The best musicians get the most exposure, right? Wrong. That’s why local networking and career development group Asheville Music Professionals (AMP) is hosting a free workshop on best practices in music marketing at the Grey Eagle on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6-8 p.m.
Geared toward musicians, the event calls on the expertise of Mason Jar Media founder Crissa Requate, Dreamspider Publicity founder Erin Scholze, Mountain Xpress arts and entertainment section editor Alli Marshall and Funding America Through Entertainment founder Josh Stack. These local professionals will partake in panel discussions to share implementable tips and insight from their respective industries.
Up for discussion are topics like how to work with media, how to put together a compelling press release and other press materials, how to assemble and understand a music team’s varied roles, when to hire and what to expect from a publicist, the cycle of working a record, the importance of radio promotion and social media and the benefits and risks of cross promoting.
Following the crash course in marketing the sonic arts, Seyrn performs at the Grey Eagle. Workshop attendees are invited to enjoy a discounted ticket ($8 instead of $10/$12) to the show, which starts at 9 p.m.
More information about each panelist and AMP from Dreamspider Publicity:
Crissa Requate is CEO and Founder of Mason Jar Media. Based in Asheville, NC, Mason Jar Media provides creative publicity and radio promotions campaigns for festivals, artists, events, and brands. Requate has over 10 years experience as a music publicist and moved to Asheville in 2007 from Brooklyn, NY. Her current client roster includes Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Shaky Knees And Shaky Boots, Brewgrass, Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa Festival in Mexico and the WayHome Festival in Toronto. Artists on the Mason Jar Media roster include ALO, Perpetual Groove, TAUK, Earphunk, Rising Appalachia, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, and The Hip Abduction. www.masonjarmedia.com
Erin Scholze is Founder and Sole-Proprietor of Dreamspider Publicity. She offers services to musicians which include album promotion and national publicity for touring bands as well as festival and event marketing, social networking and consultations about the basics of self-promotion. Her current clients include Donna the Buffalo, Everyone Orchestra, The Duhks, Town Mountain, The Honeycutters, Tellico, Jon Stickley Trio, Suwannee Springfest, Magnolia Fest, and Songlines Americana and AAA Radio Promotion. She’s represented a variety of other acts throughout the years, including many from Asheville. Erin headed up LAAFF as Stage Entertainment and Marketing Director from 2002-2010 and also has planned, promoted, and/ or consulted on a plethora of other music events during her career. www.dreamspider.net
Alli Marshall is the Arts Section Editor at Mountain Xpress. She’s been on staff with the local publication since 2003. Alli grew up in Western New York and moved to North Carolina to attend Warren Wilson College. She’s been published in music and lifestyle magazines such as Our State, Metro Pop, Shuffle and Blurt!; her debut novel is How to Talk to Rockstars. www.alli-marshall.com
Josh Stack is Founder and Executive Director of local nonprofit FATE – Funding America Through Entertainment, which media campaigns to publicize corporate philanthropic activity in conjunction with high profile entertainment events. Stack has worked professionally as a musician, and enjoyed PR success in the corporate, nonprofit, and entertainment industries. Clients that he works with include Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Bruce Hornsby, Jim James, amongst others. www.supportfate.org
Asheville Music Professionals aims to set the standard for good music business practices while acting as a common voice for the Asheville music industry. AMP offers membership educational workshops, fun events and socials all targeted at advancing local music business. With a focus that extends from touring bands to recording studios, venues to festivals, and gear manufacturers to instrument repair shops, this hard working group of volunteers intends to make a positive impact on the lives of musicians and music lovers like you. The Mission is to provide education, advocacy, connection and collaboration for the people who work and thrive in music in Buncombe County. Find out more about Asheville Music Professionals and how to get involved at AshevilleMusicProfessionals.com.
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