Local Music Venues Can Benefit From Cincy Blues Society’s Marketing Workshop

CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 5, 2011: Local bars and clubs spend a lot of money advertising events and performances at their venues, but if bands collaborate with the venues in their marketing efforts, both can reap rewards. The Cincy Blues Society’s in-depth workshop on band marketing and PR will provide bands with the tools to better promote themselves, and their gigs.

This one-day, in-depth workshop will be held at Know Theatre (1120 Jackson St., Cincinnati 45202) on Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 3:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet happy hour.

The Cincy Blues Society’s Communication Committee and Local Artist/Venue Liaison has assembled a team of marketing and PR experts to teach bands how to better promote themselves. The workshop will include topics such as press kits, basics of a band website, branding, social networking for bands, and merchandising. Attendees will be provided with a take-home CD that will include examples of all materials covered, templates for press kits, releases, and more.

“As we promote the Society’s various festivals, we’ve seen a lot of sub-par marketing materials come from bands–even nationally touring acts,” says Mike Wayne, Cincy Blues Society Artist/Venue Liaison. “Our goal is to make the press kits and promotional materials that come from Cincinnati bands the best in the nation. And the better marketing materials a band has, the more likely they are to draw crowds when performing at local venues.”

This workshop also has value for local venue owners, as many of the best practices for marketing a band can be applied to bars, clubs, and anyone else running a business!

Advance online registration at http://cincyblues.org/workshop-band_marketing is encouraged, as seating is limited. In-person registration begins at 2:30 p.m. and the workshop starts promptly at 3:00. The cost is $45 per person for non-members or non-member bands; $30 per person for Cincy Blues Society members or member bands. Proceeds go to the Cincy Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools program.

Full details on the workshop are available on Cincy Blues Society’s website: http://cincyblues.org/workshop-band_marketing

Topics Covered:

* What is Marketing? What is PR? What is Branding? Why are they important?
* What is a Press Kit? What do bookers/festivals want? Best Practices/examples.
* What is a Press Release? Why do you need them? Basics of a Press Release.
* Band photos and photo submission. What works, what doesn’t. Technical details.
* Basics of a band website. Absolute dos and don’ts. Advanced features.
* Basic, yet excellent website in 15 minutes flat using WordPress.
* Social Networking for Bands. Local online calendars and event sites.
* Using merchandise for marketing.
* Email List Services, and the Pitfalls of Mass Emailing.
* How the Cincy Blues Society can help.

Our Presenters:

* Jackie Reau: C.E.O. – Game Day Communications
* Chester Lee: President – Creative Links
* Haley Elkins: Managing Director – Know Theatre of Cincinnati; Operations and Outreach Manager – Cincinnati Childrens Choir
* Joe Wessels: Principal – Losantiville Consulting
* James Czar: Director, NonProfit Services and Education – Media Bridges; Marketing Coordinator – Cincy Blues Society; Musician – Voodoo Puppet (band)
* Mary Beth Weaver: Corporate Communications Specialist – Dayton Power & Light; PR Coordinator – Cincy Blues Society
* Chuck Brisbin: Board Member – Cincy Blues Society; Musician – The Tuna Project (band)
* Mike Wayne: Local Artist/Venue Liaison – Cincy Blues Society; Musician, Luthier

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About Cincy Blues Society

Cincy Blues Society is a member-supported, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote and advance the culture and tradition of Blues music as an original American art form. Cincy Blues Society has been in existence since 1990, and strives to fulfill its mission by encouraging and facilitating both performance and educational events and projects. For more information, visit http://cincyblues.org

About the Blues in the Schools Program

The Cincy Blues Society created a “Blues in the Schools” (BITS) program soon after the Society was founded, as keeping the blues alive for another generation is an integral part of the group’s mission. The BITS educational program has two areas of focus: presentations by professional musicians and performances by young people who are learning to play the blues. The program brings accomplished area blues musicians into local schools to educate students about the history and significance of the blues, and keeps another generation listening to, learning about, and performing this uniquely American music. More info is available at http://cincyblues.org