How to Promote as a Local Band

Having played in a local bands for almost 10 years now I’ve learned the best ways to promote through trial and error and from watching experienced bands do it.  I’ve told some bands that sometimes you don’t really learn how to do it until it’s too late and your band is ready to break up.  That happens, but if you start doing it right from the get go your band will have a better livelihood and hopefully that will turn into bigger crowds.  So here are some tips on things you can do to get more people out to your shows.

Social Networking

Social networking has been a huge advance in the promotion aspect of being in a band.  You need to have all of your areas covered and keep them up to date with show info and news. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Reverbnation etc.  You need them all.  They are there for you, so why not use them?

One problem with social networking is that bands rely too much on them for promotion.  Just making a Facebook event and posting your show on Twitter isn’t enough.  That should only be 25 percent of the promotion you do for a show.  These networks are over saturated already and your show will get lost in the mix.

Traditional Promotion

Not having posters printed for every one of your shows is a bad idea.  You have to keep reaching out of your social network to reach the most amount of fans.  Get some general show posters printed for your band and keep them up around town.  Include your website etc.  Put them in record stores, coffee shops, venues and anywhere in town music fans might be.  In Columbia, you have over 30,000 students within 1 square mile.  USC doesn’t like posters on campus, but do it anyway.  The worst thing that is going to happen is that they’ll take them down.  Be consistent with your logo and make your band name prominent. Remember that people keep seeing these over and over and they’ll eventually have your band name stuck in their head.

Radio

People still listen to the radio believe it or not and there are some great local radio stations in town that would love to promote your band.  That is in fact what they are there for.  WXRY has a locals show, WUSC has local shows, 93.5 has locals shows.  You should be reaching out to these people regularly and giving them a quality product.  If you don’t have a quality product, well you need to go back to square one.

Act the Part

If you want your band to be respected you need to earn it.  Get some quality recordings, work on your live show, have T-shirts, stickers and everything to look the part.  When a random potential fan comes to one of your shows they should believe that you are professional.  Spend time on your promo pictures too and include them in all of your press emails. You’re a performer, act the part.

Have a Website

There is no reason that your band shouldn’t have a website.  End of story.  It costs 4.99 a year to buy a domain and host it on at least Tumblr.  Go ahead and do that today if you haven’t already.

Advertise

While there are tons of ways I’ve mentioned before that are free promotion, you can advertise too.  Sure, here at SceneSC we do a lot of show previews, of course no one pays for those, but you can buy one of the banners on the front page for $20-$25 a week.  If you think that sounds like a lot for a band to pay, then think about it like this.  If 5 people see that banner and decide to go to your show you break even.  If people see it and still don’t go to the show, you still got your name out there, some of them still listened to your music.  If you have the extra money, or have a big show or an album release coming up, it’s worth it.

Reach Out

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for advice.  There are tons of people that would be happy to help you.  I give free advice all the time.  It’s why we’re here.  I’m positive that many of the other people in this town who are in bands or media will help you out.  Everyone has to start somewhere.  No one expects you to know everything when you’re just starting out.

Reach out to the media whenever you have a show.  Don’t expect anyone to track down your show and write about your band.  It might happen occasionally, but you can’t expect it.  Always send SceneSC, Free Times, City Paper etc an email 2-4 weeks in advance of your show.  Include plenty of information about your band.  Include songs, pictures and everything that someone might need to know to write about you.

Youtube

Youtube is so important to your band.  Have your own channel with live videos.  Record your band playing acoustic.  Record your practices, put it all out there.  Let people get to know you a little bit.  A lot of local artists have spread their fame way beyond the local realm just by having videos on Youtube.

Personal Networking

Your friends are excited you are in a band.  I promise.  Tell them to help spread the word.

Most importantly, be a supporter of the music scene you are involved in.  Go to other bands shows.  Meet them, set up shows, hang out.  You aren’t competing for anything, if anything you are trying to share fans.  It’s the best way to promote.  People in bands go to shows, be one of those people.

I’ve been dwelling on this post for weeks now.  I’m sure I’ll add to it.  I’m sure other people have advice that they can leave in the comments on other ways to promote your band.  Things that worked and didn’t work for them.

Don’t complain about people not coming to your shows if you aren’t doing all or some of this.  This is what it takes.  Some bands have people to do all of this for them, but until you get to that point, bust your ass and get it done yourself.  It’s rewarding, look at it as a job.  If you can’t get local media to cover you, keep trying.  Don’t give up and don’t get mad when someone tells you that you might need to improve your product.  Everyone has standards to uphold.  If you are going to half ass being in a band, don’t expect to gain a loyal following.  You get out of it what you put in.