Nov 16 2007
Focus On T-Shirts and Stickers!
Good summary of the CMJ marketing + promo panel I moderated over at the Digiwaxx Dream Team blog.
Money quote:
…the panel covered very interesting topics and served as a good discussion forum in answering questions that various members of various types of companies had to offer. The essential message that underlined each and every response involved knowing one’s direct and indirect audience and targeting them both with as much efficiency as possible. This means for urban hip-hop promoters, know that mixtapes play an essential role in your target audience. For indie-rock tour managers, knowing that fans love to have a piece of your band even after the show ends and the album repeats. It is at this point in the discussion where Jonathan again yells “t-shirts and stickers, you can’t go wrong!”…
Read more at http://believeinthedream.wordpress.com/
T-shirts and stickers, eh? And what should bands be doing with these things?
Sure – it’s all about the sticker’s and T-shirts – but it’s more about the challenges of getting booked, particularly when you’re just starting out. I’m stoked to find your blog – I’ll be having a read – actually – I’m now giggling over your bad form web design post! – I just subscribed!
True, there are many other challenges, but it’s the theory that is important – that you ultimately need to know what your fans want.
Somewhere there is a balance between being in it solely for art or expression and doing it all with your audience in mind. You need to find the place you are happiest in that spectrum.
Jason