Band photography

August 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

For me a good promotional band photo is one that makes me think, “Wow, that’s cool, they are hot, why did they think of doing that! and wow that looks like a fun/odd/cool shoot”. Something that makes the viewer react to the flood of emotions or questions surging through their body. It is with these thoughts in mind that I approach each photo shoot (not only the band promo shoots).

Band photos are an important part of the bands website and online persona. It is one of the most visited pages on band websites and something that can help fans feel closer and more connected to a band. It can also mean having the edge to being featured in a magazine or not!

Here are some things to think about when planing your band shoot…

  1. what does your music say?
  2. Are these photos to help promote a new album/song if so how can you tie the name in?
  3. What else do the band enjoy other than music? can this be used too?
  4. Location?
  5. Clothes?
  6. Make a picture idea list?
  7. Think about band composition?
  8. Keep a good time schedule for the shoot?
  9. it’s always best to use a professional band photographer so make sure you plan it with them as well
  10. It may seem obvious but…

Also DON’T upload every single photo, alot of photographers will give you some that are so similar to each other that it is pointless, boring and just off putting for fans to troll through them all. This is especially the case with live photography where you can end up with some quite arty long exposure shots of the light show and your FX pedals and leads looking cool etc.

Band photos can also be used heavily in your CD and album artwork! So getting some strong creative ones is always a good start.

Check out Band promo and live music photography by ASYLUMseventy7 here. Then get committed to creativity!

And don’t forget that ASYLUMseventy7 can take care of all your Music artwork and design needs as well!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry, Photography Tagged With: , , ,

An overview of CD packaging

August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

CD cases and packaging are an often overlooked consideration in the release process. Here are a few options to think about.

CD cases.

  • Jewel case – Standard old school chunky look or the new sleek modern.
  • Digipak – Great for the special edition or limited single you want to really grab attention and look special.
  • Simple card sleeve or plastic wallet – A great option for small demos, promos and free gig gifts.

CD artwork, booklets and inserts.

Printed card and paper parts of the package include:

  • J card inserts for CD single cases.
  • Booklets & cards for the front and inserts for the back tray of standard jewel cases.
  • Digipack packaging.

This is where most people want to get the help of a professional designer and artist. The cover of your CD and artwork is the first thing customers/fans see and it is this that will help attract new fans to your music. To understand the design process of a professional designer I wrote out my usual design rout here

All printers and duplication specialists with print facilities will use templates for the artwork print process so even if you are using an outside source for your album artwork and design make sure you use the right template usually downloadable from the printer/duplicators website.

Remember colours on your graphics can come out different to your original artwork, so make sure that all copies and proofs are approved by all first!  If the run is radically different to the agreed proofs you should be able to get it redone free.

On body art work for your CD

On body artwork for your CD always gives the finished product the professional look all bands should be striving for.

This is basically the same rules as the booklet and insert printing, remember to follow templates, and as always it is best to get a professional to do the work for you or at lease check over and proof the work prior to sending off to the printers.

Check out some CD album artwork and design by ASYLUMseventy7

and Get committed to creative Music design!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Graphic design, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , ,

Logo design: The process

May 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is the design process I use when working on a company/business/band logo.

  1. Design brief: Send questionnaire to client.
  2. Research & reference: Research the industry, its history, its competitors and logo designs that have been successful.
  3. Sketching & conceptualising: Develop the logo design concept(s).
  4. Reflection: Take breaks through the design process and let your ideas develop. Get feedback.
  5. Presentation: Present a selection of logos to the client or a whole collection.

Step one:

I Send out a few questions to start the design process off. This is standard questionnaire I send to clients…

  • Your company name – as it should be used on the logo design
  • Strap line to go with your logo – if required
  • Please provide a little information about what your company does
  • Key words that describe your company – eg. friendly, reliable
  • What do you like/dislike about your current logo (if you have one)? Please can I see it.
  • Who are your competitors/Other Charities in the same field please give links if possible?
  • “Look and feel” required such as contemporary/traditional/brash/minimal/corporate/fun/
  • Any definite ideas you have about the logo design + examples of logo design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
  • Who is your Target audience?
  • Colour preferences if any. Should the logo be single colour/two colour/full colour/no specific preference?
  • How/where will the logo be used?
  • Any other information you would like to add

Step two:

On receiving the questionnaire back I conduct some research based on the answers given. Namely on the company/band, their market, their competitors and peers, their target audience and the logos they have provided as inspiration.

Step three:

I start by brainstorming with a sketchbook, pencils and a drawing pen. Select a few strong ideas from the sketches and start to work them up to a standard I’m happy with then I draw the best few ideas in Adobe Illustrator and play with colours and tweak shapes about to get a strong memorable design to show the client.

Step four:

Take a break and relax, let the ideas develop and mature. Work any new angles into the design and wait for feedback from the client. Adjust anything desired by the client if it’s needed and effective.

Step five:

I present the logo and or logo variations to the client and party in celebration of a job well done.


Contact ASYLUMseventy7 for your logo design work now!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

What to include in your band website

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You now have your band web hosting and domain name sorted, you have a good web designer, but what pages should include?

  • Home Page: This is the first page most visitors will see, have interesting content linking to other areas of the site.
  • Biography: Include the band story, members story, influences, equipment etc..
  • Contact Details: Band members, Booking, management and any other relevant people such as the webmaster.
  • Gig Listings: Dates with the gig information – ticket price, venue information, directions/map.
  • Gallery: It’s good to have as many good pictures as you can, use thumbnails linking to full size images, maybe have a fan folder too.
  • Links: Remember to use text links and alt tags on banners to help with SEO
  • Blog: Showing the latest news and updates, an rss feed is essential, Remember to keep it updated regularly.
  • Downloads & Merchandise: MP3s, video, images, photos, lyrics/music tabs, t-shirts, stickers, badges…
  • Reviews: Include as many as you can find (even the bad ones). If you don’t have any Don’t write your own.
  • Lyrics: This will help people to know your music and sing along at gigs feeling more part of the live experience
  • Press Pack: include, Biography, Press Release, Photos,  Demo, Copyright and contact information.

Get committed to creative web design with ASYLUMseventy7.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , ,

CD album artwork and design: The process

April 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

This is the design process I use when working with bands on their album artwork and design.

  1. Design brief: Send questionnaire/chat to the band.
  2. Research & reference: Research the genre, its history, the bands peers and artworks that have been mentioned by the band as influential, listen to the new album/rough cuts if they are available .
  3. Sketching & conceptualizing: Develop the cover design concept(s).
  4. Reflection: Take breaks through the design process and let the ideas develop. Get feedback from the band.
  5. Presentation: Hand over the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Step one:

Most projects start with a discussion with the band members about any ideas and concepts they have. Then I try to gather some keywords, influences and work they’ve already seen.

Conversations usually start and revolve around these planed standard questions:

  • Your Band name – should be dominating  the design and concept?
  • Album name – if required?
  • Please provide a little information about  your band
  • Key words that describe your band – eg. Metal, rock, indie, gore, fast, heavy, melodic etc
  • What do you like/dislike – bands, films, books, games?
  • Who are your peers in the same field please give links if possible?
  • “Look and feel” required such as horror/surreal/old/grungy/clean/mimimal/fun?
  • Any definite ideas you have about the design concept + examples of album artwork design you like/dislike (links if possible)?
  • Who is your Target audience?
  • Colour preferences if any. Should the album art be single colour/two colour/full colour/no specific preference?
  • Any other information you would like to add?

Step two:

Once we have had a chat and got the questions answered I relax, think it over and chill with some of the bands music where possible. I use this time to think up ideas/concepts and how and what I’ll need to create the design.

Then I begin collecting parts and bringing together photography, textures, found objects that may help from my extensive collection of stock imagery. (I nearly always have my camera with me on the off chance I see some interesting texture, object or element I may find useful on your/future projects.)

Step three:

I then play with ideas and rough sketch’s discovering what works and build up a couple of design ideas using key elements I think would be useful and communicate the overall concept.

After getting some more feedback from my collected ideas, I start the actual design. This part of the process can be fast or slow it really is the unpredictable part of the creation, happy accidents leading paths to new elements are always fun and can take a project to a new level of creativity.

Step four:

I take a few breaks through the creation process to let ideas develop. I get more feedback from the band and finish up the design.

Step five:

I then send off the cover design and rock out to the new CD when it arrives!

Job done!


Contact ASYLUMseventy7 with your creative album artwork needs now!

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Graphic design, Illustration, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

101 record labels on Twitter

March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

101 record labels to follow on Twitter by ASYLUMseventy7

101 Record labels to follow (in no particular order) on Twitter

  1. Fearless Records
  2. Epitaph Records
  3. Victory Records
  4. nuclearblast usa
  5. nuclearblast eu
  6. Century media
  7. Century media eu
  8. Trustkill
  9. Aural music
  10. Listenable Records
  11. ED BANGER RECORDS
  12. Atlantic Records
  13. ANTI Records
  14. Basick Records
  15. EMI Music Publishing
  16. EMI Music Ireland
  17. EMI Music Australia
  18. EMI Music Germany
  19. EMI Music Norway
  20. MERCURY RECORDS
  21. Bieler Bros. Records
  22. Roadrunner UK
  23. Roadrunner USA
  24. Decaydance Records
  25. RCA Music Group
  26. Vertigo Records
  27. Deathwish Records
  28. Ninja Tune
  29. Relapse Records
  30. Hopeless Records
  31. Polydor Records
  32. Geffen Records
  33. Defected Records
  34. noiselab records
  35. MuteRecords
  36. Warner Nashville
  37. Hospitalrecords
  38. Earache Records
  39. Stillborn Records
  40. Facedown Records
  41. Nightbreed
  42. blue note records
  43. VP Records
  44. Warrior Records
  45. Equal Vision Records
  46. 1332 Records
  47. Bloodshot Records
  48. fascination records
  49. Universal A&R Dept
  50. Eyeball Records
  51. WarnerMusicGroup
  52. QwiLite Records
  53. Hassle Records
  54. Risen Records
  55. Disturbing Tha Peace
  56. PledgeEmpireRecords
  57. tbd records
  58. Tragic Hero Records
  59. Sony Music Brasil
  60. noiselab records
  61. Noisehead Records
  62. Stillborn Records
  63. VP Records
  64. Equal Vision Records
  65. Warrior Records
  66. aQuarius recOrds
  67. DBM RECORDS
  68. Arrow Records
  69. wichitarecs
  70. Tokyo Dawn Records
  71. Suretone Records
  72. Ekobeats Records
  73. Fiction Records
  74. Doghouse Records
  75. inpoprecords
  76. Standby Records
  77. Lex Records
  78. Authentic Records
  79. 604 Records
  80. Nowhere Records
  81. Goner Records
  82. NTN RECORDS
  83. broken_records
  84. Sickboy Records
  85. TDR Records
  86. Reaper Records
  87. unionblackRecords
  88. Carnival Music
  89. Alcopop Records
  90. Polyester Records
  91. Sonic Records
  92. tigerbeat6 records
  93. Excelsior Recordings
  94. WAX ON records
  95. OTP Records
  96. Six Shooter Records
  97. Panic Records
  98. Dead End Records
  99. HauntedHouse Records
  100. Brutal Panda Records
  101. Island records

And dont forget to follow ASYLUMseventy7 on Twitter as well

Feel free to add your Record labels Twitter @ in the comments below.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , ,

Band promotion on Twitter

February 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

Twitter is a great promotional tool, and a useful way to get new fans and traffic to your gigs and other web presences. Following these 10 tips and hints to get your band promotion rocking on Twitter!

Make your bio interesting

Make your bio interesting, this doesn’t mean try to fit your bands life story into the allowed 160 character bio allowance (this is 20 more than a standard Tweet) You are trying to get peoples attention and show them why you should be followed. Maybe try using a strong lyric from one of your best songs or an interesting profound message.

Use a relevant Background image

Make your background interesting, try using a good design featuring a band photo or base it around your latest CD release.  *If you are doing this yourself I have made a useful Twitter background template to help you lay out your design here >>> http://www.asylumseventy7.co.uk/blog/2010/11/customize-your-new-twitter-layout

Spread the word

Now let the world know you have a new outlet for your gig info, band updates and general rantings For example, you could also add your Twitter URL in your site’s Footer, so it will appear at the bottom of every page of your website.  Also add your Twitter URL and follow me message to any other online presence you may have: FaceBook, Your Blog, YouTube, MySpace, Bebo, Tumblr, etc (For example: “Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ASYLUMseventy7 “) Don’t forget about your email signature as well!

Remember your URL

Twitter has a space for you to add your website’s URL to your profile. This doesn’t mean you have to use the main page of your website, you could use your Myspace, facebook or maybe the gigs, contact, bio or blog page of your site.

Try to use keywords in your tweets

Phrasing in your tweets can be important for SEO . Try to start your tweets with a keyword/phrase to theme each message. Don’t fill your tweets with keywords and search able phrases ignoring the interesting relevant info your followers are looking for.

Make your Tweets retweetable

By having interesting and useful Tweets as well as keeping the character limit down, allowing for retweeting space. This means leave room for your followers to add RT @YourHandle in front of the tweet and maybe add a short comment as well.

Tweeps love links

Add links to interesting and relevant things such as gig dates, other interesting events, news updates of your favorite/influencing bands.

Run a Twitter Contest

Contest are great for getting engaged followers. These can be run really easily and simply, giving away a prize (such as, sticker, T-shirt, CD etc) for Retweeting the competition or promotion is just one commonly used idea.

@ people/band/labels/venues/promoters

It may sounds obvious, but if you want the attention of a certain twitter account/person (or Tweep) try Retweeting a post of theirs or mentioning their Twitter name often brings you up on their radar.

Be aware of basic Twitter etiquette.

Be polite to people and follow these 5 tips

  1. Reply back to people asap.
  2. Don’t use Auto DMs.
  3. Don’t swear.
  4. Don’t just tweet your own stuff and Credit people  using Via @whoever.
  5. Follow back, this way people can direct message you and feel more welcomed to your band/twitter presence.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, ASYLUM adventures, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Music review sites

February 21, 2011 By 2 Comments

Having your music reviewed is a great way to get new fans and a wider audience for your band.

Here is the start a big list for you to send your best tunes to…

  1. Altsounds.com
  2. Americana.co.uk
  3. Art Rocker
  4. Atomicduster
  5. Audiot art
  6. Audioscribbler
  7. Beat Motel zine
  8. Brum punk scene
  9. The beat surrender
  10. CD times
  11. Channel bee
  12. Clash music
  13. Comfort Comes
  14. Contact music
  15. thecrackmagazine.com
  16. Dalliance
  17. Daily record
  18. dailymusicguide.com
  19. Die Shellsuit, Die!
  20. diskant
  21. Dominion mag
  22. Drowned in Sound
  23. Echoes and Dust
  24. Exitfare blog
  25. The 4 0 5
  26. Fusedmagazine.com
  27. Gigwise
  28. God is in the tv
  29. Guestlist
  30. High Voltage
  31. Indie MP3
  32. Leeds Music Scene
  33. Lincolnbands.co.uk
  34. New noise
  35. Losing today
  36. Mancester Music
  37. Metal team uk
  38. Mono
  39. Music review unsigned
  40. Myspacedotcom.com
  41. Neu!
  42. OMG Music
  43. Organ Magazine
  44. PennyBlack Music
  45. Pitchfork
  46. Plastic Ashtray
  47. Power of Pop
  48. Prefix mag
  49. Reflections of darkness
  50. Room Thirteen
  51. Sandman
  52. Shadowplay
  53. Sheffield Music
  54. Shout 4 music
  55. Soundsxp
  56. Sputnikmusic
  57. Stranded in Stereo
  58. Subba-Cultcha
  59. Tasty
  60. Terrascope eZine
  61. Toxic Pete
  62. The Music Guru Online
  63. The rhubarb bomb magazine
  64. Rock pulse
  65. This Is Fake DIY
  66. TrakMARX
  67. UK handbag
  68. Unsigned Band review
  69. Unsigned chart reviews
  70. Vibrations
  71. Whisperin’ and Hollerin’

If you can recommend any more please feel free to add the link in the comments or contact me and I’ll add them in the list above.

Thanks

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , ,

Music industry and publishing must-read books

February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There is a lot more to making it in music than being able to play a good riff, sing a strong note or bash out a catchy beat.Here are some top must read books on the industry, publishing, business and some must have contacts to help you find what you need…

  • Industry

Working in the Music Industry: How to Find an Exciting and Varied Career in the World of Music by Anna Britten (Paperback - 29 May 2009)

The Music Management Bible by Music Managers Forum (Paperback - 4 Aug 2003)

Music: The Business: The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals by Ann Harrison (Hardcover -7 July 2011) (Pre order at time of publishing)

All You Need to Know About the Music Business by Donald S. Passman (Paperback - 31 Jan 2008)

This Business of Music Marketing & Promotion (This Business of Music: Marketing & Promotion) by Tad Lathrop (Hardcover - 1 Oct 2003)

How To Make it in the Music Business by Siân Pattenden (Paperback - 9 Aug 2007)

  • Publishing

The Plain and Simple Guide to Music Publishing by Randall D. Wixen (Hardcover - 1 Jan 2010)

Making Music Make Money (Berklee Press) by Eric Beall (Paperback - 30 Nov 2007)

Music Publishing by Ron Sobel and Dick Weissman (Paperback - 31 Aug 2007)

Music Publishing: The Real Road to Music Business Success by Tim Whitsett

  • Business

Music: The Business: The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals by Ann Harrison (Hardcover - 1 May 2008)

Making Music Make Money (Berklee Press) by Eric Beall (Paperback - 30 Nov 2007)
  • Useful

Musicians’ and Songwriters’ Yearbook 2008: The Essential Resource for Anyone Working in the Music Industry. By Jonathan Little (Paperback - 31 Jul 2007)

The Unsigned Guide The UK’s leading music industry directory. The Unsigned Guide is an essential tool for unsigned bands, emerging songwriters, musicians, music managers and music students.

Filed Under: Advice and answers, Music industry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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