For my 3 track ep - which is nearing completion - I could use word of mouth to promote it at an event that I perform at.
As there aren't a substantial amout of tracks and the genres are very different it is more of a mixtape which could provide people with a demo of my styles and be a stepping stone in their opinion of me as an artist and my talent.
By stating that it is up for grabs on bandcamp for "pay what you want" i will then be able to get a mailing list of people who download it for free or pay. In essence I will be gaining a fan base a be able to push more tracks/eps/albums/videos and events onto them. As this is a demo mixtape, it is fine to hand it out for free as (im going to reiterate) people can see my multiple styles. If I also mention what genres are exactly on the mixtape I can instantly filter out people who will definitely not be interested and therefore only get a mailing list of more genuine people who are interested in me.
By using social media to push my self into the eye of the public - the word can spread a lot quicker and reach a wide spread audience.
When stating outloud my bandcamp - I am interacting genuinely and in person which makes people more receptive. To further exude support; after I perform I can hand out little flyers/cards to members of the audience with my name - the tracks (and genres) and how they can get it for free - if they want - on my bandcamp.
Overall, the main way to get people to be even remotely interested in what I have to offer is to be friendly and polite as I am, almost literally, what they are buying into so impressions will count if I want them to download my tracks.
EVALUATION:
Before i handed out my flyers after my show in the crowd - i already got a warm response from a few members who appalused me. However, so far, I haven't got anything substantial on my bandcamp - but in a way I don't think that will tarnish my name. Infact, it could enhance it - as what you can't have you want more. And what I have is free, so what more could you want? Hopefully, people will wait to see what freebies they can get by checking my bandcamp page. And the fact that they like me live will make them more interested in what I can do on tape.
Overall, I believe that once I do more gigs - And repeate the same process, I could quite a nice mailing list I can use when I want to start promoting or even hosting my own events!
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Friday, 9 May 2014
Marketing & Promotion
There are two types of marketing techniques used by the music industry; commercial/guerilla. However, there are two domains for marketing which is offline and online. These days, most marketing is done online as it reaches thousands of people in contrast to handing out flyers on a road which could reach up to 100 on a good day. However, time and place makes a lot of a difference.
Commercial marketing would consist of the average - flyers, posters, tv and radio and online.
Flyers and posters are easy for promoting as they are simple to make and deploy. Handing out flyers allow a personal meeting between the audience, and what may be, the performer or manager. In which case, gives opportunity to further persuade and possibly pass on more details.
Putting up posters can be very effective as they showcase the whole production of the product, in my opinion. The detail - and most importantly the artwork constructed for it - portray the professionalism of the production of the event or product. Making posters can also increase the turnout of the event as if posted in the right places, at the right time - people will be made acutely aware of what is going on in their area. Both of these methods are not time consuming to make and therefore are effective to bring in a last minute crowd and can be put up or handed out on the day of the event around the area and still draw in a big crowd. These two marketing strategies are the best for those starting out as they are easy and cheap to substantiate and profit of.
TV and Radio is one of the best ways to get simple marketing however it comes at a price, and that is usually very high; especially for TV adverts as it requires visuals which can also be quite costly. In regards to TV adverts - its almost backwards, as buying the time slot on a channel is a high expense - one wouldn't then make a budget advert to plug as that would be a 'waste of money'; and it would in the eyes of the public. However, it is a lot more interactive and allows more scope in how one would promote their product. By having a TV advert one can get sponsors which could possibly amplify the success of the advert. Therefore, TV advert promotion is usually done by companies which are more reputable as they have less to loose because they already have dense clientel. On the other hand, TV adverts can be a lot of stress as a lot of time and effort have to be put in; you have to write a script, find the actor/s, film, edit and then find a station to put it on. It is also hard to target your audience - although channels can determine the type of person watching - it isn't completely accurate. Whereas handing out flyers, you can see the person and judge whether a guy in a business suit would want to listen to death metal.
Radio, however, can be much cheaper. In both cases it can vary. Pluggers can either be expensive or cheap, depending on their links.
Radio marketing is simple and only requires a script being written to promote the product. A lot of people use this strategy however, in my opinion I don't believe it is that effective in recent times considering not many people listen to the radio and the time slots that are given do not allow for much information to be put across - and the only way to do so would be to speed up the audio, however people can't make much out of it.
To get involved with this type of promotion and marketing you would either have to get in contact with a PR company which isn't cheap and creates a middle man which would make the process of setting up a marketing scheme a little longer.
Online marketing, such as on facebook, blogs, youtube, websites and twitter enables one to target a large fanbase and it is easy to make new fans as people can easily share pictures, videos and links along to friends. Also, friends of friends may be able to see the posts - therefore the scope of the target audience is so varied. Every professional marketer uses online promotion as mostly everyone (in the world) has access to the internet. Also, it is more feasible to have events and adverts online as you wont have to continually print out flyers or find a plugger to get you some air time. To market online it isn't always diy as it can be hard to make websites and your own posters - however it is easier to manage, cheaper and much easier to approach people. Using the web to promote and market will make updating information a lot easier aswell which will give fans a sense of commitment to you as you have to them.
Social media and social networking sites are the best place to put up adverts as it is social - which means a lot of people will see it.
Guerilla marketing techniques are to make you, really, remember the product. This type of marketing strategy is there to shock people.
This advert conveys guerilla marketing. It doesn't need a price tag, contact us or website - it simply installs Kit Kat in your mind. This psychological type of advertising, in my opinion, is the best as no matter what you will think about what you have seen. Although, this isn't extremely absurd - it still stands out a lot. For example, the kit kat actually looks like a bench?!
Another type of Guerilla marketing is to make the customer think deeply. For example - in this photo it conveys that you do need a new barbeque.
Although guerilla marketing focuses on intriguing people and making them even more interested in what they have to say about their product it doesn't work for all. In my opinion, if I saw the above - I would probably think it was a prank, however I would probably still call the number. Overall, guerilla marketing needs to be done by respected and established business' in order to get an income from it as people will recognise the brand and be more inclined to buy into it.
In terms of music advertisement - some may take to the streets and perform a random show in the middle of a busy street. This would definitely attract a crowd as it is loud and people always like to listen to music - especially if its free. By doing this, the band are giving their prospective audience a taster of their music - whilst also being able to give more information about themselves in person rather than on a sheet of paper which was given out by a random guy who just needed a job and doesn't really care about the band at all.
On the other hand, some have taken the traditional idea of a flyer and decided to make stickers and go tagging with them. Whenever I see a sticker in a random place I feel like I have to read it because it is so out of place. Although people, at the time, may not seem interested - I am sure if they saw the name or logo again they would instantly remember seeing it before. Whereas a flyer usually just gets dropped to the floor and even if they did see one again they wouldn't want it because its 'too much hassle to carry'.
Overall, the type of marketing depends on the type of product you want to market. For example, advertising hair dye in a tattoo parlour would get more sales than if it were advertised in a coffee shop, as the two go hand in hand and there are links between people with tattoos, dying their hair. If someone has an experimental album coming out - to do a wacky painting on a wall to advertise it would further state that it is an experimental album and is very out there. If someone is just having an open mic - the best way to get people to come or perform there would be to hand out flyers to schools etc - rather than the random public as it is a low key showcase, where the people who go are usually like minded and talented and want to go to learn ann/or check out competition.
Commercial marketing would consist of the average - flyers, posters, tv and radio and online.
Flyers and posters are easy for promoting as they are simple to make and deploy. Handing out flyers allow a personal meeting between the audience, and what may be, the performer or manager. In which case, gives opportunity to further persuade and possibly pass on more details.
Putting up posters can be very effective as they showcase the whole production of the product, in my opinion. The detail - and most importantly the artwork constructed for it - portray the professionalism of the production of the event or product. Making posters can also increase the turnout of the event as if posted in the right places, at the right time - people will be made acutely aware of what is going on in their area. Both of these methods are not time consuming to make and therefore are effective to bring in a last minute crowd and can be put up or handed out on the day of the event around the area and still draw in a big crowd. These two marketing strategies are the best for those starting out as they are easy and cheap to substantiate and profit of.
TV and Radio is one of the best ways to get simple marketing however it comes at a price, and that is usually very high; especially for TV adverts as it requires visuals which can also be quite costly. In regards to TV adverts - its almost backwards, as buying the time slot on a channel is a high expense - one wouldn't then make a budget advert to plug as that would be a 'waste of money'; and it would in the eyes of the public. However, it is a lot more interactive and allows more scope in how one would promote their product. By having a TV advert one can get sponsors which could possibly amplify the success of the advert. Therefore, TV advert promotion is usually done by companies which are more reputable as they have less to loose because they already have dense clientel. On the other hand, TV adverts can be a lot of stress as a lot of time and effort have to be put in; you have to write a script, find the actor/s, film, edit and then find a station to put it on. It is also hard to target your audience - although channels can determine the type of person watching - it isn't completely accurate. Whereas handing out flyers, you can see the person and judge whether a guy in a business suit would want to listen to death metal.
Radio, however, can be much cheaper. In both cases it can vary. Pluggers can either be expensive or cheap, depending on their links.
Radio marketing is simple and only requires a script being written to promote the product. A lot of people use this strategy however, in my opinion I don't believe it is that effective in recent times considering not many people listen to the radio and the time slots that are given do not allow for much information to be put across - and the only way to do so would be to speed up the audio, however people can't make much out of it.
To get involved with this type of promotion and marketing you would either have to get in contact with a PR company which isn't cheap and creates a middle man which would make the process of setting up a marketing scheme a little longer.
Online marketing, such as on facebook, blogs, youtube, websites and twitter enables one to target a large fanbase and it is easy to make new fans as people can easily share pictures, videos and links along to friends. Also, friends of friends may be able to see the posts - therefore the scope of the target audience is so varied. Every professional marketer uses online promotion as mostly everyone (in the world) has access to the internet. Also, it is more feasible to have events and adverts online as you wont have to continually print out flyers or find a plugger to get you some air time. To market online it isn't always diy as it can be hard to make websites and your own posters - however it is easier to manage, cheaper and much easier to approach people. Using the web to promote and market will make updating information a lot easier aswell which will give fans a sense of commitment to you as you have to them.
Social media and social networking sites are the best place to put up adverts as it is social - which means a lot of people will see it.
Guerilla marketing techniques are to make you, really, remember the product. This type of marketing strategy is there to shock people.
Another type of Guerilla marketing is to make the customer think deeply. For example - in this photo it conveys that you do need a new barbeque.
In terms of music advertisement - some may take to the streets and perform a random show in the middle of a busy street. This would definitely attract a crowd as it is loud and people always like to listen to music - especially if its free. By doing this, the band are giving their prospective audience a taster of their music - whilst also being able to give more information about themselves in person rather than on a sheet of paper which was given out by a random guy who just needed a job and doesn't really care about the band at all.
On the other hand, some have taken the traditional idea of a flyer and decided to make stickers and go tagging with them. Whenever I see a sticker in a random place I feel like I have to read it because it is so out of place. Although people, at the time, may not seem interested - I am sure if they saw the name or logo again they would instantly remember seeing it before. Whereas a flyer usually just gets dropped to the floor and even if they did see one again they wouldn't want it because its 'too much hassle to carry'.
Overall, the type of marketing depends on the type of product you want to market. For example, advertising hair dye in a tattoo parlour would get more sales than if it were advertised in a coffee shop, as the two go hand in hand and there are links between people with tattoos, dying their hair. If someone has an experimental album coming out - to do a wacky painting on a wall to advertise it would further state that it is an experimental album and is very out there. If someone is just having an open mic - the best way to get people to come or perform there would be to hand out flyers to schools etc - rather than the random public as it is a low key showcase, where the people who go are usually like minded and talented and want to go to learn ann/or check out competition.
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