Moshito Music Conference VS the Showbiz, Entertainment & Arts Expo

On 5 September, the Moshito Music Conference celebrated 20 years of liberation through music at the SABC. Just a few days later, from 9-10 September, Newtown saw the launch of the first Showbiz, Entertainment and Arts Expo (SEA Expo) at Sci-Bono that is part of the Arts Alive programme. Could the events improve their market penetration if they collaborate and not seem like they are competing against each other although they are meant to be benefitting the same sector?

THE MOSHITO MUSIC CONFERENCE	THE SEA EXPO
The main auditorium with a seating capacity of 300 was about 65% full on the first day of the conference. Moshito could consult the SEA Expo about getting school kids to attend Moshito.	The Sci-Bono auditorium with a seating capacity of 269 was 100% full thanks to the school children who were brought in to attend the event.
As the attendants waited for Nathi Mthethwa, the Minister of Arts and Culture to arrive, Mandla Maseko, the programme director, charismatically danced for the audience to house music. Which businesses in the music industry benefitted from this year's Moshito?	On the second day of the conference, KB Motsilanyane (Award winning singer, actress and programme director for SEA Expo 2014) agreed to wear a stunning red “Freak ‘em” dress designed by one of the exhibitors at the conference. The dress looked so fabulous on KB that Yvonne Chaka Chaka asked the designer to make a dress for her that she would wear at a gig in New York.
Moshito could learn from attendants as to what music programming they want and what knowledge they need programmed in order to increase Moshito's popularity in the long run.	All attendants were given forms to advise the Expo as to how it can improve.
The program at Moshito was very good as it was about industry knowledge needed for independent musicians to grow their business.	The SEA Expo could include the Moshito programme in its programme in order to benefit those that don’t know about Moshito - especially youth who may be thinking about becoming entrepreneurs in the music industry. The same could be done by Moshito for the SEA Expo.

Music is part of the creative industries. A partnership between the two events could benefit the practitioners and new entrants as well. Most people who attended Moshito didn't even know that there was an SEA Expo a few days later. This is what politicians mean when they say that the creative industries need to speak with one voice.

12 Ways to Build Your Fanbase

“The most important thing for a new artist or band is to perfect their skills as musicians and singers, write great songs and learn the art of giving great live performances.” David Stopps

 

We understand that free time is a rare find and that there are books you would like to read in order to improve your career as an artist. We thought it would be good to simplify this important topic into 12 ways to build your fanbase retrieved from here.

1. Understand that all the communication with fans is about managing the experience they get with your persona.
2. Perform live as much as possible.
3. Invite audience members to comment on your performance on your facebook and/or twitter pages.
4. Create a database or mailing list, constantly update it and aim for higher numbers all the time. If you have 1000 fans, you have a good number to make a living from.
5. Respect and care for your fans.
6. Identify your hardcore fans and give them extra benefits because they make it their life's mission to spread the word about your music. They are invaluable.
7. Free music, interviews with the artist, audiovisual footage of the artist and podcasts should be a feature of the artist's website.
8. Let fans download your music for free on condition that they submit their contact details.
9. Use analytics on facebook and twitter to track where your fans are.
10. Let fans comment on 3 new tracks and ask them to rate them and make comments. This makes them feel like they are part of your community.
11. Send your music to genre specific media and blogs and run remix competitions. Prizes could be sitting at the side of the stage at the live show or attending an after-party. Some artists run competitions wherein fans submit artwork for the next EP or album cover.
12. If you are unable to invest all the energy, thought and time into updating your online communication, employ someone who will do it on a daily basis in a way that is compatible with the artist.