Seeking Advice/Help... We need more GIG postings.

[Jim]

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out ways to announce this web site to the world. Namely, the agents, producers and potential clients who could be posting LOTS and LOTS of gig opportunities on the GIGS FORUMS.

Here's what I need: Any suggestions on how I might do this! I regularly submit the site to search engines and there are thousands of regular visitors, but they're mostly performers (that's great!) However we need to let every producer, agency, and potential client out there know that this is THE place to post gigs for variety entertainers.

Wouldn't it be great if THEY came to US?

Does anyone know of a sort of 'agents.net' or 'festival producers.net'? Know what I mean? A place I could put the word out? Does anyone want to share a list of agents or producers who would be willing to post gigs here?

Any ideas would be appreciated. Reply below or email me directly: mailto:jim@smirk.comjim@smirk.com</A>

P.S. I know no one likes sharing valuable client/agent info. Don't worry; I don't plan on sharing your lists with the world, I just want to send out a blanket email annnouncement. I think it will benefit all of us if more producers and agencies knew we existed. Don't you agree?

Jim

[Frisbee]

Jim,

You could put together a brief press release...an actual hard copy mailing to send out to agencies...I am sure you hae a decent list of agencies...as well as performers yellow pages and also from essential performers resource page...this would be a large list of agencies.

This would let all the agencies know that performers look here for gigs and that this would be a good place to recruit and post for gigs. Just an idea.

I know that this would be costly but I bet people on this board would be willing to chip in to help cover the cost of the mailing...broken down by even 10 people it would not be too much a piece.
You can count on me to help fund postage if you decide to do this.

-Frisbee

[Jim]

Frisbee,

I'd like to keep this as 'Online' as possible. Email is free. We're a web site. I like the idea of a hard-copy press kit, but I don't have time to produce something right now. I think an email campaign is simpler and faster. I just need the lists. And/or the web sites to target.

Jim

[Peter Voice]

Jim, check out http://festivals.com/
Might prove useful.

[Adam Gertsacov]

Jim-- if you write up a press release, I'll be happy to mail it out to whatever lists I'm on.

(And another attempt to post an image via UBB)

http://www.trainedfleas.com/fleaimages/fleaheadshot.jpg

Jim, I think that images are broken (or off)


[This message has been edited by Adam Gertsacov (edited 12-19-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Adam Gertsacov (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Brian Wilson]

Even writing up a letter and mailing it to different agencies might be enough. Or an email!! Even better. no postage necessary.

[jester]

Send a release to info@equity.org.uk

Equity is the British performers union, and I'm sure they would be very interested in this resource and mentioning it in their newsletter.

[Chance]

Jim, I have a current list of about 400 talent buyers worldwide. The list was given to me by another entertainer with the provision that it not be shared. But if you are able to protect the list I would let it be used for a project in which we are all helped equally and randomly.

[This message has been edited by Chance (edited 12-21-2000).]

[checkerhead]

OK...this may be pesimistic, but having been in charge of the various Yellow Pages sections at checkerhead.com I can tell you for a fact that the Gigs, Agents, and Props suppliers yellow pages grow at a snails pace. So...getting more people to post gigs to this forum will take time

Part of this is due to the fact that Festival types don't know that this site exists, or if they do, they don't think to post here, or if they do, they don't have time to get here to do so...

My suggestion is to get performers to help educate the gig providers that this site exists and works...

I often get called for a gig but am already booked... It's at times like this that my next question is -

"Do you have internet access..."

If I get a yes, I then suggest that they post their info to the Festivals/Gigs yellow pages, as well as swinging by Performers.net...

If other people get in this habbit this resource will grow, but it'll take time...

[Jim]

These are all great ideas, folks. I'm going to do a big mass email probably after the new year. I plan to utilize every one of these ideas.

Keep them coming...

Jim

[Peter Voice]

Hi Jim check out this site http://www.olympus.net/personal/artis/Buskers_Buckstop.html

It has lots of contacts, some of which you may not have.

[This message has been edited by Peter Voice (edited 12-23-2000).]

[Andy]

Here's some for fairs...
http://www.govconnect.com/z_DFCD07941AA011D480AF00D0B7230037.htm

http://www.fairsnet.org/index.html

And one of my favorite links is the old Essential Entertainer's Workshop at...
http://www.jcoston.bizland.com/workshop.htm

I'd go to their "agents" sections and start visiting websites, compiling e-mail lists, and sending them a heads-up about this site.

Hope this helps

Andy