Tell Your Story and Sell More Art We know that fans support and buy from artists they know and like. Video interviews are a great way to let your fans see you when you are not performing and to hear you talk about your background and your art. They are also a great way to introduce yourself to new fans. Since most of us cannot get booked on The Tonight Show or David Letterman, find websites like Amused Now that provide opportunities to be interviewed and post those interviews on your own website and social media sites. Imagine how much more you could sell if right next to that Buy button, you had an interview where you shared the back story about your song or film or book. Remember when you were younger how much fun it was to learn all about your idols and what your favorite song or movie or book was really about? Artists who tell their stories have a competitive advantage over those who don’t. Artists who film a great interview have an advantage over those who film a crappy interview, because fans are more likely to watch the whole thing. Booking the interview is only the first step. So, how do you prepare for a great interview? Here are some tips I’ve learned from interviewing hundreds of artists. Set the Stage Get yourself a good webcam, so the film quality of your interview is maximized. Webcams cost less than $100, and the film quality they record are much better than if you used the default webcam in your Mac or laptop. Do not conduct interviews from your phone or tablet. The aspect ratio is not right. Before the interview, sit down in the same place you plan to record...
Cynthia Kahn ~ Documentary Weekend...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Mark Grimes and Perry Gruber organized the first-ever Documentary Weekend in Portland, OR on September 26 and 27. I didn’t know anything about filmmaking, so I signed up to meet some new creative people and to learn something about making a documentary. I had an amazing weekend! We filmed two documentaries, a two-minute film on Friday night and a five-minute film on Saturday. So, I guess, now I’m a filmmaker. We were a small group of fifteen participants. We came with different levels of expertise, positive attitudes, iPhone/iPad/professional grade cameras, sound equipment (if we had it), laptops and zero prior planning. No pre-organized teams. No one even knew the topics. Before we were given our first assignment, Matt Monroe (freelance photographer, soundman and founder of Nasty Clamps) gave us a hands-on lesson about what it’s like to be a soundman and techniques to reduce background noise. Then, we paired into teams of two. Our first assignment was to pick a quote and create a documentary around it. Quotes are interesting. Everybody knows them, but not everyone feels strongly enough about them to be inspired with great ideas for a film. After discussing multiple ideas, my partner, Joe Aleman, and I decided to go with: “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” It was Friday night and we were across the street from one of the biggest collection of food carts in Portland; the perfect setting to film a documentary about food. So, Joe pulled out his iPad and I set out to interview different sets of people on the topic. We talked to an older couple, a young couple, a gay couple, a man from Morocco and a single woman. The results were quite comical. My first filmmaking lessons learned: 1)...
ReverbNation Contest Winner ~ Liz Lohnes...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Meet the delightful Liz Lohnes, our ReverbNation contest winner in the pop genre. Liz’s personality is a lovely as her singing voice. We selected Liz Lohnes, because we adore her single Fly Away. I also love her song Where You Are, with its influences of soul. Liz explained, “I actually started singing at a blues jam that my parents used to take me to, so the first genre of music I ever sang was blues. So, I definitely have a little bit of the soul vibe in there.” Liz smiled and added, “It’s a love song about just wanting to be with the person that you love.” Liz Lohnes describes her music as, “it’s mid-tempo, with an R&B, pop and soul type of feel.” She has a wide range of musical influences, “I listen to all different kinds of genres. My parents are a big reason why I’m into the music that I’m into. I was raised listening to Aretha Franklin. My dad always loved Stevie Wonder. I personally love Beyoncé. Who doesn’t?” Liz writes, composes and sings her own music. “I started taking voice lessons as a teenager, but I’ve always been singing. I began singing at community plays, so I have a bit of musical theater background. I graduated from the Berklee College of Music (in Boston), so that’s a big part of my development as a writer. The very first song that Liz Lohnes wrote is Why’d You Turn Your Back On Me? , written in eighth grade. “I still have it up on my ReverbNation page. A lot of people think it’s a break-up song, but it’s actually about being in that transition stage from junior high to high school. My best friend went off with the cool kids.” Liz...
Happy 1st Birthday Amused Now...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
I can’t believe we are celebrating the first birthday of The Amused Now Blog and YouTube channel. I have met many talented artists and shared many interesting stories and helpful advice. Indie artists are the bravest and truest artists in the world. This past year has been more rewarding than anything I could have imagined. Yes, Amused Now is becoming known as one of the premiere sites to promote indie artists; but what really excites me is the community and partnerships that we are building as we grow. I love how we support each other and share each other’s successes and introduce each other to those who can help advance our careers. How many sites can say that? I want to celebrate the successes of our five most popular posts this year. I am often asked how artists can increase their reach and attract new fans. Well, I’ll let these real life examples answer that question: #1 Smiz the Moneykid ~ Office Boys NY These guys are promotion machines! Smiz the Moneykid and Villa Dom have multiple Twitter accounts, one for each of their projects. I just looked up their post and, since their post was published in February, they have over 1700 tweets. They heavily promote on Facebook and Google+ too. Lesson learned: The lifetime value of your post depends on you. As a promoter, when I publish your post, I give it my undivided attention for 1-3 days. As long as the information in your post is relevant, you can link to it from your website and social media accounts for long after the publish date. Take advantage of all your internet real estate and pump up the volume! #2 Chris Browne ~ Busker Rhyme I love Chris Browne’s positivity. I asked...
Cynthia Kahn ~ Top 3 Promotion Mistakes...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
When Agnieszka Sorycz interviewed me for her Film Marketing Blog, she asked me “What are the most common mistakes made by artists when it comes to promotion?” That really got me thinking about why some artists have wildly successful interviews and posts and why some artists don’t. The answer is simple: The most successful Amused Now posts are those where the artist shares responsibility for promotion with me. This led me to identify the top 3 promotion mistakes an artist can make and how to avoid them: Mistake #1: Assume Promotion is the Promoter’s Job Through this Amused Now Blog and YouTube channel, I provide a vehicle for artists to share their work, backgrounds and insights. I can promote to my fans, but I am not you and I do not know your fans like you do. Every artist has to take ownership of their promotional activities. The most successful artists today are social media savvy. They have researched the available social media sites, studied the communication nuances of each one, found out where their fans hang out and hang out there too, making connections and building relationships. As an artist, you don’t have to be on every social media site, just the sites where your fans hang out most. Establish a web presence. If you don’t have your own website and don’t want to take on that responsibility, then setup a profile on an established site that fits your image. Fans want a place to go where they can find out more about you, what’s new and about upcoming gigs and public appearances. Keep your site updated and fresh, so fans return on a regular basis. Link your website through social media posts every time you update it. Mistake #2: Assume You Have a Private...
Cynthia Kahn ~ Make Your Art Your Own
posted by Cynthia Kahn
After I shared Libby Baker Sweiger’s post about her inspired painting, I knew that it was time to write about my own adventures in painting. I have painted my entire life. Even as a business major in college, I took art classes. I continued taking adult education ink, watercolors, acrylics and mixed media classes even after graduation. When I don’t paint for long periods, I feel a hole where that creative outlet resides. It is important to understand and respect the techniques of your craft. For painters, it’s how to mix colors, the relationship between colors, the use of light and dark to create perspective and brush strokes. To be a great artist, you need to learn the craft, understand the basics and practice and internalize those techniques. To be a ground-breaking artist, you need to transcend those techniques and transform the craft. Make your art your own. I never liked the chemical smell that goes with traditional oil painting. I tried acrylics, but they dried too quickly. Then, I learned about water soluble oils and my painting transformed. I love painting wet-on-wet, adding more paint while the paint is still wet instead of waiting for the under-painting to dry. I stopped taking lessons and began painting using my own techniques. The results were amazing. I finally felt like a real artist, someone who adds to the craft rather than mimics it. I even started to take my painting to the next level. I wanted my paintings to be more tactile. I wanted to feel the painting as I created it, so I began painting with cloth. I’d first paint a picture with oils, because that is how I interpret the subject matter. Then, I’d go to Good Will and buy clothes or sheets or table cloths with the colors and textures that I want to include in my painting. I buy a board at Home Depot, some caulk and cut-and-paste my cloth painting into reality. I’ve never seen anyone create cloth paintings in quite the same way. I feel fabulous! So, how do you get your art seen by the public? You go out and ask. I’ve displayed my work at many coffee houses. Starbucks is a great place to start. One time, my cloth paintings were displayed at Starbucks and, when I went to pick them up, one of the baristas said, “I brought my daughter in to see your work, because it is so unique.” My heart soared. I also received a call from a property management firm asking if I wanted to display my art in one of their office buildings, so that show led to another show. You may not be able to get your work into big name galleries as an unknown artist, but there are many galleries that cater to lesser-known artists. I found a gallery in Northwest Portland that only allows artwork with recycled materials, which was perfect for my cloth paintings. If you want to get into the big name galleries and art festivals, then talk to those who have already been accepted and ask them how they got in. You probably have to know someone or you have to get your artwork photographed by the right photographer. Do your research, before you spend money on application fees. How to you get to know the right people? Join a local artist society and become active in their group. Get critiqued by those who judge and decide who gets admitted into the shows. However, if you paint to become famous, you are missing the point. Paint because you love to paint. Create because it drives you and calls you to action. Don’t let anyone dissuade you from pursuing what you believe is best for you and your art. Make your art your own. Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now @Amused_Now Facebook Google+ YouTube ...
Cynthia Kahn ~ Amused Now Launch 2013...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Hi, I’m Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now. 2013 has been a wonderful year! Since I launched Amused Now Blog with the Artists Helping Artists post on May 13, we have helped over 55 Featured Artists and guest bloggers! Well, it’s that time of year to reflect back on all my blessings and to thank those who have helped me along the way. I could not have launched this blog without the help of two fabulous friends: Joseph Gier and Libby Baker Sweiger. Joseph taught Libby and me how to use Google+ Hangouts for the first time. Did you know that I did not record the first Featured Artist video interviews? It was Libby took the reins and blazed that trail for us, creating those first video interviews for YouTube. Thank you Joseph and Libby for all your help launching the Featured Artist Series: http://www.youtube.com/amusednow I’d also like to thank those artists who believed in me and our mission to “create a world where artists can make a living doing what they love.” Since we have so many new fans, I thought it would be fun to share some insight into Amused Now’s beginnings and to show my appreciation by giving our first five Featured Artists and bloggers a little added exposure. Featured Artist Damien Cripps ~ The Music Has the Power It seems funny that we know so many indie artists in the US, yet our first Featured Artist resides in Australia. Libby has been social media friends with Damien Cripps for years, so she reached out to him for the series. What a trouper! Libby got up and dressed and interviewed Damien at 4:30 am her time, just as Damien was getting ready to go out and play a gig. The video quality...