[Originally Posted: January 10, 2013]
Live tweeting a concert is one of the great functions of Twitter. For those not in attendance, following along on Twitter is, short of a webcast, the next best thing to being there. I’ve live tweeted for @Hidden_Track and for @YEMblog and while I don’t claim to be an expert, I thought I’d compile some tips to serve as a guide to live tweeting a concert. Some of this is admittedly somewhat basic stuff, and most of it boils down to: be smart and don’t be an annoying jerk. This list is also most certainly not exhaustive so please add your tips for anything I missed in the comments.
10. Announce: Before the show give your followers a heads up that you’re going to be flooding their timeline with live tweets. It also doesn’t hurt to send a tweet to the band – they might help promote you with a retweet.
9. Hashtags: Do some research before you head out to the show so your tweets will be easily searchable among other similar ones. Try and find commonly used hashtags and add them to your phone’s dictionary for faster typing during the concert.
8. Battery Life: Set your phone’s display to dim to avoid annoying others around you with an overly bright screen and to save battery power. It’s dark enough in during the show that a dimmer screen shouldn’t hamper your tweeting.
7. Pictures: Have your phone’s camera settings ready for maximum quality in dark lighting and prepared for instant tweeting through whatever image sharing service you prefer.
6. Dictionary: Like with hashtags, enter the names of song titles, band members or any other associated but uncommon words to your phone’s dictionary ahead of time so you don’t get embarrassingly auto-corrected during the concert.
5. Timing: If you plan to shoot pictures, be courteous to those near you who paid to see the show too. Discreetly take a couple shots at the very beginning of the concert and (if you must) at the very end. Don’t snap pictures from your seat all show long, that’s annoying to everyone around you. If something of particular note takes place during the show go ahead and snap a quick shot (if you must).
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You may have noticed that Phish bassist Mike Gordon has been responding to tweets from fans on Twitter with his typical dry humor over the last few months. Mike’s short and witty answers are reminiscent of his responses in the “Letters” section of Phish’s Doniac Schvice newsletters.
[Photo by Julia Mordaunt]
We’ve highlighted a few of Mike’s responses…
When asked about his favorite Phish song:
@ Well… I used to say Waves. And Bug. And Undermind. I like Kill Devil. And Light. Half Way To The Moon. K… Ok?
Responding to fan who appreciated his solo band’s version of Mound:
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Before and after Monday night’s performance of A New Life by Jim James (@jimjames) on Jimmy Fallon, show house band drummer Questlove (@questlove) professed not only his affection for the single from the My Morning Jacket frontman’s first solo LP, Regions Of Sound And Of God, but for the tune itself. Ever the prolific tweeter, Questlove raved about the chance to work with the Louisville crooner in a series of tweets culminating with James responding to the drummer’s desire for the pair to record together. Who knows what will come of the tweets below, but a Jim James/Questlove collaboration would certainly be something we’d like to see.
Made @ promise me that if I ever made an honest woman outta some gal he will sing the EPIC song we did today on @
It also wouldn’t be the first time the two collaborated for the studio, as James lent vocals and a sample of the Monsters of Folk track Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) to The Roots for their version, Dear God 2.0, which appeared on their 2010 album How I Got Over. Check out the video of James with The Roots for that track below the tweets.
most beautiful song i ever played on @. this is will be the new say anything “in your eyes” @ http://t.co/9cumEIHo
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Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra are about to take the stage in Paris at La Maroquinerie but due to Palmer’s illness which has made her unable to sing, the prolific tweeter went to Twitter to ask her followers to step up and sing at the show tonight. The karaoke style show will have a crowdsourced fan singing each song. Palmer tweeted explaining that those who want to sing had best know the lyrics, but that if cue cards or smartphones are needed she’ll let it slide. The gig is supposed to start any minute know, so keep an eye on her Twitter account (@AmandaPalmer) to see how this turns out.
brutally sick. voice literally gone. just had a long back & forth about canceling paris tonight. going to do it, but it may be a mime show.
FOR REAL. RT @: To all the french fans going to the gig tonight : study your lyrics, tonight we’re @ ‘s voice :)
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.@ @ we’ll announce new @ 2013 dates once this tour is over in early November. Gonna be a great year.
After sending out the above tweet, for the past hour Umphrey’s McGee (@umphreysmcgee) keyboardist Joel Cummins has been fielding an impromptu Q & A session via his Twitter account. Cummins, who tweets from the @goldlikejoel account, has been responding (but not using the easy to follow “reply” button) to questions about possible tour plans for the band in 2013 as well as taking inquiries about various other aspects of the band. So far it’s been quite insightful, especially when shedding background on how the band books its gigs and what all goes into the process. Curious about where the band might be playing next year? Tweet Cummins a question, he just might respond…
@ Show 200 coming up in Milwaukee mm/! Any chance of a request or shout out?
.@ it depends – is your request a good one?
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The Newport Folk Fest is currently engaged in an enlightening and rather candid discussion of the effect a radius clause has on scheduling, promoting and announcing a festival such as it. In a series of rapid tweets coming from the fest’s official account @Newportfolkfest organizers are trying to gauge fan reaction to not being able to announce big name headliners for next year’s fest due to clauses already put in place by other festivals preventing acts from being promoted within a defined area (radius) of the other fest. Basically, Newport can either announce before the festival all of the artists slated to perform which would force them to avoid the radius clause’d “big name” acts, or have those well-known headliners but make no announcement of who they are before they take the stage. The Twitter account is asking for fans’ input and have been quick to respond to replies.
In all seriousness we may not announce the 2013 lineup until the day of the show
Let’s us explain a bit more… Due to our size & non-profit status we have a VERY limited budget every year. Meaning only bands who get “it”
are the ones who come to the fest, ie not for $ but for love of the Festival
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Drummer for The Roots, record producer (and collector) extraordinaire, master tweeter – Questlove (@questlove) is a man of many talents, and you can add wedding photographer to the list. On Saturday actor/comedian David Cross married actress Amber Tamblyn at a ceremony “in the woods” in front of a group that included several well known actors and musicians. Also serving as the party’s DJ, Questlove has been firing off images from the event using the hashtag #weddinginthewoods, which included a performance from a pretty kick-ass wedding band in Yo La Tengo.
This weekend I went to the most awesome wedding ever. We had to camp in the woods. This sign greeted me. #we http://t.co/uKyRE8E2
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Recently, Sigur Rós (@sigurros) completed the North American and European legs of its 2012 world tour. Since late July the Icelandic post-rockers have played across the United States and in several countries throughout Europe, stopping at many festivals along the way (as well as two sets at the Sumer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan). While on the road and in the air the band has done a solid job of tweeting from the various venues and festival stages they’ve helmed, while also adding a little setlist porn to the mix.
first show in four years. TONIGHT. woo!
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Written by
Andy Kahn on
09.14.2012 |
Alt-J,
Animal Collective,
Cat Power,
Dan Deacon,
David Byrne,
Dirty Projectors,
Django Django,
Fang Island,
Father John Misty,
Features,
Fiona Apple,
First Aid Kit,
Grizzly Bear,
Lianne La Havas,
Maps & Atlases,
Michael Kiwanuka,
Norah Jones,
Rocket Juice & The Moon,
St. Vincent,
The B List,
Twitter
It being Friday, and just shy of half-way through the ninth month of the year, this morning I (@andykahn) decided on a whim to tweet out my Top 9 Albums of 2012 (so far). Along with the nine I chose, I also added a handful of, “Honorable Mentions,” that didn’t quite make the cut. With a quarter of the year left, 2012 has thus far proven to be another impressive year of album releases.
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If the inspired playing and stimulating song selection wasn’t enough proof that Phish (@phish) loves playing Dick’s Sporting Goods Park just outside Denver in Commerce City, Colorado, the band made it clear before and during the You Enjoy Myself the first night of the three night run.
[Photo by Andy Hill]
Prior to YEM’s start, keyboardist Page McConnell thanked their fans and commented that, “We are so happy to be back in this place, thank you guys so much…We love Dick’s, we do,” leading to a crowd chant of “We love Dick’s” and a vocal jam that included reciting of, “Page loves Dick’s,” “Mike loves Dick’s,” “Fish loves Dick’s,” “Trey loves Dick’s” and “we all love Dick’s.” The band’s obvious love for Dick’s was matched by their fans’ love for Dick’s, made apparent by several tweets from those in attendance and those webcasting who expressed love for Dick’s. The three nights prompted many “best of” tweets from fans who clearly loved their Dick’s experience.
Just listened to 8/31 @ Dick’s. Who’d have thunk that a show with KDF and Alaska would be among the best of #Phish 3.0. #ShockinglyBrilliant
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Grizzly Bear (@grizzlybear) is set to release their fourth LP, Shields on September 18 through Warp Records. Pre-sale for the album was recently launched for the follow-up to the Brooklynites’ stellar 2009 album, Veckatimest. In response to the pre-sale, founding member and multi-instrumentalist Ed Droste (@edwarddroste) has been tweeting his thoughts on album sales, record stores, packaging, merchandising and digital streaming services from the band’s official Twitter account. While the content of his tweets hasn’t been unexpected, it’s refreshing to see a band being so open an honest about the current state of the industry as it relates to album sales. Droste has been mostly waxing poetic, but has also been retweeting some replies, which are captured below.
pre-ordering ‘shields’ brings you good luck and fortune (from a fortune cookie last night! crazy!) —guess it’s advice worth taking!
Hope you all are liking it! #shields , if u do don’t forget to pick up a copy. The physical ones this go around are particularly nice! Xx
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Phish (@phish) performs tonight in Kansas City for their first time at the sold-out Starlight Theatre. It will also be the first show for music journalist McLain Johnson (@mcclainjohnson). Our friends at YEMblog (@YEMblog) hipped us to Johnson’s tweet seeking tips on covering his first Phish show.
@ Covering my first Phish show tonight? Any tips? Johnson, who writes for a variety of outlets, should be prepared for a marathon, not a sprint, as the show will no doubt push 3+ hours. He should feel free to ask those around him questions, just not during songs, and particularly not during Reba jams. And he should come with an open mind and his dancing shoes because we think it’s just fine for a reporter to get down at a show. Oh, and he should steer clear of changing words to start with “ph” in his post-show review.
What else should Johnson be ready for? Send him a tweet with the hashtag #firstphshowtips and let him know what he’s in store for. Two things we already know are what the limited edition posters and pins for tonight look like:
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The second leg of Phish’s (@phish) summer tour begins tonight at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. Just like with the first leg of tour, if you’re not able to be at a show, following along on Twitter is a serviceable way to stay connected to the night’s events. As always, the band’s official tour account, Phish: From the Road (@Phish_FTR) is a must follow, as are the feeds we’ve again posted below for your following pleasure. We’re also hoping bassist Mike Gordon (@mike_gordon) keeps up his solid tweeting of late as this segment of the tour rolls on.
The good folks at YEMblog (@YEMblog) won’t be tweeting from shows this summer. They did however previously compile a great list of Twitter users to follow for tour insights:
@rphish = The latest and greatest Phish-related content
@phishnet = A fan-run feed representing Phish.net
@Phish_Forum = Show reviews, tour tweets and more
@MrMiner = The most popular Phish blogger’s Twitter feed
@bizarchive = Scott Marks will tweet commentary from 14 shows on the first leg
@onlinephishtour = Phish conversation and links to the site’s reviews/news stories and more
@CoventryMusic = Pauly, The Joker and crew share thoughts on tour
@PhishVids = Updates and the latest and greatest Phish videos
If you’re not already, follow @Hidden_Track for updates and recaps of the shows featuring The Skinny every night of tour.
No strangers to innovative fan-interaction, Umphrey’s McGee (@umphreysmcgee) is currently hosting the first session of sUMmer school at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York. Deep in the Catskill Mountains, the five day music camp experience allows 150 of their fans and fellow musicians to interact with the band and crew. Attendees have a chance to go to workshops, Q&A sessions, jam with the band and hang out with the UM crew all week long. School was in session starting Monday and a syllabus of the activities, which run through Sunday, can be viewed here. The first reports from school have been rolling in via Twitter and we’ve rounded some of them up below.
Kevin Browning (@Soundcaresser) the man in charge of the band’s creative and business development, is on site and firing off regular updates:
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Last night during NBC’s coverage of the Olympics, a montage capturing all 19 medals won by U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps caused an unusual stir. Apparently more than a few Phish fans were watching the London Games and recognized the use of Tweezer Reprise for the video clip’s score. The recognition transferred to Twitter where “Tweezer Reprise” became a worldwide trending topic (Update: Apparently it only trended in the U.S.). NY Daily News writer Colin Jones (@Colin_Jones) tweeted this screengrab showing the trend just a few slots below Phelps.
Here are some of the reactions fans tweeted when Tweeprise was fired up.
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