Nimbit has proposed a few ideas for SXSW panels this year that we feel will benefit musicians and stimulate positive discussion in the industry. To get these panels live, we need your support. Check out the listings below, then please cast your votes:

Get Real, Get Paid: Practical Direct-to-Fan
Organizer: Phil Antoniades, Nimbit’s Co-Founder & President

Artists are now empowered to take direct control of their business and relationship with their fans, and the tools are finally available to do it. That’s the good news…but what the fuck are you supposed to do? You’re a musician, not a marketing genius, right? Here’s the deal, it’s not rocket science but YOU are responsible to get the ball rolling! If you start small and act strategically about building your fan relationships, launching your new releases, offering creative merchandise, and developing campaigns to promote yourself this all becomes manageable and you can achieve a level of success never before possible for the average musician. This panel will bring together musicians, managers, marketing services, and merchandising experts who have succeeded with direct-to-fan and they’ll present you with real-world, practical advice and strategies so you can do it to.

Cast your vote here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/12805

The Convergence of Music, Social & Gaming
Organizer: Bob Cramer, Nimbit’s CEO & Chairman of the Board

The two biggest forces shaping the entertainment industry today are gaming and social networking. Let’s face it: fans want to be connected and fans want to have fun. These two factors have the potential to provide a hugely positive impact on everything we do in the music industry. We’ll go further and say if you ignore them, it may be game over dude. On this panel you’ll find the companies who are bringing social and gaming aspects to the music industry. They’ll discuss how to integrate compelling social media and gaming concepts like competition, rewards, recognition, and prizing into your direct-to-fan strategies, allowing you to have more fun with your fans, and turn them into a social movement to benefit your career.

Cast your vote here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/12867

Direct-To-Fan State of the Union: Where it’s Going
Organizer: Carl Jacobson, Nimbit’s VP of Marketing

You’ve been hearing it for years, the old music business model has disintegrated and a new model is taking form. That model has proven to be direct-to-fan, and it’s showing promise, but really it’s still in its infancy. Direct-to-fan’s impact is just starting to be realized and we’ve assembled the foremost leaders from multiple areas of the Direct-to-fan space (sales, marketing, fan funding, social media, and web presence) for this panel. Our panelists will share with you both what you need to know today, but more important where the industry is taking direct-to-fan capabilities so you’ll be ready to maximize your success with them in the future.

Cast your vote here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/9363