“What’s the best way to get my band noticed?” I hear you cry. Alas, you’ll be glad to know you’ve finally reached the answer. I’m here to talk you through a various amount of ways you can get your band noticed. For the RIGHT reasons….

5: Social Networking –

Even the chavs from asbo lane have at some point used social networking – most likely from the laptop Mr. Jones at the dole office noticed go missing last week. As some of the more ‘mature’ bands amongst us will know Myspace was once the center point for bands to converse with fans – as well as the odd one or two ‘crazy Betty’ stalkers, newer bands will know as soon as you reached 1000 ‘luv’ on Bebo it felt like it was your birthday – minus the added wrinkles, and even newbie bands will know your first direct message on Twitter was like your first kiss – minus the lip biting. Unfortunately today social networks aren’t what they used to be. Bebo was pretty much abandoned when the Facebook generation started, even Myspace lost a hell of a lot for the same reason.

However Twitter still remains a great hub for bands to update their fans on the  latest band news; nothing more or nothing less, don’t turn your Twitter into a ‘@’ frenzy. Facebook can be amazing entirely dependent on how many friends you have or how much money you’re willing to invest into advertisement. Even Myspace managed to recuperate some of its previous devotees – luckily for you they are mainly rock influenced – woo!

4: Helping Other Bands/Don’t accept a message on face value -

“hai m8 wundered if u wnt a support gig”. The sort of message many of us would dread to receive as a band, yet is it really that bad? No, no it’s not. Look past aesthetics, they could actually be a really nice person inside. Kinda think of it as  Tesco Value Biscuits; looks crap, full of crap, tastes devine! – Not that I’m incinuating you should taste the band,  that’d just be plain creepy!

The point I’m trying to get at is this band could for all you know sound like the next Lostprophets,and perhaps have more Myspace views then Chris Crocker’s Britney videos. Never ever accept a message on face value. First give their Myspace and music a check out – if every thing’s ‘a ok’  then go for it without a doubt; a free gig, new fans, new friends, new media links… you’re opening your band up to a plethora of opportunities. If it looks bad? Well you know there’s always the option of sending: “Désolé je ne peux pas le faire. Je vis en France!” (Sorry I can’t make it. I live in France!)

3: Merchandise!

Go to any local gig with at least 20 people in the crowd and band members that look like they live in a cardboard box as most of their money’s spent on merchandise. Towards the end of the gig when the moshers have flailed manically, ‘Charismatic Christina’s’ snogged all the boys, girls, and inanimate objects in sight, and even when all the parents have argued over when ‘Charlie Chaotic’ has to be home, there will be such a magical moment it even beats the time when you found out one of your friends had a shiny Charazard.

It’s finally arrived. ‘Stinky Steve’ – lead guitarist has thrown out his array of £25 100 guitar picks meaning the situation’s going to go either of two ways:

  • The parents all have a mass brawl and make it into tomorrow’s newspaper – remember any press is good press.
  • Everyone realises there’s actually only 20 people in the venue and they can each have 5 guitar picks. Result for them, yet not so much your wallet.

Merchandise is a massive boost. Whenever people wear/use your items publicity is being gained, Twitter’s going to into overdrive with: “Oh mai dayz. Stinkeh Steve from *band link* gave mi a pickkkk!!!!”, even your mum will sport a t-shirt next time she goes for a cup of tea at your grans. So bands, beans for the next year sound fine?

2. Competitions

People LOVE competitions. I remember back when I was a kid, every weekend would be spent watching Cartoon Network’s competitions. I’d never entered like, it was just fun to watch what I wasn’t going to win.

Apply the same theory to a band. You get a CD of your music made cheap, sign it, throw in a gig ticket, post up a blog on Myspace and wait for the influx of people to take part. It’s quite sinister to think that maybe 500 people are all aiming to win just one item isn’t it? Remember what your parents used to tell you: “It’s the fact you took part that counts”. No one cares about the prize per say, it’s all about helping the band.

1.  Personality Is Everything.

No one likes a di** – well some people do but lets not get into that. My number one pet hate when talking to bands, PR agencies, even the general public is when I get arrogant replies. It’s either the half hearted ones where they’re more bothered about selling themselves then reading your message or the ones where they think they’re ‘better then you’.

An example of a “half hearted” reply:

Message sent to band on Tuesday:

Jimmy: Hey *band* I found out about your music the other day from a friend and must say I love it so far! In fact I’ve already bought the CD off Itunes, bought a gig ticket, and even drew you a potential new logo if you want to use it? (pretend this logo’s amazing)

Band: Hi Tony, thanks for getting in touch. Don’t forget to buy our CD from Itunes, and get some tickets to our next gig. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

An example of a “better than you reply”

Band with 30 fans: Hey! Sorry to bother you however I just wondered if you could give me and my band some advice? We take great inspiration from you and would love it if you could give us a tip or two.

Bigger band: Hi Tony, thanks for getting in touch. Don’t forget to buy our CD from Itunes, and get some tickets to our next gig. Hope you’re having a great weekend.

See the major flaws? Aside from not bothering to read your message, it’s also been copy and pasted to every other ‘number’ in the world… lets face it that’s all fans are to a band like that at the end of the day. So please make sure you take the time to reply to fans properly, be friendly and up for a chat, above all don’t be a di** – no matter how much some of your fans may love them.

Article by: Jamie