“ ‘Less Rock, More Talk’ – You Got the Show, Now How Do You Get People There?” was the tagline for the second installation of “Talk Shop” hosted by Kevin Hoskins (The Middle East), Shred (Team Shred Productions), and Steve Theo (Pirate Promotions) with an appearance by Josh Smith (Talent Buyer from Mass Concerts). I was able to catch this panel discussion on January 19, 2010 at the Middle East venue located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since Generation DYI has already covered online promotions, as well as street promotion, let’s talk about another topic from the panel: how to market live concerts. After establishing an online presence, it’s time to spread your music through live interaction; a.k.a. booking gigs. The “Talk Shop” panel showcased different ways to promote your band and upcoming shows through online social platforms, street promotion and media (basically everything we’ve discussed but with more detail on how to bring heads to a show rather than a Web site).
With the basics in mind, the most important aspect of promoting a concert is creating a flyer or equivalent hand out promotional tool that illustrates all the details. And, just like writing songs, the first 10 seconds are the most crucial for captivating your audience. So, be sure to showcase your band name across the top then the venue, and really sell yourself because in the end YOU ARE A BUSINESS. Generate a nice, clean flyer that can be printed (and look nice) in both color and black and white. The nicer the flyer looks, the more eyes will be forced to focus on it and read what you have to say. Shred of Team Shred Productions goes into more detail on the audio track of the panel discussion posted below.
In addition to the flyer, direct some attention towards media outlets (local newspapers, magazines etc.) as well as local radio stations that would promote a local show and venue. This is a great way to get easy access to a large database of readers/listeners but it can be the most costly, so be cautious when considering this approach. Find new ways to connect your Web site to your social networking outlets and other means of promotion like a mailing list. Many bands have found unique ways of getting fans to sign up for their mailing list (regional) which is one of the best ways to get the message out to different areas.
And while social networking is a great way to promote both your band and shows, being able to put a face to your name and music goes a long with fans. Reach out and create relationships. We are not here to make a single sale but a long-term customer who will come back and support you throughout your growth. Another point that came up in the discussion was finding ways to connect with other local artists/bands to create what Kevin Hoskins called a “micro scene”. Networking with other bands is key in this day and age. Creating friendships gives you the chance to expose yourselves to each other’s fanbase and can create a strong community within your scene.
Check out other key points from the panel speakers as well as other local Boston bands in the audio file below. This audio clip was cut down from an hour and a half discussion to about ten to fifteen minutes so if you are interested in attaining the full audio clip you can always get in touch with me and I’ll be sure to get you a copy. Enjoy!
The polls are closed and the ballots have been counted— Wax is back! 
At first it may not seem like 
Today’s “Honor Roll” playlist clocks in at a mere 11 minutes as we bring you 5 of our favorite 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less OurStage tracks. Why, you ask? Because February is the shortest month of the year, and let’s face it, we’ve all got a lot to get done. These tunes pack a punch and do it fast. Check out our picks below… while there’s still time.
Performers may come and performers may go but great songwriters are forever. Don’t believe me? Name a single performer who is still remembered from Bach, Beethoven or Mozart’s heyday. See? I’m right. 
Fun Facts: State Tree: buckeye, State Song: “Beautiful Ohio,” State Beverage: tomato juice 
If you ever want to make in the music industry, there are a couple of roads you can take. You can pimp yourself on social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. You can tour relentlessly and earn some cred along the way. Or, you can just get your song placed in an Apple ad, which according to Billboard is the Number 1 way to gain success and recognition in the industry.
Generation Y (a.k.a. Echo Boomers) brought forth many new platforms of social networking with advancements in communications, media and digital technologies. As the world changes around us, music dramatically progresses with the births of new genres, new marketing strategies and, of course, the popularity of music videos. British synthpop/new wave group, “The Buggles” were right on the money when they recorded their debut single “Video Killed the Radio Star” in 1979. For the past few months music videos have been a hot subject for many of my friends in the industry. There’s speculation that many artists who are able to put together a professional-looking music video have a better chance to become noticed. But before we go into a long discussion about this (which will be a Generation DIY topic in the near future), here’s a list of music videos I found on OurStage that cover all the criteria I look for in a solid rock music video. Without further ado, this week’s OurStage iRock artist music videos!
This month the tastemakers at 
