Dave Butcher of Vincent, Ohio writes:
“My wife and I have a music ministry. Our program includes my testimonies and recitations interspersed with Carolyn’s songs using soundtracks. You can see our Spiritual Road website.
“Carolyn has had several songs on radio Top 50 charts, and has appeared on several local and national TV programs. We have both won awards and nearly every place we’ve appeared has asked us back. Despite all this, we could use some help promoting our music ministry to churches, fairs, and faith events both regionally and nationally. We need low- or no-cost ideas.
“Trade shows for fairs and festivals in our region, near Parkersburg, WV and Marietta, OH, have been a waste of time and money, and cold-calling churches hasn’t worked. Can your Hounds come through with ideas to help us?”
You might want to look into home schooling networks. It’s worth doing an internet search – they are often religious based, very organized, and often looking for entertainment for their families. Just a thought! Good luck!
Another option might be parochial schools – you could do shows and perhaps offer you products for sale with a percentage going to the school. Schools love fundraising opportunities.
All the best,
Barbara Bietz
LIKE A MACCABEE(Yaldah Publishing, 2006)
http://www.BarbaraBietz.com
http://barbarabbookblog.blogspot.com/
Two words: Sample CDs. Send samples of your music and programs to churches. You could also have a page on your website to which a browser could go to hear your music.
I love both of these ideas!
Offering audio clips of your songs is a very effective way to help people understand what you do.
I use a fabulous audio program called Audio Acrobat. I like it because you can record your audio over the phone, or by using your computer microphone, or you can upload a pre-recorded audio in MP3 or WAV format.
Learn more about the program at https://publicityhound.com/blog/AudioAcrobat
Here are more ideas:
–Create a video and post it to YouTube.
–I see from the schedule at your website that you travel throughout the U.S. Be sure to post notices to the Craigslist in the nearest city you’re visiting.
–Are you pitching bloggers?
Christian is a very wide niche and many churches like to “have their own kind” doing concert. Not much different than any businesses.. 😉 Niching
A marketing plan for them might include collecting testimonials from their own church pastor and members. Sending a one page letter with testimonials and a professional looking brochure with a sample CD to similar churches. Then follow up with a call.
Something else that many forget about… Ask and collect. Ask: for the work when you do concerts, i.e. if you know of a church that is looking for guest speakers, provide us with that information and if we get the gig, you’ll get 2 tickets to the event or a CD, your choice. Collect: email addresses so that you can add people to your newsletter and tell them when you’ll be in their cities again. Maybe find Christian authors to write articles for it.
Lastly in this note, but really, first do a thorough assessment of the state of your business. And then, if you want to save money and you value your time, look up One Page Business Plan at your library website or favorite book site and purchase it. (I actually don’t work with any business owner who won’t create a plan using it… I have found it to be that valuable)