[Dixielandjazz] Advertising ideas

Wed Mar 14 12:03:52 PDT 2007

> Larry asks about advertising ideas. He mailed 85 prospects and got 2
> replies. That's a good ratio. and cheap, given the cost of about $35-$40.

lw. Got another call this morning and an e-mail  so that's 4

>
> Tome suggests Sonic Bids electronic bids and supplied his site as a model.
> That's also good.
>
> My 2 cents is that Direct mail is the better way to go for most "local" 
> gigs
> and Sonic Bids is better for the higher profile gigs nationally or
> internationally. Why?

LW - we really don't travel much so National ads don't interest me much

> Venues like Municipal parks, are different from venues like 
> bars/restaurants
> and so what they receive should be different.

LW - I am aware of that and have taken that into consideration with separate 
lists.

I also have a fan list of about 600 which gets
> e-mailed at least 6 times a year and surprisingly generates wedding gigs,
> funerals etc., besides attendance at our gigs. Cost is relative cheap
> compared to profit returned.

LW - Great future project but I don't have the mailing list. or e- mail 
list.  My e-mail list is about 20 names none of which have responded.  I 
have been sending them stuff for about a year.  These are people who hire 
bands or plan events.

> Some may detest this "hustling for gigs", but then, nothing happens in 
> this
> world until somebody sells something.

LW - There is one on the list that said "money isn't everything" and that's 
true and I don't expect anything when I show someone how to fly a model 
airplane or get a ham radio license but those are my HOBBIES and I enjoy 
them.  No one expects me to be at the flying field at a certain time and do 
something but they do with music.  People all of a sudden find out what's 
going on if you don't show up for a gig and get sued.  There is a local 
hobby band that makes a few bucks here and there and is being sued by one of 
it's members.  All of a sudden what wasn't a business suddenly is.  I have 
made a significant part of my living from professional music and I don't 
intend to start giving
away what people will pay me for.

> Larry, what works for me is slightly different mailers to each category on
> my prospect list. And for which band version I am trying to market to 
> them.
> (trio, quartet, sextet, etc) And what type of gig, like St Patrick's Day,
> Armstrong's Birthday, Mardi Gras, etc.

LW - I'm working on it.

Every so often I will ask the same question - the guys on the list come up 
with ideas and some are good for me and some aren't.  There may even be 
lurkers out there that are making their way to the bank right now on 
someone's idea.

I have tried mail in the past but I have developed a whole lot more graphics 
and other skills since then.  Little things like a good laser printer and 
the web are helping.

Thanks guys - I do appreciate the time you take
Larry
St. Louis

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 9:14 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Advertising ideas

>
> Direct Mail is easily modified to suit the prospect. Use a basic format, 
> and
> change certain sections to suit.
>
>
>
> What also works is an expanded prospect list. Mine is now about 500, and
> easily handled by computer with different segment mailers going out each
> month to different prospects.
>
> Because I've been direct mailing for 10 years, I have all the gigs I want 
> to
> handle and am taking only the better paying ones, or those that are very
> interesting, musically or audience wise, to the band. And because of the
> local visibility, my sideman gig offers have increased over the years to 
> the
> point where I limit them in the same manner.
>
>
> Electronic bids, as Tom agrees, are also becoming the preferred method in
> some high profile local gig prospects. Example is the City of 
> Philadelphia.
> Their venues, like the Art Museum, Robin Hood Dell, and others will no
> longer accept anything but electronic bids. Sorry to say, however, that 
> they
> do not accept "Sonic Bids" either, but insist on their own electronic bid
> structure which cannot be accessed by a MAC. (I borrow my son's PC to bid)
> Philly's system sucks big time (eight page electronic contract, disclosure
> of all political campaign contributions nationwide for a year following 
> the
> concert, etc) and I may just not bid any more as who needs that stuff?
>
> Good luck in your advertising venture.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
>
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