how do I publicize a concert?

Subject: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 01:47 PM

I'm seeking guidance from people who put on smallish concerts. I used to know something about this, but that was before the age of computers. Now I don't know where to start, actually.

My church is sponsoring a Lessons and Carols event Dec 9th at 3 pm. It is the third time, but this time the civic group supporting us went to pieces and a small number of brave church people are trying to continue the idea. We have civic leaders to do the readings and a superb choral group called Octarium to do the singing.

The concert is in a beautiful old church in Kansas City MO. The neighborhood is quite the mixture. Our zip code includes everything from crack houses to million dollar homes.   

Octarium has a website and is on YouTube. (In fact, give them a listen to give yourself a treat.)

Basically, we have no money to buy publcity. The leader of Octarium has a handful a places to contact, but that's not much.

How do I find all the places that might put us in the calendar? Man, my knowledge is so out of date. Is radio any hope?

I have a friend who I believe can help me write the press release.

We are using brownpapertickets.com to sell the tickets, and somebody has put info on that page. I don't think it's a very good job, however. The URL is... hold on a minute.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 01:49 PM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lessons-and-Carols-an-event-of-Music-on-Troost/120660374653180

Aaargh! To read it, I have to sign up for Facebook. No way am I doing that!

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 02:57 PM

Hi neighbor! I used to live in Kansas City, just a few blocks from your church, at 3828 Virginia.

I think the best way to publicize any cultural event is person-to-person. I used to produce plays in Kansas City. Before I started producing I performed in two amateur theater companies which did conventional publicity (posters and newspaper notices), and usually there was little or no audience. When I started my own theater company, I made no public announcements of the productions at all. Everyone involved in the shows personally invited everyone we knew or came in contact with, even the cashier at the supermarket. We explained what we were doing and said we hoped they could come, and we also handed them or mailed them a hand-written invitation. Almost everyone we invited in that way came to our shows, and we always had packed houses. People who'd never been to a play before would come to see ours.

Now I'm producing folk concerts in New Jersey, and publicizing them by posters, and a dedicated web site and Facebook listings, and newspaper and e-mail notices, and little or no personal contact, and I'm getting very small audiences. I don't think that's just because people in Kansas City are friendlier and more interested in the arts. A friend here occasionally hosts programs of sacred music at her church, and she invites people personally and always draws a large crowd.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:03 PM

Leeneia, free resources you can use:

Many local papers have a "This is what's happening around town" section. Call the local paper where the concert will take place and find out. Many will plug the gig for free.

Ditto whoever the local radio stations and TV stations are.

You can get someone who is a bit more savvy than you with computers to produce a decent poster. There are businesses in Kansas City who will display the poster for a few weeks. They don't charge for that. Stick with 8 1/2 x 11" paper.

Colleges and universities in the area might allow you to post to their bulletin boards. Don't overlook student unions. They can be helpful in that regard. Also college radio stations.

The church itself could get some posters up. I'd stay away from stapling them to telephone poles, etc., because many people see that as a very small step up from vandalism.

Regarding the poster: Make it easy to read and ensure all the pertinent info is on it. I saw a beautiful poster once on which the date of the performance had been omitted.

I'm sure you will receive more ideas as the day goes on.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:07 PM

Thanks. Keep the ideas coming.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:11 PM

I'll ask Beer (Adrien) to post to this thread. He's done lots of promo for music events.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Bettynh
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:18 PM

I just Googled "what's happening in St. Louis, MO" and up came several sites that list events. Most of them seem to take the listings for free.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:25 PM

The PMFF is run entirely on donations, so we try to get the most bang for the buck in any publicity that we do.

Have someone who knows something about effective design create a black and white 8-1/2 x 11 poster for you and turn the file into a PDF. Buy a package of bright colored paper (yellow or goldenrod or lime green BRITE) at Staples or OfficeMax and pass the paper out to the group and your friends. Let them download the PDF and print out as many on the bright colored paper as they are willing to pass out or take around to hang up. Make sure libraries, local stores and coffee shops and restaurants, supermarket bulletin boards, etc. -- places people gather -- have them posted.

Send the press release to all the media in your drawing area early enough for publication date, but not so early they lose it. You don't have to physically mail them -- call the paper and find out the email address of the person in charge of events and entertainment listings. Keep a list of all these addresses on file for future news releases.

Don't forget your church bulletin!

Good luck!

Linn

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: DebC
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:32 PM

I would also add: make sure you write a good press release. Lots of examples online. Make sure that you send this to lots of media outlets. Try to get interest from your local radio, TV and print (what's left of it) outlets. Arrange for possible interviews on these outlets if possible. Calendar entries are ok, but I have found they don't really generate a lot of interest.

Jeri Goldstein, a consultant who used to be the booking agent for many USA folk performers has a great page on her Website- with excellent tips about promotion.

Good luck,
Debra

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Beer
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:33 PM

Busy making chicken stew at the monent. Be back this evening.
Adrien

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: DebC
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:40 PM

Well, that didn't work. Let's try this again:

Jeri Goldstein's Press release Tips

That should be better.

Debra

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 03:49 PM

A lot of good tips to go on. A facebook page helps get your event seen, but we found when posting public events, that we usually get people responding with reasons why they can't come to the event. That sort of gets negative vibe going before the event even happens. I agree the personal touch works, though you can only twist your friends and family's arms only so much before they don't come either. If there's an online groups like yahoogroups, you can get some internet buzz, but that relies of getting people to sign up for the group.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Beer
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 06:52 PM

Just finished typing then pressed the wrong key. Lost everything.
Great start.

Here wwe go again.

- Word of mouth is by far the most reliable way to go and it works. So get your core group (committee) to get out there and talk about it.

- e-mail, e-mail, e-mail. Get your committee to send out e-mail's but ask on them, that the recipients also pass the e-mail to their friends. Very important and a great free way of spreading the word.

- You may not like facebook but others on your committee I'm sure use it. Ask them to post information on their site. Again it is free.

- You church gathering on Sunday's or when ever must have a church bulletin or a public form that takes place. Ask that it be announced and to spread the word.

- Then there is the other media sources such as local radio station, posters,newspaper adds. But some of these can be costly. However, some do give small blurbs for free.

- get your local blabber mouth that is always telling stories or spreading rumors to deliver posters and give him/her a free ticket for their work. I gave a $15.00 ticket away and got 20 posters spread all over town. Not the one I live in but one close by. It works.

I do have a question. Is this a one shot deal or a two night show? Or is this something that will be taking place on a regular basis? How much are your tickets?

Best of luck. If something else comes to mind I will drop another note.
Adrien

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Elmore
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 07:15 PM

I used to try to get a radio spot for the artist. We had 3 public radio stations at the time. It helped.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 09:46 PM

Tony's got it exactly right. Between you and the other participants, you already know all people who will be there-you just need to let them know it's happening. The folks who mentioned email have got it right, too; get an email list of folks connected to the civic group that fell to pieces and send out a series of announcements. It you do Twitter, that could be good, too.

It would be good to make up a regular old webpage with all the info, a nice graphic, and maybe a photo(like a poster) and email and twitter it. The other stuff, even the posters, will generate much less response than simply telling the people you know.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 25 Oct 12 - 09:53 PM

Stim aced it.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 01:00 AM

My theater audience wasn't limited to people we already knew. When a show was in rehearsal, I'd talk about it to anyone I met, even perfect strangers. If they seemed interested, I'd invite them, and nine times out of ten they'd come to it.

Once it got going, people used to stop me in the street and introduce themselves and ask to be put on my invitation list. They'd tell me they knew someone who was in one of the shows, and didn't want to be excluded from future shows if that person wasn't involved.

At that point I probably could have changed over to conventional publicity. If people know it's going to be a popular event, they'll go to it for that reason. If not, you've got to give them some other reason, and you've got to make them feel wanted.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 06:21 AM

Bingo, Tony.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 08:58 AM

My cat is ill - she's been sneezing constantly and needs to go to the animal hospital this morning. However, I've read and appreciate atll the contributions. Please keep them coming, and I'll be back.

Colds in cats can get serious. When they can't smell their food, they don't eat.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 10:23 AM

basically journalists are very lazy people. Your best option is to do their job for them.

You utilise the skills of the people in your group.

Is there someone who is clever with words - he writes a press handout.

have you someone connected to a local charity. Perhaps someone whose mum has got Alzheimers or Arthritis or Cancer. Perhaps someone who works for a local hospital. This is so local people know they are helping local people bt supporting you.

The someone with a modern camera. Think up an interesting picture. Light hearted, attractive.

Put your press release and your photo into an e-mail - send it as a news story to all the local newspaper and magazine editors. all the tv stations. all the radio stations.

Have a funny amusing anecdote about your choir to tell on the air. You need the most articulate brightest sounding one.

Use the photo, make up a poster on your computer - stick it everywhere.

self help 101 - they should teach it at college.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 11:53 AM

Tony, Tony, Tony!!! You are the best!

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 12:00 PM

One way is to call every friend that you have. Another is to start a phone tree where members of the choir and everyone connected with the performance call their friends and friends call friends. Also, be sure to get a list of e-mails as well. Forget the press unless you have a contact there. The way you pack the house is starting with people you know or are close to the performance.

If you have a local radio station that has Public Address Announcements, this is also profitable.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 02:13 PM

Local newspapers and cable networks have "Community Calendar"s that are like the radio stations "Public Address Announcements"--just sent a notice that includes the name of the event, date, time, address, and ticketing information to the editor of this feature--

This is probably more important than your press release(and easier to write) because the listings reminds the people you've already told about the event. You have to get the notice out early, though, because the deadlines are often a week or more ahead of publication, which may only be weekly, and you want it to appear before the event.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 07:33 PM

I resisted Facebook for a long time, but now am very thankful that I have signed up. It is invaluable for publicizing gigs and events since many folks who attend these events are Facebook members.

When I played with the North Shore Ramblers, we had a book on the CD table for folks to put their email addresses in. We then sent a group email for every gig or series of gigs. I put the local newspapers on the group mailing list and they would post us in the What's Happening columns and often sent a photographer to cover the event.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 09:18 PM

We are a small town so we tend to have just one of everything. I like a lot of the ideas I've read on this thread- think I'll use some of them. Thanks.
We use a combination of outlets to publicise our concerts. Except for the posters every one of them is free.

#1. First and foremost we create a poster, making about 50 copies on goldenrod card stock which costs us about $8.00.
#2. There are three individuals who paper the town with the poster utilizing community-spots, i.e. inside display windows and on bulletin boards. We make sure that they hang for 8 or 10 days to include at least one weekend beforehand.
# 3. We send out a chatty group email detailing the booked performers. Just about every concert we get a few more names to add to the list.
#4. We have an Arts & Humanities forum calendar where we plug in our event, location, date and time.
#5. We send a writeup to our local weekly newspaper, with an eye toward their cutoff date.
#6. We send a blurb to our local newspaper a couple of days before we wish it to appear
#7. We contact our local public broadcasting radio station to cut a PSA of about 30 seconds; it will start running about a week before the date.
#8. The radio station sets up an interview date on 'Juneau Afternoon' for one or two promoters; it lasts about 15 minutes and the host plays a pertinent CD.

That's about it.
This is our 8th year of doing these monthly winter time concerts. We get a lot of positive attention.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 28 Oct 12 - 04:08 PM

Thanks to all for the ideas. (Cat will be fine. She got a shot, and vet says her eyes are not involved.)

I'm going to print this thread out ahd harvest the ideas.

I'm sorry to say that I have had very little luck with the person-to-person approach. We just had an excellent concert by two top-class performers. I e-mailed all my musical friends, and one couple showed up. They happen to live a few blocks from the venue and they also happen to owe us bigtime.

With the rest, it's "What have you done for me lately?" except that they don't bother to reply anything.

I'm still open to ideas and will be coming back.

Does anybody know how to find the names of the businesses in a certain Zipcode?

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 29 Oct 12 - 11:55 AM

I believe we this thread has lived out its useful life. If anybody thinks of a wonderful idea which has not been mentioned, please start a new thread.

Subject: RE: how do I publicize a concert?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Sep 14 - 01:42 PM

Refresh

Now that school has started and the regular concert season returns, I thought it would be a good idea to refresh this thread and search for new ideas.