I’m out and about – NYC this week, NY Red Bulls on Saturday - closing party is Wednesday, then NORWAY. Come and say Hi. Thanks to the wonderful people at Black Sun Festival and here at Fuse Gallery in NYC – awesome!

Meanwhile, here are more great questions and ok answers from the Hay Perro Q & A

Q - Offer a variety of potential dates? It seems that offering multiple dates offers the best chance of getting booked, but it may also increase the likelihood of being thrown in a "maybe" pile and forgotten about.
A - I’d say you’re looking for a show ANYTIME, why place any constraints at all on it? If it means you need to hold off booking another local show until you hear back, then do so (for a while at least) maybe another interesting show will come up and create the deadline needed to crunch people into action.

Q- Does an ignored email mean "write again to follow up" or "we're probably not interested now or ever?” Is it possible to email too much?
A – Emails are easy to delete. Don’t ramble – you can say: "Our band – are still looking for an opening slot at your club, our mailing list continues to grow and WE WILL WORK OUR ASSES OFF TO PROMOTE ANY SHOW YOU THROW AT US." And, read the section from promoters in the book. A promoter tells you what he wants to hear!!! THINK what you would like to hear IF you were the promoter.

Q - Is there any kind of directory of small, indie rock friendly
venues? We've mostly been mining the tour itineraries of similar bands and wondered if there was an easier way. Something along the lines of the old Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll magazine, "Book Your Own Fucking Life?" There are some larger directories out there, but those seem to include every place that's ever even considered having a band and don't seem to differentiate between places that book rock bands every night and those that book them twice a year.
A- Well, this is one of those many situations in art/music/entertainment where easier just doesn’t enter into the equation. IF there was an amazing directory, wouldn’t you STILL want to check that they hadn’t gone “country” before you get in the van, tune up your guitars, wash your armpits and get ready for amazing before, during, and after show sex (with yourself)!?! Cause it ain’t happening if it is now Tequila Two-Step Tuesdays! Yeee haaaaaa! There are no short-cuts except maybe reading my book – but that’s going to take you a freaking week. Keep doing exactly what you are doing – don’t just look at other bands dates, look at other cities too. Someone was just in the office talking about Ribfest in some town in Illinois I have never heard of. And, don’t laugh, at least when you play Ribfest you know you ain’t getting pizza!

Q: Marketing and related. In addition to our regular web site (www.hayperro.com), we also have the inevitable MySpace account. We try to keep up with friends and fans through the MySpace. In terms of in-person marketing, we use our stickers a lot, handing them out before we play at shows and trying to always keep a few on us in case we find ourselves in an Hay Perro-related conversation.
A – Not really a question and congratulations on throwing in your website. I didn’t use that strategy in my book TSTOURING.COM but I’m using it now!! ALWAYS have your shit with you – I met a few people over the weekend at Black Sun Festival that didn’t. You gotta.

Q - Having a CD is relatively new to us and we're still trying to figure out how to use them as a promotional device. We've given some to close friends and given a couple to local college radio stations. We generally sell them for $5.
A – Well ok – but don’t think of them as a revenue stream, they are just large business cards. With that in mind, maybe put your press kit on there and as video – along with the materials a club might need to throw something interesting on their web site. Logo, photographs an mp3 that’s ready, loud and small!


Q- How important is it to maintain an email list?
A – Ok, you didn’t just ask me that did you? I’d have to use so many “really really’s” in my answer that the SG language and grammar police will be all over my ass. It is the corner stone of the church you are building. This is why Ticketmaster has power – they have your addresses! (And also why they are thinking about starting a concert promotion division.) This will give you the ability to communicate directly with your fans and have a great, well attended show even if there is no rave preview in the local paper.
So, essential. Really, really essential. Really!!

Peace, love, respect…….buy art, buy books, and, be safe out there.

MarteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeN