Boost your band with assistance from
these rocking apps
Long before the boom of iPads and iPhones,
I grew up playing in bands, making loud music in friends’ basements and
garages, and rocking out at local dives for a cut of the door money. It was an
absolute blast while it lasted, but like a lot of folks, I eventually settled
down and retired my gear into storage. A decade later, I’m finally rekindling
my love of making music - albeit with less distortion and screeching and
finding that it’s a very different rock ‘n’ roll world out there.
Starting a band, getting gigs, and building
a small fan base can be a ton of work, even if you’re just doing it for the fun
of it and don’t care much about "making it." The good news is that
technology is on our side, and there are plenty of cool apps to give you a
much-needed helping hand.
Unless you have a knack for it, concocting
cool posters can be a real hassle. PosterMaker ($2.99, universal) makes
the process surprisingly fast and painless. You can easily manipulate artwork,
photos, and text after they’re dropped onto the page, and the handy tear-off-strip
feature is perfect for putting together those classic "musician’s
wanted" posters. Spreading the word is easy, too, since you can post your
creations to Facebook or email them in a heartbeat to print out later.
Sweet
posters are just a touch away with PosterMaker.
A strong online presence is an important
tool for staying in touch with fans while growing your reach. ReverbNation
Control Room (free, iPhone) is a great way to keep your group’s followers
up to date on the latest news, upcoming shows, and new tunes you have
available. It’s the quickest way to post new developments while you’re on the
go, and extra features like profile stats and a built-in mailing list are
invaluable additions to your bag of tricks.
ReverbNation
Control Room puts you in touch with the fans.
Playing in multiple bands can make it hard
to keep track of all the vital details of each group. IBandManager ($2.99,
universal) takes some of the fuss out of the equation by letting you set up
profiles for each collaboration. A robust range of song database and set list
options also makes it a big help when you’re planning out sets for your
upcoming gigs or keeping track of new songs you’ve thrown into the mix.
More than just a great way to discover new
music from established artists and emerging indies alike. Bander (free,
universal) lets you create an artist profile and upload your tunes for other
users to discover and support. It’s a unique way to promote your music, and
regular contests run directly through the app that give you a shot at winning
big to reach tons of new listeners.
If you’re looking for one-stop-shopping for
your group, Artist Growth (free, iPhone) touches all the necessary bases
in one app - and then some. While there are plenty of options for booking
shows, getting your band’s name out there, rubbing elbows in the industry, and
connecting with fans, the ability to track your group’s finances from local
gigs and bigger tours is a huge bonus.
Manage
your band’s finances - or everything else - with Artist Growth.
While some of the same old tricks of the
trade still apply, it takes a greater deal of behind-the-scenes effort to get
where you want to go these days. That’s not a bad thing, though, since tackling
the tech-heavy side of things is a perfect match for any iOS device you’re
carrying along the way.
