email lists

  • Thread starter Thread starter andyhix
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andyhix

andyhix

:dank:
Quick, stupid and simple question - For a band that maintains an email "fan" list, what is the best time frame for sending out notices? We might play one show every 3 weeks and would typically only send out one email for each show (we try not to piss off people by sending to much junk to them). So where is the line between "enough fair warning" and "close enough that they won't forget about it?"

2 weeks before the show?
1 week before the show?
The monday before the show?
3 days prior?
the day before?

I coulda made this a poll I suppose, but I didn't so too bad.
 
I'd say 5 days and include what else is going on in your band if anything. They can keep the email in their inbox and read it whenever they like and some may not check it every day.
 
I used to send out a weekly letter which always had my upcoming gigs in a calendar format and also text mentioning my most immediate gigs. I also slapped lots of links to weird little sites and such to keep the weekly e-mails more than just the same boring...."hey I'm gigging on friday". I got a lot of comments saying the newsletter was funny....thing is to keep people interested in opening it everyweek.
 
I dunno what your HTML / Java / CGI skills are, but you COULD set it up like this:

Send the initial e-mail 2 weeks before the gig and have a link in the mail that says:

"Click here if you'd like a reminder of this event 2 days before hand"

They click the link and a database is updated. 2 days before the event a predrafted reminder is sent to all the list members who clicked the link.

It's reletively easy to do, but you need a working understanding of HTML / Java / CGI(or Perl)

Also you'll need CGI access to your website's server. If you're paying for a host you should have it... if you don't then you really might wanna switch hosts.

Also, sending out those weekly newsletters is a good idea - if you're in a dry spell with no gigs you still wanna keep in touch with your fans. Never leave then hanging for weeks at a time wondering what you're up to.

- Tanlith -
 
I would send e-mails 2 weeks before hand. It just seems that when I hear about a concert with only a week's notice I don't get to work it into my schedule. Of course that depends on how many shows you are doing. If you are playing once or twice a week at a local bar I would just send out a monthly notice. If you play monthly, I would do the two weeks prior notification. I hope this makes sense and I'm not rambling on and on. Peace.
 
i wanted to ask you guys a related question....what is a good remote hosted mailing list server?
 
A great service is aweber.com. They have autoresponders so you can setup the emails in advance and schedule them.

I'd just make it a habit of sending weekly newsletters, and tell them about gigs as soon as they are booked. Just make sure to put it at the top of your newsletter that goes out 2 weeks before the gig.

Your eventually going to be offering a CD and hopefully they will buy it. Keep your music on their mind.

There's a lot you can do with a good email list!
 
thanks guys...im definitely going to check those out. I am using a service (notifylist) that isnt quite working. People arent getting their confirmation emails. I even didnt get mine for one of my email accounts, and i checked the spam folder.
 
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