Mentor Anne Leighton answers some member questions
Mentor: Anne Leighton Mentor Page: Anne Leighton
Q: We have a band together, but due to our age, we are not sure how we can get attention, and get the word out about us. We play as often as we can, and everywhere there is an opportunity. What sorts of things can we do to get people to notice us, since we can't play the typical bar scene? And would anyone in the media take a young group seriously without adult management?
A: I'm here to tell you that you can get the word out about your band, but I encourage you to start in your local market. That's the easiest way to let your career grow naturally AND without knocking yourself out, trying to compete with folks from all over the country. Work within your means.
Basically media people in a hometown tend to be supportive of a local band, especially if they're friendly and responsible. It doesn't matter how old you are. Hometown people have hated people in their 30s because they might be mean, and have taken young guns in their teens to heart just 'cause they were pleasant and returned calls or left their phone number when leaving a message on voice mail. Only New York and Los Angeles media may be apprehensive to working with neighborhood bands, BUT fortunately there's a variety of neighborhood papers and locally generated cable, plus college radio to help an up-and-coming artist in THOSE cities, as well.
If you're seeking media attention there's a lot you can do to get into the pages of local papers and radio, and TV. And some of them can even help you grow in your career IF your band is really working towards success by playing out as often as you can (without neglecting your gigs) and by being responsible.
First off, just as you have worked hard to make great-sounding demos of well-arranged songs, you can work hard to create a simple media kit. In addition to including a few songs on a cassette or CD (with your phone number neatly written), you need to type up a one page biography. The biography can simply tell the story of the band with everybody's names and instruments spelled correctly. It can discuss where the band has played and if anyone in the community has responded favorably to the band, and "quote" what they've said about the band. You can include a final paragraph that has some of the band's realistic goals -- such as playing every weekend or recording an album.
I encourage you to have a literate friend -- maybe an English teacher look at the media kit.
Take a photo. A friend can snap a good photograph. Make sure you make at least ten copies of the photos. And type up labels with the band's name, plus contact info in the back. In time you'll be mass producing these photos.
Next contact the local media outlets -- radio, maybe a locally produced TV show on CABLE, a local news show, and of course writers at all the local newspapers and music publications. To research them, you need the TV section of the paper, to watch TV and also to listen to radio. Also you need to go to different news stands and find out what all is made in your region. Since none of you YET drive, you might have to go to the news stands on the weekends. Also include your school paper, as you'll be doing shows at school, and maybe at people's parties.
Please note that you must create the best media kit you can before you contact the media.
Another idea is to create fliers for your gigs, and photocopy them. Make them available at school, in shops in the neighborhood where your gig will be, plus music stores. Set up a mailing list for folks who want to come to your shows, and keep them informed of your gigs.
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Anne Leighton's Do's and Don'ts when publicizing your band:
1. DON'T only rely on the Internet. You don't know who is out there.
2. DO use the Internet, because you don't know who is out there.
3. DON'T overwhelm your media with tons of information because the music does do the talking.
4. DO label all music and bios and pictures with contact information including your phone number.
5. DON'T call a journalist late at night UNLESS the writer says to.
6. DO return phone calls, and also DO initiate phone calls.
7. DON'T let any journalist or anybody else tell you that you have to fit into a mold, because you need to be special. A talking frog gets more attention than a prince.
8. DO listen to constructive feedback, as it might inspire you to improve your shtick.
9. DON'T refer to anybody you've never met by their first name unless they say to call them by their name. It's always Dear MR.___ if it's a guy or "Dear Ms. ____ if it's a doll." Remember journalists are never your friends, until they hang with you socially.... and even then you can't let loose too much with them.
10. DO know who your friends are. Maybe someday a journalist will be your friend... give it time.
11. DON'T be unenthusiastic about your material, 'cause no one else will be enthusiastic about it.
12. DO your best at all your shows, because attraction works better than promotion.
