Beyond the typical press kit, email list, social networking, real world networking, hanging fliers for the next gig, etc., a world of fun and unique promotional opportunities exist. Here are five promo ideas outside the norm worth exploring.

-Go Old School

The ’90s are considered a period of quaint nostalgia now, a time when the economy was good, DIY acts released cassette tapes and licked stamps to put on postcards and newsletters to send out. While releasing something on cassette might not be the best idea anymore, an actual newsletter that people would receive via the U.S. Postal Service would definitely gain you some attention. People love getting something besides bills and junk mail in their box. Of course, this could be cost prohibitive, but consider it a loss leader, as a novelty for targeted press contacts and the most ardent fans on your email list. The trick, of course, is getting all those real world mailing addresses.

-Local Morning TV Shows

Every city or region has its own local TV news broadcasts and in the morning they have hours of time to fill beyond the hard news slot at the top of each hour. Producers are always looking for the local angle to fill the gaps whenever the Today Show and Good Morning America aren’t feeding in. This is where you come in. If you’ve watched enough of these shows you’ll notice they’re constantly plugging local events and acts. Offer to play live in the studio to promote your upcoming festival gig. You may not be a morning person, but morning people are a great, alert audience to play to.

-Beyond T-shirts and Bumper Stickers

Sure, you need these traditional merch items, but think outside the box for other items that fit your act. Do tie-ins with local companies. If you’re known as a party music act, release a series of drink coasters and bottle openers. Get the coasters placed in local pubs. If you’re part of a old time folk or bluegrass act, sell your own brand of toothpicks; a country club act, golf tees; whatever, you get the picture. The
possibilities are endless. Brainstorm with others on novelty merch items for your genre.

-Let Your Fans Do It For You

These days, with a multitude of social networking platforms and sharing apps, your existing fan base could be your best promotional tool. Get them to be creative with apps like Vine and make their own short videos to share online. Encourage the recording of your shows and reward the fans who post the best looking and sounding video or audio recordings with perks like free admission to shows.

-Create a Bizarro World Alter Ego Band

In Bizarro World from the DC superhero comic books, up is down, black is white, Superman does bad things instead of good things. Do the same with your band and play surprise gigs as your alter ego. You’ll have to book and play a couple of shows as the alter ego band to small crowds at first, but once word spreads, the “secret” will be out and everyone will know that when “Soft White Underbelly” is on the bill, it means it’s your band doing something different. It’s fun for the fans to be in on the secret. You may find that your alter ego band becomes more popular than the real one.

Maybe some of these ideas will work for you, maybe not. Perhaps you could refit some of them to suit your style. Let us know some of the creative ways you’ve marketed your act.