[Dixielandjazz] New Member Bert Howells request

[robert craven]

Bert, It's been a long time since I started out, but here are my suggestions. They are simple marketing techniques that worked for us and we did 164 jobs last year. (40 years in the business).

Make a demo CD, (tapes are old fashioned) do it professionally. 
Get good photos of the band and try to show personality in the pictures a good photographer should have ideas on this, after all it's his profession. 
Have some one write up your band promo. This too has to be done or should be done professionally. 
Make up business cards, cleverly designed ones if you can.
Pass these out everywhere they might use music.
Go through the Phone book and mark anyone who could possibly use music. This can be Agents, Clubs, Country Clubs, Auto Dealers, Republican Party, Democratic Party,
Dance Clubs, Horse Shows, County Fairs, Schools, Wedding Councilors, etc. anyone who might be interested in music. Believe me, you'll learn that a lot of people you wouldn't even think of, use music.
Now call each one and ask if they use musical groups and who is responsible for hiring. Use your imagination when talking to them and suggest, how they might be able to use music in their promotions.
Ask if they would like some promo material describing the band.
Send out material to the ones requesting it. Then follow up with a call to see if they received it.
Keep adding more possibilities to your list.
Watch the papers for wedding announcements, You'll be surprised at the Weddings you can do with Dixieland music.
Try to develop a show type performance so you entertain as well as just play music. Like take your best players and do a feature on each during the performance. Try to stay away from announcing the next tune with "We're now going to play etc." Get involved with the crowd.

I hope some of these suggestions will help. It takes some effort to get started, but it can be done.
Another thing to remember, don't play to cheap! Freebie's for promotional purposes may be OK, but remember you can probably play every night for nothing.  Musicians like to play and a lot of times won't ask for good money because they're afraid they won't get the job. If you have a good group it should bring good money. My Motto is:
Musicians who work cheap know what their time and talents are worth.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions. 
You don't see us at too many festivals 'cause we're to busy playin' gigs.

Bob Craven
bcraven24 at comcast.net