June, 2008

"Performing: The Reality Part 3"

by Webmaster

So, you have a web site and you email your fans each month with your schedule. You even remember to take a notebook with you to your gigs and get people there to sign up to be on your email list. You have cards printed up with your web site and email so you can give them to people who show an interest in your band while you're working the crowd. You add the new emails to your email list or Outlook group when you get home.

That's all you need to do, right?

Well, almost.

You still want to get publicity.

Take advantage of publicity opportunities to promote your events to people who just might be interested in coming to hear you for the first time. You're already using email and your web site to keep your fan base, but you still need to reach out to new people to build a bigger fan base.

Web sites, public radio stations, newspapers and magazines will publicize your events.

Use Google to find event calendars and publications in the area where you will be playing. Go to their web sites and find out their rules for publication. Or, you can get a copy of the publication and read the publication policy.

Follow their rules: include all pertinent information eg. your band name, the name and address—including city and state—of the venue where you will be playing, date(s) and time(s) of the event. Make sure you get the info to them in time for them to meet their publication dates.

Do you belong to any clubs or societies that will help publicize your gigs, your music, your music-related accomplishments? AcousticByLines.com has event calendars and an awards page for it's members. So does the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society . If you can join pertinent clubs like that, do so. And, take advantage of their publicity on your behalf.

Did you graduate from a college with an alumni association and publication? They love to hear from alumns about newsworthy events.

You might even join online groups. Google and Yahoo have special interest groups that let you interact with people from all over the world. Want to create a buzz that will get your band paying gigs out of town? It's also a good way to create interest in your web site and get more hits there.

Hint: If someone is giving you free publicity, don't tell them to go look up the details on a web site. Make it easy for them to help you. If publicizing your gig isn't worth your time, why should it be worth any one else's time?

Write press releases for your local papers, alumni magazines and radio stations. Of course, you have to do something newsworthy, but isn't playing a special gig somewhere newsworthy?

Do you have a web site? Is your current gig information on your web site? Is it complete and correct?

The idea is for you to do the work to make it easy for new people to find you.

There is so much more to being in a band than just rehearsing, playing gigs and booking gigs. You'll be successful if you are willing to make the effort to make your band work. Good luck!

Thanks for visiting AcousticByLines.com!

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