MySpace for marketing

[Kenny Ahern]

I am curious to know folks opinion on using a MySpace page as a marketing tool for booking gigs?

I can see where a MySpace page would be good for folks starting out in the biz, who can not produce or afford a web page; serving a fan base; keeping in touch with friends: and as a vanity site.

My big question is, does anyone book a good amount gigs off of their MySpace page?

Thanks.
Kenny

[dave walbridge]

Tried it - not even a nibble. It would be good for a starter page, but also try other free (ad supported) web hosting sites.

I think its a good way to build a fan base, rather than as a show booking tool.

[Evan Young]

It's okay for musicians or comedians who use their fan base as a draw, which helps book gigs. Venues like comedy clubs and music clubs will book performers who bring their own fans.
It can be helpful if you promote your own events. If you rent a theater or other venue to put on a show, it can help.
If you have a show like the bindelstiff circus that tours every summer and builds a fan base to encourage sponsorship, it can help.
If you work in the college market and like to keep in touch with the student activities board members, it can help; but facebook is way more popular with those kids. it can also make you a creepy old guy.

It will not help booking corporate events
it will not help booking birthday parties or bar/bat mitzvahs (unless the maybe kid is a fan of you somehow)
It will not help book city festivals.
It will not help book k-12 schools.


You should have a myspace page and/or facebook page if you are a performer that has fans (event stilt walkers, face painters, and balloon artists probably don't get much fan page traffic). People expect myspace pages, and if they can see updates and such on your myspace page frequently it will help them not forget you so soon, which will keep a buzz about how good you were going longer. It can help you get invited back to a festival/event the next year.
The beauty of myspace and facebook is that it gives you a way of keeping your name in front of contacts you already have without spamming them (even though you can spam with them). It also lets you be a little less formal and a lot more personal than you would be in email newsletters.
If nothing else it can help you network with other performers.

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Pretty insightful Evan. Nice new facebook photo of Burns, by the way.

[scot]

Finally just finished my myspace page... okay, not finished, but ready to take a break from it

http://www.myspace.com/jugglegood

I went away from myspace for a while because it was so annoying, but I gave them some time to sort out their spam filters and stuff and when I came back, the servers are a little faster and I'm not so bratty.

Learning how to use social networking well takes a lot of time. It can help you with all of the things Evan rejected, but you'd hafta be really good at it. It's mostly for young people (13-30yrs) and it's about giving them what they want: titilating, shocking, visual, funny, ego-building, friendship, etc.

Nec to update regularly and respond quickly and personally to messages.

[scot]

man, right when I finish, they roll out profile 2.0

[Kenny Ahern]

MySpace as a marketing tool

I appreciate the input from all.

Thanks,
Kenny

[scot]

this job was just posted on LA Casting. it applies to the myspace getting you work question.

Project Notes
$4000 + 20% FOR SHOOT DAY
$1000 + 20% FOR PRINT SHOOT (same day as shoot)
$30 FIT FEE
TRAVEL 1/2 each way @SCALE
$4000 + 20% BUY OUT FOR A YEAR INTERNET
$2000. +20 % FOR MAGAZINES (PRINT)

Role
submit THE FIXER / SAG / / Male / African Am, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic / 20-35
THE FIXER WILL BE THE STAR OF THE ONLINE CAMPAIGN. HE WILL INTRODUCE THE PRANKS FROM THE WEBSITE, REVEAL THE PRANKER TO THE PRANKEE, AND HE WILL STAR IN TAKE OFFS OF CHEEESEY INFOMERCIALS. HE SHOULD BE HILARIOUS, GOOD AT IMPROV AND IDEALLY WOULD HAVE A LARGE FACEBOK/MYSPACE PRESENCE. A FEW EXAMPLES WOULD BE/ ZACK GALIFINAKIS,/ JOHN ROBERTS / TIM & ERIC/IN UP AND COMING COMEDIAN