JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum MY SPACE bah hum bug!! I'm outta there!!

Why an artist would want several thousand "friends" or more...

It's a numbers game. The more people who know and like your music, the more people talk about it, the more you sell. Myspace is not about getting feedback to being a better writer - JPF is. Myspace is social networking and exposure. Those two things can be highly beneficial to a musician. They can also be the kiss of death if your music isn't liked.

I have a direct link from my official website to Myspace as well as my blog. They're all tools that the modern musical artist should use.

Hey Tammy,
I'm gathering you may have reconsidered your decision to delete the MySpace account, though I can't seem to confirm for myself since I'm unable to locate your MySpace addy here in this thread.

Good 4 U if that's the case.

When a problem arises, it's usually best to try to tweak the system rather than throw the baby out with the bathwater. Fortunately, MySpace is offering up some tools to help us with our tweakness.

I was phished several months ago & ended up with a bunch of contacts receiving that Macys coupon on my behalf. Kind of embarrassing, however everyone knows what's happening. Changing the password is a good quick fix.

I recently added the Captcha filter to my Comments section, which is a great little tool. That's the one where the 'commenter' has to enter the displayed 'crazy letters' to help stop spammers & phishers on MySpace.

I also am watching rather closely who is requesting my friendship. If a page shows up with a bikini-clad babe requesting my friendship, I'm pretty sure she doesn't need this married, middle-aged home-bo(d)y as her friend. Usually, after clicking on her site, I can see that it is the same template offered up by one of those scammers anyway.

As for the numbers game, just yesterday someone bought my latest cd on iTunes after sending 2 beautifully worded messages to me on MySpace. I don't know how they found me, other than I am networked on over 2500 MySpace pages.

I have also been able to send out targeted bulletins in the past to 'friends' who live in a given location in relation to where I might be playing live & had people turn up as a result. What a cool feature!

Nothing is perfect on the web. For all the bad that occasionally turns up, there is plenty of good as well. As with anything else, there is always a naysayer to tell how awful something is. I see plenty of reasons to stay. To be listed right alongside major, signed artists isn't a bad thing either.

Good luck & blessings.

Jeff

www.myspace.com/javamusik

Your welcome, Tammy.

Thanks for your 'Friend' request. I've just accepted - with pleasure!

Y'know, I just figured out I've been phished, too. And didn't even notice.

I got that "free Macy's card" thing--several times, now. I get tons of spam, most of it the result of trying to score my daughter a free iPod a couple of years ago. (Nope, never got the iPod--company mysteriously went out of business. Funny about that.) But when we switched ISPs after we got DSL, I paid (still pay) the old ISP to keep my old edress around as a Webmail account. (I've still got one music publisher who persists in sending e-mails to the old edress, after promising to switch me--and I don't want to lose her.) And all the spam continues to go there. I just pop in every couple of days and delete the couple hundred accumulated spammmails.

And my MySpace was created back when I still had that old edress, and I never changed it. Huzzah!

So that's one solution. Get yourself a "spam me" identity and let the junk go where it'll really be appreciated--the trash can.

Joe

Kim:
Remember that JPF showcase at Fitzgerald's? I was in Joy Missile. You really hit it off with our singer (Colleen) especially during that one rap tune where you and Col acted as backup singers? Well, just wanted to say hi, congrats on your new album. I'm in another band called Rollo Time (myspace.com/rollotime) and was interested in all the things you do to promote your music. You totally rocked that night and you seem to have it all together. Was just interested in any advice you could provide. Thanks!
-Jon

Thanks all of you. I am going to take all of your advice. I did open a new myspace. I didn't do all this to get advertizement for myself trust me! I have hours of work to replace everything that took me weeks and months to do little by little. I just started today. Ugh! So if you get a Macy's card or bikini girl from me. I didn't do it on purpose! ok! Thanks! www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2
There are other Tammy Edwards' out there so I have to put numbers after my name all the time because they are taken. lol

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Thanks Tammy!

It seems to me that regardless of what site that I am on, I have to either wait for or ask for others' opinions on my work, now don't think that I am not aware of the fact that EVERYONE has to wait for any kind of response, it's just that I can't learn from crits and comnunications from other people if nothing comes to me.

It would be nice if more words from other people would creep up and see me more often, but I know that it's just one of those things, it comes like it comes, if at all.....

Being a part of JPF, Myspace, or any other site, it's really all the same....

I don't think there is anything wrong with asking your peers for their opinion of your work. Also, if you take the time to listen to other people's songs and then make a nice comment on their myspace site, they will often reciprocate.

Include a link to your songs or site with your signature. That encourages people to go and listen to your songs and comment about them. I can't listen to your work (or comment on it) if you don't tell me where to find it.

Hi Tammy -
so glad you reconsidered your myspace page. I did get your ads .. something told me they really didn't come from you!
I also have a personal website .. at this point, I wouldn't consider giving up the myspace .. I have been exposed to so many artists around the world .. as well, my music has gone around the world. I have gotten gigs as well as new fans showing up at my gigs from myspace. Guess we have to take the good with the bad.. looks like you've done all the right things this time.
Good luck to you!
Joanne

Hey Tammy, what, you don't like "Bands" anymore? Just kidding, I tried to add you as a freind but it came up with that message. Your new page looks good though.

Well Tammy you're not alone in being phished. In comparison though, I'd say your case was rather mild...

Alicia Keys got hit hard and some of her fans probably paid dearly for it.

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1683361,00.html?cnn=yes

Hi Jody! I posted that link already in this post with Alicia Keys. Ya, I guess things could be worse.

Steve, I sent you a friends request just now. I hope you will accept! JoAnne if you have an address for myspace I would like to add you too. Jody, I am not sure, do you have one?

Tammy

www.Tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Hey Tammy -
You can find me at
www.myspace.com/joannelurgio

Hey, Tammy www.myspace.com/bobcushing

Thanks Bob and JoAnne! I will add you right now. Anyone else? LOL I don't have very many friends. I could use some more!!

Tammy

www.TammyEdwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards1

Ok, I could use a friend. http://www.myspace.com/bwillismusic

Me, too? I'm really quite nice once you get to know me. www.myspace.com/joewrabek

Joe

Gotcha both! Just say yes!! Thanks!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Hi Tammy!

I tried to add you again and also got the "Not accepting bands" message. I'm just curious why you think bands are more of a risk. Thanks and good luck!

Andy

Hi Andy! I don't think bands are risky. lol must be some button and did or did not hit. I will check it out and add you. Sorry

Tammy

ok, not funny...I got phished today somehow...I changed all my settings to Lisa recommendations. ggggrrrr....

There is phishing everywhere there is.
There are other factors about MySpace I did'nt like and that we have all heard of.
But they are supposed to be cleaning that up.
Everything is the bottom line.
The only ones you may remotely trust is who you know in your own life and who you have established a repoire with online.
But even that is iffy.

Never leave your back turned whoever you are dealing with!

yes thanks lisa, i did that as well. i was getting the crap from bad betsy and others also. but i get more folks listening to my tunes on myspace in a month than a year at my webpage. and i sell songs there too! (i've made $80.00 so far!! YA-HOO!!) then once a month or so, i look and see what folks are downloading the most and pick the best 12 for my next cd, based on those sales. so it's a barometer for me to go by sort of. cause i never know what folks might like..oh, and anyone on here wants to be my friend ya'll are welcome! (i already have a few from JPF )so for me at least, it's been a great tool for my music!! thanks, barn.

Hi Tammy,
Just wanted to mention that I and some of my other artist friends are having a great experience with Hostbaby website services for musicians. Personally, I've been with Hostbaby now since March 2006 and have been very happy with them!

As you may know, Hostbaby is owned and operated by CD Baby, so their service is really awesome! For only $20/month they give you 5 GB of space (their sales page still says 500 MB, but this is long outdated) and virtually unlimited bandwidth so your fans can preview your songs.

Some other cool features...
* Upload unlimited images

* Edit song previews so fans can here the whole song or any portion you want them to preview.

* Offer song previews in both Hi-fi and Lo-fi versions to cover various connection speeds.

* Get discounts for paying either 6 or 12 months in advanced.

* Choose from over 40 unique templates and then select your own color pattern, add text and pictures to create your own design.
Note: This is very easy and fast so you might not have to pay for a custom design service.

* Tranfer and use your own (existing) domain name, such as "tammyedwards.com" or whatever domain you want to use.

* Full email service and support is included so you can set up unlimited email accounts or just use your primary address.

* Your service includes online website email access or you can simply download your emails to your computer.

Here's a link to check it out:
http://hostbaby.com/home

I think you'll be very happy with Hostbaby and probably save some time, money and headaches. They really make it easy to set up your own page and "do-it-yourself". You're in control of the "look & feel" of your website and if you get stuck you can always call their toll-free "800" number for any help or tech support you may need. It's all included and they really know what they're doing. I even uploaded a video that plays on my "News & Videos" page, so it's easy to get plenty of good use from this kind of musician's website service!

I bet there's lots of JPF artists that are using Hostbaby, so that's another way to exchange notes and "tips" on getting the most from your site. For example, you can also add links to your product pages on other sites such as your CD Baby retail sales pages. You can also place links on your CD Baby pages going back to your Hostbaby home page, etc.

You can try Hostbaby for FREE for the first 30 days! Actually it's a bit longer since they'll wait until the start of the next (following) month, so you might get up to about 45 days (+/-) depending on when you start. If you don't like their service you can quit at anytime, so it's completely risk free!

Please let us know if you decide to try it out.

Michael

Whoa.....What "crap" have you gotten from me? I changed up all my passwords, etc. Has this been recently?

Although MySpace is a necessary evil now a days, I do find it lacking any kind of class. But when in Rome, ya know?

Have to agree that Hostbaby is great. A bit costly, but aren�t you worth it?

Lisa,
Let me know if it works out. I had a Myspace once and shut it down after a year of having experiences such as you described. I was thinking of trying it again when I release my next album in 2008. It was a waste of time in my opinion. My friends (real life friends) were upset that I was "spamming" them...but I WASN'T! Someone was using my account to send nasty messages to people that respected me. It wasn't worth the grief or the energy I had to exert to keep my site hacker free.

Good luck!

Stanley