Promoting Your Band

As I mentioned in an earlier post.. be sure you have a product to promote!! Never start advertising before you know for a fact you have your stuff down to a science. Remember, you can never take back those first impressions!


With all the Internet promotion tools available these days, its easier than ever to get your name out to the masses. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter.. all great tools for free promotion. Get friends, keep them posted on your next gigs, and venues and update often!


Make sure you have music available to listen to. I prefer to have live video for promotional use. It displays your stage presence along with your musical ability's. Another great tool is using your live footage to create a promo DVD. You can add this DVD into your promo packet.
Your promo packet should include the following:

1. A band photo - Simple, clean and professional looking. You don't need to spend a fortune on a pro photographer. Just a nice clean shot on a simple background will do. You can do some editing on photo shop to add a little effect if you know how to use that sort of program or simply  make it a antique or black and white photo.
2. Your live DVD, or music examples. Make sure they are of good quality, and showcase your musical talents well.
3. Band Bio- again, simple and to the point. Don't over embellish yourself or go on forever. Just let them know who your are, and where you've been. Include big venues,and past gigs but without sounding like your bragging.
4. Contact info- ideally your contact info should be on every piece of promo you give out. Be sure to include a business card. (Again, you can make these up cheaply if you know your way around a computer)

Make sure all the above is packaged up neatly in a folder, or other type of envelope. If you want to get more pro with it all.. make it all the same style. Really try to give off the impression you have your game together, and you know what your doing. Your promo pack will stand out from the others if you tie all your promo together with same color combo, logos, and packaging.


The most important part of the promo pack, is the follow up phone call, and contact. You dont want to go to the trouble, time and money to not follow thru to make sure the venue or agent got your pack. Make sure you make human contact with a manager, owner, agent or someone. Ask their name, write it down for future contact. You will need to call. Ask anyone who's ever tried to book shows themselves and they will tell you that you need to take the initiative to get a date on the books. Don't bug the crap out of them, but rest assured you will need to be a bit persistent! Good Luck!