How To Succeed In Getting Gig/Tour Press

By Kenny Love


I am, once again, writing articles and columns for a number
of external music and arts/entertainment publications (both
online and print versions), and you are likely to see them in
a few additional areas.

As such, one of my new editors recently received a
question from a musician who is having more than her fair
share of problems obtaining print media coverage in areas
where her band is touring.

I have maintained the correspondence flow chronologically
so that you can follow its progression.

Hopefully, my advice can benefit you and your band as
well should you experience similar difficulties with obtaining
print media support for your gigs/tours.
________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: Megan Jean

Hi Corey,

I love your blog, i read it a lot. I started touring with my
band last fall (we were in New York City before that...), and
we're about to leave on another tour for our debut ep.
Booking is going as well as can be expected starting out,
but we're having a hell of a time getting any press...we
have a kit and an epk, and a press release, and we send off
everywhere, but we're in that limbo spot where honestly,
not many people care about our music enough yet...any
suggestions? If you have time, our stuff is at:

http://www.meganjean.net
http://www.myspace.com/meganjeanband
http://www.sonicbids.com/meganjeanandtheklayfamilyband

I'd really appreciate any advice or feedback, and if you'd
like to write something, I wouldn't be disappointed.

Thanks for your blog, and what you do!

Megan Jean
________________________________________

----- Original Message -----

From: Corey Koehler
To: Megan Jean
Cc: Kenny Love
Subject: Re: Advice for a newly touring musician...


Megan,

First, I am going to check out your music and see if there is
anything I can do.

Next, I am going to copy a man named Kenny Love. He has
over 18 years of experience helping musicians like yourself.

Also, Kenny is going to be guest blogging on the Musicgoat
in the future. He will be offering up tips for musicians
perhaps this is a good place to start.

Corey
________________________________________


Hi, Corey:

What has been occurring for several years (if not longer)
and, particularly, with local and regional print publications,
is a little thing called "nepotism."

I utilize this phrase to describe print papers that will only
devote "ink" (press coverage) to their local/regional up-
and-coming musical artists, with the only exceptions being
granted for mega superstars or outside artists who are
coming into the media sources' area for performances, of
which the latter describes Megan and her group.

And, since she and her band are, indeed, touring and
"qualify" for coverage in their performance areas, they
should conducte an in-depth search on the web (using
Google) for print media in each of their tour stops.

As an example, and in Megan's situation, if she is playing
Richmond, Virginia, she should simply use Google to search
phrases such as:

* "richmond, virginia print media"
* "richmond, virginia print publications"
* "richmond, virginia music magazines"
* "richmond, virginia arts and entertainment magazines"
* "richmond, virginia daily newspapers"
* "richmond, virginia weekly newspapers"

or similar key phrases.

She should then contact the print editors or music editors
in each area where she will be appear and inform them on
her performance location, i.e., name of venue, date, time,
etc. and also request if the editor would be interested in
interviewing her/the band in advance of their performance.

At this time, she should also direct the media to her
website for advance review of her music, biography, etc.
With print publications, she can do interviews via telephone,
or if the media prefers "in person" interviews, she could
simply schedule the interview earlier in the day prior to her
performance, which will mean she will need to get into
town a bit earlier than normal set-up time.

Megan should also bear in mind that, with print publications,
"lead time" (the amount of advance time publications require
to review projects before writing about them) is very crucial
in order to ensure media coverage.

Daily newspapers, generally, demand a minimum of 2-3 weeks
"lead time" and, possibly, longer depending on the publication.
The "trick" is to stay anywhere from 3-4 weeks ahead with
the ("lead time") of each tour appearance.

Example: For an upcoming May 3, 2008 appearance, daily
print media contacts should be initiated around April 10th at
the *latest*.

Likewise, she should also contact radio station talk shows,
television morning shows, prime time talk/interview shows,
television newscasts, and cable music and entertainment
shows at *each* station in each of her tour cities.

Should she secure any media interviews, she should then
notify other media contacts in the same area that she will
be interviewing with the particular source, in an effort to
influence them to consider her as well, in addition to
requesting their reviewing her already scheduled interview.
This can (sometimes) serve to foster a bit of competition
between local media, with all being good for the musical
group.

To add even better "fuel to the fire," she should invite all
media contacts in *each* area out to her performances.
This can, potentially, serve as background media coverage
*after* she has performed, and the opportunity to get
TWO bits of media coverage, thus, prolonging her exposure
in a single area.

She should be sure to provide complementary media passes
for all local media contacts that have agreed to come out
to the show, as well as inform the venue owners of the
media contact names. This should be tightly coordinated
and confirmed with venue owners or managers.

While this seems a bit more work, as you can see, there are
definite advantages and as well as "extra" opportunities for
media coverage within a single tour location if conducted
well.

Now, multiply this degree of opportunity within *each* tour
area, and she is likely to create quite a buzz on her tour
route as well as have a degree of successful results through
implementing this proactive process.

Kenny Love, Director of Marketing
Eartastic Records
http://www.myspace.com/jazzman795
http://www.eartastic.com
kennylove@...
(936)545-0381 (satellite office)
(281)550-9445 (record label)

SPONSOR: http://www.eartastic.com/kl/VS.html

NOTE: I am also serving as a radio/video promoter and print
media publicist for Classical, Jazz, & Gospel recording artists.