Are you Down?

​Tulsa has talent, nobody can say it doesn't if you don't belive me check it out yourself. (And if you know any artists you would like to see we are always taking suggestions.). So now your a fan. But are you really a fan? Don't just think buying from local artists is about putting food on there plate, it's bigger than that. Supporting your local artists is pivotal into investing in your local arts. But if you don't want them it, another city might. 

But I get it, life is hard and those Big Baller shoes (Retail $495) and Retro Jordan'sare all you can afford at the moment. So how can you support your local artists, when your balling on a budget? Check out these 5 ways to prove that your still down.

1. Buy Merchandise
Merchandise is a great way to support local artists. Buying things like T-Shirts, wristbands, hats, etc,... goes a long way towards helping artists do things like make more merchandise, pay for better venues to perform at, and of course make more music. 

2. Go to a Show
Going to a show is often beneficial both for the artists and the fan. The artists often have arrangements with the venue to get a percentage of ticket sales and door admission fees, which is how they might recoup some of the money for renting out a venue on the back-end. Also don't forget about buying a drink or two, the artists will appreciate it. The artists and the bar sometimes have negotiated a percentage of the bars sales for the event. So that red bull and vodka that makes you turn up will also help support local artists continue to turn up on stage. It's a win-win.

3. Share on Social Media
One of the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to support a local artists is to share their work on your social media. One post, one share of an upcoming album or event can be the one thing that makes someone's career go viral. Or get in the right hands. Or get 10 extra fans. So don't hesitate to share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, Musically, Reddit, and other message boards. Who knows you might even meet a friend out and you two become roadies of the same artists.

4. Buy the Album
Buying an album whether from the artist's personal website or through other music sites like iTunes or Google Play is still a very viable option. Also don't forget local music stores that may also sell local artist's music and give them a percentage of the sales. Sometimes these local stores offer tickets for purchase to upcoming concerts here as well. And in the end the music is what made you become a fan right?

5. Streaming 
The newest thing in this digital age is 'streaming' and their are some titans like Spotify, Apple Music, and newcomer TIDAL who are duking it out for your business. So if you have one of these streaming services, even the free ones, than a great way to support your local artists is to play their music on these streaming platforms. But there are some rules to the game as explained by Rock Star in a Spotify forum:

But how much does your play/stream really count? Here's the real breakdown of how many streams are needed per month for an artist to make the minimum wage of $1,472 (According to Digital Music News): 

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So there you have it your informed. You know the game and you know how to play it well. But the question still remains. Are you down?