10 SIMPLE TASKS TO GIVE YOUR BAND THE ULTIMATE EXPOSURE

Obviously a lot of people have bands just for fun to entertain themselves and their friends and never hope or expect to ever pay their beer tab with the money they make. If this is you, you need read no further. This is a serious commentary regarding my observations of the difference between successful marketing campaigns and amateur campaigns to publicize a band or artist.These are the 10 steps that you must do to have a successful advertising campaign:

1)GET YOUR MATERIAL IN FRONT OF EVERYONE YOU CAN.
Ok so everyone sells cd's at their local venues and on their website (if they have one). If a blogger finds your band and writes a blog on you, do you thank the blogger? Do you share the blog writeup on your page? Do you "Like" the blog's Facebook page. Do you know if the blogger is writing for an international record company looking for new talent? Do you offer the blogger your cd if you have one? Most likely you don't even acknowledge it. Then why would anyone acknowledge you? Let's face it, there are a lot of people who are making a lot of money in entertainment that don't have as much talent in their entire body as you do in your little finger. I won't mention her name but there is a pop star who made a career our of promoting herself. Her music was ok... but she was a master promoter. The photo shown here is Matthew Curry, a 16 year old very professional musician who just put out a spectacular cd. Matthew knows how to do this. He was responsive to my posting, he sent me a cd immediately.

2)MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A READILY ACCESSIBLE BIO AND PHOTOGRAPHS (THAT ARE AVALIABLE FOR COPY) ONLINE.
When a blogger finds something that they like on Youtube or hears something that's been posted somewhere, they have absolutely no way of finding out who you are unless you have it posted somewhere on the net. You don't know how many times I have compiled a blog on a band and then to find out that they have no bio online and one photo that is protected. How does someone help a band like that. Do you want to read a blog with no pictures? I don't! I can find 50 pictures of Joe Bonamassa just by typing Joe into Google. Are you more talented than Joe? It doesn't cost anything to take a photo and post it on Reverb or Myspace. Help yourself out.
Here's Matthews Bio from Reverbnation:

Artist Bio

Matthew Curry and The Fury deliver energized blues and blues rock along with great show. Matthew, at 16 and already a veteran performer, is astonishing audiences with his blazing guitar playing, original songs, and soulful voice. After a busy season of summer festivals, Matt and The Fury returned to the Castle Theatre on October 1 for their long-awaited CD Release Party. Audience favs like “Walk Out That Door” and“If I Don’t Got You” were on tap, and then the enthusiastic crowd was treated to the new Matthew Curry originals on the CD. Blues legend Bryan Lee says, “Hurry to hear Matthew Curry, he is the real deal! He plays from his heart, soul and mind.” Matthew has jammed with blues greats Coco Montoya, Tommy Castro, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Bernard Allison, and Bryan Lee. Ronnie Baker Brooks says, “Matthew is an awesome talent! He has a natural feel as if he was born with a guitar in his hand.” Often referred to as a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, Matthew Curry is a triple-charged musician in his own right and amping up the blues scene. Matthew and The Fury competed in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and came back to Bloomington and got busy on the CD project. They were also one of five international finalists in Ampeg’s “Straight-Up Tone” competition. All the prep has paid off - "If I Don't Got You" has been sponsored by the Crossroads Blues Society in the Best Self-Produced CD competition for the IBC.
More About Matthew Curry and the Fury

Matthew Curry is backed by The Fury, pro players including Randy Hoffman (rhythm guitar) Greg Neville, (drums) and Jeff Paxton (bass). "If I Don’t Got You" also features a horn section, background vocals, blaz-ing guitar solos, solid lyrics and well-crafted melodies that show off Matthew’s versatility. Influences include Sonny Landreth, Albert Collins, ZZ Top and Joe Bonamassa.

Shows are planned for spring and summer 2012. *Ampeg Straight-Up Tone finalist *Reviews expected in Blues Blast Magazine, Blues Revue and Indie Music Reviewer Magazine *One of IBC Best Self-Produced CDs *WHOI, WILL interviews *Featured on WGLT "Talkin’ Blues" *WBNQ, WKCC, WILL, WGLT radio play *available on iTunes and Amazon

3) MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE THAT HAS A COMPLETE SONG, WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE BAND, AND THE SOUND QUALITY ISN'T HORRIBLE.
Some bloggers are going to the trouble to search out not only photos and bio's but also videos of your band to help to promote you. Why are they doing this? They could just as easily promote Joe Bonamassa. He makes new videos everyday. They don't have to be professionally shot... but it's nice if you can actually see the bands faces. Make sure they are readily defined (name of the band and song title)and free for the taking. Here's on of Matthews videos:



4)YOUR FANS ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS, NOT YOUR ENTOURAGE TREAT THEM THAT WAY.
When someone posts on your page look at what they post. If your Facebook page is just your fan club and you are happy with 15 fans, you need not read any further. If you want a real fan base then look at what's being posted on all of your sites. My blog's Facebook site is followed by record companies and promoters. When I post a review of your band or just blog your band with what crappy bio you may have provided, it is your chance to be seen. Make sure that your Bio is well thought out and tells something that you want people to know about your band. If you don't take the opportunity to get it in front of all of your fans, "LIKE" my page and "SHARE" my post, what's the likelihood that you'll ever hear from me again... unless of course you have a professional promoter. They will contact me...believe me!

5)IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A PROFESSIONAL PUBLICIST, USE WHAT RESOURCES YOU HAVE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
Facebook is a great tool for spreading the word about who you are and what you do. So is Twitter. When a fan "LIKES" you, acknowledge it. When a promoter "LIKES" you... jump on it! They can put your name places that you have never heard of... and will! You need all of the press you can get! The one person that you ignore may be the difference between you ultimate success and working at the grocery store for the rest of your life.
Write on our Facebook Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! -  Here

6)FOLLOW UP WITH ANYONE WILLING TO PROMOTE YOU.
It's funny that I promote mega stars who have more than 10 top selling cd's and their paid promoters make sure I get every cd, tell me every move and ask for copies of the posts and reviews so that they can further promote. When I promote a small struggling band in BFE they possibly don't even acknowledge that I stayed up until 2am writing about their band to try to help them out. Then wonder why they aren't successful. I don't take it personally. That's why I'm writing this post. So bands can understand why they aren't succeeding.

7)SEEK ADVICE FROM OTHERS IN THE BUSINESS.
If you are trying to get your foot in the door somewhere, ask for help. I run a "New Talent" section on my blog each week and Tweet the "Fans Favorite" each week.If you want your band promoted, ask someone for help. You would not believe how many bands do absolutely nothing to promote their band that doesn't show up on a telephone pole and expect to be discovered!

8)MAKE YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE ACCESSIBLE FOR PROMOTERS TO POST REVIEWS OF YOUR MATERIALS ON YOUR SITE.
I often go to a bands Facebook page to post a blog that I have written about them only to find that they have a wall up so no one can post on their wall. Are they so bad that they expect that they will be barraged with negative comments? Get feedback on your work. It may be the advice you need. Let people help you!

9)TRY TO FIND OUT WHO'S TWEETING AND ASK FOR THEIR HELP. FOLLOW THEM!
I have a Twitter account for my blog. It's BmanBluesRpt. I tweet only "new release reviews", new artist "winner of the week" and any "exclusive interviews" that I have done this week. I can tell you that I get a lot of traffic to my blog from Twitter. Even if you don't want to or know how to Tweet, get with someone who does. It can help your career.

10)GET YOUR MATERIALS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE YOU CAN.
Yes...we're back to this! When I approach you with a blog that I have written about you, thank me, make sure you "LIKE" my page and "SHARE" the post with your fans. It's the smallest thing that you can do. The internet is king.


These seem like simple enough principles but believe me, there are a number of talented people out there who either through lack of business sense, laziness or "big shot" attitude are failing miserably primarily because they are failing in one of maybe 8 of the above rules.

Fix your campaign today. If you want exposure, let me know. I routinely blog local, rural and international talents. Although my most viewed blog post is of an internationally represented PR firm client and a household name, my second largest blog post is of a 16 year old kid names Matthew Curry with a self produced cd. Now a lot of you don't have Matthew Curry's talents, but Matthew is following all of the rules. He's a great talent and I hope I can continue to help to elevate his career as he is destined to becomes very famous.

Please feel free to ask for help! (It's free!)

Write on our Facebook Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! -  Here