I'd like to meet:
CLICK HERE FOR THE SHRAM WEBSITE
What is a street team? A street team is a group of dedicated music fans (Shrammers) who do anything and everything they can to get a band's name and music out there. Street teaming isn't hard and it is actually a lot of fun. It can be done alone or with a group of friends or other fans. We all know SHRAM is the best band on earth, so basically their music sells itself. Our job as a street team is to introduce the band to others and to convert as many new fans as possible. Once they hear the music and feel the vibe of the band, they will be sold. But, if you do this for any length of time, you will eventually run across someone who is less than receptive. Don't get frustrated and don't take it personally. Be polite and thank them for their time and move on. Who knows, your positive attitude may be the one thing that leads them to the band's website at a later date.
Here are some basic ideas to get you started:
Word of Mouth. It's not hard to talk up any band that you love, so basically anywhere people are is a good place to find a potential new fan; your local record store, concerts, clubs, school, work, restaurants, red lights, or even in an elevator. Anywhere.
Flyers: Post them in places you think they will be noticed; music stores, instrument stores, clubs and venues, colleges, bookstores, coffee shops, malls, schools, offices, parking lots, etc. Permission might be a good thing also.
..: Post the band's website address, upcoming shows, new cd release, etc. on music websites and forums, other band's websites, post bulletins, and add their info to your outgoing e-mails. Most websites that sell music or downloads want band or cd reviews. That's a great way to promote them. If you can't write a review, find a website that does and just ask.
Newspapers/Magazines/Television: Contact them and request that they write a story about the band and/or do an interview. All they can do is say no, but with enough requests their interest may be peaked.
Radio: Request at your local stations and even other stations in other areas. It is always best to act like you are familiar with their station and actually listen, so do your homework. Most times the DJ's do not get to pick what gets played, so contacting a Station Manager or Program Director is also a good idea.
Retail: Ask for The Brian Schram Band album in your local music store and request to hear them while browsing. Make sure the stores have their cd available and preferably in a very visible spot with displays. Major labels and distribution companies are responsible for getting the cd's/display materials to stores, but in most instances, that's about all they do.
Venues: Hand out flyers, stickers, and burned cd samplers (two songs with permission from SHRAM ONLY!!! No permission means DO NOT IN ANYWAY DISTRIBUTE THE BAND'S MUSIC. THE MUSIC BELONGS TO THE ARTIST), etc. to people at the venues of shows you are attending. Major concerts have already made audiences for new music and bands. Outdoor festivals and your local clubs are also a great place to pass stuff out. Remember to put flyers on cars in the parking lots and also in restrooms.
Scheduled Band Shows: Make your street teaming presence known to the band and fans when they arrive in any town. Have a group assembled before passing out flyers, stickers, and cd's. Larger venues and even most cities/towns have ordinances about what can and can't be posted and where. So call the venue and/or city ordinance offices earlier in the day to see what is allowed.
Most of all, as a street team we are in this together to help the band, so share your experiences with street teamers in other areas. Take pictures if possible, and tell everyone else what worked for your team and what didn't.
I know many of you have MySpace accounts and MySpace is great for street teaming. I use bulletins a lot but also just found out that by doing a search by zip code in or around the areas in which the Shram band will be playing, you can send a message to people giving info about them coming with dates and where to purchase them. I'm going to be doing this close to tour time so just thought it was worth mentioning.
UPCOMING SHOWS!!
