"Promoting your band"

Here are some tips for promoting shows courtesy of the 31st Street Pub. They posted them on their website for bands looking to have a show at their venue, and they are good advice. This is the type of information sharing between band and venue that will be necessary for a good music scene...so congrats to the Pub.

Tips for promoting your band.

Playing a good show isn't as simple as showing up and plugging in. We ask that ALL bands promote their shows as best as possible; after all, it's you on stage. Here's some rudimentary promotional tips:

1. Make FLYERS to bring to the Pub at least 3 weeks before the show. Make them attractive and legible, and put them everywhere you can, especially local record stores, bars, colleges and anywhere else that you can legally post them.

2. Make HANDBILLS (small flyers) and hand them out personally at shows you attend. Some bands even print their handbills on adhesive paper and stick them in conspicuous places around the city.

3. Tell everyone you know to come see you play. The more people that know, the better, including family, friends, co-workers, etc. Often times bands mistakenly assume their friends know about their shows; don't assume anything.

4. Last, but certainly not least, contact the press! At least have your event listed, and perhaps you can garner some media coverage if you send in a CD, press releases, etc. Here are a few links to local media outlets, but there are more outlets if you seek them out:

Pittsburgh City Paper - www.pghcitypaper.com
Pittsburgh Pulp - www.pittsburghpulp.com
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - www.pittsburghpostgazette.com
WRCT Radio (Carnegie Mellon University) - www.wrct.com
WPTS Radio (University of Pittsburgh) - www.wpts.pitt.edu
WDUQ Radio (Duquesne University) - www.wduq.org
WYEP Radio (Adult Alternative) - www.wyep.org"

Great suggestions, thanks again 31st Street Pub.