In my last post, I quoted a line from Dave Schwensen’s book “How To Be A Working Comic.” That line (and I hope you will always remember it) is, “It’s called Show Business, not Show Art”. What does this have to do with marketing? Whether you’re a stand-up comedian, a sketch comic, a ventriloquist, a comedy magician, or other performing artist, precious few people will ever pay you to perform unless you treat your art like a serious business. And that starts with promoting yourself.
During my last post, I also spoke of the importance of having and using business cards. Today, I will talk about another card that is of equal or even greater importance, the picture post card. While you can get them for as little as a nickel (less than three cents if you order 5,000 or more) each, these versatile,4 by 6 cards can help you acquire and maintain clients and earn thousands of dollars. They’re a great way to introduce your entertainment business to prospective clients. Then, a few days later, you can follow-up with a phone call to a prospect who already has your picture and a description of your entertainment services on his or her desk to refer to while speaking with you. Another way is to call first, then, send a post card to thank your prospect for taking time to speak with you.
Picture post cards are also an excellent way to announce your upcoming appearances/performances at various events and venues. You can even use them to invite agents and event planners to come and see you perform. Another use for post cards is to confirm dates and times of performances with clients. A quick note will put your client’s mind to rest and you will look like a true professional. Last, and certainly not least, utilize post cards as “thank you” notes after each performance or engagement.
Now, let’s address the appearance of your post card. The look should be professional, yet, reflect your personal style. I recommend a full photo on the front with text (advertising content and contact information) in contrasting color over the photo. The back should have a small photo in the upper left-hand corner with ad content and contact info strategically placed to leave room for the address and a brief message.
Simply put, picture post cards are a cheap, but effective way to communicate with prospects and clients and promote your business. Good luck in putting a new twist on the term “Going Postal” and growing your business.
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