New Ideas

[Bluesman]

Hi everybody!!! I've missed this group. Hey, I just had a pretty good conversation with some agency folks who happen to be very abstract thinkers (outside the box). Anyway, the jist of the whole chat was....what kinds of new things can we do to promote music? I mean, besides hanging up playbills, passing out postcards and giving away promo cd's. This board is an example of change but.....what about stuff like cross billing? Cross agencies? One of the coolest things I've seen happen are all of the Blues Societies and Jazz Societies. They're springing up all over the world. Hmmmmm interesting...I wonder what type of a catagory we should start a society in for Marina? Maybe a Pop/Rock society? These societies have created alot of gigs for musicians. Anyway, I miss y'all and just thought I'd try and stimulate some thought.
Love ya,
-Steve-

[James]

Hi, Bluesman, great post! smile.gif
To be quite honest, I have no clue what Blues or Jazz societies do...
Could you tell us in brief?
What's cross billing? Sorry for the stupid question.
I think radio would be a great tool. I heard it's really hard to get music on the radio these days. But what about places like NPR (KCRW and such)?

[Bluesman]

Hey James,
Well...The "societies" are groups of folks who dig whatever the genre is. Like folks who dig the Blues will join a Blues Society to support the blues. Then, these societies will host festivals for whatever the genre is. Just kind of a way to "group" together all the folks in an area with common interests and pool the resources. Cross booking or cross agencies would be like booking more than one genre on a bill. The best example that I can think of are Jazz/Blues festivals. Why not Pop/Rock or whatever? Then you could pool together folks who dig different styles together. I don't know....All I know is, times are hard right now in the music business and we need more "abstract" thinkers to come up with different ways to keep musicians busy. Hey, by the way, the show was really good at the Hotel Cafe on Friday night. Marina looked and sounded great. (Nick too!!!!!!)
-Steve-

[Nick]

Hey Steve,
Thanks for everything! This idea sounds great. How would we go about implementing your ideas? I think societies could be a positive thing. What would be step 1?
Nick

[ScottZ]

Try a mission for Komrades & Street Teams...Make up promo bills of Marina's gig schedule that members can download and make copies to spread all over their respective towns. Also a downloadable picture with directions to Marina's website and mp3 musicsite.
You could do something like this monthly, or bi-monthly as her schedule changes. Also submit some of her music to indie sites where her music can be heard elsewhere.
For those who participate, you could have a drawing for free Marina goodies....shirt, hat, CD, candy, poster, whatever could be an enticement for fans.
Also have everyone who loves MarinaV blast emails to all of their friends to get the buzz going. To be really bold, try calling radio stations to request her songs...even though they don't have them...yet! Make sure people always know how great Marina is, so they will associate her name with great music! There are many more things, but always be super nice to everyone you talk to, and don't bug them at all. When you go to parties, take along Marina's CDs and ask the host to play some of the songs, or more.

[ScottZ]

Oh, I'm not a street team member, so maybe y'all are already on top of these ideas. If so, Cool!

[James]

hey Scott (guitar junkie), great ideas!! I especially like the one when you take a CD to a party and play it for friends. I m a street team member and we did some of the things you mentioned, but not all. Thank you for all of your suggestions.
Keep on rockin'!

[ScottZ]

Thanks James,
I'll surely keep promoting Marina and Nick everywhere I can! When I come up with something new, I'll post it here.