Frequently-Asked Questions (& Answers)

Who should use ArtistManager.Net?

ArtistManager.Net was created especially for the Performing Arts industry: Management and Public Relations Agencies, large and small, Ensembles and Solo Artists. The entire system was designed to cater to the needs of agencies and artists who want a highly professional and functional website that they can manage and update themselves without having to pay $5,000 to $10,000 (or more!).

Do I need to install software on my computer to use ArtistManager.Net?

No. The ArtistManager.Net system is an online, web-based software that requires only a browser and an Internet connection to use.

Do I need to know HTML in order to use ArtistManager.Net?

Not at all. In fact, ArtistManager.Net was designed to make it easy for busy artists and managers to keep their sites up to date. All you need to know is how to use a computer and an Internet browser (like Microsoft Explorer or Netscape). The online Control Center uses a familiar tabbed interface that takes just a few hours to master.

Do I really need a Website?

A website has become a necessity in the 21st Century as more and more people every day use the Internet to obtain information about businesses and professionals. Having a website gives you 24-hour access to a worldwide audience. ArtistManager.Net makes it easier and more affordable to get a professionally-designed website that you (or your Assistant) can maintain. Additionally, your ArtistManager.Net website is not just a static "online brochure." It is a dynamic, powerful promotional tool that delivers publicity materials online, takes messages and press-kit requests at any time of the day, self-promotes with built-in tools like Tell-A-Friend, and will always be up to date. Your ArtistManager.Net website will become an indispensable, valuable and useful sales and marketing tool.

How long does it take to design and set up my website?

Agency Edition websites take approximately 3-5 weeks, upon receiving a signed agreement and the first payment. Ensemble and Solo Artist websites take approximately 2-3 weeks. The amount of time it takes is also dependant on how quickly we get approvals and feedback during the setup process.

Is ArtistManager.Net any different from a do-it-yourself online website service?

Yes, completely different! Your website is custom designed exclusively for you or your agency by the experienced web developers at Kulture Shock Media (creators of ArtistManager.Net). Additionally, the password-protected ArtistManager.Net Control Center, where you maintain all of your site's content, was designed specifically to meet the needs of the Performing Arts industry and is not an "Insta-Site" Wizard system that creates generic, cookie-cutter websites. We are currently not aware of any other system or service like ArtistManager.Net.

I don't have a logo, do I need one?

Artists and Ensembles do not need a logo to create an effective online image. However, Agencies must have some kind of established visual identity — such as a logo or standardized typeface and colors — that can be used to brand your website. Therefore, we recommend that Agencies without visual identities have this done prior to getting an ArtistManager.Net website (logo or corporate identity design is not included with site design/personalization). Kulture Shock Media, creators of ArtistManager.Net, can provide you with professional logo design and branding services, as they've done for years for clients such as Adobe, Braun, Canon, Gillette and Warner Bros.

I don't have my own Internet Domain (such as www.mysite.com), do I need one?

Yes, and if you don't yet have one, we can obtain one and set it up for you (see Pricing). You will be billed for Domain renewal directly by the Registrar when the initial two-year registration nears completion.

I already have an Internet Domain, do I need to transfer control to ArtistManager.Net?

No. All that's required is that you modify the DNS (Domain Name Server) settings in your Domain record once your new AristManager.Net site is ready to go live (we'll provide you with the proper settings to use). The modification simply lets all other networks on the Internet know where to find your new site.

Does ArtistManager.Net provide email accounts?

Yes, all email accounts are setup through Google Apps using your own site's domain. All clients are required to do the initial setup (we provide step-by-step detailed instructions) and then our support team finishes up the setup on our server. With your custom Google Apps account, you can manage all of your email accounts easily and take advantage of Google's many powerful features and generous storage space. The best part is that it's absolutely free!

How do I get my information into my new site?

Once your site has been designed and built, you will be given access to the online AristManager.Net Control Center where you can log in 24/7 and begin inputting and uploading all of your information and any related photos.

Can I get help resizing or uploading photos?

Yes! While the AristManager.Net system will automatically resize photos to their proper dimensions for your website when uploaded, you may want this done by the imaging professionals at Kulture Shock Media to obtain higher quality results (see Pricing for details). In addition to resizing and uploading your photos for you, we'll also expertly apply Color-Balance, Light Level and Sharpening filters to every photo which can greatly improve image quality.

Where is my site hosted? Is it secure and reliable?

AristManager.Net uses the latest web servers, hosted in a professional, secure facility served by multiple world-class Tier-1 bandwidth providers — including AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, TimeWarner, UUNET and Wiltel — over a Cisco-powered "Zero-Downtime" Network. Optimum protection for our customers is ensured by constantly updating systems and applying any new security patches to address emerging threats or vulnerabilities. Only authorized technical personnel have access to the server, so, your data is secure and safe. The AristManager.Net Control Center is also password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.

Can I get my site listed in Google?

Yes, after your site is done and has been turned on, we will submit your new site's Domain (URL) to the Google "spider," which will visit your site and index the pages within a week. Please refer to the Google website for additional information about site ranking and placement within their directory. The AristManager.Net Control Center allows you to directly control the contents of "meta-tags" that are invisibly embedded in every page of your site, which contain information used by search engines, such as a Title, Description and Keywords.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club. Hosting fees are automatically charged to your credit card at the start of each term (every 30 or 360 days) until you cancel service by opening a Support Ticket from within your website Control Center, or you can send an email to support@artistmanager.net. We do not accept checks or money orders for payment. Service must be cancelled at least 30 days in advance.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. The Custom Design Fee, Setup Fee and Recurring Service Fee are all that you pay to get a custom AristManager.Net website with continuous access to the Control Center and technical support during normal business hours. Any additional services you elect to choose will be billed according to the current rates posted on the Pricing page, but are completely optional.

What kind of technical support do you provide?

All clients have access to our Priority Online Customer Support system, accessible directly from your website's Control Center by clicking on the Support tab. If you can't find an answer in the FAQ (frequently-asked questions) section, you can open a Support Ticket that will get a priority response in less than 12 hours. New and ongoing support tickets can be easily tracked and managed in the Control Center, with replies automatically sent to your email account. The Control Center also has context-sensitive help that provides helpful hints and descriptions of fields and features.

I have a question not answered on this site. Who can I contact for more information?

Please send email to sales@artistmanager.net and someone will be in touch as soon as possible! You can also use the Messenger Form on the Contact Us! page to send us a message.

Will my personal information be made available to others?

No! Your privacy is respected, so, we will never provide your information to anyone else.

Who created ArtistManager.Net?

ArtistManager.Net was developed by Kulture Shock Media, a web development studio based in New York and Vancouver, Canada. Creative Director Tom Hudock has an extensive background developing websites and online marketing solutions for leading brand-name clients such as Adobe, Braun, Canon, Gillette, Marconi and Warner Bros. Sean Bickerton has fifteen year’s experience managing, touring and promoting performing artists, both as a former VP at Columbia Artists Management and as President of his own agency, IAG.

ArtistManager.Net represents a decade of successful collaboration for the two partners, producing digital promotional tools for leading arts organizations including Angel Records, Classical Action, Community Concerts, Empire Brass, the European Mozart Foundation, Janice Mayer & Associates, Kirshbaum Demler & Associates, Maestro! Travel & Touring, the Met Opera and Unitel Records.