Promoting your gigs

We always laugh when bands say to us that they organised a gig and no one turned up. When you ask them how they advertised it, they look at you as if you are barking mad…well we are but that is neither here or there.

So how can you promote it with out going overboard on the expenditure?

Well, I’m going to share a few things with you that you must agree to not share with anyone outside of your band, because if you’ve taken the time to read this you deserve the knowledge alone.

Set a budget to spend on marketing and stick to it, not a penny over. If the gig is going to earn the band £100 after expenses, you need to look at spending £50 on marketing the gig. If you can’t get posters cheap then let me know as we have a printing press.

1) Printing costs

Here is where you get your best marketing off-line, but KISS your printing (Keep It Short Simple). Black text white paper, newspapers work for a reason they are simple for the brain to process. A3 posters are what we push our bands to have to promote themselves in another town. Use your Street Team to help get these out, go in to local shops ask can you put one up in their window or staff notice boards. Hospitals are a great place to put up posters, as there are notice boards everywhere. Lamp posts are an easy target, but please be careful as some councils will fine you for littering, so check first. Keep the text simple, Band Name, Venue, Time, Cost, and keep graphics to a minimum.

2) Hit the local radio station

Hit them with everything you have, phone them, text them, post them a flyer or poster, send them an email, follow them on facebook, just do whatever it takes until they say yes. Again, keep the info that you send them simple, and keep the text simple, Band Name, Venue, Time, Cost.

If you have the time and cheek go and busk in the High Street, the worst that can happen is that you will get moved on. Note of caution…..The Lullabys did this in the new shopping centre in Bury St Edmunds, got chucked out. However, they did film it all and posted it on Youtube where the local press picked up on the story. The shopping centre were so embarrassed in the story they invited then back to do a full gig on a lorry, full PA and 600 people. Never work…..!

3) Social media

These days we all have various social media sites with thousands of follows…..so use them. Push it for all its worth and don’t be shy, they are your friends and fans and if they don’t like it they can leave. So facebook it, Myspace it, Tweet it, but most of all just do it!!!

4) Newsletters

If you haven’t already done so print yourself an info collecting sheet to take to gigs to get peoples details, you need to get the following details, Name, Town, Email and Mobile number (I will tell you why you need all those things in the future). Now every month make sure that you email a gig list and update of where the band is and what it’s up to.

In summary girls and guys shout from the roof tops, be they on-line or off.

Thanks for reading

Mark Byford

Feel Good Media

http://www.feelgoodmedia.biz

http://www.twitter.com/feelgoodmedia