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Outrageous Music
Marketing Ideas
by Bob Baker
©2008
I'm
not sure exactly what triggered it, but recently my mind
started popping with creative, off-the-wall ways to
promote your music. So I jotted down some notes and am
sharing them with you in this article.
I'll
let you determine whether these are truly "outrageous"
ideas. But one thing is for sure: They certainly aren't
the traditional things that most musicians think about
when they do marketing. Ready? Here we
go
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Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #1
Turn Yourself Into a Happy
Meal
I
definitely advocate that indie musicians *not* try to
emulate the same tactics as the major labels. However,
there are times when you can take one of their ideas (or
an idea from a related entertainment industry) and give
it a small-scale spin.
You
know how the major film studios promote their new
animated features by tying into fast food chain kid
meals, such as the McDonald's Happy Meal. Most likely,
you won't be able to land a nationwide Happy Meal deal.
But you might be able to do something cool with a local
deli or restaurant.
I know
a couple of radio disc jockeys in my town who have
sandwiches or special meals named after them at certain
eateries. Why couldn't you do that? Especially if you
perform regularly at a particular coffee shop, bar or
restaurant. |
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For
example, if your band is called Sweet Potato Sunrise,
approach a manager with the idea of offering a Sweet
Potato Sunrise omelette, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise
latte, or a Sweet Potato Sunrise daiquiri?
You
get the idea. The special name would get you exposure at
the establishment whenever it's open (hopefully, you're
item will be listed on the menu). Plus, you can use the
unique promotional angle to get mentions in the local
press.
Bob
Baker's Best Selling
Handbook
Outrageous Music Marketing Idea #2
Become an Instant Cult Classic
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The success of the quirky film Napoleon
Dynamite has me thinking. The movie itself is
still growing on me, but I'm fascinated by the
buzz it has among people who really connect with
it. Most of my friends who rave about it have seen
it numerous times and claim that the more they see
it, the more they appreciate and enjoy
it.
What a nice position for a filmmaker to be
in. Admittedly, a lot of people don't like the
movie and its flat characters at all. But those
who do appreciate the film like it a lot -- and
preach about it to their friends, memorize lines,
encourage theatres to have midnight showings,
etc. |
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How
can you tap into that? It's hard to manufacture cult
status, but here's an idea: What if your music CD came
with an accompanying trivia game? And what if the game
tied directly into the theme, style and lyrics of your
music? The game instructions could be included in the CD
sleeve or delivered separately to everyone who bought
one. Or, to make a greater impact with the trivia game
idea, you could package the CD in a DVD case or even a
small retail box.
To
make this work, you'd have to come up with a cool,
interactive game idea and have a CD filled with
interesting, funny or insightful lyrics and music. But
if you can get people examining the nuances of your
material and sharing notes with other people who are
memorizing your stuff, you might have some powerful buzz
going for you.
Check
out my blog at MusicPromotionBlog.com for more
outrageous ideas. But hopefully, these will get your
wheels turning in the meantime.
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about the author >>
Bob Baker is
the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing
Handbook,"
"Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding
Yourself Online." He also publishes The Buzz Factor, a
web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips,
self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to
music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to
Bob's e-zine and a look at his great resources for
advancing your music career
here.
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