self promotion tip : posters!

Subject: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Spartacus
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 11:09 AM

I don't know how many of you all end up making and distributing posters and fliers for gigs, but I do quite a bit of it. I recently found a web site (http://www.nara.gov/nara/nn/nns/amwest.html ) with a ton of old westen photos. If you use Word or Power point and add a little text, they make cool advertisements for your upcoming event. (I can't bring myself to put a silly photo of myself smiling with a guitar in my hand on them) anyway, the photos are fascinating to look at even if you don't use them.

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 11:59 AM

CLICK.

Nice!

~Susan

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:01 PM

They have CIVIL WAR PHOTOS too.

~S~

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:38 PM

Spartacus - When it comes to posters/flyers, you may find the results of a survey done last year in our state (Montana) interesting. When asked how they got information on the arts, a sample of over a thousand respondents gave the following response: Newspaper 56% - Radio 13% - TV 10% - Word of Mouth 6% - Internet 4% - Flyers 1% - Magazines 1% - Mailings 1% -

This survey pretty much confirmed what our small arts organization has felt for many years -- posters are useful, but, by themselves, do not give a great deal of "bang for the buck". This is of course in a rural state. If you're plastering alley walls in downtown London, it may have a more telling effect!

In my experience, posters seem to have great appeal to performers because they can "do them theirselves," or and burn off a lot of nervous energy getting out and putting them up, making them feel that if they worked so hard at plastering the town, they're bound to get a big crowd.

I'd put my bucks in a good radio spot!

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 12:57 PM

Sorry, I meant to say a "good newspaper" ad !!

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Spartacus
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 01:35 PM

Les, Fortuneatley, I live in a town with alot of events and happenings. I also know quite a few store owners who are willing to post them in windows and highly visible places. I put on a "dylanfest" charity event a little while ago and people were calling me to get copies of the posters. And actually, I love making the posters for a few reasons other than nervous energy. It's a creative outlet, for one, and I have fun memories from most of my old gigs with names and dates attached. Finally, my only expense is time. I work in an office during the week, so paper and copies are free. How could I go wrong?

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Jim Krause
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 03:27 PM

I liked the website. But I'd have to agree with LesB. I think I have gotten more notice from newpaper ads, articles, reviews and so forth than anything else.
Jim

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 03:41 PM

Cool pics!

;-)

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:27 PM

I get much of my information from flyers at concerts and festivals. We always walk around the vendor booths and collect flyers to get details on events we might attend. The good flyers give us all the concert details plus directions and phone numbers to call for more information. Sure, I get listings from the newspapers and magazines and certain newsletters and websites, but the flyers are what I keep in a folder and carry in the camper for details.

Another use of flyers is to have them ready to hand out at the song circles and "house hoots" and jams that we attend. These are the folks who are likely to go to the concerts, so it's very effective to have them available. I occasionally post flyers in public places (the library is a good one) but rely more on giving them to the select folks who are already interested. It works.

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 04:41 PM

Sparticus says:

I work in an office during the week, so paper and copies are free

It often strikes me as odd, how this type of theft is considered reasonable and legitimate. I don't suppose that your boss would agree...

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:41 PM

I'm not dead set against posters, or flyers especially, when they're used as Barabara describes -- to hand out to individuals, or for handy reference. It's just that for a cost effective ad campaign, they're a small part of a multi-pronged attack.

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 26 Feb 02 - 05:47 PM

I should add that sometimes posters can be too popular, especially if it's a well-known star like Dylan, etc. We've had live-event and film posters stolen from display cases in our lobby, and other public places, because someone wanted to hang them in their bedroom or college dorm room. While it's cool that they're so popular, it only advertises the event to a small number of the thief's friends, defeating the purpose of "attracting the masses"!

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Spartacus
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 02:16 PM

Just for the record, the guest who believes that I am "stealing" my paper and copies - My father is my boss, and no, he doesn't mind. He supports me fully, and I'm lucky to have him. So, find something else odd...

Subject: RE: self promotion tip : posters!
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 27 Feb 02 - 04:21 PM

Western photos are here. Very nice stuff - make some great CD covers -

Steve