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10 Ways for Unknown Musicians to Get the Word Out
By
Shel Horowitz
When Clear Channel controls the radio and the monopoly newspaper doesn't like you,
how do you win over new audiences?
The good news: there are many, many ways. Here are ten of my favourites.
1. Approach a local college or alternative radio station or community access cable
TV station with a programming idea, like a live songwriter showcase. Other musicians
will want to be a part of your show, and you'll build an audience for your own music
--and theirs.
2. Write CD or concert reviews for a local alternative (or mainstream) paper.
3. Give copies of your CD away to public radio and TV stations for their fund drive
premiums.
4. Organize, publicize, and perform at charity events for your favourite causes.
5. Lead song writing or performing workshops in the schools (these are usually paying
gigs, and all the parents hear your name). Invite some of the kids to perform with you;
they're sure to bring a bunch of relatives along who will pay for their tickets and
maybe buy a CD.
6. Announce your gigs in every community calendar. Newspapers, magazines, radio stations,
community web sites, cable TV stations--they all run event listings. Type out one
paragraph that includes a tag line about what you do, such as "Sandy Songwriter, River
City's 'Home-grown Bono,' will perform labour songs and love ballads at The Trombone Shop,
444 4th Street in Downtown River City, Wednesday, January 15, 7 p.m." If admission is
free or there's a charity connection, say so. Include contact phone number and e-mail.
7. Find Internet discussion groups related to your cause. Whether it's immigration,
voting reform, peace, safe energy, and the right to choose...there will be discussion
groups online. Post responses and include”sag"--a short on-line business card. Use
different sags for different purposes. Here's one of mine (in a real e-mail, it would be
single-spaced):
__________________________
Shel
Horowitz, mailto:shel@frugalfun.com, 800-683-WORD/413-586-2388
"I
make the world INSIST on learning why YOU'RE special"
News
releases, brochures, newsletters, ad copy, web copy, resumes, etc.
http://www.frugalmarketing.com
http://www.principledprofits.com
_____________________________
8. Set up a simple low-cost website. Include a couple of sound clips, pictures of
you performing, a place for people to sign up for your fan newsletter, a link to your
favourite musicians, and, of course, your tour schedule and gig availability.
9. Get exposure on other people's websites. Write CD reviews, endorse their music with
a blurb, submit articles on the local music scene...and always include your contact
information and a statement that encourages people to visit your site.
10. Use the letters columns. Call in to talk shows. Post messages to Web forums...
in short, use every feedback tool you have to spread the word.
Copywriter, marketing consultant, and speaker Shel Horowitz is the author of six books
and publisher of five websites, five webzines and three azines. His two most recent,
Principled Profit: Marketing That Puts People First (
http://www.principledprofits.com)
and Grassroots Marketing: Getting Noticed in a Noisy World (
http://www.frugalmarketing.com) have both won awards.He's currently engaged in a
campaign to get 25,000 people to sign--and spread--the Business Ethics Pledge:
http://www.principledprofits.com/25000influencers.html
Article Source:http://www.EzineArticles.com
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