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Interview and Exclusive Video release of “Love/Drugs” by Strange Familia

Collabor8 was created to simplify and expand a brand’s ability to connect with social media influencers and vice versa. Typically brands participating in these collaborations (collabs) offer tangible products, but recently the Collabor8 app has been expanding its services into the arts community, which is very exciting. Musicians, bands, dancers, and other artists are brands at their core. Their products are their songs, physical movements, or art pieces, which can be very intimate things to share with the world. Artists can promote their art alone, but by collaborating with other artists and brands, there can be increased visibility and awareness of their product. To highlight this, we wanted to share an interview we conducted about a recent collaboration between two musicians, a ballerina, and a watch brand. The trio collaborated in unconventional and creative ways to cross-promote each other to three audiences that may not have otherwise seen any overlap. Check out our conversations with Strange Familia and Chelsea Keefer below.

 

Love/Drugs Video Release

Collabor8: Thanks for meeting with us, can you tell us a little about Strange Familia?

Strange Familia: We’re (Brecken Jones and Garret Williams) an Electro-Pop band from Salt Lake City, Utah. We just released our self-titled debut album in April. We’ve been working together for a little over two years on the project and are really excited to finally have it released!

 

Collabor8: How have collaborations influenced SF?

Strange Familia: Our project is entirely dependent on collaborative efforts. We both have different strengths and weaknesses and through many hours working together we’ve really found an effective way to complement each other. While it can vary from song to song, Brecken develops most of the instrumentation for a track. He grew up playing instruments from a very young age and became proficient in bass, guitar, piano, and other auxiliary instruments. Before Brecken and I met, I had spent most of my time in music as a songwriter and had developed a love for lyrics and melody and was able to contribute that expertise to our process.

Outside of the band we’ve been able to collaborate with Scott Wiley, an incredibly talented audio engineer and producer. We brought him on board to mix and master our record. Scott had previously worked with bands like Neon Trees, The Moth & the Flame, and The National Parks so we knew we were in good hands, but working with another creative mind in the project really helped us take the album to a place we couldn’t have gotten to alone.

 

Collabor8: Who did you collaborate with on the “Love/Drugs” music video?

Strange Familia: We worked on “Love/Drugs” with Chelsea Keefer, a professional dancer for Ballet West. We knew we wanted to do something a little different with this song because it’s so unconventional in and of itself. It’s unlikely you’ll hear “Love/Drugs” at the next ballet you attend and it was this kind of unconventional aspect that got me excited about the project. It was only a week or so after Chelsea signed on for the project that we met to shoot the video. Brecken shot and edited the video, with assistance from the very talented Aaron Hendrix.

 

 Collabor8: What have been some of your favorite collaborations?

Strange Familia: Working on this music video was definitely one of the more rewarding experiences we’ve had. Chelsea is an incredible dancer and choreographer, and to see her interpretation of our song through dance was incredible. She is such a professional and was a real pleasure to work with.

We also just wrapped up a collaboration with Arvo which was a lot of fun. We were able to do an interview with them and a live session on their Facebook Live to promote our album release, and run a giveaway for Arvo watches and tickets to our show with Cold War Kids and American Authors last month. We’ve taken part in the New Year’s Eve parties Arvo throws, and they’ve been a great brand to work with!

Our very first collaboration was with Brad and Hailey Devine. They reached out to us to use our song “Odes” in a travel video they had made in Hawaii. Their video was really beautiful.
Collabor8: What are you looking for in future collaborations?

Strange Familia: We’re always looking for interesting projects to get involved with. Our style has always been a little left-of-center so if it’s outside the box, we’re more likely to get involved, though we certainly would consider traditional or classic projects. We’re always looking for something new to have fun with.

 

Collabor8: Why might brands or influencers want to work with Strange Familia?

Strange Familia: We love all kinds of music and hope to help provide the soundtrack to other people’s stories. We understand that Strange Familia may not be the right sound for some projects but we’ve worked on all kinds of music from folk and country music to alternative and R&B. We’ve even done some work scoring for short films. Music licensing can get very expensive and as such we are open to trade work (we’d love to work with other videographers on future music videos). If there are any videographers out there looking for music we’d love to see how we can help each other.

Collabor8: How can people connect with you?

Strange Familia: You can find us on the Collabor8 app for collaboration requests!

We’re also in a few other places:

 

Chelsea Keefer & Strange Familia

Chelsea Keefer

Collabor8: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background in dance?

Chelsea Keefer: I have been a dancer since I could walk and have experienced almost all genres of dance ranging from African style dancing to classical ballet. I have been a professional ballerina for nearly seven years touring with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and Tulsa Ballet for three years, and then getting back to my roots in Utah with Ballet West. I recently graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development, and live music is my go to when I need a release from such a strenuous yet fulfilling career.

 

Collabor8: What was the process like collaborating with Strange Familia on the “Love/Drugs” music video? How was it different from other projects you’ve worked on in the past?

 Chelsea Keefer: The process was super spontaneous with Strange Familia I had run into Brecken at a concert at Urban Lounge and he approached me about doing a music video and I said, Dude, this has been one of my dreams to collaborate with my musician friends! Garret and Brecken sent over “Love/Drugs” and it felt instinctual coming up with the choreography.

Love/Drugs is a very upbeat song that is very natural to move to, I have only done one other collaboration which was with Dane Sandberg from Quiet Oaks and it was to Peter Sarstedt’s “Where Do You Go To My Lovely”. I find when comparing the two collaborations I have done thus far that each carry a different perspective with the rhythms and lyrics. “Love/Drugs” holds a freedom within the lyrics of not caring and doing what feels right in the moment. With “Where Do You Go To My Lovely” it’s more about the loss of a relationship, and what comes with such feelings. Each have been an amazing process and I hope to do more in the future.

 

Collabor8: Have you collaborated on other commercial or artistic projects? If so, can you tell us about one of those experiences and something you learned from the process?

 Chelsea Keefer: I have worked with a few other artists on artistic projects where movement and nudity are the prominent factors within the photographs, I found these collaborations to be such heartwarming experiences when it comes to body image and how one can really learn to appreciate themselves in front of a camera. It’s an eye-opening experience and I think everyone should give it a try at least once in their lives.

 

Collabor8: How can people get in contact with you for future collaborations?

Chelsea Keefer: My instagram is @keeferchels and my email is keeferchelsea@yahoo.com.

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7 Tips to Optimize Your Collabor8 App Experience

Good afternoon Collabor8ers!

Many of you are new to the app and are just getting familiar with the platform. Others have been on for a couple weeks now and may have already started working on collabs. Either way, we have compiled 7 tips for you to optimize your profile so that you are pleasing to the eye AND the brain.

  1. Profile Photos – When you first create an account, Collabor8 will automatically pull in your most recent Instagram photo and use it as your profile image. This is to avoid blank profiles and help beautify the EXPLORE page. We recommend that you add additional photos by clicking the “PHOTOS” button in the upper-left corner and selecting Instagram as the source. It will allow you to bring in as many photos from your Instagram feed as you want. After doing so, decide which image you want to be on the cover of your profile and hit the “PROFILE” button in the upper-right corner of your screen. If you want to see some great examples of profile photos, check out Gigi Pip (brand) or Salome Brimhall (Influencer) inside the app.Add Photos to your Collabor8 Profile
  2. Location and Bio – Many brands and influencers are trying to get word out to new geographical areas, so it is important that you specify where you are located, or where most of your followers are located. (NOTE: This will soon be a “smart” location that will allow you to select your geo location and then be able to search by area, radius, etc.). Your Bio gives you a unique opportunity to tell others about yourself and what may set you apart from others. In today’s world, we are dying to “connect” with others on a new level. This might be through a style of photography, a charitable cause, a life story, etc. Let others get to know you! After all, they need to trust who they are working with and a bio definitely helps. Check out Chelsey Hale (Influencer) or Halftee (Brand) to get an idea of a good bio. Short and sweet is OK!Bio and Location
  3. Link Social Media Accounts – Collabor8 populates a “Total Reach” that accounts for all of your social media followings. It is important to add each outlet you have because some brands are looking to grow a specific platform. For example, “Brand A” might have a huge Instagram following but they really want to get more exposure to their Periscope account. So they might pass on somebody with a big Instagram for someone with a smaller Periscope following, because they are new Periscope. You never know what will pique their interest! Jane.com has done a great job at completely filling out their social media.Jane.comAs a side note, some of you have asked about the difference between VERIFIED and UNVERIFIED social accounts. VERIFIED means that we currently have an api connection that allows us to automatically tap into Instagram and Twitter (Facebook pages soon) and update the follower counts. The UNVERIFIED accounts do not currently have api connections so you must enter the number of followers that you have manually. However they do still contribute to your Total Reach.
  4. Respond to Requests ASAP – When somebody sends you a request, think of it as an opportunity to reach a new pool of people and get new content for your account. If they are a good fit, accept quickly and spark up a conversation. There are no rules on who needs to begin the chat! Feel free to send a message right away and break the ice. They are likely just as eager to work with you as you are with them. On the other hand, if they are not a good fit at the moment, click the “x” on their request sooner rather than later so they can move on as well. COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
    • Quick side note: If you get a “POSTPONED” message back from an account that you have requested, this could mean a few different things. For example, it could mean that they are currently booked for collabs, they have surpassed their collab budget for a given time frame, or they’d like to revisit the opportunity after 30-60 days. Do not feel like they have denied you. Timing is everything 🙂
  5. Keep up on collabs – On the detail screen (the blue circle with 3 lines) within each collaboration, there is a progress bar that shows how the collaboration is moving along. You can click the bar and it will open a flyout window that shows the progress in more detail. One of the BIGGEST concerns we have heard about is people who are not responded to chat messages in a timely manner. We understand that you are busy, but try your best to be as prompt as possible. See below for a graphic:Detail screen tips
  6. Keep your app updated to the most current version!! – This is unique situation for you guys as beta testers because we publish updates quite often (every 1-2 weeks) and they typically have significant changes to them. Although you can’t always see the changes, we are squashing bugs, fixing crashes and making the app faster. If you don’t update your app, the platform will be slower for you AND possibly cause issues for those that you collaborate with. So please update your app as soon as you recieve the TestFlight email notification that there is a new version. You can also open your TestFlight app at any time to see if there is an update available. NOTE: To avoid bugs being carried over to the new version, try to delete the current app on your phone first and then update to the new version via TestFlight.
  7. Curate an AMAZING platform of Collabor8ers – We want to have the best brands and the best influencers on this app so we can all work together seamlessly. If there are brands or influencers that you have wanted to work with and are not currently on the app, please let us know and we will reach out them personally to invite them to the platform. We are at your service in this regard and want Collabor8 to be a 1-stop-shop for you and your business. We are actively inactivating accounts that are stagnant to make room for people who are truly wanting to be part of this family!

We are so pumped that so many of you are loving the app and we hope to only make it better for you. We have some rad updates in the works and we hope you are excited 🙂

Have a great weekend!

-Collabor8

 

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5 Tips for Working with Influencers to Grow Your Brand

Where do you go when you’re in need of an opinion for a new dentist? A trusted plumber? A favorite travel destination?  If you’re like most people, you’ll ask those who are close to you, those whose recommendations you trust.

It’s likely no surprise then that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know and that this ranks as the #1 form of advertising. Ranking in second and third respectively are consumer opinions posted online (70%) and editorial content from various forms of media (58%).

The rapid emergence of social media has enabled everyday people to share their opinions all over the world with the mere click of a button. When people begin to share content that is valuable and relevant, oftentimes they amass large amounts of followers. While the physical world is restrained by language, cultural and geopolitical barriers, the virtual world is one large online community united in differences. This community respects the opinions of influencers. Therefore, influencers have a very powerful sway over their followers buying behaviors.

So the question becomes, how do brands effectively tap into an influencers’ audience? We’ve compiled below 5 tips when working with influencers to help brands do it more effectively.

  • Don’t Be Afraid – When we talk with brands about working with influencers they’re often skittish about how to approach one another. Many brands think that influencers are untouchable because of their large communities of followers and their celebrity status. The truth is, many influencers share a lot in common with brand owners. They in essence are a brand, marketing themselves and adding value to the lives of their respective followers. They appreciate honest and sincere relationships.

    @melburchyoga collaborating with @ifit. Beauty meets grace.
    @melburchyoga collaborating with @ifit
  • Respect Their Profession – While it can be natural to be intimidated by influencers, the opposite problem might also occur. Some brands don’t understand the many hours and the extensive effort influencers put into curating just the right content for their followers. They hear those rare stories of “Blogger X” making 7 figures and apply that stereotype to all other influencers. The truth is, most bloggers don’t make much money blogging – it’s a passion project. Therefore, respect their media kits and their rate sheets. Always be professional in dealing with influencers, because as quickly as they can become your biggest advocate, they could also become your quickest nay-sayer.
  • Be Timely – If an influencer mentions that they’d enjoy working with you and you’ve agreed on terms (product trade, rates, dates, etc.) be sure to follow through with your side of the bargain. Don’t leave the influencer wondering if you’re still interested in working with them by not replying or delaying to send product or payment. Show them respect and they’ll return it.
  • They Don’t Owe You Anything – Oftentimes brands will send product to influencers without any advance notice and just expect for that influencer to post about their product. Unfortunately, this is not the way it works! Can you imagine if your customers came into your business and expected to barter with you on your price and offered random objects as a trade? If you’d still like to send out product with no strings attached, so be it. But keep in mind – influencers don’t owe you anything until they’ve committed to help you.

    @chaserzsd and @brandonmichaelbb showing off their @blenderseyewear
    @chaserzsd and @brandonmichaelbb showing off their @blenderseyewear
  • Be Creative – Influencer marketing is a hot new avenue for brand growth and as such it is still experiencing some growing pains. Therefore, don’t always do what your competitors are doing with their social media and collaborations. Be different! Think outside the box. Find ways to engage not just an influencer and his/her followers but your followers as well. Giveaways offer lots of neat perks, but don’t always do the same types of giveaways and sponsored posts. Make them fun and engaging. PS – Looped Giveaways are soooo 2015!

As founders of Collabor8, we’ve learned these 5 tips often the hard way as we sought to grow Arvo from its infancy. Learn from our mistakes and you can thank us later. Always strive to keep things fun and engaging, and don’t be bummed if a couple of collabs don’t bring you any results. Continually fine tune your strategy and eventually you’ll understand which types of influencers and posts will drive the most value to your brand.

Did we miss any suggestions?! If so, be sure to leave us a comment below!

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