Open Brainstorms

Write "the hit"? Novel idea, but I didn't see it in the list yet.

Unless backed by millions of mkt dollars that labels throw at bands these days, the word is spread by an existing fan base. Treat these fans like friends. Create fan "badges" on networking sites that link back to your page. Offer discounts to those in your fan club or on your friends list. Write hand-written thank you letters to clubs in which you played mentioning how much you enjoyed playing their club. Network with other/similar local bands. Just a few ideas to get you started.

Get some publicity (and build the reputation) by adding a karaoke element where an audience member can come on stage and join in with a song.

Sell shares in the band to get folk interested in the band and its progress. Then ask the shareholders the question in the topic. Also, if you have time, start a scheme where people can buy shares in any local band.

Wait for hearDenton (www.heardenton.com) to move to your city! We are building a platform for just this concept. We want to see local music thrive. This means promoting the bands as well as the venues and getting the community involved in local entertainment.

Devise various "gimmicky" concepts that will give the band free publicity. For example, have three bass players. Have a different guest vocalist every week. Do gigs where the lead singer (or one of the band members) is never present but participates via the internet. Do a 24 hour gig marathon. Use very unusual instruments on some songs. Set a high target (Eg "a number one single within a year") and blog about the progress and ask others to participate in striving to reach the goal.

Have a shocking original name.

help a clothing designer promote his punk gear

give away free MP3s or 30 seconds of the song for download

have a website--put professional photos of you on the site so people can download it as their desktop wallpaper

have a mailing list and tell people about upcoming concerts

have a friend start a fan club

see if a local newspaper, magazine or zine will write an article or review about you

join a record label, even if it is local

find a promoter or 2 or 3 or 4

throw private or secret concerts to start an underground buzz

do something no one else is doing

join a political movement

enter a reality tv competition

ask playradioplay or songs to wear pants to how they made it big---i think it was through the internet

go to schools and universities to perform

play at a local pub regularly

Attract groupies and others that will evangelize your music

Ringtones.

Create very topical songs. Create a press release which tells your feelings. Blog.

Give away demo "records".

Create "pull" (instead of "push"). You want people to ask about/for you.

Join many different local bands and do a concert promoted solely via local businesses -- coffee shops, cigar stores, piercing parlors, etc.

Make a YouTube video for one of your top songs

Get a myspace page and build a good fanbase.

For ticket sales, try making incentives for exisiting fans. Hand out free merchandise if you see them again, personalize their experience, by them a pitcher if they bring friends.