Marketing yourself or your band

Hunter, Here's a few idea's not mine... I have a lot more to add.

Reverbnation.com - I've got their music player plugged in directly to my own website and there have been five "plays" this morning.

http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk/html/listen_online.html

Get yourself a profile on every single free advertising space you can find.

Don't discount direct e-mail. Venues aren't so hot at replying to "I'm a musician looking for a gig" but I've had favourable response from some of the 400 Event and Wedding Planners I hit with direct e-mails last month. I asked them to add me to their suppliers' list; I got one mail about a possible booking next July and a few who said I sounded good - they went and had a listen so get some product out there for people to hear.

There's also a lot to be said for having a sign up in the front window of your house, and I have another on the back parcel shelf in the car.

"Letterbox drops" - flyers through the door - 200 dropped in my village (that's every house) - two phone calls, one new student.

Get some business cards done, some flyers, and some postcards to put through doors. I use these guys for all my printing and sometimes they offer me free stuff (postage only) :

http://www.vistaprint.co.uk

And my cousin will do graphic design for you (she did a great job on the Essex Guitar Orchestra brochures the other year) - tell her I sent sent you:

http://www.angieandco.com

And the most important point - if someone replies, make sure you get back to them PDQ.

Marketing yourself is not a "half hour on the PC a couple of times a week" thing, it's a non-stop thing that takes up 50% of your available time.