antispatula
Active member
how on earth do you do that when the show isn't local? How am I supposed to promote my show in another city an 1 1/2 away when I don't have any fans there? Any tips that you know to work would be great thanks!!
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danny.guitar
Guest
The internet.
MySpace
GarageBand.com
SoundClick
Just a few places but there are a lot more.
MySpace
GarageBand.com
SoundClick
Just a few places but there are a lot more.
MatthewRedStars
New member
Local message boards specialising in relevent music... don't spam too much though!
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boingoman
New member
If there aren't fans, you can always import some from home.
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cusebassman
Freakin' sweet
haha what happens if no one comes?
Do they just not pay you, or do they make you sign a contract saying "If we don't make X dollars in profit at the end of the night you play, you owe us said amount".
I've never experienced this as I haven't done much playing outside of self-hosted & promoted shows at social halls, and at events friends asked me to play at that were promoted as having multiple acts...
Do they just not pay you, or do they make you sign a contract saying "If we don't make X dollars in profit at the end of the night you play, you owe us said amount".
I've never experienced this as I haven't done much playing outside of self-hosted & promoted shows at social halls, and at events friends asked me to play at that were promoted as having multiple acts...
M
mikeh
New member
Many bands have mailing lists of current fans (collected by way of table tents, etc.). Often fans may be willing to travel up to 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Bands also use flyers/posters which can be sent to the venue a couple of weeks in advance so that at a minimum the venue's customers know you have a show (at least this shows the venue that you are trying to do some promotion).
You could try to get to the city early enough to allow some time to post flyers in local stores on utility poles, etc. (obviously if allowed, etc).
Hopefully, you have a guarentee and are not only paid as a percent of the door. Candidly, this is an age old problem with no easy solutions. Good luck!!!
You could try to get to the city early enough to allow some time to post flyers in local stores on utility poles, etc. (obviously if allowed, etc).
Hopefully, you have a guarentee and are not only paid as a percent of the door. Candidly, this is an age old problem with no easy solutions. Good luck!!!
NL5
Unpossible!
antispatula said:
Life is but a deam?
Steve Henningsgard
New member
Are you playing by yourself? Or are you playing with another, local, performer?
leavings
Member
Any time I'm playing a show out of town I do the following:
It may sound like a lot, but after a few times going through it the whole process only takes about 4 or 5 hours and costs maybe $20. I've found that I get paid well for the effort I put into promotion. Sometimes the media just won't be interested in covering your event (especially in larger cities), but even getting the entertainment writers accustomed to hearing your name has its own rewards, as eventually they'll start to recognize you and be more receptive to your solicitations.
You have to be creative and find ways to promote yourself from a distance. It's really not that difficult or complicated if you have a decent internet connection, but it makes a huge difference in how much success you'll have at your shows.
Until you make it big, you're the best publicist you have...
- Contact the local newspapers (daily paper, alternative weekly, etc) to see if they'd be interested in writing an album review, show review, or feature.
- Send a CD to any local radio stations that come close to fitting my genre along with a press kit and a request to have a live show on the air the day of my gig.
- Try to find a local music store or two that would be interested in selling my CD and helping to promote the show.
- Seek out any popular culture or event blogs in town and let them know I'm coming.
- Send flyers to the venue (some 11x17, some 8.5x11, and some small handbills). I also send CDs if it's a venue that plays live music (like a cafe or bar).
- Send a message to my e-mail list and MySpace friends
- Tell everyone I know to tell anyone they know in that city to come out to the show.
It may sound like a lot, but after a few times going through it the whole process only takes about 4 or 5 hours and costs maybe $20. I've found that I get paid well for the effort I put into promotion. Sometimes the media just won't be interested in covering your event (especially in larger cities), but even getting the entertainment writers accustomed to hearing your name has its own rewards, as eventually they'll start to recognize you and be more receptive to your solicitations.
You have to be creative and find ways to promote yourself from a distance. It's really not that difficult or complicated if you have a decent internet connection, but it makes a huge difference in how much success you'll have at your shows.
Until you make it big, you're the best publicist you have...
M
mikeh
New member
Hey leavings,
I'm impressed - with that type of attitude and advance PR, you are already well on your way to having succes!!!!!
I'm impressed - with that type of attitude and advance PR, you are already well on your way to having succes!!!!!
Steve Henningsgard
New member
mikeh said:
Assuming his music is any good
(I'm not saying it isn't! I haven't heard it 
)
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boingoman
New member
mikeh said:
Me too- I work at a venue, we do what we can. We have a website, an active email list we blast regularly, print and radio ads, and poster/flyer people. Beyond that, you are on your own. And it really takes some effort. Self-promotion besides a myspace page is almost a lost skill these days, and really helps.
Another suggestion-
Find out who the web person for the venue is, if they have one. Write your own bio/description and make sure they get it as far as possible before the showdate. Keep it short! Include a link to any band sites, and make sure there is some audio for people to listen to. Data shows that people check club listings most frequently one week before an event, and the night of the show. And that a short bio with an included link creates the most traffic on band sites. So don't make people work too hard to find out about you by having a long bio with no music. Nobody cares how you got started, or what your dog's name is, or any other cute shit. It's an easy way to control an important promotional tool.
leavings
Member
mikeh said:
Thanks man. I like to think my music is good; I guess you guys can listen to it and find out!
You emphasized a really important point, though, that self-promotion requires the right attitude. You just can't expect help from other people, they have no real incentive to help you succeed. People lead busy lives and unless they're particularly devoted to you for some reason, they're going to spend as little time as possible on you as they can.
Ice-T has a great quote that I may or may not be getting exactly right, but it goes something like this:
"If you want to be a pimp, you gotta be your own best ho."
Which to me means that you have to be the one out there on the street hustling and trying to get paid...
grn
Well-known member
the venue sucks, don't play there if they can't generate any foot traffic
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boingoman
New member
grn said:
He didn't say they don't have traffic. And more is always better.