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Pounding Pavement.. still do it?

gustobassman

gustobassman

I'm only here for the after party..
Supporting Member
Mar 31, 2011
4,879
15,659
Sandy Eggo
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Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
#1
So we just got hooked up with a talent agency (we are their first band, they have been very successful with dj's since 2007) and they have all kinds of social networking promotions they will do for us and take care of a lot of marketing. However i'm "old-school" and think that flyering, handing out handbills, meeting people, and pounding pavement so to speak is a very valid way to get the name out. They seem to agree but most of their efforts is through social networking. I'm not a huge facebook/myspace (etc.) fan but i know it will be invaluable.

So Tb'ers do any of your bands rely exclusively on social networking or do you do it the old fashioned way? I have always thought that having handbills in your pocket is great, although i do know a lot of people just trash them.... heck, i used to love collecting artsy flyers from bands, but i just don't seem to see many people doing that anymore.
 
#2
It's a mix. I'm in a college town and feel lucky enough to say that myself and most the guys I play music with have a lot of friends who love to hear us play whenever we gig. Most of our promoting happens through simple word of mouth. That said, I almost always post an event on Facebook so that there's something 'official' people can refer to for a date, time, and place, and it also allows me to reach more people who I don't talk to on a weekly basis.

I will say that handing out flyers doesn't seem that effective these days. I'll sometimes people watch on the pedestrian walkways on my campus and will almost always see a band, organization, or religious group handing out flyers to students. I'd say that about 19 out of every 20 kids who is handed a flyer throws it away at the nearest trashcan without even glancing at the piece of paper.
 
#5
I should have added that the core of the band has grown up here in San Diego so word of mouth is a big thing for us too. I'm with you guys, i tend to chuck anything under the windshield wiper on my car or just pass on people handing out flyers. It's a touristy area though, hitting the boardwalk the day of a show with handbills and meeting people is still a fun thing for me, but i guess that ship is sailing!
 
#7
We do it all. Flyers work good posted in the clubs we play at. I usually create some attractive flyers and post them a couple weeks before a show. I also always carry business cards and small flyers to hand out. (great conversation starters with the pretty ladies)
Facebook/Myspace/E-mail lists and Craigslist also are utilized. Also get to know the club owners and bookers in your area - get out and socialize.
 
#10
Nothing wrong with old school, but it doesn't work without the new school.

If you are local, you need to actually be SEEN local. So, handing out flyers, business cards, hanging posters all good. The social media still has to be done. Very important, since most kiddies these days don't do much more then wake up, shower and sit in front of their computers.
 

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