Posted by Ann Bernard

YouTube announced on Monday it launched a Symphony Orchestra.  This is both an interesting twist for YouTube and to the classical music world.

Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post:
The YouTube Symphony Orchestra revolves around two main goals: the creation of a mash-up performance of a symphony from video submissions; and second, a live performance of the same symphony (written for the occasion by composer Tan Dun) at Carnegie Hall on April 15, 2009, with about 150 players selected on the basis of their YouTube video submissions.

In short, YouTube is offering a new twist on the familiar formula of how to get to Carnegie Hall: Practice, practice, upload.

The idea, launched by two YouTube employees at an offsite retreat about a year ago, is being greeted enthusiastically by the classical music world, which Tim Lee, one of the project's initiators, tactfully described as "hungry for innovation."

Classical artists and administrators at the New York news conference Monday visibly basked in the glow of what, in their world, is the equivalent of being noticed by the cool kids at recess. Besides Carnegie Hall, YouTube's partners on the project include Michael Tilson Thomas (who will conduct the Carnegie Hall performance), the London Symphony Orchestra (whose players have already posted 24 master-class videos on the YouTube site) and the pianist Lang Lang.

Read the entire story

Who Will Actually Benefit?!?
The obvious benefactors are the classical artists who participate…this is an opportunity of a lifetime for those who will be selected to play a New York’s Carnegie Hall in April. What about Youtube and the classical music world?

Will YouTube benefit and will the Classical Music World Benefit?!?!
Lets start with who picked up the story...we have The Washington Post, The New York Entertainment Magazine, The National and plenty of other art type publications along with a few bloggers across the web.  The only stand out per se are Venture Beat and About.com.  Particuarly Venture Beat where you won't find too many stories related to classical music.

So who does those stories really benefit?  I'd say so far it benefits YouTube quite nicely.  The story is posted offline and online across publications and talked about by people who normally aren’t likely to include YouTube in their conversations.  People who more than likely don't pay that many visits to YouTube.

When and will the benefits kick in for the Classical Music World? Is there a glow to bask in?
Will people who have had no prior interest in classical music go to the http://www.youtube.com/symphony?? Let me say it “outloud” - YouTube dot com backslash symphony.

Go to YouTube.com – see anything there announcing the contest or the symphony area of YouTube?  Yea, I didn’t see it either.

How do you think this will benefit the Classical Music World?  What are your predictions? When the cool kids in school paid attention to the less cool kids...how did that ever pan out??

Filed in classical, performing arts, youtube

Comments: 2

Posted by Ann Bernard

I wish I had the interest, passion and talent for photography because photos, pictures...aka Images on the internet are very powerful. 

Communicating Via Pictures
The saying goes that pictures are worth a thousand words…pretty convenient thing when you don’t have the time and inclination to write! 

Human beings are pretty visual and we are definitely curious.  Always use what you know about human nature to your advantage.  Give people what they are looking for…on a regular basis.

Communicate your interests, passions, life, hobbies with your fans through the use of pictures.

Pictures of What!?!?
Your Life.  It’s great to have pictures of yourself, crew and shows.  That’s a really good start but in order to effectively communicate via images with your fans you’ve got to dig a little deeper.  It’s also how you’ll be able to drive interest and traffic to your site/blog. (Btw, did you get one of those yet?!?)

Take pictures of your pet(s), favorite food, flowers, simple things in your neighborhood, things you see while on the road, instruments, costumes, books…anything that compels you.  The things you are interested in, mean something to you, are passionate or curious about.  Be creative.

The type of pictures and the things you take pictures of are going to help people figure out who you are, they’ll help people connect with you and discover things you have in common.

The pictures will become a method of driving new traffic and interest in you and what you are doing.

Picture Driven Community/Sites
Here are some recommendations of top sites/communities to create an account to post your pictures.

• Flickr
• SmugMug
• PhotoBucket
• WebShots
• Google’s Picasa

Don’t simply post your pictures on MySpace…pictures on MySpace don’t get indexed the same way as pictures in the sites above.  Plus, MySpace isn’t necessarily appropriate for more personal pictures of your life.

However, do use the widgets and bring some your pictures to your other online profiles.  Remembe it's about creating content on your extensions and bringing that content to your end points.

Tag, Tag, Tag and Alt Tag
Create a few albums…separate them by shows, cities you visit, routines, interests, passions, family and randomness.

Within each albums, tag your pictures as specifically as possible.  The tagging is what the search engines use to index the pictures.  Don’t underestimate the power of Google Image Search.

Taking It A Step Farther

Use your own pictures in blog posts.  Hint, hint…take some pictures of something and than write a short spill about it.  Use Alt Tags when you post pictures on your blog for greater results.

People will start finding you and your pictures.  They might also repost/use your pictures and link back to you because of them. 

Make it easy for your fans to write about you…aside from the music, performances, games, shows or events you’re part of.

(ps. I'm wrong for not having an image attached to this blog post) 

Filed in education, pictures

Comments: 1

Posted by Ann Bernard

It’s always tough to return to a routine after a holiday weekend.  I’m sure you’re feeling it too.  However, we’ve got to get back on the horse again.

This week’s link love is going out to other social media experts…they don’t specialize in the entertainment industry but they have great insights on social media, social media marketing and creating social media strategies.  There are a lot of people out there claiming to be social media gurus…a lot of people throwing key words around and blowing out hot air.  I don’t want you to fall into any traps so let me lead you to some good places.

To kick things off we have the Buzz Bin started by a friend of mine and member of the Yut Media Board of Advisors, Geoff Livingston.  Geoff is author of Now is Gone and truly an expert in the field of PR and Social Media.  His writing and that of his staff is straight forward, honest and full of common sense.  Honestly one of the very few social media blogs I read regularly.

Brian Solis collaborated with Geoff on Now is Gone.  I met Brian at BlogWorldExpo 08.  He wouldn’t follow me back on Twitter until he read my tweets and ensured I was worth a follow…he pulled out his phone with me standing there to look at my profile.  I gotta respect the man for that!! His blog PR 2.0 is a resource well worth exploring.

Another well known blogger and social media guru is Chris Brogan.  Chris also co-founded Podcamp - new media conference series, exploring the use of new media community tools to extend and build value.  Chris blogs at ChrisBrogan.com

Across the pond from me and a friend I made through Pownce…we have Wayne Smallman and his blog Blah, Blah! Technology.  It might be a little advanced for many of you, but I recommend digging into his archives.  Wayne has wonderful information particularly on SEO, Blogging and Analytics.

Next we have Jeremiah Owyang. Reading Jeremiah’s blog could potentially make your head blow up there’s so much information…but, he has an amazing pulse on the world of social media, the players, happenings and outcomes. 

As artists, entertainers and artist-entrepreneurs your worlds DO NOT revolve around social media…and they NEVER should.  Check out the blogs listed above but do not get sucked in!!  Read enough of the blogs to realize that social media and leveraging the web is something you can’t avoid; stop reading when you get overwhelmed. Keep taking it one step at a time and realize I’m right here for you.

One last recommendation...this blog is all about Twitter; it’s called TwiTip.

Filed in linklove

Comments: 0