On 05/09/2020, I received another e-mail update from the folks at Jamkazam regarding their plan/path forward toward their new "normal" for playing music online. The e-mail speaks of the beta release of a "new and improved" JamKazam that will have several sexy new features, such as:
- sharing of LIVE audio and video sessions via Facebook or YouTube,
- broadcasting of free public performances,
- integration with Eventbright to sell tickets to performances for ca$h!
- remote control of video cameras... WOW!!! and
- a link on FaceBook demonstrating the NEW JamKazam broadcast mode:
If you've logged into JamKazam lately, you'll notice some progress related to additional security features, but they still have a long road ahead. I logged on recently and was prompted to update to Version 1.0.3714, Build 1.20 of the JamKazam software. I found a few positive changes regarding the initial setup and how the musical sessions are presented onscreen. However, while playing with a few random groups I found that the usual delays due to extreme latency are still present in the current release of JamKazam. It wasn't horrible - but it had pretty much the same awkward delays while playing.
So, as an update from my last JamKazam post, where JamKazam discussed their loss of key tech support resources, funding shortfalls, technology issues and an influx of new users/fans, the JamKazam team sent another e-mail update to discuss their progress and plans to continue forward. As a former techie and current musician, I admire their efforts and I'll continue to share any other updates I receive from them. Their unedited e-mail message is below:
Hello JamKazammers – We received an outpouring of encouragement and offers to help from the last email in which we explained our current status, and we'd like to say thank you for this. It really helps us to hear how many of you love the service. Given the number of users who would like to support JamKazam's continued development, we have created a GoFundMe. If you would like to help keep JamKazam alive and innovating, please consider using the link below to contribute what you can, with our thanks. In the GoFundMe description, you'll find a list of things we'd like to be able to do with more funding, including our top target - a feature that will decrease Internet latency between musicians in sessions.
We are also announcing the beta release of a new set of features that will let you live broadcast the video and audio of your JamKazam sessions through YouTube Live, Facebook Live, or Twitch. You can broadcast free, public performances. Or you can use JamKazam's Eventbrite integration to sell tickets and generate income from paid concerts. Our new broadcast features also include remote control of all cameras in the session, with support for both individual performer shots and group/composite layouts, to add visual interest during your performances.
Here is a link to the tutorial video for the new broadcasting features: https://youtu.be/-HnbJBbbM_E
And here is a link to a Facebook Live stream that was put together by some enterprising JamKazammers who discovered and figured out how to use this feature before we announced it: https://www.facebook.com/JamkazamLIVEJams/videos/3731738046896854
If you use the new broadcast feature, please email us a link to your performance at support@jamkazam.com so we can see it. And if you are scheduling an upcoming performance, please email us let us know about it so that we can help you promote it to fans who are missing live music while in quarantine.
Best Regards, Team JamKazam
If you missed my initial or the follow-up blog posts about JamKazam, you can find all of them here by searching for "JamKazam. Finally, special thanks to Magic Ray and the other cats for helping to share this info. My email is below if you ever want to send me a note or have any questions.
Thanks!