Storytellers and other performers are always looking for ways to get gigs. A storytelling friend of mine, D.J. Miller said to me, "The more that know, know". It may not seem profound, but it makes a point. do people in your area think of you when they think of storytelling?
More importantly, do you know your neighborhood? Do you know ALL the possible venues and opportunities in your community? Here is an idea for you: Get that Yellow Pages book that was dropped off on your doorstep and look through it for ideas! What about schools, libraries, churches, day camps, civic organizations? Are they all on your mailing list? Do you know who the contact person is for each one? Who would you contact at a day camp to send info about storytelling?
A huge part of being successful as a performer of any type is letting folks know what you do. Why not do a little "Google Detective Work" and find a contact to send an introductory e-mail to? Why not find 5 a day and send e-mails? That is 25 a week. Run out of venues in your county? Go to the next closest county and start there! Send 25 a week there too. Go to the next county adjoining your county and send out introductions.
Guess What? You just planned to send out 1,300 introductory e-mails this year!!! If you only get 1% response that will be 13 NEW GIGS! Multiply that times your average fee per gig. Is that worth your while?
You know I am a HUGE fan of postcards. Vistaprint.com has 1,500 postcards (full color glossy) for $124.99. Mailing 1,300 would be $416. (THAT LEAVES 200 TO USE IN OTHER WAYS)
Your weekly investment total would be $10.40 to send out 25 introductory postcards to venues around your community.
Want to improve your close rate - the number of gigs you get from this marketing idea? Do your e-mails as follow ups to the postcard.
More importantly, do you know your neighborhood? Do you know ALL the possible venues and opportunities in your community? Here is an idea for you: Get that Yellow Pages book that was dropped off on your doorstep and look through it for ideas! What about schools, libraries, churches, day camps, civic organizations? Are they all on your mailing list? Do you know who the contact person is for each one? Who would you contact at a day camp to send info about storytelling?
A huge part of being successful as a performer of any type is letting folks know what you do. Why not do a little "Google Detective Work" and find a contact to send an introductory e-mail to? Why not find 5 a day and send e-mails? That is 25 a week. Run out of venues in your county? Go to the next closest county and start there! Send 25 a week there too. Go to the next county adjoining your county and send out introductions.
Guess What? You just planned to send out 1,300 introductory e-mails this year!!! If you only get 1% response that will be 13 NEW GIGS! Multiply that times your average fee per gig. Is that worth your while?
You know I am a HUGE fan of postcards. Vistaprint.com has 1,500 postcards (full color glossy) for $124.99. Mailing 1,300 would be $416. (THAT LEAVES 200 TO USE IN OTHER WAYS)
Your weekly investment total would be $10.40 to send out 25 introductory postcards to venues around your community.
Want to improve your close rate - the number of gigs you get from this marketing idea? Do your e-mails as follow ups to the postcard.
Here is an additional thought... regular contact with the 1,300 can bring in gigs in the future. How many storytellers have a 1,300 name prospect list? I am not talking people on your mailing list that will never book a gig. I mean REAL prospects.
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