Most print newspapers offer free or low-cost calendar or "happenings" or "events" pages and for some, it's easy to submit your show information online. Most college newspapers are set up this way...and more and more local and regional newspapers offer this advantage, as well. So whether you submit a press release for each show or not, it's good practice to take advantage of print and online resources for posting your show... perhaps build a schedule of activities for every show.
Plan of Action: Give yourself a full 6-8 weeks to launch a decent promotion for each show. Posting your event to online calendars at least 2 months out, will generate quite a few views, especially by people who rely on these resources from other towns (i.e., visitors). Atlanta is one of the world's most sought after destinations for business & leisure travelers. Millions of visitors pass through Atlanta's hotels annually. They're definitely looking for some fun most nights of the week, and have a high probability of checking both print and online resources to find out what's going on - before during & after their travels. Wherever you can, include a hotlink or mention to your website. And, start using your website as your 24/7 publicity machine, keep it updated, include fan photos, ask visitors to join your street team, include posters or handbills, and other art work for folks to download.
Even if all your blood, sweat, and promoting tears generate only 5 new people to your show... it's the experience you deliver that night that defines the story those 5 people tell their friends and family - wherein the growth of your fan base hopefully begins. And, remember, if you're just starting out, the feet on the street, passing out handbills at major shows, finding and exploiting free online & print calendars, finding an artistic friend that will design posters and band art for free just for a credit on your website, hanging posters at least 2 months out at each venue, building an email fan database, offering fans a way to subscribe online to a weekly newsletter or show announcements, spending the money for good equipment, spending the money for a stage banner to hang during gigs, posting your show to jambase.com before you do anything else - is what it takes to make it. No shortcuts...it's a business first & foremost...the buying and selling of talent, for a profit.
The more people who know who you are, the more people wanting to buy your music when it's published. Someone has to get the word out. Someone has to tell the people to come to the show and get them excited to be there.
"There are no guarantees in the Music Industry, just like life, you take it one minute at a time and hope that God has mercy on the steps you are taking to make your dreams come true." -Unknown
ALSO SEE: Marketing 101: Band Elevator Statement
>>Press Release (click here) Template by Gen Cole<<
ATLANTA Public Broadcasting: Submit Your Event
2 FAV Online Newspaper Links: Athen's Flagpole, Gwinnett Daily Post,
Most Often Overlooked High Return FREE Online Event Posting Tools:
EVITE.COM, Creative Loafing's Online Happenings, CraiG's LiSt,
GA Tourism Event Calendar,
atlantaplanIT
Consider Online Printing Providers (48hourPrint.com, Clubflyers.com, PKGraphics, etc.) for Quick Turn-around and Discounted Pricing.
PR Resources - Go International.
Prepare and distribute press releases & reach millions around the globe. So many online sites seek original content for news, etc., and many subscribe to PR sites for fresh new content filtered via key word searches. Be sure your press releases contain key words and provide tags when submitting for genre description, band name, any & all "big name" stars you can quote or refer to (reasonably so)- i. e., you "shared the stage w/....", web links, contact info., etc. in your press release. what a feeling to have an article on your music published in japan! it happens all the time.
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| Ecola |
Jump site for more than 8,400 newspapers and magazines and 1,100 TV stations
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| eReleases |
Service that delivers your releases to general and targeted media contacts by e-mail
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| Gebbie Press |
Links to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations that are on the Internet
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| Guest Finder |
For $199 a year, get a listing that attracts bookings on radio and TV; especially suitable for authors
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| DirectContactPR |
Download copies of successful press releases as templates, like this one for music. (Site link for others.)
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| EditorandPublisher |
America's oldest journal covering the newspaper industry.
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| Newslink |
Find links here to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations worldwide
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| PressboxUK |
Post your media releases here for free (yes, FREE!)
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| PR Newswire |
Like BusinessWire, but geared to distributing releases on general (not business) topics (get release writing ideas!)
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| PRLeap.com |
NEW! PRTube - online social site for press release... not free but not expensive! Can attach media ito press release - minimal cost. Also free account service. Check it! Since 2003.
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| Press Flash |
Press release distribution & authoring service - package pricing.
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| Radio-TV Interview Report |
Crack copywriters help you appeal to talk show producers
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Still Free Press Release Distribution Sites!
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Still Free Press Release Distribution Sites (cont'd)
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note: all of these media sources are subject to change. I will update as I can...
Work every day to Build Your Fan Base! Online social networking -- whatever ones you prefer!! Make sure you get your dates listed on JamBase.com. Do some research. Online resources are phenomenal today!
If you have someone in your band's immediate circle that has writing skill, consider the interactive components of publishing a blog, podcast, or vidcast. Make yourself accessible to your fans in ways they are seeking. Allow them to record and trade your music. Allow them to take photos with you and share online. Set the music free and build your network! Don't be the kind of music artist that penalizes people for giving you free press, whether it's a friend telling another friend or posting a video to YouTube, or a talented independent writer posting a blog on your last show. Encourage this kind of blessing & your fan base will grow. If others want to help spread the word about you and your music, that is ALWAYS a good thing. Young jammers, remember Jerry! It's about the music.
For the most exhaustive listing of legitimate online music services and information about
music online visit www.pro-music.org
For copies of IFPI's educational resources including the Childnet parents guide
"Young People, Music and the Internet" and free software Digital File Check, go to www.ifpi.org
Contact Jamgrrl for questions or advice regarding local to international music publicity. 678-459-2751 
I provide low-cost press release writing, social networking, media design, and other services to young, talented indie artists (Jam Rock genre).
SKYPE: JAMGRRL (No Got Skype? - Get Skype!)
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