[Dixielandjazz] Re:was Cell Block 7/now self promotion

[TCASHWIGG at aol.com]

Hi Pat:

It does eventually work and almost any group can and will build up a 
following if they do this.  After a while your name will get out enough that you can 
get and keep a good buzz going in the area through a circle of fans that will 
communicate amongst themselves and follow you around to hear you where ever you 
are appearing.

If a band had a steady gig it would be much easier for the people to find you 
and of course less hassle to pack up gear and move it every night to a new 
location.

Unfortunately most club owners today believe they are concert promoters and 
think they have to change the band every night to keep people coming to their 
club, yet they are so foolish, because any popular band that promotes 
themselves and has a following simply takes the crowd to the next pub the remaining 
nights that they work.

Any band that is good enough to get four five or six nights a week worth of 
performances is good enough to play week long steady engagements in any pub and 
save time and energy and make more profit for all concerned.

The glut of rock bands has created this situation, but it is really a repeat 
of what Jazz bands did a couple of decades ago.  Problem is the Jazz acts gave 
up the promotion and hustle to get and keep the gigs, and the club owners 
switched to rockers etc.

It would be a good idea for OKOM bands to take a look at those flyers on the 
telephone poles, posters, etc., and emulate the design and artwork these 
rockers are using to appear to be something new and hip to appeal to the folks who 
are going to see those acts.

Promote your acts as something new wave in their world, cutting edge, the new 
music, it is so old it is new.  Like Steve Barbone keeps touting about those 
kids  (21-35) that follow his band around and make those cash registers ring 
in the clubs.   

The clubs are the alcohol business, not show business for the most part, 
unless the room is indeed a bonafide music promoting room and knows how to do it 
correctly, (few of them do) unfortunately, therefore it is up to us to do it 
for ourselves.

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins