Hello David,

I am not sure that I understand and/or agree with all you said but what I can tell you is that I really like the way YOU are using the web.

You certainly have my attention… and no matter how much you will put online, I will still buy your CDs and I will certainly go to your shows.

I really like reading you…you amaze me.

xx JulieD

I think that one thing that is missing is empowering fans online. I think that there are definitely different levels of engagement from people.

You’ll have the people who actively blog, tweet etc. They develop content. You want to give them access to exclusive content, so they feel an affinity to your brand and write about you. These people get the message out.

You have the people who just surf, read and occasionally send links to their friends. To these people, you just want to maintain honesty in your communication. Whether it be blogging, media interviews or whatever. You also want to make it easy for them to send stuff around.

But I agree with you. I think content is king, especially with the interweb. Brands need to create valuable content they can trade for their consumers’ time. A pop-up ad won’t make me go to a site. A reco from a friend of a cool video/article will.

“I’ll carry you, you’ll carry me, that’s the way it could be.” Honest interaction has way more value than spam and crappy ads.

I definitely agree that content is important. Communication makes people feel involved and valued. If you put video, blogs, etc. on your page you’re showing your fanbase you want to engage them. If you never update your page, nobody will go there, no matter how much they like your music.

I have a band on my friends list that I really, really have loved for a long time. They finally got a myspace page a few months ago. The page is very pretty, but, there’s only one way communication. It’s like a big ad, period. The designer created the page so there is no way to comment or interact at all. I imagine it’s because they don’t want to have to really work to maintain it, but it just gives me no desire to go there. They don’t even allow you to add their song samples to your profile, which I don’t understand. It’s free advertising!

I have some pet peeves about the way some artists use the net. One thing I hate is getting bulletins every five minutes about every little thing. Another is people who put up surveys, but don’t give a “none of the above” option to questions, so you have to give an answer that doesn’t represent you in order to fill it out. I don’t mind surveys, but they need to be written without assumptions. I also hate pages that have way too much content. If the page doesn’t load in a couple of minutes, forget it. You have to have balance to make things user friendly. So, yeah, you have to earn your audience online just like you do on stage, I think.

I don’t like pages that are covered in nudity or profanity and there seem to be a lot of those. Maybe they think that gets attention, but it’s a turn off for me and makes me think they’re just playing cheap games to try and draw attention to themselves. I’m definitely put off by it because I know a lot of children are on computers and they don’t need to see that everywhere they go.

On the other hand, I like going to your page, David. It’s friendly and when you blog it sounds like a blog, not an advertisement. I appreciate the personal observations and comments that make you human. I like that you share your music with people to use on their profiles and that you put up videos. Your constantly changing page is fun to visit.

In my opinion, this is the best write I’ve ever read from you and you should mass email more often because not everyone thinks of roaming on your web site every day, not every one is a crazy for ever fan. Shout outs every once in a while remain necessary.

Or one could just flash their tits at the press. But I like David’s thinking better, albeit a much slower route to notoriety for upstarts. I find number 4 interesting though; it makes the assumption that what the fans want is honesty. For some this is true, for others…

Ever liked an artist’s work then later saw an interview and found out what those ambiguous lyrics really meant? Granted I’d rather not spend my money toward a discriminatory airhead, but should the art be judged by the politics of the artist? This system takes the value away from the art and puts it on the artist. Or the publicists that will eventually be employed to interact with fans on the artists behalf (possibly even under their name) on the web, if the old school system sees the value of jumping this bandwagon.

I like it, don’t get me wrong, but I wonder about the long term implications on the way we view art not to mention on the artists themselves. Are all artists ready to be the product? The pop music genre has been doing this for some time through mass media / tabloids and I don’t think society has exactly benefited from this.

~stands and applauds~ absolutely! It IS all about earning it now…anybody can place an ad…The statement you made “Every blog post, demo, inspiration, micro blog, photo, video are all more important because they are the things that bind your community together. The final product is just the climax of the story,” I think that is the key.

If how a work of art gains an audience is by connecting with the members of that audience on a personal level, then it makes sense that in building community with your audience, what you need to provide is more of that connection.

Your work is sensitive, personal and authentic. If you were to communicate with your community in a way that was out of alignment with that, then your audience would feel gypped, like some integrity was lost.

If those are the criteria, you’re definitely on the right track. But just so you know, an occasional update email would be absolutely fine. It doesn’t have to feel spammy at all, just a friendly note about some updates in content.

It’s great that you’re writing this blog and considering these issues, making us think about them more as well.

@kim
hi kim
i think you’re right. you need to be authentic to who you are. it has a lot to do with finding your online voice. talking about what you are passionate about. paris hilton can talk clothes and shoes, she knows them, she loves them. i talk about the musical process at davidusher.com and about art and social media here, both things that im passionate and comfortable talking about.

I agree with the importance of authenticity! It is hard to define but so clear to see when it is absent! But rather than worry about giving the community the content they want, why not simply make available the content you are passionate about and the community will follow. If you are passionate and excited about your topic, you are bound to find an audience even if it isnt the original one you envisioned!

I also dont think the comfort with the topic is so important. I think i would rather read about someone finding their way than preaching the course.

I knew that my sociology degree would come in handy one day! I get to talk about social issues with David Usher instead of talking about shoes and clothes. Way more exciting (and meaningful) !

p.s. Thanks for being the authentic artist that you are…Gary Coleman on Divorce court just doesn’t do it for me!

Sorry for the third post but I just got a chance to read what Shannon wrote. I whole heartedly agree with the comfort level thing. Sometimes it’s good to get off the ship and explore…right David?

What the others have said about comfort level, progression and “finding one’s way” are absolutely the point, I think…I get really bored by tech blogs, if I’m being quite honest, I am more interested in what people who are just coming to this way of communication are discovering…and I really didn’t even think of that way till I read this blog and the comments…

keep it simple….
: )))))))

no its KISS : Keep It Simple Stupid! hehe ;P (my english teacher 10 years ago teach this word to us!) hehe

i was really gonna say the last word….LOL i don’t want to sound mean : ))))
heheheh…

yes, i do agree with you david except only the thought number 2. and 4. that i somehow contradict.

as for myself, im not actually accustomed with the tech stuff but i still love to read your blog, your thoughts on it. i also further my interests on the stuff. and i will always be following your music. (ahh..but maybe thats because im already one of your true fans..hehe) :p

and its really ok if you email once in a while. it would make a happy day for the true fans and it would be a great recall for the other fans.

its great that you do communicate with your fans. i always love to get updated from you. i usually spread the words/the new news through my social network site too. ^^

I agree that being authentic to yourself, and giving people content that they want can sometimes be contradictory.

I write about many of the mundane details of my life on my livejournal, that I’m sure the people who read it could care less about. But at the same time it’s what I feel like talking about. And that is a form of authenticity as well, yes?

I think I’d sooner give up the internet altogether than allow advertising on my page. >.<

O.K… I took few times to answer to your comment and I almost gave up!
I explain.
I just don’t understand how an informations tool like web became an entertainment tool. We took this huge“electronic highway“and transformed it in a lonely playground.
We want to communicate, keep touch with friends,family etc.,so we mail them! Stay home and findout old pals on Facebook! Getting out to take a coffee with a real human, made of flesh and bones…talking,face to face…that’s real life.
But it’s appear that it’s not our society choice. we mail ones we love like they mail us.

i don’t know but maybe authenticity is about giving people what you have and what you choose rather than what they want. It is kind of like sharing gifts…

i think authenticity is what they want “An honest thought…”

I think you can expand on the term ‘authenticity’ by defining it as finding something in you as an entertainer that resonates within the people who experience your creative ouput regardles of media type. There’s a connection there and it can only be achieved in the entertainment experience by finding something universal, genuine and honest.

Steve

David, Yes. Authenticity is being able to express an honest thought. That’s what I’m looking for from you. @Lalou…I’ve never been more authentic than these last couple of weeks when I have been in touch with old friends that I toured and performed with, lived with and became family with. Facebook has allowed me to do that. My old friends know what makes me laugh or cry. We can talk openly about any subject without being judged. We enjoy talking about all the great memories we had together and are now able to see how each of us has grown in our lives. My friends are from all over the world, separated, so going out for “Coffee” isn’t possible. Honestly, It really sucks that I haven’t found other real connections with friends where I live (not from a lack of trying). I wish it was that easy…but these things take time:-)

Nice to be able to connect with an artist on the web like you take the time and effort to do David. I like that and it helps to get to know you. Sure you have your own ideas on things, the way it should be, and you’re not afraid to express your thought, again the way it should be.
Like the term “noisy world”. Isn’t it just that. And an honest thought is so valued in this world that isn’t always so full of honesty.
Content is not only important, it is crucial and paramount. The delivery method, while not as crucial, is the method of connecting to people who are in conjunction with that delivery method. I don’t read poetry much, as an example, but enjoy poetry delivered in a song. So without the song, I could miss the message. Fortunately artists use a variety of techniques that fit with them to deliver their art and their art will coincide with various people. Hey, not saying that artists all say exactly the same thing but in different ways, everyone is unique afterall. But the connections that happen between artist and audience are also unique and that is so important. I know as someone who isn’t much of an artist, I am so glad there are artists out there who are able to deliver their thoughts I can connect with. It enriches my life so much. Thank you.

With the advent of the computer and internet…everyone now has the opportunity to voice their opinion…Kudos for that. Now how the voice is used is different. I may be somewhat old fashioned…I want and wud like to hear positive things about life, we already know and understand the negative (which I find controls the personal psyche of too many people) however that one positive voice out of the thousands of negative is my inspiration…I’ve chosen to tune out the negative and concentrate on that lone positive individual and reflect and believe that things can change one voice at time….Cheers and thanks all for listening…Dee

I like your obstinacy!
But it’s wrong point.
What is the authenticity? And what’s more?