Promoting Festival Entertainers and Bands Can be a Nightmare

Bands just don't get it. They don't know how to promote themselves. I'm on my soap box. If you're the one who is promoting a festival or event, you'll need a photograph of a band that can be used by print media. That means it should be one that has been shot by a professional photographer in a studio. It should be 300 dpi.

You'll also need some quotes from the band leader and some information about the band's members, where they've played, why they got started in the first place, what type of music they like to play, what venues they like to play in and their touring schedule, if they have one. You need to be able to contact the band directly.

In response to these requests, most bands will say "See our MySpace page." Editors and I have pulled our hair out because the MySpace page is not complete, usually has photos that cannot be used and falls way short of having usable information that writers can use.

So, if you're a band. Listen up. If you want to get promoted, then find a newspaper person - or a PR person who works with festivals, events - to guide you as to what you need to do. List a phone number, for example, of how you can be reached.

MARKETING TIP: Bands want to be promoted but are clueless on how to do it. Information about them in your promotional efforts can draw big crowds. When you're negotiating with the band and signing the contract, be sure to include the kind of information you require. Otherwise, you won't get it and you won't be able to promote your entertainment properly.