So, you have a band and you need a web site?  You want it all...videos, streaming music, mp3 downloads, travel blog, lyrics, bios, merchandise sales and calendar.  No problem...you know what you want, so now you just go get it.

Easier said than done. I have spoken to so many bands and web site designers about this subject and heard headache story after headache story on both ends.  The number one problem?  Artistic differences of course.  

JoeHajek.net

Once in a while you'll find a great designer who just knows exactly what you're talking about.

Once in a while you'll find a great band who just wants that designer to do what they want without too much hassle.

But for the most part, it's a real struggle to get a site done for artists.

Which brings us to the price.  What is a good price for something like this?  Well, if you wanted to just price out the functionality of such a site with all the bells and whistles mentioned above, you'd probably find it running upwards of $1,500 - $5,000 depending on the web site builder (there is a large difference in price between design firms and free-lance web designers such as myself...much more overhead involved to rent an office and carry employees--workman's comp, benefits--utilities, advertising...you get the idea).

And that's just for the functionality, not for the design.  The designing is honestly the most difficult and time-consuming part of any band, artist, singer/songwriter, actor, actress web site.  For beginning web site designers, it's not such a bad thing...new projects are fun and it's a great feeling to know that someone out there wants your services.  But that soon fades when you begin to realize they don't want your style, they want your function, with their style...you are no longer an artist because you are dealing with an artist...now, you are merely a tool...tech support for their online presence.  

And vice versa...the band wants to have their image portrayed in a certain way to appeal to the fan base they are trying to reach.  It's more than understandable, it's expected and it's half the job of becoming successful.  Then they find a web site designer...a friend of the band perhaps that knows how to do flyers or has his/her own web site/myspace and they start working together, but he/she just doesn't have the technical skills to give you the functions you really need and want to have in this site. 

It's all part of the business really and it takes time to make everyone happy...or at least, not upset.  So, when you are looking for a good web site designer, understand, there is a lot that goes into making that site perfect for you.  Time is money.  You get what you pay for. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...you know, the cliches...oh, now there's a good band name.

I'll give you my quote right now, for the starter package for a band, including a myspace layout to match the site design --  $2,500 out the door. 

I will host you for $4/month (12 month minimum purchase - no refunds). 

Contact me with any questions.  I'll work with you.

- Jonathan Loudon