About indieSolo Auditions

[FAQ]

Audition Section Requirements

			75

Songs		Pts
Song 1	[1 req]	25
Song 2	[1 req]	25
Song 3	[1 req]	25
Ringtones	Bonus	+5

			50

Band Photos
Primary Photo	[1 req]	10
OnStage Photos	[4 req]	15
OffStage Photos	[4 req]	15
Video	[1 opt]	5
Slideshow	[1 opt]	5

			50

Band Name	[1 req]	10
Band Logo	[1 opt]	5
CD Cover Art	[1 req, 3 opt]	10
Band Merch
Clothing	[3 opt]	5
Giveaways	[3 opt]	5
Graphic Media	[1 req, 2 opt]	5
Band Website	[1 req]	10

Total Score			175

FAQ - bandHYPE!

Are we guaranteed a spot on indieSolo if we complete the Audition Section?: Yes and no. Yes, you have been selected to be featured on indieSolo.com as long as you complete the necessary requirements of the Audition. If you leave certain sections incomplete or if the content looks lackluster and you choose not to give your best effort, or use excessive profanity and offensive photos, indieSolo has the right to reject your Audition and not feature your band. Other than that, YES, you earned a spot on indieSolo!
What happens after we submit the Audition?: Once we receive and approve your band’s Audition, we will send you an email to confirm the date when your band will be featured on indieSolo and further details. We will provide your band with marketing tools to promote your date on indieSolo so that you could get your fans to vote for you using indieSolo’s bandHYPE system!
What is bandHYPE?: BandHYPE is a proprietary feedback system for bands developed by indieSolo to create, generate, and measure HYPE! BandHYPE is designed to promote your music, your vibe, and your brand – three important criteria for success in today’s music industry! You have the entire indieSolo stage all to yourself for ONE day|24 hours to showcase your music and your band’s unique style and personality.
How will bandHYPE benefit us?: In this day and age, part of the web experience is interactivity for the fans! By having music fans go through your content, section by section, they are not only giving you valuable feedback for FREE, they are also investing time getting to know your band more intimately and establishing that all important connection!
Why do certain sections in the Audition have a bandHYPE logo with number?: If you see the bandHYPE logo in a section, it means that this content will be ranked by members of indieSolo. Make sure you take the time to fill out these sections properly and in depth. Take this opportunity to impress music fans from around the world and make that important connection! There are lots of eyes on indieSolo, so capitalize on this rare marketing opportunity that could make a whole world of difference for your band!
How does bandHYPE work?: BandHYPE is a 10 point feedback system from 1 to 10 - ten (10) being the highest and one (1) being the lowest. Members of indieSolo will rate each section from 1 to 10 under the three (3) main categories: the Music, the Vibe, and the Brand.
What’s the highest score our band could receive on indieSolo?: Maximum Total Score your band could receive is 175 points plus 5 points for a Bonus: The Music (75 points); The Vibe (50 points); and The Brand (50 points). There is also a 5 Point Bonus for simply having Ringtones so technically, your score could be 180 out of 175! Your Total Score for the day will be converted into a percentage value versus point value. If your score at the end of the day is 160 out of 175, your band will receive 91% on the bandHYPE meter.
Why are there different numbers in the bandHYPE?: The number represents a point value. The higher the point value, the higher the importance for that section.
Why are there different point categories for Music?: Quality music contains interesting lyrical content, a great hook, and a catchy melody which always make for great songs! A band’s success ultimately comes down to its music, so that’s why Music is valued at 75 points where each song is worth 25 points.
How does the scoring work?: Each Song in the Music section is worth 25 points. If a fan gives you 9 out of 10 on the Song, this means you will receive 90% of 25 for a score of 22.5 points.
Why do Optional Sections have lower weight values?: We made certain sections Optional, because we know that some bands are busy touring and doing other stuff and may not have videos, ringtones, and slideshows available at the time of audition. If your band has content for optional sections, then you will potentially rank higher than bands that opted not to include this content. On the contrary, if your band does not post content that is optional, we lowered the weight value so that you are not too disadvantaged. For example, giveaways have a weight value of 5. If you do not have giveaways, you will receive a 0 out of a potential 5.
Should we fill out Sections that are Optional?: Yes, we recommend it! If you’re serious about making music a full-time career or are inspired to make it big one day, you should market yourself like a business and separate yourself from all the other millions of bands. Great music is a given, but your image and brand will allow fans from around the world to identify with your music and get the word out. You need fans to feel your vibe and connect to your brand. If you have a video, ringtones, and a slideshow, then definitely showcase them!
How does our band benefit if we rank high on indieSolo?: First and foremost, the feedback is of great value all on its own. These are YOUR fans, or potential fans, speaking directly to you. If your bandHYPE score is high, you will rank higher in the Archives section. Many of our members will be searching the archives to discover new bands and new music. Most people will search for the top rated bands first. This means additional exposure for your band. Also, we plan to have an Encore feature for our top rated bands. There will be further marketing opportunities for our top-performing bands to do more promotions on indieSolo.
Our band does not have a music video? Can we post a video of a live gig?: Yes. Any video will do as long as it works towards your benefit. It doesn’t have to be big budget, just video tape a live gig and let the world see your onstage energy! If you want to capture your band’s personality on video, just grab a camera or cell phone and video tape your band and post it on YouTube. If you’re not making videos, you’re missing out on a huge viral marketing opportunity, especially with the popularity of video hosting sites such as YouTube. Reminder, if you don’t post a video, you will lose the potential to score 5 pts. Whatever you decide, just make sure that all the copyrights to the content belong to you.
We don’t have ringtones? Where do we get them from and is there a cost?: Although ringtones are optional, we are giving bands a 5 point bonus just for having them! Now is the perfect time to get on board and tap into the ringtone revolution. What better way to connect with your fans than to offer them your music while they are out and about. Not only will they hear your tones, so will their friends! We have partnered with one of the largest ringtone companies in the world! Check out MyxerTones. Their technology easily converts your music into ringtones and best of all, it creates HTML code so you could post them anywhere on the Net, even MySpace. Share them or sell them…it’s up to you and YES, artist accounts at Myxertones are FREE!
Will our band be able to sell our CDs, t-shirts, and swag on indieSolo?: Yes. We will provide links to your sites where your merch and CD’s are sold. For CD’s, if you don’t already have an account at CD Baby, we highly recommend you open an artist account. CD Baby is the world’s largest online retailer and distributor of independent CDs and is the first place music fans check when they are looking to make a purchase.
Will our ranking be visible on the day we are featured on indieSolo?: Yes. You will be able to see how your band is scoring in real-time throughout the course of the day! Work it to your advantage and get your fans to drop by and vote. It’s a great excuse to send them an email and let them know that you were ONE of 365 bands chosen to be on indieSolo! Create the HYPE and let them see your latest pics, buy your CDs, hear your new songs, see your best video, and maybe they’ll even donate money as well!
Will you provide marketing material to promote our spotlight on indieSolo?: Yes! We’re all about Marketing and Promotion! We will provide you with a bunch of marketing tips and tools, including a selection of web banners and HTML codes that will link to our site. Choose your favorite banner and post in on your MySpace, send comments with it, or post it on a MySpace bulletin to your friends. Don’t forget that just by being featured on indieSolo you will also be accessing a TON of other music fans from all around the world!
Any other things our band can do to promote our DAY on indieSolo?: Yes! Add us to your top friend’s list on MySpace www.myspace.com/indieSolo weeks before your feature. As soon as you get word on the exact date, edit your profile name on MySpace to read: YourBandName followed by “1 of 365 bands selected to be featured on indieSolo.com on day/month/year!” Every time someone adds you to their list or when you send out emails or post, your date on indieSolo will be promoted.
Great marketing ideas so far, got any more?: Yes! We’re never short on ideas! Post comments to your MySpace friends and promote the fact that you’ll be featured on indieSolo. We’ll give you special banners for this too! We also recommend that you send out a blog promoting the day plus get your street team to put the word out! The day before your spotlight feature on indieSolo, send a mass email to all your fans and tell them to visit indieSolo, sign-up and vote! Remember, this is your day on indieSolo – only 365 bands a year get to be featured so make it a big deal as you earned this spot! Create the HYPE and buzz and let your fans know just how rocking and riveting your band is!
Will we get feedback from indieSolo members?: Yes. At the end of the day, your band will receive a RockNRoll report card summarizing your day’s performance. It’s valuable feedback that any serious band should welcome, particularly because its coming from music fans! Use it to your advantage and make any adjustments that you think will help your band or make it even better! Also, drop by everyday to indieSolo and see how other bands from around the world are marketing themselves! IndieSolo is all about promotion, a necessity in today's music world.