keeping musos on time -...

BANDjoe

BANDjoeKeeping musos on time

BANDjoe

Overview.

You know when you need to achieve anything in a group setting, it suddenly becomes really hard to coordinate everyone’s availability, capability and progress? In the end this burden can make the task not even look worth doing in the first place!

Well, this is the case for a lot of amateur musicians starting a band. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take the pain of organising, following up, coordinating out of the musical process, leaving everyone free to enjoy the journey?

Well, thankfully Banjoe has the answer! This app provides one simple place for band members to keep track of everything (time, practices, songs, set lists and progress), leaving them free to be better musicians!

• organisationtool• motivationaltool• arrangingpractices• trackingprogress acrosspractices• accountabilityfor bandmembers• storesetlistsandsongs

BANDjoe

User research.

Two sets of interviews were conducted with 11 musicians to identify their goals. The following questions were asked:

How long were you in a band for?

Why not longer/shorter?

If the band is now broken up - why? What was the series of events that led up to that?

What are the reasons you wanted to be in a band?

What were your motivations for continuing the band?

How did you arrange gigs? What is hard to find gigs?

Where did you know your band mates from?

Who initiated the band?

Who drove the progression of the band?

Was there ever any difficulty in that?

How much practice did you do in between gigs and band jams?

Did everyone do the same amount of practice between gigs and jams?

Lets move to the administrative side of being in a band. How did you organise practices?

Was it ever hard find a time or place or practice?

What was the songwriting/composition process?

What are the good parts of collaboration?

What are the bad parts of collaboration?

How did you find inspiration?

What might have made this process easier?

BANDjoe

research findings.

Some conclusions were drawn from the interviews to form customer goals:

• Most musicians were in a band for less than 2 years.

• The main cause of bands ending was lack of motivation to progress. Music being a hobby didn’t take precedence in the user’s life, so when it became too much work, the band ended.

• Musicians formed their bands for the personal fun and enjoyment of playing with other people and performing. Playing together was seen as more rewarding than playing alone.

• Many bands form in the first place because of an opportunity to gig. Gigs play a big role in motivating bands to continue working hard - an end goal. Gigs should be

logged into the app so that musicians can keep tract of their progress towards that goal.

• Bands are usually formed with pre existing friends, so there isn’t a real need to source musicians through the app.

• Often one person in the band takes the reigns to drive other members attendance and practice. Rarely do bands have a balance of input. The app should help balance this and take weight off one person doing all the work.

• Practices are most commonly organised via text message.

• Unless a list of songs is written down before a practice, the band can easily get off track.

BANDjoe

Competitive Analysis.

Artist Growth

An app for professional bands which takes the place of a band manager. The most relevant aspects of this app are the tracking of team members, logging of tasks and planning for events. Banjoe will be aimed at amateur bands, so the finance and business goals featured in Artist Growth are not a necessary inclusion. This app has a very detailed but well designed interface.

Features:tracks finances, inventory, budgets, payment for band members, business growthSchedule gigs and manage eventsCollect royalties from performancesManage team members and tasks

Bandbook

This website could be described as Facebook, for bands. It has a somewhat clunky interface and does not use existing channels of social media to link musicians together. Rather, it has attempted to start up a whole new online community. The management section of this site covers a lot of the content Banjoe app will have - such as managing gigs, practices and availability. However these sections lack detail and are not available on a phone.

Features:calendar set up to put in gig times and practicesblock in unavailability on the calendarhave a database of songs on the app, then build a set list from itFinance, inventory and merch covered as well. Social element where bands can post videos, find new gigs, get discovered

Splitgigs

A website for musicians finding gigs, and for venues finding musicians. A great idea for those musicians who don’t have a large enough repertoire to carry a show alone, this app allows them to literally split a gig between them. This social element would be helpful for Banjoe customers who find gigs motivate them, but don’t know where to find them. Unfortunately this site has too much detail which is overwhelming, especially on the artist and venue pages - I didn’t know where to start!

Features:opportunities to play are listed in a similar way to Facebook events pageshas a calendar of masses of gigs which are happening throughout the yearHas an artist section which is hard to navigate - not ordered in a particular way, it just looks like all the people who signed up to the site are sitting there. Better navigation needed to figure out what this part of the site is for and how I can find the artist I’m looking forPage where you can find local venues looking for bands. Again not organised very well. upload gig posters so venues can promote

Bandlink

A website with a focus on starting bands.

Features:find musicians in your areaif you’re missing a musician you can run an online audition

BANDjoe

Kompoz

A website which allows users to collaborate with musicians across the world or across the street. With Kompoz, you can create songs with a bass player in Stockholm, a drummer in Nashville, and a guitar player in Kalamazoo.

FeaturesMusicians record their idea with any music software on their computerupload the track to Kompoz and invite others to join insongs evolve online as different people add to ityou can look at other people’s collaborations tooopportunities to get noticed - if your composition is popular

Onsong

An App that allows you to put together lead sheets and set lists for music, share it and set it up on your ipad or iPhone to roll through while you practice.

Band members could share these files and edit them so that all members see the changesA bit of a clunky navigation that looks a bit like an iPod music library (do I search artist, song, setlist or book?). A much simpler version of this would be needed for Bandjoe similar to ultimate guitar, except you can collect the songs, rather than reading them off the web or printing them out. Like a printed out sheet of music, you can scribble on it and make changes - good for collaboration

BANDjoe

Customer goals.

personalimprovement.

learntmusicasakidnowtimepoor

havenogoalstoaimformusicfallsbythewayside

collaboration.

inabandforfunhardtotrackofprogress

varyinglevelsofcommitmentcomplicatedtoorganise

zac stevens“Chill out guys”

Age 20

Occupation barista

Status in a relationship

Location sydney

Instrument guitar

“I love playing music because it’s a way to express my emotions. But I don’t think it should be a burden. If music was stressful, that would

defeat the purpose.”

motivations

• love of music & self expression• enjoyment of collaboration• socialising with mates• reward of gigs

frustrations

• clashes of opinions between members• differing expectations of band members• unclear goals for the band• songwriting takes a long time• hard to keep track of where we’re up to

goals

• find gigs to work towards• share ideas for original compositions• improve technical ability• have fun playing together

Bio

Jack lives with his parents in Lindfield and works as a barista in Surry Hills 2 days a week. He also studies philosophy at Sydney uni during the week. Jack has been playing guitar since he was 15, when he took lessons at school for three years. Since then, he continued to pursue his love of music by covering artists and writing his own songs. Playing guitar alone and trying to sing isn’t ideal, so Jack has teamed up with some mates to make music together. He likes that this gives him motivation to practice and also a sounding board for his songwriting. But he doesn’t have heaps of time to put into this thing - its fun, but not top priority.

Personality

Extrovert Introvert

Sensing Intuition

Thinking Feeling

Judging Perceiving

Technology

IT and Internet

Software

Mobile apps

Social networks

Music

Technical

Creative

Collaboration

Practice

Age 26

Occupation communications assistant

Status single

Location sydney

Instrument vocals

“As a singer, you need to rely on the skills and commitment of other

musicians to be able to perform - if you can’t trust your band, performing and

practicing can be an anxious task”

motivations

• rewards of musical achievements• loves performing on stage• playing with others is funner for singers• hanging out with friends is fun

frustrations

• not everyone practices the songs to the same level• its hard to keep track of what songs we know and how well we know them• it can be hard to organise practices and she is usually the one to initiate• sometimes has to sing songs she doesn’t like

goals

• keep track of progress so we can feel well prepared for gigs• polish songs to performance standard• work towards quality sets of music and a band ‘identity’

Bio

Tara lives in North Sydney with 3 other ‘young worker’ women. She has been singing her whole life, performing on stage and alongside bands a couple of times before. With her busy job as a communications assistant at a local paper, she doesn’t have a lot of time to practice and collaborate with musical friends - but she is still committed to being in a band and working towards small goals with the time they do have - mainly for the love of performing.

Personality

Extrovert Introvert

Sensing Intuition

Thinking Feeling

Judging Perceiving

Technology

IT and Internet

Software

Mobile apps

Social networks

Music

Technical

Creative

Collaboration

Practice

Tara Freeman “Did you even open

my email?”

BANDjoe

Tone Of Voice.

ConversationalBandjoe is a person! This is an app for people, about fun things in life (namely, music & creativity), so we don’t want to get too serious in our manner.

TothepointMusicians are busy people, they don’t have time for nonsense.

Firmbutlikeable

A bit like Mary Poppins, this app is here to keep everyone in the band committed and on target, so if you dilly dally, you’ll get notified!

TrendyWe are cool, but not trying too hard. We know music and all the lingo, but there is no need to show off.

Positive

In order to reach your targets, you might need some encouragement. This app will let you know when you’re doing well.

BANDjoe

Possible features.

• communicate with band members• assign tasks• upload sheet music• suggest songs to cover• approve songs to cover• share original material • discuss original material• edit original material• record simple demos• keep all songs and music in an organised place• create set lists• rate songs in set lists• track progress on each song• track individual band members’ practice and progress• alert band members when they’re not practicing enough• record availability for practices and gigs• arrange practice times• gig venues find bands• bands connect with gig opportunities• bands connect with other bands• create practicing schedules leading up to gigs

minimal viable product.

Easy hard

High

Priority

low

Priority

• share original material • discuss original material

• gig venues find bands• bands connect with gig opportunities• bands connect with other bands to share gigs

• communicate with band members • record availability for practices• arrange practice times• add songs to repertoire• create set lists• rate songs in set lists

• edit original material

• track progress on each song• track individual band members’ practice and progress

• record simple demos

• assign tasks• record availably for gigs

• upload sheet music• keep all songs and music in an organised place• alert band members when they’re not practicing enough

BANDjoe

BANDjoe

User Flows : addingasong

Log inSign up

RepertoirePractices

GigsCollaboration

SongsSet Lists

Songs listed in Alphabetical

Order+ New Song

Upload from: Evernote OnSong

Ultimate Guitar

Add a comment Post

Notification goes to band members

Choose file in evernoteand click ok

BANDjoe

User Flows : updateavailabletimes

Log inSign up

RepertoirePractices

GigsCollaboration

Scheduled practices

AvailabilityNew Practice

Add start dateAdd finish

dateAdd time

Add more datesSubmit

View Calendar with colour coded dates


BANDjoe

User Flows : arrangeapractice

Log inSign up

RepertoirePractices

GigsCollaboration

Scheduled practices

AvailabilityNew Practice

Calendar view - select a date

Enter a timeEnter a place

Submit

ConfirmReject

Suggest change


BANDjoe

Key Features : signup• Simple sign up requires only first name and email address from the user• “Band name” is a unique way for each group to identify one another. If a band name is already in use the app will suggest another. • When a second, third or fourth band member signs up, they can choose the existing band name and seek approval to join that group. Predictive text will provide that option in the “Band Name” form box. • Instrument is just a means of categorizing who’s role is whose and adding a personal touch to the app. In the future, this information could be used to send tips and promotions to users.

https://live.uxpin.com/306b1932f0a4fef13f6c3aee6e7a13788eb23cad?_ga=1.135336505.903875452.1428919199#/pages/21308343

BANDjoe

Key Features : homepage

• Home page contains access to each band member’s profile, which allows band members to check in on what each other have done during the week and keep accountable. • Homepage also contains a link to information about the most recent practice and the next practice coming up. This the information band members are most likely to need up front, to organise their own practice time.


BANDjoe

Key Features : sets&songs

• Songs are organised into an alphabetical library and can also be placed into set lists for ease of practice/particular gigs.• A green/orange/red light is used on each song to identify the progress the whole band, or individual members has made. For accessibility this will need to be developed into an icon and colour, rather than a round light. • On the song page, members can update how they’re going with the song or practice (view the music).


BANDjoe

Key Features : practices

• The practice landing page contains a summary of all upcoming practices and also the option to add a new one. • Members can quickly RSVP on this page, or click on the practice to gain more details. • Each practice page contains details about which songs to practice and the progress level of each song.


BANDjoe

User testing.

Task1Your name is Clare and you’re in a band called “The Smiths”. Sign up to BandJoe and find your profile page.

Task2You have a practice coming up… find out where and when it is.

Task3You’re practicing the Song “ABC” for Brenda’s Birthday Party. You’re struggling with the song - log this progress in the app.

Task4Schedule a new practice session for October 26th at 6:09pm.

BANDjoe

User testing results.

Task1Ghost text doesnt disappear when clicked on. Text in boxes is grey rather than black. Completed all other tasks succssfully.

Task2Found practice details easily. Did not use front page shortcut, but instead used “practice” button in the bottom menu.

Task3Got to the song page easily, but couldn’t figure out how to log practice. Clicked “practice now”, expecting the app to record the practice or provide more options for logging progress. Thought drop down menu with ‘log progress’ was a form and ‘practice now’ submitted it.

Task4Recalled how to do this task from an eariler page. Easily followed prompts to select songs.

Task1Stumbled on ghost texts in the forms. Couldn’t find a profile page - thought the photos on the front page were decorative, rather than links. Once he found the profile page he easily followed the prompt to ‘nag josh’.

Task2Found page, understood content.

Task3Found the song, but not via “Brenda’s party” set list. Couldn’t find the log progrss button at first - instead tried to click the names below because they look like buttons rather than a list.

Task4Did this easily but suggested including the name of who created the practice.

User#1 User#2

keeping musos on time -...

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