Hello Kiddies,
Today, we would
like to talk to you about a very important part of DIY music distribution,
which is Promotion. It is a known fact that with out promotion CD's,
merchandise, and even performances will not be worth any of the money an indie
label, band or musician have placed into the career and will not have any form
of success. Well, we are here to let you all know that it is as hard and as
expensive as you make it, but first, what is promotion, and what does it
consisting of? Bing.com defines promotion as:
1.
Advancement
in position: advancement to a more senior job or a higher rank, grade, or
position.
2.
Encouragement
for activity: encouragement of growth or development of something.
3.
Something
that promotes: something such as an advertising campaign that is designed
to promote a product, cause, or organization.
4.
Marketing
process of promoting: the act or process of making a product, cause,
organization more widely known or more successful.
The fact is all
that is fine however, if you do not know what that means, or if it is going to
cost or be free, then how do you know where to start. Do not stress the truth
is if you have done a show then you have done a form of promoting, in fact, the
moment you went and told your friends, parents, town that you are in a band.
That was the moment you went from a band member to a promoter so understand
that it is not very hard to promote, however, it can become very complicated
and expensive if you do not know what, when, why and for how long to promote a
product. Sadly, in order to go thru all that we would have to write an
extensive post which I do not have time to do, but I will give you pointers and
places to go for great help and lectures on the subjects.
Okay so, you got
a band, and 6 to 12 songs that are great, fun and more importantly, people like
them too. To which adds to the fact that people have come to like and you can
actually say that your band has fans. Now what? Here is where you must ask your
self, “Am I only doing this because I am bored? Or do I want to do this for the
rest of my life a career.” Your reason for decision of why you want to show the
world your music will vary, but congratulations, you have taken your first step
to become an entrepreneur and a businessperson. So okay, you want to make money
and let people know who you all are, there are three ways you can promote your
band for low costs, great quality, and best part is that you get a good amount
of product to make your money back and more fans by promotion. However, you
must understand that you will not become rich on these products. In fact, we
advise you to put the money back in to more products and different products so
that you give your consumer (the fan) a variety of products for a variety of
prices. However, how much do you need? It all depends on how much of what you
want to start with, as for SKCITSSA we started with vinyl stickers from www.StickerJunkie.com they have prices
like 100 stickers that start at $25. Of course, that for that price you will
have to promote their brand, but what better way to help your fellow punker
band grow as a company also. Never the less, if that is to much? You can start
with pins and buttons places like www.custumbandbuttons.com
carry prices like 1” buttons for $13 for 50 buttons and 1.25” buttons for $20
for 50. Now by selling these products alone in shows to friends, family and
fans just off stickers for $1 each is 250, 1” buttons for $1 is $50 bucks 1.25”
for $2 is 100 bucks which giving the band capital to continue to invest for
more product.
As a younger
band or as a band that has poor promoting strategies suffer of less paying
shows and less verities of places to play. We are not saying that house parties
are under your band now. In fact, if you keep to a guest list and give your
fans free cover song recordings a plan house parties with them believe us you
all see how you will see your fan base grow. However, for venues and clubs a
Press Kit is the best way to promote every thing you have. For example, the
video your best bro recorded that last house party that you all placed on www.youtube.com. This leads me to tell you
all that all Social Networks and how they are musician best friend because it
is free promotion, which is shown all around the world. Place like MySpace,
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can be used as websites for fans and venues
alike. In fact, there is actual Social Networks that are specially made for
bands links like: Reverbnation, Punkrockers.com Sonicbids, Band Camp and Pure
Volume, are Links that allow you to up and down load music of bands, add
pictures and video. More importantly they allow you to add the to other well
known links that will give your band a professional personality which will help
you to book more shows at other venues and can even help you to plan a tour
later in the future.
In closing,
we would like to add that the advise we are giving works we know this because
we as a band: SKCITSSA have used it, and as an owner of Yesska Rx, I advised
bands under our label to do it and it has worked for them. You as a reader do
not have to listen but, if you have 20/40 bucks try it and see what we are
trying to help you with, and if followed like we explained you would see that
it will help your band too. Next post, we will explain about the steps of going
into a studio and recording, believe it costs by the hour you do not have time
to mess around unless your pockets are full of cash that grows in your back
home tree. Which leads me to ask Where Do You Live? ha ha, We would also like to add that we are happy to announce that we are about to straighten our Press Kit by getting interviewed by Punk Rock 77 thru Today, which we are looking forward on and our soon to be released album too. We have a lot of great thing coming up in the near future and we hope to have everyone involved. In closing keep a listen to Jango.com and Real Punk Radio for songs off the new album and do not forget to: Like and follow us on social site, one last thing leave commits Kiddies we want to here from you all too.
Till Neat Time,
Pekado and SKCITSSA would Like:
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