When is free not free?

This question was asked during a conversation with a long time friend of the Jazzcrazy website. His agent had set up a website for him, and he should have been pleased, but he wasn't. He indirectly paid for this website (via the 'cut' of his earnings that the agent took.) So why wasn't he pleased? Well the website wasn't a website, it was a page on a very well known so called 'Social Networking Site', you know, the MyFaceBookSpace (made up example, but you should get the idea) type of thing.

He was not concerned about the potential links the website would generate, but as his only point of presence on the world wide wide, he was less than happy about the 'generic' feel of the space. After all, his name is the point, not MyFaceBookSpace.com/username=12349876.htm (once again, made up!)

Social Network Sites provide FREE setup and space. It costs nothing to join. It costs nothing to update, and the design is already done. Don't pay anyone for the use or update of such sites!

He took the time to research how to use these sites, and found that indeed, he was indirectly paying for something which equates to 'flat-pack furniture'. He initially likes the look of his site, but when you look at another members page, it looked exactly the same. The name, pictures and text may differ, but it was the essential bereft of design.

He asked me to highlight to all our currently featured musicians, and those musicians we will feature, to use Social Networking Sites only as a secondary presence. Whenever you can, your website should be your name! If you pay someone, even indirectly, to update your Social Networking Site, then you need to look at changing either the cut you pay, or even getting alternate representation.

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