OK I've posted about this before, but rather than have you fish through an old thread to fing my old response, I'll copy/paste it here:
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Before you get into this article, I'd like to point out something that I feel far too many musicians fail to realize.
Weather you're in a band, or on your own, when you decide to perform in public you become a comodity.
And a comodity is nothing unless it sells.
And NO commodity can sell without SOME kind of promotion and PR (Public Relations)
YOU are your best promotional tool and YOU are (and always will be) your primary means of PR!!!
To be successful you must accept that it's going to work out to be around 25% Performing 75% PR and Footwork. If you don't put in the 75% you WON'T get the 25%
And forget the idea that "That's the manager's job." The manager's job is first and foremost GETTING HIS OWN PAYCHECK There is NOTHING a manager CAN do that you CAN'T do for yourself!
Lemme repete that: There is NOTHING a manager CAN do that you CAN'T do for yourself!
Everything a manager does is based on skill... every skill CAN BE LEARNED -- American Idol is a cool show and all, but get real people. Unless you're willing to PAY YOUR DUES you can't seriously expect a payday!
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I've answered a question about this subject a couple times here with different ideas. But while further reflecting the idea I realised that it's all dependant on how seriously you are willing to take your band. If you're serious, then no scrifice is too great to achieve your goal. So, for those of you who are serious, and who have an open and logical mind, I decided to submit this:
Play!
Play anywhere and anytime that you can. Even for "free".
Remember, "free" is not a dirty evil word... it's often really a trade off for some form of publicity. You're going to pay for publicity in one form or another, why not as a free concert in the park?
Or better yet, if you want to attract attention and press, then take the time to arrange an actual concert at a local venue for charity? It's not as hard as you might think! Here's a basic step by step blueprint:
1) Have each band member choose a charity they would like to support, then vote or decide what order to attempt contact (You'll only be supporting one, but it may be difficult to make contact or get an initial reply from the first charity you pick, so have a couple backups handy)
2) Contact the charity and tell them of your intent to hold a "Multi Band 6 hr charity blast" on behalf of their oganization. They will assign someone to work with you. This person is trained to help convince people to help out. You will use this contact to help you do some of the legwork.
3) You contact the local venues and tell them what you want to do and that you would like them to donate their hall for an evening. If they seem reluctant then give them an "out". Let them think you're going away by saying "Could I call you back I have to take this call." Then call your contact at the charity and have him/her work over the venue manager.
4) Contact local talent and invite them to join you in helping this charity. Explain that it's good press. They'd be fools to turn down press of any kind. If some of the finer local talent is harder to convince, then have your charity representitive/pitbull talk to them. Someone may cancel and not show the night of the concert, so be sure you have enough material to fill in the space... and don't be afraid to give the stage over to the other bands to help fill that space.
5) Hit the local College &/or University and find students who are taking graphic design classes and sound engineering classes. Talk to the teachers, tell them what you're up to and ask which of his/her students would be a likely candidate to help out. She'll point you at the ones with the best talent and attitude. Explain to the student that this event will likely get some press and even if their name dosen't get mentioned, there will be a programme passed out in the lobby that will have full crdits in it. This would be something really good to show off during a future job interview no? -- Now you have a sound crew (maybe a lighting crew too), and someone to design your posters, flyers and programmes. It's shaping up. Local print shops may be willing to do the posters for free - it is a charity and therefore tax deductable - just don't try to take advantage of them.
Also while you're here, why not hit the jurnalizm class and find someone to write your press release?
6) Talk to the local music stores, encourage them to get involved by putting up the posters and supporting the musicians involved by supplying and needed rental equipment. In fact, ask them to outright sponser the event. You'd be surprised what that means. If any expenses are encured, then they often will absorb those expenses and write it off as advertising. -- Again use your charity contact as needed.
7) Submit a press release to the local newspapers, television, And Radio. Even if the event itself doesn't seem to be all that huge to you, make it sound huge. Make it sound huge and it will become huge. Maybe even have your Charity Rep hound the Local Radio station to do a Live Remote of the event. With you as a guest host/entertainer. When you're done your Set you're helping out on the Mic.
8) DO NOT LET THE MOMENTUM FALL. Keep everything hapening at a breakneck pace. If the momentum falls then intrest will fall. Keep on top of everything. Don't try to do it all yourself, delegate certain resposibilities to the other band mambers. Somone in charge of all press and advertising; someone making contact with other musicians; someone handling the venue etc.... and keep on them to keep on top of things. KEEP THE MOMENTUM MOVING TILL OPENING NIGHT!
9) Selling tickets: Local music stores, record stores or why not, pick a school in one of the poor parts of town. A school that lacks budget for sports equipment, computers etc. And use that as the charity, and have the kids sell tickets the same way they sell candy bars etc.
10) TRY TO HAVE FUN: This is going to be a lot of stressful work, but remember at the end of the night you'll have made a loud noise (so to speak) and a large mark in the community. Then -- start the ball rolling again for another project.
I know many of you will say "It won't work.", "It's a waste of time.", "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"
I say this: If you have a single logical bone in your body then you know this to be true -- Things don't happen to people. People make things happen for themselves.
Local bars and venues don't go door to door (or garage to garage) looking for talent to play their club. If they don't know who you are, then you're not likely to get stage time. But if your band recently hosted a charity event and you're in the midst of rolling out another event, then you're news. News sells booze. You walk into any venue in your area at that point and say "We'd like to talk to you about booking us, maybe you heard of the (NAME) concert last week?" then hand him the news clipping. Trust me, he'll want your bands name on his sign outside.
Buzz doesn't just happen. You have to "make" it.... that's WHY they call it "Making a buzz".
If you're still sitting there rolling your eyes and thinking I'm nuts, then perhaps you should step backwards and look at yourself and decide weather or not you're really serious about yourself and your music.
And before anone spews off comments like "I don't see your name out there on a top ten list." or "You're not famous so you're full of it!" look for some of my previous posts, you'll find that I never really took myself or my music seriously at THAT level...by choice. I had my day in the sun back in the 80's. I played all over Canada and even before an audience of 3000+ and I still say I prefer a cozy blues bar with about 15-20 peeps. I play inside my comfort zone. It's where I like to be.
