Unique Marketing Techniques Your Band Uses

**jmattbassplaya** · #1 10-04-2011, 10:52 AM

Hey guys,

My band is starting to get some pretty good recognition on the bar scene around Knoxville and we're beginning to manage pretty good showings at every gig. That said, we're looking to expand operations (so to say) and hopefully increase our following. I was wondering what unique things some of you guys do to promote your band and your gigs.

One idea we have is to put Boo Bags around campus with something like, "Open if you dare" written on them, and inside we'd put candy and a flier to our Halloween weekend gigs. We've also discussed going out to our schools pedestrian walkway, setting up, and playing a mini gig of sorts for all the kids who pass us by.

So yeah, what ideas do you guys have

MatticusMania · #2 10-04-2011, 11:54 AM

For my old band, Ugly Ape, I had an idea to leave show info, flyer style, on bananas and leave them in high traffic areas near venues we were playing. Unfortunately we never got around to actually doing so...

chaosMK · #3 10-04-2011, 12:09 PM

One marketing approach which I've enjoyed watching is the route Intronaut has taken the last few years. Around five years ago everyone was using Myspace and when users migrated away from it, I think a lot of bands who relied on it lost an effective resource.

What I noticed these guys doing around that time was releasing a lot of documentary style Youtube videos. They had vids scoping out their rehearsal space and gear, the drummer explaining how a polyrhythm or the time sigs in one of their songs worked, the guitarist teaching his guitar part... stuff like that, even though they were basically still getting established. In an age where younger kids look every kind of info up on Youtube, I think it made/makes sense.

I think you need a little more technological savvy to do that type of thing, but it's my favorite approach I've seen in recent years (being a marketing nerd professionally). I think it provides a good mixture of promotion/hype, information for those who were curious, and helped the guys in this band look more legit.

The last part of this video has some cool fretless playing (used in a song that has a little Justin Chancellor thrown in)... great growly tone!

INTRONAUT - In the Valley Of Smoke Pt II - YouTube

Anyway... the more thought and *consistent* effort you spend on promoting and marketing your band, the better results you'll have. Sometimes it takes months of handing out hundreds of flyers before things start catching. I'm just saying... don't make an effort once and be disappointed if the immediate results aren't noticeable. I think if someone hears about your band 3-5 different times, they might possibly show... at least they'll think you aren't fresh out of the garage.

Phalex · #4 10-04-2011, 12:42 PM

My lead singer never misses an opportunity to tell people how super cool and awesome he is. The guy seems to get laid a LOT, so apparently someone is buying what he's selling......

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 10-04-2011, 01:40 PM

We actually are planning on doing a Youtube mockumentary of our band. It's suppose to be a little over the top, but we think it'll get people interested in checking us out.

oswaldvon · #6 10-04-2011, 06:53 PM

we used to print stickers about 8x8cm in size with our name and myspace url on them.
we gave some of them away and the rest we covered public bathrooms, atms, signs, elevetor doors, trash cans and other stuff with.
pins with your band name on are also great as they are cheap to make and easy to sell/give away.

mpdd · #7 10-04-2011, 07:02 PM

i tell everyone that we have a reality show, and that we are the first people ever to combine punk and metal, people either think that this is absurd/hilarious or really interesting

another trick i use is i photograph other people's bands, and i make free music videos for local bands during my video production class

BWB · #8 10-23-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Hey guys,

My band is starting to get some pretty good recognition on the bar scene around Knoxville and we're beginning to manage pretty good showings at every gig. That said, we're looking to expand operations (so to say) and hopefully increase our following. I was wondering what unique things some of you guys do to promote your band and your gigs.

One idea we have is to put Boo Bags around campus with something like, "Open if you dare" written on them, and inside we'd put candy and a flier to our Halloween weekend gigs. We've also discussed going out to our schools pedestrian walkway, setting up, and playing a mini gig of sorts for all the kids who pass us by.

So yeah, what ideas do you guys have

A good start would have been posting the name of your band and a link to your music in the above post. 'Cause, you know, some of us live in Knoxville and go out to see live music quite a bit