Hello there, Loyal OurStagers!

We just scheduled 2 very exciting PartyLines this week and they are both going down TODAY!

Check it out…

Today at 2pm EST we’ve got Anberlin chattin’ it up with the fans!! Check out the guys and hear all about their tour and what they’ve been doing! Join early because there will be tons of fans in there!

Then, tonight at 8pm EST, we’ve got Artist Vs Poet hosting a PartyLine for their new EP!! You DEFINITELY want to join because their album hasn’t even leaked yet!! So this will be the absolute, 100%, one-of-a-kind, EXCLUSIVE FIRST LISTEN…. Here on OurStage!

So don’t miss either of these - they will be awesome!!

See ya there :)

Love, PartyLine

Hey PartyLiners!!

Just wanted to give some updates for the week…

Tonight, (Oct 28!) we have a PartyLine with She Craves at 8pm!! They will be playing their new EP, “Static” and you should definitely plan on coming because there may be some exciting surprises!!

Tomorrow, (Wed, Oct 29) at 4pm EST we have a PartyLine with Alexa Wilkinson, awesome artist, who is topping the charts in pop! She will play her new DEMO that she just wrote and recorded!! You’ll be the first to hear it! Also, she’s made the top 10 in the Comsopolitan StarLaunch Contest…So cast your votes!! There is less than a week left!! Go here: https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/splits/cosmopolitan/cos_starlaunch

Finally, on Thursday night, we have a PartyLine with Jason Lee Thomason, chat-topping Country artist!! He will debut his new single, “Out Of My Head,” exclusively on OurStage – so don’t miss this chance!!

HaPpY HaLLoWeEn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love, PartyLine

As you may or may not know, PartyLine is our new online chat and media-sharing forum where artists can connect DIRECTLY with their fans. This is your opportunity to debut your new album, promote your tour, meet your fans, kick off a contest, get feedback, test your new demo, stream your new videos, or merely just hanging with you band and goofing around with the fans. Now I know you’ve got questions bubbling… so read on!

*FOR ARTISTS*

Why Should I Host A PartyLine?

Why not?! Like we said, PartyLine is an EXCELLENT way to connect with your fans. It’s basically a free gig, except you don’t need gas money and you don’t have to load the stage! You get to be DJ for the night, and your fans come in to ask questions and tell you how amazing you are! We will promote your listening party to the OurStage community through the PartyLine Central Profile and with a feature on our home page! We will also provide you with your customized promo kit and banner to make your promotion that much easier. Did I mention it’s free? Come on, everyone loves free stuff!

What Can I Do On PartyLine? How Does It Work?

PartyLine looks very similar to a chat room. The creator of the PartyLine has a player that let’s them play music or videos from one or more playlists. It is located in the top right corner of the PartyLine. Every other member of the PartyLine hears and sees exactly what the creator is playing, and nobody else has control of the player. Below the player is a box that automatically rotates your photos (the ones you’ve added to your profile photo album!) You can also pause or skip the photos, or just let them rotate. In the middle of the screen is your chat box, where you and the fans can enter messages. You can click “show usernames” at the bottom of the chat window to see who is typing; otherwise, you will only see the other users’ pictures. On the top left is your user photo. Below that is a banner that can be customized to link to album pre-sales, merch, etc. Otherwise, it will just show the latest OurStage promotion. Finally, on the bottom left is a Participants window, where you can see all the awesome fans that joined your PartyLine! Check the image below to see an example!

What Does It Cost To Host A PartyLine?

Like anything else on OurStage.com…. IT’S FREE!!

What Other Cool Things Can I Do In My PartyLine?

Like we said above, you can play any music or videos that you have uploaded to your profile. You can also switch between playlists if you need to! Coming soon is a live video feature, too! We’ve been trying it out, but there are still some kinks, so keep it in mind and we’ll let you know when we have that ready!

How Do I Create A Playlist?

You can create a playlist for your PartyLine by going to the “playlists and players” box on the right hand column of your profile or fan club page. There, you can create playlists, and drag and drop your uploaded songs into different orders. You can make the PartyLine process easier by creating a playlist called “PartyLine Playlist” so you can easily select it when you create the PartyLine, and you won’t have to skip around during the party!

How Do I Create A PartyLine?

Go to your own profile or fan club page. In the top right corner, directly above your bio is a pink button that says “Create A PartyLine.” CLICK IT! A screen will appear that lets you name your PartyLine, give a description, pick your playlist, and set regulations on who gets to join your chat. At that point, you can also check a box that says “display my messages separately.” If you are expecting tons of guests for your party (which you should be!) please check this box! It will display all of your messages in a separate box in addition to the main chat window, so that when all of your fans are e-screaming “I LOVE YOU!” your messages don’t get lost in the noise. (Very helpful for PartyLines of about 50 or more participants.) Click CREATE, and you’re in!

How Long Will My PartyLine Last?

Most PartyLines last about an hour long. An OurStage rep will be in there to help you and party hard for that amount of time, but anyone is welcome to keep their PartyLine going longer. As long as you are having fun, we’d love you to stick around!

What Browsers Are Compatible With PartyLine?

(THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!) Please use any of the following browsers: Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 7, Safari 3. Older browsers are not capable of loading PartyLine, so please do some updates if you need them!

What Is A “Sound Check”?

We will schedule a “sound check” with you before your PartyLine so we can do a test run with you and answer any questions you may have about the feature. We want to make sure you are very comfortable with the feature. At this time, we can also do any last-minute updates to make your PartyLine extraordinary for you and your fans! This usually only takes about 15 minutes!

How Do I Join A PartyLine?

You can join a PartyLine by going to the host’s profile or fan club page. In the top right corner above their bio will be a pink button that says “Join My PartyLine.” Click that! You can also use this web code: www.ourstage.com/partyline/YOURBANDNAME/chat (replace “YOURBANDNAME” with the username of the PartyLine you are trying to join!)

Can 2 People Be Logged On To The Creator Username During A PartyLine?

NO! If your band members will be hosting the PartyLine from more than one location, please let us know so we can create dummy accounts for you to use in the PartyLine. Only one person can be logged on in the creator name, otherwise the player may skip! We have no problem with creating dummy accounts for your PartyLine use so you can host from your own computers at your own homes!

How Can I Promote My PartyLine?

To promote your PartyLine, you should send out an email blast to your fans – one a few days before the PartyLine, and another the day of! Add it to your events and gigs on your OurStage profile, as well as your MySpace and other music sites. We will create a customized banner for you that you should post on your OurStage profile, Myspace profile, your personal website, and any other music pages you have. Treat it like a gig… Post announcements, blog posts, facebook groups, anything you can to get the word out and let the fans know about your exclusive PartyLine! Again, we will also be promoting to our site through our home page, blogs, and PartyLine Central Profile.

How Should I Prepare For My PartyLine?

First, update your profile! Make sure you have all of your music uploaded that you will want to share during PartyLine, upload photos and videos; update your bio, events calendar, and make sure you are entered into channel and promo competitions for the month! ADD FRIENDS and continue to build your fan club! It is a known fact that the more members you have in your OurStage fan club, the more people will join your PartyLine! Our goal for you is to bring a minimum of 30 fans to participate in your PartyLine. The more the merrier! Make sure you have done your part in promoting, and you should be good to go!

If I Am New, Should I (Can I?) Host A PartyLine?

Absolutely! PartyLine is an excellent tool to get your name out on the site. We’d love you to get involved in any way (and every way!) possible.

How Do I Go About Scheduling A PartyLine?

Leave us a message! Tell us that you are interested! You can also email the PartyLine gurus (Daniel Palmer and Bernadette Jamison) at Daniel@ourstage.com OR Bernadette@ourstage.com

We look forward to hearing from you! Let us know if you have more questions, and keep the party going!

Yours Truly, PartyLine Central

This week is going to be a fun, informative, and interactive week on PartyLine!

We kick off the week with Nelo, tonight at 7pm EST! They will be spinning tracks from their most recent release, and taking suggestions on which song should be their next single!! Come play your part…help the band out, give your opinions, and support a new artist!

Tomorrow, we have another new artist, Adam McInnis, who will be spinning tracks from HIS most recent release, “Wherever You Are.” So come check him out and hear some new tunes! Tues. 8pm

Finally, Wednesday brings us David Rose. You may know him from Knowthemusicbiz.com or from previous PartyLines! He will be discussing a topic relevant to the current music industry! (Topic TBD) 9:00 – 10:00pm EST!

So come check out these new artists and learn a little about YOUR industry! Get tips, ask questions, hang out, do your thing on PartyLine!

And don’t forget to let us know if you or someone you know would like to host a PartyLine! We are always looking for hosts. Debut your music and videos and connect with your fans or favorite artists… Exclusively on PartyLine :)

~PL

We have a great lineup this week!

Tonight, we have 2 great bands! You’ll either have to choose between them or attend both!

At 8pm We have Agraceful spinning tracks from their most recent release, “The Great I Am.” Come support this awesome Christian band!

Also at 8, we have The Oohlas, who will be sharing unreleased music for you! Their album won’t even come out for another couple of months, so be the first fan exposed to their new tunes, exclusively on OurStage!!

Then, Wednesday brings us Vivian Darkbloom at 8pm! They will be debuting their new album before it is released to the public! They will also have some other videos and exclusive material to share, so don’t miss it!

As you know, you artists can always contact us at OurStage to schedule your own listening party. If you have new material that you want to debut, this is your opportunity! Shoot an email to Bernadette@ourstage.com, and we’ll set you up with your own exclusive listening party! If you’re a fan, feel free to send suggestions of bands you love! We always want to know who YOU want to see! So send us some suggestions :)

~PartyLine