My main resistance to Youtube so far, however, has been the requirement to accompany my music with some kind of interesting video.
By no stretch of the imagination do I consider myself to be a videographer and compared to the handful of hours it takes me to create and post a song to Soundcloud I fear the learning curve involved with creating interesting videos to put up with my music.
I'm considering using a visualization library called ProjectM and a player called Clementine to create animated screen captures to accompany my music, but the alternative is to simply post a stupid static graphic or boring slide show which frankly I would think does no one any good in the end.
My advice is go youtube if you are able, but don't bother doing a half assed job of it otherwise you'll end up alienating your audience instead of growing it.
Gary
Well you make a very good point regarding YouTube and I needed to give it some thought before replying.
First let me add this caveat: I am fairly ignorant and inept when it comes to social media and similar things;
I admit that.
Also,a note to any reader of this post: this is all my opinion as it applies to me. I can't speak for anyone else nor determine what is best for someone else. So please keep this in mind as you read. It is all just thoughts and ideas to share for open dialogue.
I think this is a good topic and worth discussion as it has to do with presenting our music to others, and YouTube is a popular way to go.
It seems to me that no matter how something starts out, over time it becomes more sophisticated. The quality of videos offered on YouTube ( YT, from now on ) has gotten better and I can see a time when no one would dare post one which did not use 3 cameras and was produced like a Hollywood blockbuster.
I also am not a videographer, and as interesting as all that is, I don't really want to become one. Getting better at creating music is work enough, and demands enough of my time.
I watch different kinds of videos on YT and for different reasons. With some of those the actual video portion is not of much interest to me. When I listen to music I want to focus on the listening. Videos get in the way here and I am just as happy with the static album cover for that song. I don't want to be told or shown what I need to be imagining. In that scenario I am no longer a participant but a passive observer. I like to make a piece of instrumental music my own using my own imagination and experiences to connect with it. CD Baby is a respected name in independent music and they will post songs by their artists on YT using that static image. I have to trust that they would not take a chance on damaging the prospects of their artists by doing something alienating. I do agree if you are going to post a video, make it as good as you can, because it could do you more harm than good if it truly sucks. I also notice some variety in kinds or classifications of music related videos. I watched some of Kebu's, and he is simply surrounded by his keyboards and seems to be playing some parts live over that which he has previously recorded. Another one I watched was just a DJ jumping around in time to her music while twisting a knob or hitting a button here and there, now and then. Do these videos enhance the musical experience? Is the DJ'ing the show and the music secondary. Music in film is not primary, but an enhancement to the visual and to the story. I think there is no easy answer to it all. It seems to me it will depend a lot on the person watching. My interests are not going to match up with a ton of people's. Some people will have sympathy for my inept presentation, while others will attack it. Who is right; is there a right, really?
Tell me what you think. I am here to learn as well as share. I am sure there is much I have not considered, and don't even know about.
Jim
