Music Festivals…Ticket to success?

When I think music festivals, I think a weekend filled with headliners, good music and good vibes. For some artists, it is life or death for their music careers.

Music festivals have huge headliners to get people to buy their tickets, but the weekend events are filled with small-time music artists waiting for their big break. Essentially “opening acts” for the names that are the biggest on the music venues.

Krewella brings the party

Just last night the chart-topping electric dance group, Krewella, brought down the Cleveland’s House of Blues during their sold out event that had fans soaked head to foot from raging so hard.

With the fan base the EDM group has, you wouldn’t have guessed their road to success would take so many years.

The group formed in 2007 in Chicago with aspiration to make it in show business. They got their debut headlining at EDM fesitvals including Ultra Music Festival and Electric Daisy Carnival. After these live performances, Krewella earned the 2012 International Dance Music Award for “Best Breakthrough Artist” and Billboard declared “Krewella is going to be huge!”

Well, Billboard was right. All I heard about all week is “Krewella, Krewella, Krewella.”

In an interview with Bing lounge, the sisters talk about their long years of dedication to make it in the show business. After actively sending in demos with no response, Krewella was picked up by Columbia Records through a website called “We are Hunted.” Then came the huge, popular music festivals and the rest is history.

Since these festivals, Krewella just released a new album called “Get Wet”, collaborate music with big-time EDM artists such as Benny Benassi, and continue to sell out shows around the US.  Oh, and are now the big headliners in all the upcoming music festivals.

Although Krewella is known, and definitely rated (as a success), many artists wishing to share their talents with the world can have their big break on stage in front of thousands.

Discovering music at festivals..and one that took matters into her own hands

Danika Holmes, an independent indie artist determined to make it big, took matters into her own hands to play on the main stage at the Heartland Jam Music Festival alongside Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Gretchen Wilson.

After months of contacting the festival talent buyer with no response, she had a new idea. Danika used Facebook (who would have thought?) and started a campaign to “get Danika to the Heartland Jam!” Thanks to her fans, hours later she was booked on the main stage.

Not only does this story a great inspiration to all that want to start their own little campaigns, but again this ties back to using social media to get recognized. Since her little campaign and opening for Heartland’s big headliners, Holmes has moved to Nashville to continue her dreams to create music for people to enjoy.

Want to possibly see history in the making? Here are the upcoming music festivals for 2014. I highly recommend going to a festival at least once in your life.

Vine….A way for musicians to get recognized?

Using social media to show off your talents..

Thanks to this generation’s social media, putting yourself out there to get discovered can be on your terms.  No longer does it involve a long process of hiring “experienced” mentors or waiting for the next time American Idol comes to a city near you. One of the most popular social media apps, Vine, has opened opportunities for inspired musicians, comedians and marketers.

For those who don’t know what Vine is…

Vine is Twitter’s video app that allows people to take 6-second loop videos. Original app has made some changes since its debut in January 2013 and the new updates on the app allows people to “revine” to share with their followers (like a retweet).

According to The 7th Chamber’s article about Vine, studies show that a branded Vine is four times more likely to be seen than a branded video. So, for all those inspired musicians out there, here is a little advice. Be creative when using today’s social media opportunities and separate yourself from the rest. Below are examples of some of those musicians that have done just that with Vine.

Speaking of American Idol…

Tori Kelly, a singer/songwriter, auditioned for American Idol season nine in hopes of becoming a famous singer. She made it through the first series of rounds, but never made it to the “Top 24.” Although her online bio says that she had many appearances on shows and recording with other recording artists, I have never heard of her. I first saw her when she came up on my news feed in the “popular” category of Vine. In this 6-second video, Kelly is singing a simple song but her voice is absolutely beautiful. Now, Tori now has over 500,000 followers and an album set to release on October 22.

Here is her ever-so-popular vine that was revined by thousands…

And…even has a few other vine-famous comedians, Brittany Furlan, mimicking her vine..

Other popular musicians on Vine..

Of course there is the heartthrob that has all the teenage girls squealing. I was there, I know the feeling. Trevor Holmes, born in California, has over 100,000 followers that tune in to his daily vines which consist of him and his guitar. He sure is using his looks and fan base to his advantage as well. He posted a vine asking girls to hashtag “my song contest” in their vines to get a song played for them on his next vine. Guess what, it worked! Girls were tagging him in their posts and hash tagging his idea all over Vine which generated even more recognition.

It’s not all about how great your voice is either through this app. Musicians are showing their skills with instruments as well. Trench, the “finger-style guitarist” has over 160,000 followers. All of his vines entail him strumming on his guitar. Whether is is outside, in a dark basement, or his cute dog looking at him in the background to give the videos different scenery. All the songs he plays are covers, and, well, he is really amazing.  I am a sucker for an acoustic guitar so this could be why I like him so much, but he is worth checking out.

What should we take away from this?

I feel like using social media resources to set yourself apart from others has been pounded in my head since I began my public relations journey at KSU. It’s true, not just for public relations majors but for everyone. Anyone with a passion has room on the web to share, in their own way.