What makes a great band website?
OK, just bought a domain name for the band so we can start a band website. A good friend of the band is going to build the site on his server space and use it as a promotion for his computer service. The cost to us will be free, which is great, and even better is that he wants to code the site himself and make it look really good as he plans on using it as an advertisement for his computer service. Also, our new sound guy is a computer programmer who has spent the last couple of years building web pages as part of his studies. He also wants to get his hands busy on the new website.
So I need to strike while the iron is hot. What makes a good band website? I'd like to know what things should be included and what should not be included on the website.
We plan on advertising the website on our new business cards to promote the band. Currently we are thinking about linking to some YouTube videos we plan on making and having audio files of some of our better mixes. But that's all the further I have thought about it. I'd really appreciate any suggestions. At this point, everything is possible (at least for consideration). Thanks in advance.
So I need to strike while the iron is hot. What makes a good band website? I'd like to know what things should be included and what should not be included on the website.
We plan on advertising the website on our new business cards to promote the band. Currently we are thinking about linking to some YouTube videos we plan on making and having audio files of some of our better mixes. But that's all the further I have thought about it. I'd really appreciate any suggestions. At this point, everything is possible (at least for consideration). Thanks in advance.
Comments
2. Photos of band
3. Simple Bio
4. Event Schedule- Include a calendar and links to venues with maps/directions.
5. Contact/Booking tab (or can include on Schedule page)
6. Sound Clips
7. Video- flash is good, so are wmv for bandwidth. Use short clips of performances 20 sec or so. You can link youtube, but having them referenced on your own page is usually better.
8. Photos of gigs updated regularly after each performance.
9. Song list
10. FACEBOOK links. MySpace can work too, but most prefer FB these days if you are going that route.
I'd say the majority of people will look at the front page and then scan the photos/Videos. Photos of the patrons are a real plus to get traffic to your site. Bands get massive page hits on the photo galleries after the gigs. Usually they'll show friends/family and co workers. That can build a following really fast.
Well I ain't gonna even try to list everything that can be done. But actually want to ask you, What is the purpose of a band website? What do you like and expect when you visit a bands web page? Have you checked any out? Take note of what you like and dislike about them and why!
But to get the ball rolling.. It can be as simple as the bands logo and the next gig info or laid out to the max (which imo can make some seem to busy) Like band history, members bio's, vids, tunes, cover and or originals. can have an e-mail forward so as to let your fans be in touch with ya, How about a e-mail news letter, post pics of the previous gig of your loyal fans enjoying the band etc etc .. sure others will have more insight.. LoL I've been gettinga bit reclusive lately! :shock: :?
But it definitely sounds like you got the right personel to get an awsome web page up and going!
but as a semi-professional websurfer :roll: , I'd advise:
Keep the site reasonably clean n simple n easy to navigate. Not too much eye candy. Make things, info, etc, easy to find. Lots of people go to a website and are gone within seconds, cuz it's too \"busy\". Put the crucial stuff right on the home page. The stuff you want
EVeryone to see. A pic of the band that grabs the eye is a good idea.Something/s that generate interest to know more about the band, either the music, the group itself, or the individuals. I'd advise against bat-head-biting. Just something that makes someone want to peruse the site, or even come see you play.[/list:u]
Two words: \"naked women\". :twisted:
* lots of clutter
* splash pages at startup - I prefer it to go to the home page directly
* useless flash pages - I prefer simple banner-based or text-based navigation
* CPU-intensive advertisements
* sounds playing at startup - I do not want your sound or video unless I ask for it
* difficult to find navigation - the categories as G outlined should be easily accessible, so for example I want to see \"media\" or \"audio\" or \"sights and sounds\" or some sort of way to get to a music clip right away
I may be in the minority here, but when I come across sites that do this, I leave pretty quickly and don't come back unless my life depends on it.
There will come a point where I am sure that the band will have to take over some of the editing (like schedules), but I'm OK with that. Right now we are rebuilding the band and our main focus is getting tight musically and getting bookings on the schedule. We have a new lead guitarist and new drummer. If you have read some of my other recent threads, you will notice that I am pretty excited about our new lineup. We are already sounding good and I know the potential for us is even more than what we had before. So I am excited to keep the band rocking. Our biggest loss was that our former lead guitarist was also our booking agent and got about 90% of our gigs. Losing that aspect from the band was a big loss and that will be harder to replace.
Anyway, keep those suggestions coming. Still would like to hear about anything NOT to put on the website as it is either too much trouble, or just turns people off. No bat head bitting pics will be posted. Got that one written down. Thanks, Shredd. Take care.
I just think it's great that the programmer said he will set this up both ways. So thanks for the NOT suggestions. Best wishes.
DON'T DON'T DON'T put a flashy, high-graphics, high-bandwidth version up. I don't care HOW fast your internet connection is - if you're going to a site to see the guys and find out where they're playing, when, what they play, whatever - and I have to sit through a 30-second Flash image or wait for sounds to load, I'm outta there. Chalk it up to the pitifully short American attention span, but fact is, if the gratification isn't instant, you've lost 'em. :?
Also, I mainly just want an easy to navigate site and not all the flash on the websites I frequent. But, I know that the high bandwidth option is what the programmer who is writing this site wants to showcase. So I imagine that there will be a trade off for my personal tastes and what he will add to the high bandwidth pages. Did I mention that he is doing this free for as as advertising for his business? So, I mean I have to be somewhat flexible. And who knows, I think that with these suggestions we should be able to build a good website for both types of surfers. At least it will be better than nothing which is what we currently have. I'm just looking for your good suggestions to help make this site the best we can. And I appreciate all the comments. Thanks.
Watch out for too many forced fixed size things. Flash is fixed in size, and the result could come out different on many other types of screens. The results show up with mixed reviews in different font settings, and screen resolutions.
So on the back end of this, pick a wide spread user testing group. Check the work on many different devices, and get some good spam filters.
Looking forward to your website.
P.S. use Hyno-toad. In 20 seconds, he will program visitors to buy your CD's and sign up for your monthly newsletter where you sell them band branded crap.
As far as younger crowd - I'm 27, just past my quarter-life crisis. I like high-end web technology when it's necessary. With bands, however, I stumble very often upon plug-ins and things that freeze the browser, embedded players that don't play, etc etc. My suggestion is, basically, use tried-and-true technology that does what you need. For sites I make (generally pretty simple), I like to have pre-formatted downloadable clips in a standard format like MP3. Most newer browsers will automatically find a player on users' systems to play them.
Maybe I'm part of the older crowd already...
As far as having a low-bandwidth/high-bandwidth option, I think that's great. Keep in mind that it costs you web storage and server-side bandwidth limits, but it meets the needs of both worlds. There the trick is to make sure all (or most) of the same content is available in both versions. Then the high school crowd can have their flash-and-flare fix, and people like me (Manitou, shredd) can get to the point. And everyone is happy.
My friend is selling commercial web service space on his servers. He is more interested in using my band's website as a vehicle to advertise what he can do for commercial firms. I have basically unlimited server space and bandwidth, and we do not have to pay for it (biggest plus). I hope it works out.
I agree that the content on both the low/high bandwidth should be essentially the same. The difference will be in the presentation. He showed me some really cool animations on his high end bandwidth programming. Things moving all over the place, music in the background, sound effects, etc.... Nice, but not really needed. The low bandwidth option was mainly a text file based site with links. Probably more in line with most of what you guys prefer. Still, if I have both options for free, might as well let him set it up both ways.
That is a huge no-no in web design. But tons of people think it's real neat to do that to others. Nothing I hate more than listening to MY favorite music and have it BLASTED and ran over because I open a surprise web site or page.
Also easy on the eyes colors and easy to read fonts helps makes the site flow.
Your site material should be simple. Most have a logo or front page pic. Again, people navigating your site will only have a few reasons they are going there:
Schedule and Directions-
Photos (especially if you host gig photos). LESS of the public will pay attention to BIOS, pics of the band. Those believe it or not, are targeted hits from actual band members or their friends/family.
BIO page can be good and Facebook links for those individual members if wanted can be a great utility if \"that guy\" wants to blog. So all you need there is a pic and a link.
SONG list (what you cover)
VIDEO is cool, but not always a requirement. Nor are mp3's but MOST bands these days will host one or both. Just be cautious of full length clips since you may not want to get in a battle with an Artist over usage of their material for promotion. In some cases, there have been tribute bands that have had artists contact them to remove their clips. It is rare though.
Email sign up list or guestbook link. In most sites, about 40% or so of returning patrons will sign up.
Your web designer will also know specific requirements for page structure. It is not uncommon these days for users to desire above 800x600 video resolution since 13\" monitors are not so common.
So let me ask you this, if the intial start up screen presents you with a low bandwidth (no background music, simple text, easy links) option and a high bandwith (background music, flash animations, any other annoying stuff....) option, and you get to chose which route to our website you want to take, would that be acceptable (since you are forwarned)? The reason I ask this is because I know the programmer who is making this site really wants to show off his graphics capabilities in the high bandwidth option. If I tell him that we do not want those things, I think the whole purpose of him using our band's website to promo his website business would quickly fall through and the deal will die.
I completely understand all the comments about no start up music, etc... And my idea of the startup screen would be a simple band logo and the two options (low/high bandwidth routes). The initial page should load lightning fast without any startup or background music, and give you a choice on how you want to proceed.
Since there are so many comments on the preferred low bandwidth option, I think I will ask the programmer is he can put in some kind of counter to see which option people actually prefer. That would be interesting. Having said that, we are a local bar band so I am not expecting major hits. If my mom had a computer, she would probably visit more than anybody..... Got to love family and their support.
And yes, I'd vote for the super-fast start screen, with the two options. But be sure each one has the option to go to the other...
Front page:
Band logo and/or group shot
Navigation buttons or links to areas of interest.
The avg person is not going to care or even understand low/hi bandwidth selections. They are there because they already heard of you or saw you guys play, or have been referred/linked/other. Since you guys are local, ask the web designer what the demographic is in your region to decide on higher or lower connection speed considerations or type of graphics used.
The purpose of most band websites, especially cover or bar bands is to have an area for interaction and not media promotion as you would an original band. Your site should have anything that provides:
Calendar with maps, Photo gallery, Media playback (optional). Then add interactive links ie facebook, contact/booking area.
Those are the essentials and the rest are extras. The more items you put on your site, the more is required for maintenance, bandwidth consideration for host service, which add expense. If you only have to change the calendar or photo uploads, that should not be too big of a problem.
If you do your own photos, updating, make sure your use a \"save for web\" application so you are not putting 8Mb files up for event pics. My wife usually did pics for the band and once ftp'd these massive jpegs to the photo area. She should have realized they were too big when they took almost 5 hrs to upload 150 pics.
A day later the band had 50 or more emails saying \"pics are HUGE\".. yeah they were... 3000+ resolution on her camera which were equivalent of almost poster size pics. She forgot \"save for web\" option! We didn't even get a chance to fix it before the site bandwidth was exceeded for the month just from that mistake and 100's or so people from the gig downloaded their pics in FULL resolution. Normally, we had set them for 800x600 which were bigger than most bands were doing at the time. Some bands also use simpler methods like 320pixel photos only. Some use thumbnails that if clicked can open to larger size and saved that way.
Just know that the more options added for the site you build and what interactive part you offer to the public (photo/media) will determine most of your site bandwidth requirements.
then it must be optimized for speed. if he’s really a pro...
having someone doin this hard work for you, is the best thing possible.
I see it with my efforts. I learned once webdesign,
but without using it for a long period it’s not anymore a piece of art,
more a piece of fast paced work.
trying to keep up with the different usual suspects, like FB and myspace,
is a task with incredible timewaste-factor.
i’d rather use the time for the pleasent task of making music.
oh, wait, right, I rember: I still have to make the remix of our songs... *bangsheadontable*
I'll have to give it some time to rest, and rethink my approach next time I talk to him. But this project may just have died.
to recap, if he’s a pro, or wants to be one,
then he’ll have to reconsider his approach.
clients tell what they want, not the other way around.
well, at least that counts for paying customers
I did work 6+ years in an agency, prepress-production.
only in very rare cases you get any control at all.
but if you’re a pro, and act as one, even better a smart one,
then you’ll get (partly) your way through sharing good inputs.
and let’s face it, most customers really need those inputs,
otherwise it will end up in a crappy style... :twisted:
Yeah, this setup was just the reverse. We would get a free website, and he would get to showcase his programming \"skills.\" When I first talked to him, he showed me a website that had both a low bandwidth and a high bandwidth option, which is what I thought we would have. I guess he only showed me the difference to show me how much \"better\" the flash animations, background sounds, dazzeling graphics site was. I now think that he had no intention of coding a site without all those addons. Problem is, I am not much a fan of all those \"cool\" aspects of those websites. It really doesn't impress me much. But maybe that's me showing my age.
So part of me is ready to just punt on this project. But I also realize that any band website is better than none and maybe I'll have to try to smooth out his feathers and just let him do whatever he wants. In the end, I really don't think a website will help us promote our band as much as going out with business cards and talking to the managers. I seriously doubt many people will take time to visit our website because they have nothing better to do. We are a local cover band, weekend music warriors, and just having fun. But maybe I'm wrong and a band website could bring out more people or build a following. So, I guess I'm not ready to punt yet. I'll give it some more thought. But, like I said, it may already be a dead deal.....
Taus, hey bro. You just asked a few musicians what they thought! Do you play to a packed house full of musicians? LoL if not you may want to find out what your fan base or potential fan recruit might think! So you may be able to smhoosh things over by commenting on how you were just commenting from an old school musician cover band pov!.. Don't think bro! ask him what he thought a classic rock cover band web site should be. heck man it was all for free.. All may not be lost, either y'all the only band he knows or and he don't know what he's talking about! Serious man! He went into a verbal contract with you (from the way it sounds) Now he recinds and runs off pouting!? ROTFLMFAO why? cause he sounds like a frontman or a lead axman! LoL
As fer the qoute... taus you maybe surprised about the power of the information highway these days! Like I said I have been getting a bit reclusive lately.... But I still hit up a few of my favorite ie old friends bands web or my space page, just to keep up with what's happening! And to be honest that is what gets me out to one of their shows every now an then!...
You want to represent yourself in the way you feel reflects and promotes your band and music, not this pussy's agenda.
You are not the one who shot himself in the foot.
We can imagine what his work must be like, now that we see what his word amounts to.
I think I unintentionally insulted him by suggesting that many people don't want all the bells and whistles that are available with some of the new web site programming. I know I don't, but I can see his point of view in that he wants to sell all the bells and whistles to prospective commercial clients. It is probably not worth his time to make a simple no frills web site that anyone can do. At least that is the impression I got from his reaction.
As far as to living up to his word, maybe we both had different understandings of what kind of project this would be. I had envisioned a collaborative process where we gave input into what we thought we would want on the website. Seems his idea was a flash bang website to show off his progamming talents.
I'm going to have to sleep on this and try to figure out what I want to do. I have no desire to get into building and maintaining a website. I'd rather play guitar and concentrate on improving my musical skills. I have heard many people start a web page/site only to end up spending hours per week maintaining their work. I have no intention of letting that happen to me. So whatever way it goes, I really don't want to end up maintaining the website with everything else I have going on.
As I see it, my two options are to let him program the site anyway he wants to build it and maybe it will be just fine. Maybe later I could ask for some changes once the site is up and running. The other option is just to walk away and let the project die, which would be easy to do. Frankly, at this point, I could live with either option.
In that case, someone may google you guys. If you plan on posting fliers week or 10 days before your gig, having your website link is a strong suit and many interested may be checking it out.
In the event you have a friend or person taking photos of the patrons to be posted following the gig, that will bring many page hits from their friends, co workers, relative as I suggested before. Having these photos can strengthen and build your following appreciably. It helps bring them to the feeling that \"their\" entertainment are what your band is all about.
Look at these few cover band websites and determine which band is promoting entertaining their guests. Might give you a better idea of what you want for your site.
http://davesplanetlive.com/
http://clevelandrockofages.com/
http://www.robinsteele.net/main.htm
http://www.horizontalparty.com/
Your efforts were not wasted. I liked how some of the bands had pics of their patrons. I called up the website programmer and told him how excited I was about his concept of a good band website. So I hope that is back on track. I also mentioned that I would like to have someone (probably our sound guy) take pictures at the venue(s), hand out our band business cards with the website listed, and tell them to check in a few days to see their pics on the internet. Total suck up to the patrons and to our web designer. We hope that patrons will see themselves on our website pics and that will result in repeat patronage. The programmer hopes that these people will see the website he built and maybe get some future business for his effort. If it all works, it will be a Win-Win for everyone.
Our goal is to build a following. For a local band, our music is not bad. We need to work on getting more people out for a good time, and then delivering. If it takes a website and facebook and myspace, etc... I guess it's worth a try. In the meantime, we are still rebuilding the band around our lead singer and me on bass. It's all Rock and Roll....
I can really appreciate the dilema you are in with regard to the web designer wanting to \"show off\" his skills and you wanting a website that will work for you
Ultimately you need to set a clear goal/concept - the clearer the better
e.g. GOOGLE would not be improved by flashy images, animations, complicated webmaster skills
GOOGLE is there to help you find stuff on t'internet
If your website is there to promote your band then this must be the ultimate goal and I would strongly suggest that you and your web designer takes the excellent advice in this thread
If the website is to demonstrate how flashy your web designer is then this may get in the way of your goal
The best analogy I can think of is a guitar player in a band (how apt
We have all seen bands where the guitarist is technically gifted, plays at a million miles an hour and basically gives an hour and a half of noodling to show off his skills
In 99% of cases this would bore the pants off of the public that would rather hear some \"proper songs\" with a tight band working as one, with the occasional flash of virtuosity
I see this as similar to the website - it primarily needs to be clear and simple enough to be usable (tight band) but the occasional flash of brilliance will be far more professional than a constant barrange of heavy graphics and flash animations (noodling) that may get in the way of the purpose
I hope you are able to strike a compromise and get the project back on track
Good luck