My band needs to better promote itself. Problem is, we aren't sure how to go about this. We've submitted music to various blogs, and zines with little success at getting reviews (a bad review is better than no review). I've noticed some of the bands on this page seem fairly adept at getting press. Anyone have any tips for building a solid modern press kit? Do you rely on internet sites or do you submit cds? Do you have a large packet you e-mail with articles and pictures, or do you point people to your internet presence? Do you network tirelessly? Do you spend your days on the internet tweeting and updating your facebook? Do you have a lengthy form e-mail you send out? Tips people! TIPS!
I suggest playing shows with similar larger bands that will get you niticed.
this. make sure that you fork over an exorbitant amount of money to play at 5:30. that's happy hour, the place will be packed. the surefire way to get niticed.
teh pr0cess:
* Get abundance of information from record exec's limo driver
* Hijack satellite just as his TV equipped limo drives through your hometown
* Use cable access gear to broadcast live performance of The Sweet covers (ProTip: hire Tobias Beecher as your floor director).
* Sign instant bigtime record deal
* Fuck Mike Meyers
My band needs to better promote itself. Problem is, we aren't sure how to go about this. We've submitted music to various blogs, and zines with little success at getting reviews (a bad review is better than no review). I've noticed some of the bands on this page seem fairly adept at getting press. Anyone have any tips for building a solid modern press kit? Do you rely on internet sites or do you submit cds? Do you have a large packet you e-mail with articles and pictures, or do you point people to your internet presence? Do you network tirelessly? Do you spend your days on the internet tweeting and updating your facebook? Do you have a lengthy form e-mail you send out? Tips people! TIPS!
Its who you know and being around forever. Play locally alot, when i say locally i mean no more than a 20 minute drive from where you live. My band gets a draw of around 75 on the south shore, yet if we play an extra 10 minutes away that drops to maybe 15. (no these people arn't my friends, my friends refuse to go to my shows, dicks). Yeah boston is great, but the (dare i say) "scene" there is super selective, for who they'll come out for. Worcester seems to be more open.
There are some better than average local bands that get no attention, while others that suck play out on everyshow. I used to call it the throwing shrapnel effect (i personally liked the band btw).
If you're asking these questions maybe you shouldn't be playing metal.
teh pr0cess:
* Get abundance of information from record exec's limo driver
* Hijack satellite just as his TV equipped limo drives through your hometown
* Use cable access gear to broadcast live performance of The Sweet covers (ProTip: hire Tobias Beecher as your floor director).
* Sign instant bigtime record deal
* Fuck Mike Meyers
If there's one guaranteed way to a record deal, it's a cover of Ballroom Blitz.
Kid wants to know how to get shows. 90% of answers here - "play shows"
Funny, only two serious answers and one was the Rev, who isn't even in a band.
You guys gotta learn, this is the ONLY local music site left. Turning it into 4chan part 2 is a foolish move. Trolling is expected around here, but EVERY thread, every post, every time? It's gone from my favorite place where those couple retards in the bunch could crack me up every time, to just being a room full of retards. Not nearly as funny.
It really makes me sad, because while I like jokes, I also like talking about music - creating, listening, and the business around it.
My band needs to better promote itself. Problem is, we aren't sure how to go about this. We've submitted music to various blogs, and zines with little success at getting reviews (a bad review is better than no review). I've noticed some of the bands on this page seem fairly adept at getting press. Anyone have any tips for building a solid modern press kit? Do you rely on internet sites or do you submit cds? Do you have a large packet you e-mail with articles and pictures, or do you point people to your internet presence? Do you network tirelessly? Do you spend your days on the internet tweeting and updating your facebook? Do you have a lengthy form e-mail you send out? Tips people! TIPS!
as for legit answers:
The greatest promotional tools these days are usually the same places where YOU first go to discover new music. It changes very quickly nowadays. A little while ago it was Myspace. Now the biggest thing I notice is Youtube.
As for playing shows, the reality is people go to less and less now. And there's less and less places to play. It is really possible now to launch a bigger, better career putting out albums and youtube videos and playing less shows. Look at bands or musicians like Merrow, Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract, etc... who have been very successful through these means. Many of those bands were releasing material and gaining a huge following before they ever played a show as a band.
Speaking of youtube, there's also some great promotional tips and advice to be found. One guy especially seems to address every question you've asked. I advise you watch it a couple times, because the fucker talks FAST, and it's hard to follow everything he says.
Sorry to get all serious on you guys, but even if OP is a troll, people here have nothing to lose and everything to GAIN by actually giving the topic a little serious thought and a few good answers. You may find that others have a few tips you may learn from.
and really, don't just play "any show"...pick your battles and pick your shows.
YES!
It's really easy to get a gig every weekend at your local spot. Until, suddenly, people just stop coming. Overexposure can be brutal. Spread out, or be very selective.
OK, well here's a serious answer for him: to start getting more shows for exposure, reach out to other bands who are similar either online (personally, not in a public forum or message board) or if possible in person or on the phone is much better than online, and say you'd like to play a show with them. Often if they don't have a show they're on to help you get a slot, they at least can point you in the direction of who to talk to at the place they're playing to get on a different show there. Don't be afraid to call clubs and bars yourself as well.
When it comes to press kit and what to have, it's not a matter of which option to choose out of the many listed in the initial post: do them all (with perhaps a little less emphasis on having to do the Facebook/Twitter thing 24/7, which as I've already made clear in plenty of other threads I think is overkill and overrated).
post by arkquimanthorn at Jul 26,2011 12:18pm
Look at bands or musicians like Merrow, Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract, etc... who have been very successful through these means. Many of those bands were releasing material and gaining a huge following before they ever played a show as a band.
>>
these are unique, world-class bands, which helps a lot. they can generate hype by playing a few shows and having one solid release. people with good ears can tell right away and will immediately tell their friends. if you don't stand out in this way, you can promote all you want, and people won't care. and, they will tell your friends that you suck.
The problem with sites like Facespace and Titter is they aren't going to be around forever. How many of us had BEAUTIFUL Myspace pages that we built, followings and networks, etc... only to have the site turn to shit a couple years later. So what do most people do? Start again on Facebook. It ends the same way.
Put your effort and time into stuff you can bring with you. Videos can go viral, from many sites. Shows can build real life networks and make you some very good friends. (and get more shows!) Stuff like Facespace might have a good result NOW, but long term you're gonna be left hanging with nothing to show for it.
Look at bands or musicians like Merrow, Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Tesseract, etc... who have been very successful through these means. Many of those bands were releasing material and gaining a huge following before they ever played a show as a band.
these are unique, world-class bands, which helps a lot. they can generate hype by playing a few shows and having one solid release. people with good ears can tell right away and will immediately tell their friends. if you don't stand out in this way, you can promote all you want, and people won't care. and, they will tell your friends that you suck.
Overall I agree. However, Tesseract was a one man basement recording project. Acle had a huge following long before forming a band, or putting out a single album. Same with Merrow. He's never played a show at all, and yet his new album features people like Jeff Loomis, has paid his way through college, and now he is working with members of Lamb of God and Between the Buried and Me.
So yes, you DO need to be GOOD to get that kind of attention, however you need to be GOOD to get results through any means of promotion. Gigging, radio, facebook, if you suck you won't get far. (unless you've got a TON of friends. [scarecrow hill])
and really, don't just play "any show"...pick your battles and pick your shows.
YES!
It's really easy to get a gig every weekend at your local spot. Until, suddenly, people just stop coming. Overexposure can be brutal. Spread out, or be very selective.
