Do you get your Twitter on?

I just read this article referring to how twitter has a low retention rates. Now I'm not sure if you use Twitter, but basically Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

While some people don't like it or don't return, could be because they are not using it to its benefit. For example I see twitter as a platform to give your "elevator speech" in 140 characters or less. Basically get to the point and show me the value. (This 140 character idea would be nice in business meetings and probably save time. After a while business meetings can tend to go on about nothing). The three reasons I use tweeter is (1) value (2) entertainment and (3) a bit of hey what is he/she doing.

Now in order for me to get value from Twitter I need to be selective in who I follow and in return be selective in what I post. For example I follow googleatwork to keep up with Google technologies and MrBuzzFactor for new music marketing idea's. These are very useful to me and I view them daily. Any people I follow which I lose interest in, I simply stop following. It’s nothing against that individual, it’s just I get no value from their information. In addition to my twitter account twitter account (www.twitter.com/dirving_theaces) I use tweetworks which allowed me to create a group of followers. (www.tweetworks.com/groups/view/theaces) I can update a group in one single post.

Challenge yourself to be creative with Twitter. For example use it as a powerful marketing tool. Being I have a band, I can use twitpic to tweet backstage pictures or studio shots. I can use twitter for quick updates (e.g. Be the first to hear our new song. Let us know what you think.) Or you can get more advanced and integrate this with Google maps. Image your at a bar or show, you can tweet your location; your friends can see where you are and use Google maps to find you. You may even be at a great show, tweet a few pictures and comments, your friends see this, use the TweetMapper application and are able to meet you at the show. There are endless possibilities so be creating and use twitter to empower you.

What ? A TV show and you may be invited?

The Aces will be doing a TV shoot for a local TV show called "The Beat" This will be a feature on the band and include some lucky fans as well. So we'll be looking for that 50's pinup / burlesque look - so if you have tattoos or holes in your fishnets, etc - we're looking for you. If you have a rat rod we want you too. Looking for about 5-7 greasers/pinups to be included. Dates will be in June, shoot will be in santa rosa, possibly around the airport. So we'll keep you posted.

just played with a punk rock band and it was....

We just played a benefit for a good friend of ours who's screen printing business has hit hard times with taxes. (Hey shouldn't you be ready for taxes and aren't taxes yearly?) Anyway we very supportive of his business and I think he had a good night. And hey, we're going to need t-shirts soon anyway. We'll this week we have one rehearsal before our huge Friday gig for about 500 people. We need to connect, we need to connect..... Be sure to check our links on the left and join us on our twitter group, email, etc - We need you to help us with photo's and idea's so drop us a line and upload your pictures to flickr.

No One Rides For Free

"No One Rides For Free"

The Aces = blues trash machine

What is blues trash you ask? It's a distorted wall of sound topped by wailing harp.

What does this all mean, product coming soon.

Hey - check out of friends at www.eltororecords.com - the sound will charge you.

Things to come....

Google "The sound will charge you"

What self publicity tools are you using?

Have you been to www.musicthinktank.com recently if you're an indie artist? Or being a music fan have you checked out iLike? Actually if your an indie artist and you don't have a reverbnation profile yet you should! Reverbnation has some very nice tools for you to manage your music, add widgets to your blog or facebook, great reporting tools on visitors or song downloads including geographical regions, manage your calendar including adding the crowd attendance, ability to sell songs/merchandise, distribution on itunes, etc and a very nice email management program.

You know, how great it would be if you're diligent enough to keep your ReverbNation calendar updated, gig attendance updated and monitored your reports. The reports could be another tool to add to your EPK / promo pack. Now agents, publicist, etc can see real results. So check it out and use these free tools today. (there is also a premium service too)

The Aces - Blastin' "You're Gonna Lose" in Memphis TN