How to promote yourself and social media etc :)

**Christian Miller** · 05-10-2025, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

Whipporwills looks like a very fun gig!

Thanks! Need to get more stuff with them.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**ragman1** · 05-10-2025, 11:07 PM

Excellent videos, just the ticket.

But I think you're supposed to tell the OP how they were made. Just a mobile phone or something more complicated? That's why we're here, you know.

**Alter** · 05-11-2025, 07:27 AM

For live videos, I bought a small Zoom camera years ago (that I recently replaced with a GoPro). Both are great for sound straight out of the camera, and I've done hundreds of videos this way.

Good phones these days have better video, but it's not always easy or safe to leave your phone away to record during the gig, so I prefer the camera solution.

For better gigs, I use a camera for the best video angle, and a zoom h1 for sound (direct or placed near the band and away from the audience).

Here's one typical video with just the camera:

Or two GoPro

Camera sound in both occasions. And if you learn some video editing, you can do a much more impressive video with just two standing little cameras:

**Heybopper** · 05-11-2025, 07:56 AM

great videos, thanks. I think im going to get a better phone (mines an iPhone 6) and the zoom h1. Im happy to give that a go and see what happens. Im looking forward to trying it all out thanks

**ragman1** · 05-11-2025, 06:29 PM

But don't forget it's not a stage show. You need to show it's in a thriving pub environment as well as having the jazz trio.

**omphalopsychos** · 05-12-2025, 05:54 PM

I got a bunch of gigs off this video, even with that horrible out of tune piano at the venue. I just used one of those portable recorders. I recorded the whole gig and then did some editing. Not my favorite way to spend time, but it paid off.

A personalized tip for you. Don't put the mic by the drums. I know you're trying to capture yourself on the video but might be worth getting a separate recorder for audio vs your phone for video. You're getting too much splash from the cymbals.

**rpjazzguitar** · 05-12-2025, 09:14 PM

I claim no expertise with social media, but I would offer a few observations.

1. Having a email list of potential audience members is a good idea.

2. The only other on-line service I've used is FB. Apparently, there are some tricks to make sure people are likely to see your announcements. I've had many experiences where I didn't see the ad until after the event had occurred.

The issue for 1 and 2 above are to make sure that people who might like to hear your band are aware of when and where you're playing.

3. I can't imagine pitching the band to a venue manager without directing them to a band website. I use Bandzoogle, which has been fine. The gig announcement section maintains an archive of past gigs, so a prospective employer can see what you've been doing. It has audio clips, a couple of videos (we could be doing more on that), bios and photos.

4. Some of our clips were made with handhelds at gigs where the audience was loud enough to be interfering with the music. And, the balance in the clips is sometimes poor. Doesn't bother me. I figure, why wouldn't a club owner want to know that you have a crowd? In fact, the club owner may be more interested in the crowd than the music, assuming the music is somewhere in the ballpark for the venue.

5. There's the usual old joke about some club owner wanting you to play for free supposedly to get "exposure". I don't think it's appropriate to play for free if the venue is making money from the band. That said, "exposure" has helped us get more gigs. Sometimes it has been bookers coming to hear the band live. Sometimes it has been audience members needing a band for something. Sometimes it has been other musicians hiring the band, or individual members for other situations.

6. One thought about the music itself. Something the more successful groups tend to have in common is good groove. Music that makes people want to move.

7. Here's an idea I think is useful, but I haven't yet done it. Check out how other bands (ones working regularly at the target venue) dress. Customers too. Dress accordingly. Makes it look like you already belong. This is based on advice from John 5 in GP. To get a gig with an existing band, learn the tunes from a recent live recording and dress like the band does. At the audition, you look and sound like you're already a member.

**AllanAllen** · 05-12-2025, 09:46 PM

I also use bandzoogle for my website. Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can.

**kris** · 05-13-2025, 12:16 AM

It is important at what level you play the guitar.
It may happen that a promotion becomes an anti-promotion.

**rpjazzguitar** · 05-13-2025, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by AllanAllen

I also use bandzoogle for my website. Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can.

Took a couple of hours for a complete novice at websites to have a functional website.

I did call the help line at one point and the help person did something for me that I'd had trouble figuring out.

Like a lot of new software, you have to figure out the basic organization of the application. That would probably have been easier if I was patient enough to watch an instructional video, or something.

**Alter** · 05-13-2025, 02:38 AM

Or you can even just pay for the url and use a free hosting service like say Free Hosting No Ads | Free Website with PHP MySQL Email Domain. I used their free hosting for years without problems, more than enough for a musician website. And i just built my website through WordPress which again is free and just watching a couple of YouTube tutorials away, and they have lots of ready templates for musician sites. I 'll actually return to their free hosting plan as soon as i find time for it..

**Christian Miller** · 05-13-2025, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by kris

It is important at what level you play the guitar.
It may happen that a promotion becomes an anti-promotion.

I'd rephrase that to - carefully curate what you put out there.

Post the best couple of minutes of your gig, not the whole thing, not even a whole tune. Etc.

**Christian Miller** · 05-13-2025, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar

I claim no expertise with social media, but I would offer a few observations.

1. Having a email list of potential audience members is a good idea.

2. The only other on-line service I've used is FB. Apparently, there are some tricks to make sure people are likely to see your announcements. I've had many experiences where I didn't see the ad until after the event had occurred.

The issue for 1 and 2 above are to make sure that people who might like to hear your band are aware of when and where you're playing.

3. I can't imagine pitching the band to a venue manager without directing them to a band website. I use Bandzoogle, which has been fine. The gig announcement section maintains an archive of past gigs, so a prospective employer can see what you've been doing. It has audio clips, a couple of videos (we could be doing more on that), bios and photos.

4. Some of our clips were made with handhelds at gigs where the audience was loud enough to be interfering with the music. And, the balance in the clips is sometimes poor. Doesn't bother me. I figure, why wouldn't a club owner want to know that you have a crowd? In fact, the club owner may be more interested in the crowd than the music, assuming the music is somewhere in the ballpark for the venue.

5. There's the usual old joke about some club owner wanting you to play for free supposedly to get "exposure". I don't think it's appropriate to play for free if the venue is making money from the band. That said, "exposure" has helped us get more gigs. Sometimes it has been bookers coming to hear the band live. Sometimes it has been audience members needing a band for something. Sometimes it has been other musicians hiring the band, or individual members for other situations.

6. One thought about the music itself. Something the more successful groups tend to have in common is good groove. Music that makes people want to move.

7. Here's an idea I think is useful, but I haven't yet done it. Check out how other bands (ones working regularly at the target venue) dress. Customers too. Dress accordingly. Makes it look like you already belong. This is based on advice from John 5 in GP. To get a gig with an existing band, learn the tunes from a recent live recording and dress like the band does. At the audition, you look and sound like you're already a member.

This is all good advice, but point 7 made me laugh with respect to the sort of clothes that jazzers traditionally rock up in. I love the idea of an ambitious young player carefully acquiring faded jazz festival t shirts and Birkenstocks.

OTOH a lot of the younger straight ahead players do dress quite sharp! It is something to consider.

**pamosmusic** · 05-13-2025, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

This is all good advice, but point 7 made me laugh with respect to the sort of clothes that jazzers traditionally rock up in. I love the idea of an ambitious young player carefully acquiring faded jazz festival t shirts and Birkenstocks.

OTOH a lot of the younger straight ahead players do dress quite sharp! It is something to consider.

lol … hey man, I don’t mean to pry, but at which thrift store do you buy your seasonally inappropriate sweaters?

But for real … I remember seeing Pasquale’s trio at bar next door and they were all in matching black suits with black tie and I was like … damn Pasquale y’all are legit. So there’s something to be said for it.

**AllanAllen** · 05-13-2025, 09:44 AM

Straight ahead guys are funny they're either hounding for vintage attire, or grabbing a catering tux jacket off the floor of the car at load in.

**rpjazzguitar** · 05-13-2025, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

This is all good advice, but point 7 made me laugh with respect to the sort of clothes that jazzers traditionally rock up in. I love the idea of an ambitious young player carefully acquiring faded jazz festival t shirts and Birkenstocks.

Unfair! No Birkenstocks for me! I do admit, however, to the odd faded jazz festival t shirt.

**DawgBone** · 05-13-2025, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

I love the idea of an ambitious young player carefully acquiring faded jazz festival t shirts and Birkenstocks.

Like a slob you mean?

**pamosmusic** · 05-13-2025, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by DawgBone

Like a slob you mean?

yes correct

its a specific kind of slob though.

the shirts are not stained, for example, but they are faded.

the beard is clean, for example, but it is not trimmed.

the sweater is decent, for example, but it is older than he is, and has loose yarn

**AllanAllen** · 05-14-2025, 10:22 AM

You can wear birkenstocks without being a slob, they aren't crocs.

**Heybopper** · 05-17-2025, 11:41 AM

I decided to for the Shure MV88 mic. My thinking was I didn't want to be setting up two devices as there is already so much to set up. Only downside is my old phone won't download the app so this video is with the mic just straight into the phone.

Thanks for all the comments. Ill post up some videos of our next gig and hopefully I can figure out how to get the app.

**Ukena** · 05-17-2025, 01:05 PM

The Shure MV88 is a very good iPhone mic (I own one as well).

I'm wondering how old your iPhone is... my iPhone SE from 2016 has the app installed – it runs iOS 15, which is as recent as it will go (iOS 18 is current). Perhaps you just need to update the software on yours?

**Heybopper** · 05-17-2025, 01:33 PM

Ive got an SE and iPhone 7 with iOS 15 something but it won't let me download the motiv app. I think if you already had it it will run. I would be nice to make it a bit quieter

**Ukena** · 05-17-2025, 03:56 PM

I deleted the app from my SE, and tried to download it again. I get a message that the current version requires iOS 17, but gives me an option to download the last compatible version. If I tell it to go ahead, it installs MOTIV audio and opens it on the iPhone.

**AllanAllen** · 05-17-2025, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Ukena

I deleted the app from my SE, and tried to download it again. I get a message that the current version requires iOS 17, but gives me an option to download the last compatible version. If I tell it to go ahead, it installs MOTIV audio and opens it on the iPhone.

Risky move