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| Nhlanhla Sabelo Ngwenya |
Mbabane: Going
digitally is the only option for artist to survive and sell their craft.
Artists from all sectors are left stranded after the
imposing of mass gathering restrictions as they can no longer make money.
With this record labels and international artists have
resorted in using available digital platforms to sell their music and to
exhibit their art.
While the world is trying to stop the spread of COVID-19,
important preventative measures are being taken, and it looks like the world is
changing.
Human interaction and the spaces it normally takes place in
is being drastically limited. Day-to-day life is changing by the hour as more
is learned about the virus’ transmission. The exhibitions, museums, client
meetings, workshops, festivals and more that we have come to lean on in the art
world have been closed or canceled indefinitely.
Many organizers are now offering an online version of their
events, with live streams quickly becoming a megatrend.
Visual artists has also resorted to sell and exhibit their
art online. As artists, musicians, concert halls, and art fairs across the
globe face extreme restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic organizers have
already started working on a live-streamed version of events ranging from house
parties, concerts and festivals.
Many artists have been shocked by these changes and some do
not even know what to do. With the use of the internet, there is quite a number
of online platforms that artists can use.
GOOGLE
The internet giant Google has launched a new digital
platform for arts and culture. The online exhibition offers innovative formats
created in collaboration with 120 museums worldwide exploring millennia of human
inventions in one exhibition.
Google made this platform for users to explore collections
from around the world with google arts and culture, for the culturally curious
to discover artworks, collections and stories from all around the world in a
new way. Explore cultural treasures in extraordinary detail and easily share
with friends.
Artists can also try using tools for Video-Conferencing
ZOOM
One good one could be Zoom. Zoom’s video conferencing is perfect
for small or large groups. The free plan can host up to 100 participants for 40
minutes, it is also suitable for organizations and teachers that don’t want meetings
or classes to go on hold.
GOOGLE HANGOUTS MEET
Google Hangouts has easy-to-join video calls, you can meet
face to face while still adhering to the social distancing guidelines. Meet is
fully integrated with G Suite, so you can join meetings directly from a
calendar event or email invite. All of the important event details are right
there when you need them, whether you’re joining from a computer, phone, or
conference room.
GOOGLE DUO/SKYPE/FACE TIME
For artists who just want to stay connected, see a familiar
face, or casually show what you’re up to in your studio, these are all great
(and free!) options for video chat on your smartphone or computer.
FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM LIVE
Live is the best way to interact with the art fans you
already have in real time. Host a workshop, live house parties to demonstrate a
new skill, and most importantly stay connected with your audience. Hear what’s
on their mind, and check out their Live Reactions to gauge how your broadcast
is going.
TOOLS FOR SELLING ARTWORK ONLINE
PRIVATE ROOMS
Coordinating with clients, appraisers, or art insurers
online can be hard. When you are asked for something specific and you know you
have the perfect pieces for the job—you need an easy, professional way to share
them. That’s why Artwork Archive created Private Rooms, a place to easily
prepare online viewing rooms to share a tailored collection exclusively with
your contacts.
SOCIAL MEDIA
While it’s no secret that social media makes art accessible
to a wider audience, in the days of social distancing ahead it could not ring
more true. Instagram and Facebook allow you to show your work, your process,
connect with fans and express your identity as an artist from the comfort of
your studio. It’s never too late to get started!
BLURB
Multiple income streams are what you should be focusing on
now. Blurb is your go-to site for designing, creating, publishing, marketing,
and selling print books and e-books. You can even easily sell these
professional-quality books on Amazon through the site. So if you’ve ever
thought about writing down your knowledge to share with others, now is a great
time
There are quite a number of digital music streaming and
distribution available online.
SPOTIFY
With about 20 million options placed in its catalog, Spotify
is one of the most popular names in the music streaming service industry.
Providing a streaming quality of about 320 kbps, Spotify has access from all
major platforms such as windows, blackberry, iOS and Android. From individual
artists to albums to bands and even creating a playlist, Spotify equips the
user with every feature to enhance their listening experience.
CD BABY
Baby is the most well-known place for music producers to
independently distribute and sell music. Their online interface makes it easy
for recording artists to set up an online shop. In addition, you can opt in to
get your music distributed to iTunes, Amazon Marketplace, and Amazon MP3.
It also give musicians the opportunity to sell music
directly from their Facebook Fan Pages. Moreover, they provide tips to help you
license your music on YouTube.
TUNE CORE
Tunecore is currently CD Baby’s biggest competition. While
both online stores allow you to do the same thing, there are differences in
terms of fees and commission. The biggest difference is that you get to keep
100% of your earnings! However, Tunecore requires a yearly fee PLUS an
additional fee to distribute your record to new stores.
SOUND CLOUD
Sound cloud is an online audio distribution platform and
streaming service that has grown to up to 175 million monthly users worldwide.
The platform was recognized by several investors and media platforms (one of
them is Twitter!) and gain popularity through the success of many artists it
supported.
Artists can choose between free and paid memberships, yet
both are supported for desktop and mobile devices. Sound Cloud’s key feature is
the possibility to access uploaded files through a URL or a widget that allows
sound files to be embedded on social media platforms.
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