Foursquare and the music industry
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Loading ...Do you know how many times I have heard that one of my favorite bands has been in town and I had no idea? It’s always the “next day,” and I’m like, “What, how in the heck did I miss that?” A lot!
Well, first off, I don’t put myself in the ‘tech geek’ category (no offense anyone), because I don’t consider myself one. I’m not the ‘all-knowing’ Foursquare girl either. I’ve just begun playing with it. I immerse myself in social media because I love people and creating relationships. Much of my world is online. I’m writing this because it makes sense to me.
Secondly, if I want to find out if a good band is playing in my area, sure, I could pick up the local alternative newspaper, NUVO, and see what’s happening. I typically have one each week. The problem is half the time, I don’t read it. This is mainly because I’m crazy busy with writing, working, and playing in my own band. I typically hit up the local music scene once a week, but I hear about these happenings from my friends, bandmates, and Facebook.
Okay, that being said…enter…Foursquare (and yes, I am addicted and still a newbie). Not everyone knows what Foursquare is. If you do, please skip this next section…I’d hate to bore you. For newcomers, Foursquare is a location-based social network to help you connect with friends using GPS via your mobile device. Jennifer Van Grove wrote an extremely informative post about Foursquare back in July, 2009. (This is a GREAT post and she really explains the history of location-based social networking (LBS), which I won’t go into), but I’ll give a short summary on what Foursquare is: You have an application on your mobile device, much like Twitter. Every time you go someplace, you check in. You earn points. It’s like an adventure…a game. The more you check in, the more badges you earn.
You grow your friend base, just as you do with every social network. Folks can accept you, or not. Once your friends are connected to you, you automatically get their updates (or you can choose to not) when they check in places. I choose to get the updates because if I’m at Trader Joes, and so is Justin Keller, I’m going to keep my eye out to say hi and give him a big hug (because Justin is super cool). Or, if I’m at a movie theater and my buddy, Joel Smith happens to be there as well, I can pop him a text to see what he’s seeing. Perhaps he’s seeing the same movie I am. My night just got better because we would end up connecting and watching it together (because that’s what friends do). It’s actually a really fun way to stay connected. Foursquare also allows you the option of posting your updates on Twitter.
Another way you can earn points is by recommending something at the place you are. For example, let’s say I’m eating at Zest, which is one of my favorite local restaurants here in Indy. I would recommend on Foursquare, that everyone should try the fish tacos because they are heaven in your mouth. No joke. If I recommend this, and Chad Richards sees that he has to try these fish tacos, he can put it in his ‘to do’ list. I earn points for the recommendation, he’s earns points for checking off this particular ‘to-do’ that I’ve recommended. AND we’ve contributed economically to the local restaurant scene.
Now, if I’m getting ready to head off to Chicago. I can change the city location in my mobile phone, and all of my friends in Chicago can know where I’m at and vice versa. I can have friends all over the country, and my phone isn’t blowing up all the time because my location allows me to only receive the updates of my friends in that same area. Make sense? If it doesn’t, read Jennifer’s article. She does an excellent job at really explaining it.
What I see with Foursquare is that it has HUGE potential for bands and artists. If underground up and coming musicians build a fan-base via Foursquare and go on tour, this is a perfect way to connect with their fans who don’t know they’re going to be in town ahead of time. If The Ting Tings are playing at the Vogue theatre in Broadripple, you can pretty much bet that I’m dropping what I have going on and heading to a show. Let’s say they’re in town for half a day prior to the show beginning. You see they’re in your neighborhood, what a great time to pop by where they are. Make some friends and let them meet their fans. (Not stalker-style…that’s just not cool.) I’m talking about artists connecting with fans and other artists. I don’t see this working for snotty musicians. I DO see it working for personable ones who want to be involved with their fan-base (like me).
My new band, (we’re still deciding on a name…any input would be great at this point) which is playing its first show on Friday, March 5th at Talbott Street, is going to eat this up. (And BTW, that show is a Girls Rock! Indy benefit show…more on that later.) Bottom line, we will create the music, build the foundation, and connect with our fans via Foursquare, all over the country. My suggestion…if you are an artist, hop onto Foursquare and start building. Start playing. If it gets one or two more people out to your show, and then they go back and share with their friends how rockin it was, it was well worth it.
Some people may call it a “game” but it is way more than that if you really think about it. There’s a reason why Foursquare has been said to have the potential to be the “Twitter” of 2010. Are you connected? What are your thoughts?
20 Responses to “ Foursquare and the music industry ”
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Lindsay Manfredi, writer, ghost blogger, and social media rock star, founded Linzstar, Inc. in 2009 to help small and large companies create a more effective and profitable online presence. read more
Lindsay Manfredi
Great idea. I need to spend more time learning how to connect on Foursquare. I’ve been too busy becoming mayor of everywhere I go (Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library…come and get it people). I know where I’ll be March 5.
This was very informative. This seems like a great tool for bans and fans alike.
Very cool. Until now I thought it was a game.
And March 5th is on my calendar.
Thanks for the low-down on foursquare. I’ve heard people talking about it on Twitter and I’ve had no idea what they were saying.
I too see the potential for artists, but I think it will be more successful to the local scene than while on tour. You said you hate it when you hear about your favorite band being in town after the fact; me, too. The problem is though that most bands don’t get in town until the day of the show (most of the time, just a few hours before the gig.)
best of luck with the new band (name?: 4^2) and using foursquare to grow the fanbase.
Thanks Kenan, Laina, and Mack. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you out at the show…and before that as well.
@CLCmusic. I agree. The local scene is a core base. Most touring bands do get to town at least a few hours before hand. Utilizing social media sites, especially Foursquare, could be a major player in the success of some acts. A few hours is all a band really needs to pull in some more fans. I just think it would be great for touring bands to let fans know when they’ve pulled into town.
What would it take to set this up for musical family tree?
PJ, it’s quite simple and free. Just go to Foursquare.com, sign up, and it will help you find your friends. Then put the word out that you’re on it. And talk to the bands you currently represent. I’d be happy to help if you need. You’ve got my number.
Thanks for the explanation Lindsay! I’ve been asking people for a while what the benefit is in using Foursquare. I had no idea that you could find your nearby friends with the application Being a social media addict I love that idea!
Can’t wait to see your show. Girls Rock!
Thanks for the thorough and awesome article on Foursquare! It got me to sign up today and I appreciate the detailed information. I can see this being really useful
I agree with the short-hand look at Foursquare, however I think even it is missing the boat a bit. Call Foursquare Friendster or MySpace. First in isn’t always the first to the hill (Facebook gets a chuckle).
Foursquare quickly becomes a pain, for me, because it requires me to do something outside of my already intended motions. The next step will be AHEAD of the event. Foursquare, Loopt, Brightkite, Gowalla, Rummble all deal with me AFTER I’ve created, planned, walked through the door.
Checking in, is an after-effect. My thoughts, are develop technology that assists in the before, and you will get a higher concentration with the during and after. I agree with a lot of the points you make very clear with Foursquare: a cooler way to stay connected around places or events.
I believe we are just touching the surface of location-based social technologies. And I think foursquare is just a little too experience-changing for it’s own good. My personal thought, technology should fix problems I have or desires I need, not require things from me.
With all that said, I’m Superuser – Level 1 on it. Let’s just say I’m doing plenty of R&D and participating. =)
Can’t help my use Foursquare when I’m at a show, and it just adds another layer to a great experience that is Twitter. Hopefully it will catch on with bands who can see the value of taking the tweets mobile in this way.Thanks for the post.
Lindsey, great piece and I love how you and your new band are planning on using foursquare to the hilt. I think its a swell idea for marketing and promotion that is cheap, free really, and extremely easy.
Great idea and good luck on the gig
Z
Lindsey,
I love this. The potential is awesome and the creativity is what will help it grow. thanks for the post.
Cheers,
Ryan
Ryan, I totally get what you’re saying. But checking-in…that’s the fun of it. I remember hanging out with Justin Keller and we were like all fast to see who could check into the places first. All of the platforms you mentioned, yeah, I totally see. But I’m not getting a text saying so and so is in town. It’s easy. I mean, we’re all up on our twitter accounts telling the world what we do. Checking in with Foursquare does it for you, plus let’s your friends know.
That’s why I think it would be great for bands, musicians, artists…on the road.
Deb, Zach, and Ryan. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. It makes me smile.
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