Karaoke Forums

Vote how news of your show is broadcast: by advertisement, or by the grapevine

"Advertise" is a broad word.

TV/Radio/Newspaper? No.

Banner/Posters in bar and table top signage? Yes.

I do both actually. Advertising is good for specific shows, but as far as getting gigs, nothing works better than word of mouth. People take a recommendation from a friend far stronger than any other type of exposure. So I do try to encourage folks to spread my message so to speak.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Social marketing is the primary we use. AS a result I call that the Grapevine. Even paid ads on Facebook are grapevine ads.

WOM and FB predominantly; new shows come from WOM/recommendations.

I let 'em sniff me out!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I advertised on a grassroots level the first year or so I was at my current bar, but I've been there now for 7+ years, and get plenty of business off reputation at this point.

When I first started at my current bar, I handed out business cards to everyone that would take them, networked with other karaoke hosts to fill in shows and get patrons on nights that did not conflict with their shows, stuck business cards in almost every bathroom I went to in the area, and placed an ad in my day job's monthly newsletter.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

For me, color glossy 11x17 professionally printed posters advertising the gig are provided to all the venues I play.. I give 6 or 7 to each venue to put up as they see fit.

Generally on doors, in the bathrooms, a couple behind the bar.

Venues generally put something on the sign outside and if they have table top cards, they'll make mention of their activities for the week, including the night(s) and times i'm there.

Occasionally i'll run a little print advertising in the entertainment section of the local paper, or in one of the 'entertainment guide' type rags they pass around town. A quarter page ad, or a business card size ad with my logo and the locations, dates, and times of my regular public gigs.. but nothing beats word of mouth advertising.

What gets me is, you can paper the town or the venue and people still don't notice. One of our venues has posters on the door, big white letters on the outside windows, a sandwich board out on the highway, flyers up in the bathroom and tabletoppers on every table and we will still have people see us setting up and asking, "Is there karaoke tonight or something?"

We just did a show in another town and the venue was ahead of me in putting up flyers on every possible bulletin board plus all over the bar. So I went into a few places where I knew some of the singers worked and left some for them personally. They said they were glad or they wouldn't have known.

We have a website, facebook, etc. but that is just starting to grow. We don't have an entertainment paper but may consider an ad in a monthly mailbox mailer type thing. But what seems to bring people in--and sometimes take them away--is the text thing. People will show up and then start texting for others to come. Or in one case, we have someone who is used to commanding the crowd trying to text people away from our show. They even hold up their phones and text while they are dancing. That may be all that some age groups pay attention to.

Yes all the time. Good advertising is a must.

Radio ads - Generaly provided by beer reps

Billboards - again Beer reps but I have bought a few

Newspaper

Alternative Newspaper - City paper, it like a arts happening that is weekly.

Social Networking

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Flyers

In house

With Facebook, email lists and Local Party websites, "Advertising" is relatively easy and cheap and pays off. My subscription to MDParty.com only costs $20 a year and many local KJs, DJs, and bands use it.

Factbook and email lists are self explanatory.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

There's only one thing to say to that question. "Here's your sign."

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

There's a new app for the iphone that is also available for any phone with a web browser that will allow the singer to find your show and look through your songlist to choose their songs as well as tell the KJ that you're on your way and to put you in the rotation. It's called Karaoke Loops.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.