Advertising

So this will be the first look into some of the different areas a band or artist can use to get the word out. This will also be the fist part of your over all planning to a successful music career.

Advertising is one thing, no matter what, you and everyone in the band should be doing from the beginning. Start out simple and affordable to save the budget. Unless you have scads of cash sitting around for big budget promotions.

Once you have a band name, a logo, a hand full of songs, and a show you need to get the word out. The first things you need to think about to get people into the show are:

• Hand Bills
• Flyer's
• Word of mouth
• E-mail
• Web site updates
• Social Media networks

The first places to look at and hit are the free avenues like twitter, facebook, myspace and your own web site. Then make sure you have all your details in line. The show details should follow through on everything. Put all this information onto flyer's that you can post in windows, light posts, community bulletin boards, or where ever you can find a spot. Also make up a smaller version so you can have 4 to a page that gets cut into 4 and hand them out.
These hand bills are great because you can hand out 4 times as many for the cost of a flyer.
Where do you go with hand bills?
Some Ideas would Be:

• Local coffee shops
• Different local events
• Other shows
• Leave some on the tables at the library
• Record shops
• Book stores

Once you start thinking creatively you can come up with 100's of places people go in and out of daily.

With email and other media networks don't over do it. If you have lots of time in advance of a show send out a simple email or message with the basic information. You want to keep it simple and cover the basics like:

• Place
• Date
• Time
• Other bands playing that night
• Ticket price / cover charge

Do this one month a head of time if you can. Then two weeks before, then one week before, and then the day before and the day of your show. It usually takes people two or three reminders before things start to stick with them. Plus sending out emails and reminders daily is a lot of work that may turn people off before they even get to your show, you can use this energy on other things. Always be respectful and cheery announcing your shows. If your up beat and positive people will be more responsive. Its like smiles being contagious, positive out will return positive.