Paper Flyers - Does Anyone Use These Any More?

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OK, maybe this should be on I Make Music, but I'm as interested in hearing from people who *go* to shows as I am in people who play or promote shows.

Just booked a gig with a promoter, and he just mentioned something about mailing us some flyers (for cheap entry/payment system). And I just thought... I can't remember the last time I used a flyer - either to get into a show cheap, or to promote a show I was playing. Must be about 4 years since I printed one.

I never hear about shows from flyers. I hear about them from mailing lists, MySpace bulletins, text messages, emailouts, etc.

Tell me your thoughts on flyers - especially vs. the digital aspects of gig promotion.

― The Minimal Criminal (kate), Thursday, 18 May 2006 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

My brother does both mailing lists and flyers. Hell, for the operas and classical concerts I sing in I do flyers! The last one I did had exposed breasts on it so I couldn't hang it up at work without incurring HR wrath.

― Dan (Flyers Rock) Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 18 May 2006 12:22 (nineteen years ago)

I suppose, as our manager pointed out, there is something nice, and, well... like an ARTEFACT to flyers. People do save them and put them up on their walls and stuff like that. I know I used to, and you can't exactly do that with a MySpace bulletin.

― The Minimal Criminal (kate), Thursday, 18 May 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

Still do fliers for every show of ours. Not everyone is on our mailing list / myspace / etc, so its good to have the bases covered and hopefully reach a few new people. We put them up in record stores, coffee shops and anywhere else likeminded. Occaisionally we flyer at other concerts.

― mts (theoreticalgirl), Thursday, 18 May 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

The promoter that runs Houston's indie concerts has a flyer with all the bands coming to town on them that gets updated after each show. It's useful to keep and not miss any concerts.

― WillS (WillS), Thursday, 18 May 2006 13:42 (nineteen years ago)

Paper flyers are still pretty essential I reckon. Not everyone uses Myspace. They also give you a chance to assert your identity through the design, which can only be good.

― jng (jng), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:18 (nineteen years ago)

My neighborhood is constantly flooded with flyers, I never assumed it was any different anywhere else. Figured it was still the most popular way for local bands to advertise.

― jonviachicago (jonviachicago), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:27 (nineteen years ago)

I get flyers at shows all the time, they're pretty key in small local scenes still. except they're usually on postcard-type material, not regular paper.

― Alex in Baltimore (Alex in Baltimore), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:32 (nineteen years ago)

my band always does flyers, but its mostly cuz we have a friend that does amazing flyers and I sort of like the fact that they exists, and the fact that they are always done by the same artist/designer sort of lends a cool aspect to it, like how factory or black flag w/pettibone always had a similiar look....it's more for us than anything, i'm not sure they really help get people out to the shows.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:47 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, I think for a band they're good for establishing an image, but not necessarily good for getting people down to individual shows.

However, eventually, the former may help with the latter in the long run.

― The Minimal Criminal (kate), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:48 (nineteen years ago)

i like making them, just because it's fun to design something, but they're essentially useless. esp. in nyc.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

I might be wrong about this but I don't remember the Sugar flyers having any effect. But, you know, there's always the chance of snagging one person who'll then bring along ten mates.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 18 May 2006 14:54 (nineteen years ago)

i still do flyers... i used to make digital versions of the paper flyers i'd make but nowadays it's more like the other way around!

posters are also essential of course.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 18 May 2006 15:10 (nineteen years ago)

Aw, you can get an ASBO for putting up posters in this town. I ain't risking it!

...and you nearly got a Sugar punter off a flyer for the simple reason that my American friend was in town asked "is anything going on on Friday?" and I just gave him that, as it had address and everything on it. But in the end both of us were lame and didn't go.

I mean, I guess it's good to have something to hand out, which has your name, some artwork and contact details on it, even if they don't go to your show, they might check out your MySpace or something.

― The Minimal Criminal (kate), Thursday, 18 May 2006 15:23 (nineteen years ago)

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