Hiring a music publicist can do wonders for your band. In order for your band to succeed, you have to promote it to the public, and this is what a publicist does best. You can kind think of this individual as someone, who steps into the picture and shines a brilliant spotlight over your band. A band that is represented by a quality publicist is more likely to have numerous interviews, and have articles written about them in magazines or newspapers. Publicists rely on their tight knit connections with editors and writers. This enables your band to have more public recognition through writing, which can land possible interviews with interested parties. A good publicist will be able to get your music out to the masses, but don’t expect miracles from these professionals. This individual will work with your band manager to ensure the public knows where your band is playing. He or she will also promote your latest CD, in order to boost sales. However, a publicist can only do so much. Sometimes the press will not pick up on your band’s talent, if they feel you are missing that something ‘special’, so don’t always blame the publicist, when things don’t turn out a certain way.

Bands need a good publicist, but finding one can be a lot harder than you think. If you are thinking about hiring a publicist for your band, be sure to find someone, who has a lot of connections and, if at all possible, prior experience. These connections may range from the Internet to the public media. The more connections a publicist has, the more likelihood you will be exposed in a widespread fashion to the masses. By getting the word out about your music, people are more likely to listen to it, pay to buy your CD’s, and purchase tickets to your shows.

Another benefit of having a publicist is that these individuals will work with you to enhance the vision you already have in place for your band. In other words, a publicist won’t come in and try to change the picture up. They work with you and your band to promote the image you desire. A good publicist will help you refine the image you are after and guide you in the right direction. Of course you can always get a head start on this image. Many bands take part in charity events and food drives to throw a positive light over them. These types of events allow your band to shine under their own showcase spotlight and give writers a good story to put in their magazines and newspapers.

There are a few things to consider before you hire a publicist. One important question you need to ask yourself is; “how many other bands is this individual currently looking after?” If a publicist is too busy taking care of other bands, then he or she will probably not have as much time to devote to your cause. Another critical factor to consider is whether or not you can trust the individual to do the job. It is a good idea to check out a publicist’s press list to find out what kind of contacts they have. You should also check references. Follow-up with other bands he or she has worked for to see how successful the individual has been in the past. A quality publicist will have a combination of Internet and local media press contacts. Having both kinds of contacts is vital to your band’s promotion and ongoing future success. In addition, many of these individuals will have relationships with radio stations, local businesses, and even music publications. These relationships will be invaluable to your bands ultimate success.

Updated: September 10, 2007

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