Band Marketing Power

It’s amazing how some things are so easy and so obvious that we don’t do them.

Okay, collecting Fans is critical to your development as a Band. This is your following, your market, your customers for future shows and sales. Your Fans are your reason for developing a Band. So… Are you collecting them?

The easiest place to collect them is at your shows. And a simple, proven method to collect them is to have an ‘Email Signup Sheet’ available for new interested audience members to:

• Keep in touch with you
• Find out about your next shows
• Find your website
• Know what CDs you have for sale
• Know what other products you have for sale

Scot Alexander, Bass player from Dishwalla, said in an email exchange with me, “Bands can put so much of the picture together themselves these days (myspace/CDBaby/iTunes) and potentially make far more money on their own rather than signing with some label, all the while retaining full ownership of masters and publishing to further put more money in their pockets with libraries and soundtracks.” You have this power. And… if you have the Fans, you can offer them what they want, the music, image, and products from your Band.

So, are you collecting them? Are you collecting them at your shows?

Make sure that at every show you have someone helping you with this simple little task. It adds incredible value to the purpose of your shows.

Have a person sit at a table in an easy to see area, someplace where the majority of people traffic passes, and have the following:

• A sign showing the name of your Band, even if it is just on paper
• A piece of paper titled “Email List Signup”, including a column for name, email address, and regular address or at least zip code (If they put their regular address or zip code down, you can track the locations you have Fans. This helps with future gig planning and bookings)
• Any product you want to sell
• And, Consider having a Free give-away for those that signup on your Email List

Make it a goal to collect at least ten new Fan email addresses at each show (many times you can collect a lot more). If you have ten shows, then you will have at least one-hundred Fan email addresses to contact about upcoming shows, new Music or product you have for sale. Many times, each Fan will have around two friends they tell about you, so you can triple your email list or Fan-base fairly rapidly.

Fans are your Band’s Lifeblood. Collect them and treat them like they deserve to be treated… like your best friends.

Remember This: Your Fans help you become who you want to be and you help them become what they want to be. You won’t be a Band for very long if you don’t have Fans. Your Fans are helping you accomplish your goals. Respect this relationship and share with your Fans and care about your Fans. They care about you and share their time, money, and energy with you.