enthusiasts in Goa.

HP- What drew you towards jazz?

CD- Jazz is a huge word, it should be spelt jjjaaaazzzzz! Seriously though, I think jazz is the most open, alive and evolving form of music that allows a musician to be him/herself. Most other forms of music demands a musician to follow trends and tradition or create stuff that’s currently hip. Whereas a jazz musician goes about his business listening, assimilating and finally innovating with yet another genre of jazz! We now have dixiland-jazz, swing-jazz, bebop-jazz, funk-jazz, rock-jazz, pop-jazz, fusion-jazz, latin-jazz, indo-jazz, mando-jazz… to cut a long story short, there’s a -jazz attached to every genre of music. And there will be a -jazz attached to every genre that comes along. I’m a musician who’s atracted to anything that looks, feels, smells, tastes and even sounds like music, so naturally I choose jazz as I get to play it ALL.

HP- What sets apart jazz music from other genres?

CD- Jazz is the only form of music that embraces all other forms and it is no longer American music. Today jazz can safely be called world music.

HP- What led you to become a jazz artiste?

CD- From amoung all the different genre’s of music I grew up listening to, for some reason it was always jazz that struck those extended chords within me. I could always hear the human and very often super human element in a jazz rendition.

HP- Your favourite jazz aristes/tracks.

CD- You’ll need to extend this interview by a few thousand pages to answer that. My all time favourite however was a bassplayer called Jaco Pastorius who revolutionised bassplaying taking bass right upfront, over, under and right through a song.

HP- To whom would you attribute your credentials as a jazz musician?

CD- To everyone i’ve worked with and everyone I would like to work with someday.

HP- Where and how did you train to be a jazz artiste?

CD- I have no formal training in music, I learnt music listening to other musicians, assimilating what I liked and using it consiously or subconsiously in performance until i developed a style of my own. Once I decided to play professionally though, I did study the technicalities through some great music books that are easily available these days.

HP- How do you prepare for a gig?

CD- I make sure there’s enough soda to go with the whisky…just kidding! It depends, if it is a concert where I would be performing my own compositions, I get the tunes composed, then get the band to rehearse and sound the way I heard it in my head. As it often turnsout, input from the rest of the band takes the tune to a dimension I would never have imagined. So you see, music is all about connecting and collaborating, don’t believe any of those fantastic one man bands. They’re faking it for monetary reasons, not that I have anything against it. All is fair in love, war and music.

HP- Talking about gigs, where and when did you first perform/how long have you been into jazz?

CD- Like most musicians I first got into music with school/college bands. I then graduated into fivestar hotel resident bands whose repertoire was made up mainly of jazz standards. I did that for ten years, playing music every night made me a musician.

HP- What is the jazz scene like in India, and Goa in particular?

CD- The jazz scene in India, Goa or anywhere in the world is the same. There’s a niche group of performers and listeners that grows all the time. Hopefully with jazz’s open armed evolution, it will grow into the global sound of music.

HP- What have been your highs and lows in your career thus far?

CD- The highs have always been the applause at the end of a track performed, the lows would be finding out that the applause was actually for the sixer Sachin hit on the big screen just besides the stage at Jazz by the Bay in Mumbai.

HP- How would you explain your role as a jazz musician in society?

CD- A jazz musician gives people a nicer high than some other interesting social highs.

HP- Define jazz.

CD- Jazz is improvised music. Sometimes structured, sometimes orchestrated, sometimes free of form and almost always, spontaneously created.

HP- Notable gigs/performances.

CD- The world reknowned Hennessey XO jazz tour has always been featuring jazz artistes signed by the American Blue Note label. Last year for the first time a jazz band outside the label, from far away India, was selected for this prestigious international tour. I was the bassplayer for that band. An unforgettable experience for sure. More recently my indo-jazz fusion band ‘The Brown Indian Band’ has been approached to open for Sting’s European tour this year. Fingers are crossed about that one.

HP- Collaborations with other musicians.

CD- I am contineously collaborating with musicians from all over the world thanks to the internet and my website http://www.hullocheck.com

HP- I understand you have been into different genres of music and worked with various ensembles. Tell us more.

CD- As I mentioned it before, when it comes to music I want it ALL. Name the genre and chances are, i’ve been there. You’ll find traces of just about every genre in my own music. There are very few musicians in the world today, who would match the number of bands and musicians I have worked with.

HP- Currently performing at…

CD- I currently perform on two resident contracts in Mumbai at the JW Marriott hotel in the afternoons and the Taj Lands End hotel in the nights. I also take timeoff from these two gigs to perform at concerts and corporate events in India and abroad. So that averages some sixty gigs a month!

HP- Your hobbies/interests…

CD- My main hobby and interest is my profession today. Everyone else works for a living, I play for mine. Someone once told me ‘All play and no work makes…makes me tick!’ Seriously though, I am very keen on improving the plight of most goan musicians in Goa. I was one sometime ago so I should know the raw deal most of them get. My plan is to set up Jazz Goa as an umbrella organisation for not just jazz but all the other immense artistic talent in Goa. To start with my studio in Sangolda will record and produce deserving artistes. Jazz Goa will then launch the best from there at a global level. Jazz Goa has already produced four audio CD’s and a DVD that is available in Goa exclusively at Vibes Music in Margao and online at http://www.jazzgoa.com

Jazz Goa
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/jazz-from-goa-india-109653.html