There are such a lot of method to talk with audiences nowadays, and so many instruments at our fingertips, it may well really feel overwhelming to decide on the very best ones to deal with. There’s one factor particularly although that doesn’t get talked about almost sufficient regardless of its immense energy. That’s: reside streaming.
Lately particularly, reside streaming has develop into a robust software to attach with followers, reaching them wherever they’re on the earth. This has allowed performers to complement their touring, or exchange in-person occasions altogether.
Your choices for livestreaming platforms embody:
And by utilizing a service like Restream, you possibly can even go reside to a number of platforms directly.
But when artists have so many alternatives to instantly attain and have interaction viewers, and even construct a loyal fanbase, the place must you start? For those who’re new to livestreaming or want a refresher, try our ideas beneath.
Understanding the platforms
There are numerous choices on the market for you, all of them completely different relying in your wants. One of the necessary concerns is: the place is your viewers prone to be already? We listened a few of the dominant social and livestreaming platforms above, every with distinctive advantages and options. However you’ll additionally see some different platforms like StageIt which presents the advantage of promoting tickets to your exhibits. Or Quantity.com which provides artists 95% of the information they gather, together with Fan Subscriptions and Ticketed livestreams, which finally ends up being a extremely good method to make just a little extra cash off your exhibits, whereas additionally accumulating fan knowledge and (in Quantity’s case) getting into you for added perks like the possibility to play main festivals and different alternatives.
It’s not nearly livestream concert events
Whenever you livestream there are SO many choices at your fingertips. It’s not nearly placing on an ideal live performance, which you’ll be able to (and will!) do. There are such a lot of different choices like….what sort of reside efficiency? Full band? Acoustic? Piano pushed? What a couple of Q&A session the place followers can ask you questions? Or host a panel with different musicians and buddies. Then there’s behind the scenes streams, perhaps an hour every week the place you invite followers to “write” with you nearly, otherwise you take them behind the scenes of creating a video. You possibly can even do digital meet and greets!
You possibly can truly earn money off your livestreams
Sure, it’s true! You possibly can monetize your livestreams by means of digital tip jars that permit followers to indicate their appreciation for you, promoting tickets or unique VIP bundles, promoting merch (together with unique merch you possibly can solely get on the LiveStream), and finally sponsorship and/or advertisements! Some platforms also have a inbuilt foreign money for tipping, similar to bits (Twitch) and Stars (Fb).
The cool factor about livestreams is how related they’re to in-person exhibits in that manner. You possibly can nonetheless present all the advantages of these exhibits, just like the tip jar or the unique merch, however do it in a manner that permits you to attain extra individuals
Check out the other ways in response to what feels most aligned along with your model and the stage of your profession you’re at. You possibly can all the time combine and match, commerce one for the opposite, and simply see what works.
Get out of your lounge
Talking of the variations between in individual and digital exhibits, simply because it’s digital doesn’t imply it ought to all the time be in your lounge. Whereas it may not make sense to hire out a music venue for a totally digital present, you wish to hold issues attention-grabbing by altering up your area. Even when it’s rotating which band member’s home you carry out in, doing an acoustic set in your yard or the park, or spending just a little to hire a small studio for a really particular efficiency, preserving your setting attention-grabbing is a key a part of preserving your viewers’s consideration.
Present your followers they matter
A reside stream isn’t the identical as an in individual occasion, and it’s a must to make up for a little bit of that interplay that you simply’d usually get in individual ,which implies paying additional consideration to your followers each earlier than, throughout, and after the occasion.
A easy manner to do that is to thank your followers for coming, and reply to any feedback they’re leaving each throughout and after the livestream. You can even share the replays so followers who missed it may well nonetheless watch (perhaps even share with their buddies) and tease future livestream content material as a method to hold them and coming again for the following one
Don’t be afraid to experiment
Dwell Streaming is an ever evolving factor and what’s working for you this month would possibly change in 3 months—that’s a part of the enjoyable! We noticed monumental progress for reside streams through the pandemic and we discovered what labored then doesn’t essentially work years later when exhibits are again on. So it’s a continuing sport of experimentation however that simply means listening to followers, enjoying round with what you provide, and discovering the candy spot.
Last ideas
Dwell Streaming presents indie artists a novel alternative to attach and have interaction with followers in a totally new manner; it’s a possibility to thrive in a web-based area. By deciding on the fitting platform for you and your followers and creating constant, thrilling content material you’ll see the facility of livestream in rising your profession and cultivating a very loyal and excited fanbase.
Angela Tyler is the founding father of MP Co. (previously Muddy Paw PR) and has secured placements on Forbes, American Songwriter, Lead Singer Syndrome, & extra. She loves dessert, her canine Sawyer, and new music—be at liberty to ship her yours!