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QuoteThis is an article I have coming out soon as a guest blogger for CD Baby. Thought I'd share it with you guys first 🙂
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Online concerts are a great way to play in front of a live audience without the expenses associated with touring. The only problem is that it’s often difficult to generate any income from streaming concerts as the reciprocity factor is simply not as strong as it is with live events and the popular streaming video network, Ustream, is simply not set up to be easily monetized.
Last October that all changed with the launch of StageIt.com. StageIt was created by music industry veteran Evan Lowenstein, and the service offers a simple way to monetize live performances via the Internet.
StageIt works like this: An artist creates a show, sets the price or suggested donation, then invites his/her fans to show up. It's that simple. StageIt also uses “Notes” instead of dollars. The currency exchange is 10 Notes for each $1. That allows users to offer tips in increments as small as 10 cents.
When Evan talked to The Comet he explained, "With StageIt, not only can artists take the stage and perform live from their computer, regardless of their location, but they can also monetize these performances”. StageIt also gives them access control since artists can choose when they want to perform, for how long and how much they want to charge. Lowenstein also commented that, “This platform also greatly complements and activates other traditional and digital promotional and networking tools artists are already using."
Some of the Pros and Cons of StageIt…
The Pros.
•   StageIt is simple to use.
•   It gets you paid.
•   There is theoretically some degree of a built in audience.
The Cons.
• StageIt takes 40% of your money in exchange for the service they provide.
   Visitors need to register and get acquainted with the “Notes” system. The more steps the harder to close the sale.
• StageIt does not integrate with third-party auto responder programs such as Aweber, which makes it hard to control the pre-show build up or to use the platform to build your mailing list.
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The bottom line: There are ways that you can privately host your online events, control the entire process, and make 100% of the money. However, they offer technical challenges and there are costs associated with them.
StageIt offers musicians what Ustream does not; an experience that is tailored specifically for music fans and a way for musicians to get paid. If you’re considering hosting a live concert then StageIt is a solution certainly worth exploring.Â
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
3:52 pm
June 10, 2011
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I recently signed up with stageit, but I havent done an online concert yet. Has anyone else tried this? I'd be interested to hear how it went. BTW, it takes a couple weeks after you sign up before they research you and approve your application. I like the idea that they check you out before taking you on. I think they are trying to raise the bar a bit instead of just becoming another version of YouTube where anybody can post anything
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
9:00 pm
June 7, 2011
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Greg Parke said:
I recently signed up with stageit, but I havent done an online concert yet. Has anyone else tried this? I'd be interested to hear how it went. BTW, it takes a couple weeks after you sign up before they research you and approve your application. I like the idea that they check you out before taking you on. I think they are trying to raise the bar a bit instead of just becoming another version of YouTube where anybody can post anything
I haven't tried it just yet, but I plan to. I know a number of musicians who do quite well with the online concert approach though.
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Whenever I get to it I'll share the results/experience.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
4:04 pm
June 10, 2011
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Hmmm, What if a bunch of us from the Insiders Circle teamed up, scheduled a series of concerts on StageIt, one right after the other, and collectively promoted the series to all of our mailing lists? As I said in an earlier post , it takes a few weeks to get an account set up with StageIt, so it might take a little time to co-ordinate something like this. Anybody interested?
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
8:03 am
June 7, 2011
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Let me know if you guys get organized with something like this. I can't promise anything but if you do end up finding some takers let me know and I'll see if there is a way I can help. A few ideas come to mind.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
5:01 pm
July 21, 2011
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John Oszajca said:
Greg Parke said:
I recently signed up with stageit, but I havent done an online concert yet. Has anyone else tried this? I'd be interested to hear how it went. BTW, it takes a couple weeks after you sign up before they research you and approve your application. I like the idea that they check you out before taking you on. I think they are trying to raise the bar a bit instead of just becoming another version of YouTube where anybody can post anything
I haven't tried it just yet, but I plan to. I know a number of musicians who do quite well with the online concert approach though.
Â
Whenever I get to it I'll share the results/experience.
I'd be very interested in exploring this... would love to hear from anyone who's had success in online concerts...
12:47 am
June 10, 2011
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Hey Kevin,
Â
 If you aren't already signed up with stageit, why don't you check it out. It cost's nothing to sign up, but it does take a few weeks to get everything set up and approved. I'm still interested in the possibility of a bunch of us getting together and cross promoting an "Insiders Circle Internet Concert" on Stagit. Might be cool...might not, but who knows?
 Hey John....Maybe we could do it at an Insiders Circle Gathering in Vegas?
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
1:15 am
July 21, 2011
Offline
Greg Parke said:
Hey Kevin,
Â
 If you aren't already signed up with stageit, why don't you check it out. It cost's nothing to sign up, but it does take a few weeks to get everything set up and approved. I'm still interested in the possibility of a bunch of us getting together and cross promoting an "Insiders Circle Internet Concert" on Stagit. Might be cool...might not, but who knows?
 Hey John....Maybe we could do it at an Insiders Circle Gathering in Vegas?
Will do Greg. I like your idea.Â
10:09 am
June 7, 2011
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Greg Parke said:
Hey Kevin,
Â
 If you aren't already signed up with stageit, why don't you check it out. It cost's nothing to sign up, but it does take a few weeks to get everything set up and approved. I'm still interested in the possibility of a bunch of us getting together and cross promoting an "Insiders Circle Internet Concert" on Stagit. Might be cool...might not, but who knows?
 Hey John....Maybe we could do it at an Insiders Circle Gathering in Vegas?
That's not a bad idea. We'll do something sooner or later. While traveling it's hard for me to focus on that but I'm starting to think about putting together some kind of an event in the fall.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
4:13 pm
July 21, 2011
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John Oszajca said:
Greg Parke said:
Hey Kevin,
Â
 If you aren't already signed up with stageit, why don't you check it out. It cost's nothing to sign up, but it does take a few weeks to get everything set up and approved. I'm still interested in the possibility of a bunch of us getting together and cross promoting an "Insiders Circle Internet Concert" on Stagit. Might be cool...might not, but who knows?
 Hey John....Maybe we could do it at an Insiders Circle Gathering in Vegas?
That's not a bad idea. We'll do something sooner or later. While traveling it's hard for me to focus on that but I'm starting to think about putting together some kind of an event in the fall.
Hey Greg,
I signed up on stageit. actually tuned in to a show yesterday from Scottland. It was pretty cool. Good sound... picture was just okay. they used 3 cameras so it made it more interesting to watch. real easy to use from an audience members perspective. like the vegas idea!
5:10 pm
June 10, 2011
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Cool Kevin!
I'm thinking about trying a Stageit concert pretty soon, just to give it a shakedown to see how it works. I recently bought a Zoom video camera and have been making vids of many of my gigs. It only cost about $200. Sound quality is ok, picture is reasonable, works well in outdoor light as well as darker stage light conditions, so I will probably hook it up to my computer for the stageit thing. Also looking into building a small stage area in one end of my studio with the idea of doing videos. Nothing fancy...just black walls and some lighting. I did one awhile ago with black cloth hung on the wall for a backdrop and it turned out pretty good. Not something you would put on MTV, but ok to give away to fans and put on You tube
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
5:13 pm
July 21, 2011
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yeah... i've got a zoom too. do you know how to connect a zoom to the computer to broadcast live? i'm way new to video stuff.
5:45 pm
June 10, 2011
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Funny you should ask! I just finished sending off a multi-question email to Stageit, and one of the questions was about using the Zoom Q3 camera. I have a location I want to use, but there is no internet access, so I am hoping to record the concert, and then re-broadcast it later when I get back to a computer. I also want to see if there is a way to do a test before doing an actual concert to make sure everything is set up properly. I'll post any info I get back from them as soon as they reply
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
8:32 pm
June 10, 2011
Offline
Stageit got back to me pretty quick! Here's what they said:
Â
When you click on "Create A Show", to right of the page is a short tutorial video on "How to create a show on StageIt". Â You can also view the video here- .
- Title it "Soundcheck (date)"
- Schedule it for December (to avoid confusing fans with multiple shows on the homepage)
- Add a password (under "Additional Options")
- Frank Harrison
Customer Service Manager | Sound Engineer | StageIt
818.538.9791 | frank@stageit.com | StageIt.com
A front row seat to a backstage experience™
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
8:01 pm
June 11, 2011
Offline
Yea Greg, that actually sounds like a really good idea. If you can figure out all the details, I’d definitely be open to doing something like that.
On a different note and staying consistent with this months’ training, do you guys think this would be something to feature in your membership area? Maybe a private show every month for your subscribers, or maybe a little teaser of your album or songs you’ve been working on? Any thoughts?
-Mike
12:29 pm
June 7, 2011
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Mike Maldonado said:
Yea Greg, that actually sounds like a really good idea. If you can figure out all the details, I’d definitely be open to doing something like that.
On a different note and staying consistent with this months’ training, do you guys think this would be something to feature in your membership area? Maybe a private show every month for your subscribers, or maybe a little teaser of your album or songs you’ve been working on? Any thoughts?
-Mike
Yes, absolutely. Anything live is great for a membership area. If live online events sound interesting to you then I would absolutely try to incorporate that to some extent. Heck, it could make up the majority of your content if you wanted it to, even 100% of it.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
4:36 pm
June 10, 2011
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Ok...back to my earlier post....
It appears the Zoom Q3 camera would only work for a Stageit show if you pre-recorded the concert. It won't work for a live show, because once you hook it up to a computer, it goes into a different mode, and can only dump it's pre-recorded contents, not film and dump at the same time. With pre-recording, you would also loose any live interaction with your stageit audience.Â
For those of us that don't have a built in web cam in our computers, web cams are dirt cheap. I've seen them on Ebay for $5, and they would probably work just fine to get started on Stageit. Add a decent mike and an interface for your computer and you should be good to go. The Stageit website has several different options listed, in several different price ranges for setting up your gear and computer.
They are also open to setting up a telephone call to talk with you one on one if needed.Â
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
6:15 pm
June 7, 2011
Offline
Greg Parke said:
Ok...back to my earlier post....
It appears the Zoom Q3 camera would only work for a Stageit show if you pre-recorded the concert. It won't work for a live show, because once you hook it up to a computer, it goes into a different mode, and can only dump it's pre-recorded contents, not film and dump at the same time. With pre-recording, you would also loose any live interaction with your stageit audience.Â
For those of us that don't have a built in web cam in our computers, web cams are dirt cheap. I've seen them on Ebay for $5, and they would probably work just fine to get started on Stageit. Add a decent mike and an interface for your computer and you should be good to go. The Stageit website has several different options listed, in several different price ranges for setting up your gear and computer.
They are also open to setting up a telephone call to talk with you one on one if needed.Â
Thanks for looking into it Greg. All good stuff to know.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
11:45 pm
August 27, 2011
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I've been interested in the whole virtual concert idea for years now. Stageit sounds like a step in the right direction, would love to hear more from those who try it out - keep us posted!
9:30 am
October 26, 2011
OfflineIf anyone here understands a little of programming, there's a good solution called Red5 to install a streaming server on your website. I don't have time to look careful at their site, but I think it's not so difficult to use, specially because it has a lot of video tutorials on YouTube.
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I think it's a good thing to check it out. It will be excellent if we could install a streaming server on a member area of our sites, don't you think?
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