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Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog

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Holiday Music Marketing Ideas

It's Halloween, and my mind is racing with scary marketing ideas related to the holidays. Here's what sparked the idea for this post ...

I picked up a flier this week. What caught my eye was the headline:

"Cranksgiving"

At first I assumed it was promoting a Thanksgiving concert by a metal band. But a closer look revealed it to be an annual bike ride to collect canned goods for the homeless. Very cool concept.

But I still think Cranksgiving would be a great name for a rock show in November.

Wondering how you might use this idea? Here's how ...

Write down a list of holidays that will take place over the next six months or so. Also write down any common phrases associated with those holidays. Examples:

• Merry Christmas
• Holiday cheer
• Turkey Day
• Plymouth Rock
• New Year's Eve
• Happy new year
• Etc.

Now take each word (and even syllable) and play with it. Go to a site like www.rhymezone.com and see what sound-alike words you come up with.

• How about "Hairy Christmas" for a hair band?
  
  
• "Plymouth Rock" has a lot of possibilities.
  
  
• "Merry KISSmas" for a tribute band.
  
  
• What about "Crappy New Year"?
  
  
• "New Years Heave" anyone?

See, this marketing thing can be creative and fun!

Got any good holiday music theme examples or ideas? I bet you do. Click the Comment link below and post yours.

-Bob



Check out Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook, the classic guide to indie music promotion. Now revised and updated, with four new chapters on Internet and Web 2.0 music marketing.

posted by Bob Baker @ 11:23 AM   3 comments

3 Comments:

At Oct 31, 2008 1:38:00 PM,  Marie-The Snake Charmers said...

Hmm ... good idea. Now I'm thinking of a "Blue Christmas" for my blues band. It's an oldie but a goodie.

 

At Nov 10, 2008 12:26:00 PM,  Big Feet, Big Love said...

I just finished a writing a musical and included a bunch of press releases in the package with the play. Some of them had goofy titles, or headlines with an attitude. Writing the press releases was almost as much fun (and a lot less work) as writing the script and music for the show. So many creative people believe promotion is some sort of sellout. I'm with you, Bob, publicity can be creative, fun and effective!

 

At Nov 24, 2008 1:11:00 AM,  thehippynuts said...

well, it's a great challenge.. i just discovered rhyme zone the other day..

Recently we played election night (woohoo)
and I titled the gig flier "Rock the Election Returns" which was not super clever but
told them in that title both when it was
and suggested a place for them to watch the returns.

Prior to that we had a midnite show and I decided to play that up as a good thing--
We called it "After Midnite let it all hang out
with The Hippy Nuts." That inspired our pal
to photoshop my head on Clapton's body and send it out to his pals.. then I dubbed myself
Clapthena (Clapton plus my name Kathena)
which then inspired my partner to name his new guitar pedal The Clapthena. Giving yourself fun names helps make it fun to promote your band and in our case the fuzz pedals too..Now there's also The Hissy Foot
and The Fuzzar-o.. made by Hippy Nut Tim Champion and they both were named by Premier Guitar among the Best of 2008.
Did those fun names help? You are a big help, Bob. Thanks for your enthusiasm.

xo, Kathena www.thehippynuts.com
www.timchampionpedals.com

 

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