The Bamboozle 2011

It's that time of year again! The Bamboozle is back in dirty Jersey this weekend and yours truly will be attending! I'll be working hard all weekend at the Photo Finish along with some other street teamers and the PFR staff. So next week, expect photos, a post and maybe even a video about what went down!

Know Your Venue: The Studio at Webster Hall

Webster Hall is one of NYC's most popular and historic venues. When it isn't club night, Webster always has some pretty big up & coming names come through. Recent concerts include Robyn, Ellie Goulding and and City & Colour.What many people don't know is that Webster Hall's basement also has a lot to offer. The Studio is a small venue that has a personality all it's own. It looks underground and it is underground. The Studio regularly houses local bands as well as small bands from all over the country. Sometimes, the place is used to hold special events and special, more intimate shows for larger acts. The Studio is definitely a "hang out" venue. It's cozy and small often that you'll run into someone you know. Oh, and the shows are pretty cheap. The average cover charge is $10! If you're ever bored on a friday night, come see who's playing at The Sudio...they might just be the next big thing!

P.S. Earn It Yourself is holding a networking event at The Studio at the end of May that I will be attending! Click to find out more.

Remember when I blogged about the Warped Tour '11 kick-off Party? Well the folks at Warped were taping the whole thing and posted it on youtube those all those who could not make it. Check it out!

Let's talk about Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is a fundraising tool that can be used by anyone to fund basically any project. A couple of months back, a few friends of mine in the band Gabriel the Marine used kickstarter to successfully raise enough money to fund the making of their new record while offering fans anything from thank you notes to downloads to dinner with the band in exchange for their donations. GTM had a very specific goal and I liked what they were giving back in exchange for donations. That was the first time I had heard of kickstarter.

As of recently, I've gotten quite a few facebook invitations to donate to various kickstarter projects. The difference with these projects is that the message is now too vague. "Help me continue being a musician," is what most of them are saying. I don't know if they're writing albums or going on tour, etc. If all of sudden artists are looking for general support probably because it's easy with kickstarter. Personally, I feel like I'm wasting my money donating to that cause especially when there were tons of bands struggling way before kickstarter. Personally, I feel like kickstarter can be a way for bands to get lazy, but it can also be a great way to fund worth while projects that could not be done otherwise. I recently stumbled upon this PropertyOfZack blog that explains some of this a little more in depth from an industry perspective.

Record Label Spotlight: Photo Finish Records

Some of you may know, but I have working as a street marketing rep (or street teamer) for Photo Finish Records since 2006. This record label not only holds a big place in my heart, but PFR is a very fan friendly label you should know about! Photo Finish was founded in 2005 by booking agent Matt Galle (follow him on twitter). Since then, Photo Finish has been responsible for breaking artists such Envy On The Coast, 3OH!3, and The Downtown Fiction and has become a well known label throughout the indie music scene. Photo Finish is also known for being a very interactive label. Besides, having all the basic social networking sites, PFR also has a large (and in charge) street team. I've been apart of this team for over 5 years and I've been able to promote artists online and at their shows as well as other events.  The PFR street teamers have tons of opportunities to get involved. For example, you can usually see the PFR tent at major music festivals like Bamboozle when the staff and their volunteers are handing out free promotional tools, holding artist signings or holding contests. I've been helping out at the festival for years and I love the experience it's given me and meeting new people! PFR's street team, staff, and artist definitely worth checking out!

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Colleges for Industry Kids

Going to college is a big deal for everyone. While it's not mandatory to have a degree in Music Business, taking classes in entertainment law or social media marketing will definitely give you a leg up when you go in for an interview. As more and more schools are adding great Music Business programs, getting a degree is definitely to consider. These degree programs usually have tons connections to great internships and other industry related jobs as well. Billboard recently posted their Music Business College Guide which contains a list of the country's best schools with Music Business programs. Also check out Schools That Rock, a book Rolling Stone magazine put out for more info one colleges and the college towns with the best music scenes.