| CD Baby DIY Musician Podcast |
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| Rhonda Kelley / Rainmaker Publicity |
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Beware of a publicist named Rhonda Kelley with a company called Rainmaker Publicity. I thought I was the only one that was ripped off by her, until I started talking to other musicians and found out we ALL have the same story!
She advertises the hell out of herself, so you see her name everywhere, and think that she must be legit. She talks a good hype, and can convince you that for $1500 she'll get you a lot of publicity.
Once you pay your $1500.... BYE BYE! She won't return phone calls or emails, and she certainly won't get you any publicity.
I thought maybe I just wasn't good enough, or had done something wrong, until I overheard someone here in Boston saying the same thing about her, then when the two of us started talking about it, a THIRD person had it happen to her, too!
Apparently Rhonda at Rainmaker spends all of our money on advertising HERSELF, hoping to catch some new suckers, because she sure as hell isn't spending our money on getting any publicity!
The reason I am putting this on CD Baby in a very public forum here is because WE JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM HER, and I know this will get her attention.
If:
(1) - EVERY musician who has been screwed by Rainmaker Publicity posts a comment below, telling their story.
and...
(2) - Rhonda comes here in this public forum and does the right thing to either provide the promised publicity services, or refund the money to EVERY LAST PERSON that has been screwed by her, and that person posts here that they are now satisfied, then I will delete this story, and tell the world that Rainmaker Publicity did the right thing.
But if not, I think we can organize a collective lawsuit against this illegal behavior.
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Wow. It's amazing how many people have been screwed over by this woman. I also gave Rhonda Kelley $1500 for publicity (as did two other friends of mine - believe it or not, she used my name to sell her services to my friends). And, just like everyone else it seems, she disappeared as soon as she cashed my check. I never heard from her again. And I now know I'm not the only one. As all indie musicians know, $1500 is a lot of money. However, the greater cost to me was losing those crucial six months of publicity after my CD release.
After this thouroughly disheartening experience, I was lucky enough to hook up with the Planetary Group, also out of Boston, and their hard work and perseverence translated into three of my songs being played on two MTV reality series, a CMJ add for the CD, and over 60 radio stations on the East Coast playing the CD. Anyone needing great publicity help should check them out.
Please, please, if you're reading this, spread the word about this unethical thief (oxymoron?). I hope my experience may save a couple of musicians from this type of grief. Just so folks know, if you're motivated enough, she is 'sponsoring' the Galaris musician's site -I'd already sent them an email warning them about her practices before Derek sent me a nice little note telling me about this post.
Peace and success to all, and please don't forget to VOTE!
Heidi Stone
www.heidistone.com
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Did you work hard enough and have anything to really promote.
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I've dealt with Rhonda Kelley as an Editor at
Performer Magazine and I can honestly say
that a lot of what she does to bands makes no
sense whatsoever. I can also say that she is
too embarassed to call my office after all of the
crazy and pointless stunts that she's pulled.
Many bands have called in for a character
reference telling me that they were
considering Ms. Kelley to do their PR. My
advice is simple: Don't do it.
Rather than talk trash about this poor woman
and her track record (there are enough bands
out there who can), I would just like to say to
all musicians that the music industry is
smaller than you think. There are a lot of
shady companies out there like Rainmaker
and there are many great people/companies
that are in it for all the right reasons like CD
Baby. As the Editor (back then) and the
Associate Publisher (now) of Performer, I've
seen many crooked people come and go. The
one thing that you can count on is that if
someone is doing bad business, they won't
last. They can't. This industry polices itself.
People talk and the crooks get flushed out.
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What a disgusting lying sack of shit she is.
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Allan:
Just because I didn't accept your 'offers', that is no reason to be bashing us??? Don't you have better things to do with your time?
Rhonda Kelley
Rainmaker Publicity
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I am currently working with Rhonda Kelley and Rainmaker Public Relations and rarely have I found a person in this industry more honesty and integrity. She is working diligently to advancing my career and I have complete trust and faith in her and her company.
Frank Unzueta/One World
Sunstone Records
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Rhonda got me a ton of great press... I can only speak for
myself, but I've been doing this for a living for alot of years
and she's one of the best I've come across, if not the best.
I've used Planetary, and they were great too.
alex woodard
www.alexwoodard.com
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Funny, Alex Woodard is one of the clients
whom Rhonda claims never paid her.
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:18PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:20PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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Rhonda has worked with Alex for years and continues to have a great relationship with him.
you are such an instigator!!
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| by
on Wednesday March 24 2004 @ 01:45PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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you've been "making a living" at making music?
don't lie.
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:22PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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I too had enlisted Rainmaker and Rhonda for the publicity campaign of my 2nd album JEWISH LIGHTNING.i am new to this publicity thing, so i was constantly calling her and e-mailing her. Guess what, she was always there to answer the questions i had. e-mails were always answered within minutes. although my sound and political demeaner are quite a hard sell especially to the mainstream and quasi-mainstream. during the campaign, my cd sales both for Jewish Lightning and my first CD BAD'LANIA RISING increased dramatically during my time with Rhonda and i learned enough from watching her to actually run my own campaign for DESERT FEVER BRIGADE, my 3rd cf.
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I'll always recommend my musician friends to her and I'll never release another record without her help!
I must say I am very surprised to hear these stories about Rhonda and Rainmaker publicity. I honestly don't know your situation or experience with her. But mine and all the bands and musicians I've recommended to her have been to the total contrary. I've Personally worked with Rhonda on several different projects and it has been nothing short of extraordinary. Not only does she work for cheap..but she has consistently provided me with exceptional work. $1500 may be a lot of money for most people...but if you do a little research...it's quite cheap for a publicist. The majority of artists that I know that have used her services have received tons of press. One of things you have to remember is getting press takes time..it doesn't happen over night. Also a publicist can only get the music in the hands of the press, she can't make them write anything. I'll always recommend my musician friends to her and I'll never release another record without her help!
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There is always two sides of the story, and so it seems the people ranting about Rainmaker Publicity decided not to pay for their campaign, ummm...guess that is why it never got off the ground huh? That is the the real truth behind these horrid lies posted on CD BABY.
I happen to know Rhonda Kelly of Rainmaker Publicity very well and she is an honest and reputable business woman. I have sent many artists her way for her services and have never heard a bad word about her. Go to her website to read testaments of artists and contact them to see for yourself @ http://www.rainmakerpublicity.com
Its too bad people can not be honest about what really happens. To tarnish someone else's career because things did not go your way and you did not follow through to make things happen is disgraceful and completely unprofessional. This is a total act of cowardice and disrespect to one of the most important publicist in Indie Music, you all should be ashamed!
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While I can't say I know every side of this issue, I have to say that the complaints about Rhonda (and Rainmaker) feel like total bullshit from where I sit. I run a relatively new label and Rhonda has been extremely responsive to my numerous questions (either on the phone or on email) and has done things totally out of her charter... like hook me up with other bands to help my bands set up tours.
I don't know why you feel your experience didn't work out... maybe you got dropped for non-payment as suggested or who the hell knows but to call her a thief seems way out of line.
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Rhonda Kelley IS THE BEST!!!
Not only did my CD get rave reviews, but she went out of her way to help me get noticed. I am sorry you had a bad experience, you might want to think about your music, and why the press didnt want to take the time to review it, not only have I been reviewed nationally, in webzines, but because of Rhonda's support, and guidance I have been listed in print, and will be featured in upcoming magazines.
It takes awhile for press to review a CD, so do your homework, and stop blaming other people.
Perhaps, they didnt like your stuff, its the editors decision to run your review, not Rhonda's.
Thank you Rhonda for all your help, will have a press release hopefully for you soon.
You are truly an independent musician's friend, and I WILL Continue to USE YOU!!!!!
Rock on Rhonda!
Chris
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Rhonda did a great job for me. She answered any and every phone call and email. She got me plenty of press and I consider her to have been a huge help. She was very professional and when I get ready to release my next CD, I will contact her for her help again. I can guarantee you that Rhonda does what she says she does. Beyond that, she has no control over who chooses to review you and what they have to say. This business is full of people who will take advantage of you but Rhonda isn't one of them.
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WOW!! Well, it sounds like you are pretty upset, I wish I could give you a response, but, you will not identify yourself. Please tell us who you are and what your issues are specifically and I will address them accordingly.
By the way, I have been in business for 8 years and have never had a lawsuit against me. I get ,on average ,100-125 press kits every month and decide on 6-8 bands to work with. I pick them very carefully. I have been very successful and take great pride in my work. But, there are some cd's that just bomb. That is not the publicists fault.
I hope that you stop the accusations and lies and come out of hiding.
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We hired Rhonda Kelley and she guided us into the world of publicity. She also explained the difference between publicity and cd play. As far as the Alice Stuart organization is concerned
Rhonda is a professional who helps.
We say know what you are buying when you ask for publicity help. Rhonda met all our goals and we would use her services again.
We hope this confusion can be cleared up.
James McBride Stuart
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It didn't look like Heidi Stone was hiding. Did you not care to address that? That's a little sketchy in my book.
-Kelly
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Well, there are all kinds of hiding Kelly. I will leave it at that. Heidi was contacted by us many, many, many, many times during the course of her campaign and 2 moves.
Rhonda Kelley
Rainmaker Publicity
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i engaged rhonda kelley's services for my first release. her work enabled me to put together a great press kit and she is now working on promoting my second release. why? because she does her job extremely well. as to her responsiveness, she has always been prompt and thorough in returning all communications, even those questions of a general nature which have helped me to understand the process of publicity. i in no way find the accusations made above to be representative of the rhonda kelley i know and look forward to working with her on the third record.
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I strongly believe that the unkind words toward Rhonda Kelley and Rainmaker Publicity are ALL LIES! I'm only in my second month of my campaign with Rhonda and I've already received a few positive reviews! I wasn't even especting to get review for anohter month or two! She always responds to my e-mail within 24 hours too! I know she's legit because when I went to the Nashville New Music Conference in 2003, another publicist recommended her to me! So if that isn't enough, I don't know what is. Do not believe the negative feedback about Rhonda!
Russ - Scorch
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I have been in contact with Rhonda over the course of the past few weeks. We have not paid her a dime for any services, yet she has taken the time to explain her services not only to me but to the other members of the band as well. She had an opportunity to scam us by working a campaign for one of our older releases that most likely would not have been reviewed (due to it's age..released in 2001),but she opted not to take on that release. It appears to me that she genuinely has our best interests in mind. So in a nut shell I would say Rhonda Kelley is pretty straight by us.
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I had the opposite experience from you regarding Rhonda.
We are a difficult band to pigeonhole, never mind sell since
we won't tour, and still we got tons - TONS - of publicity
because of her efforts. She has been our constant
chearleader, long after our contract expired, and we will be
using her for our next record as well. I hope you straighten
this out for both your sakes, but I totally disagree with your
assessment of Rainmaker Publicity.
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Hey to all - I'm glad it seems there are some folks who've had good experiences with Rainmaker Publicity and Rhonda Kelley - I was not one of those people and I stand by what I wrote about that awful experience. And it was truly awful especially in light of my experiences with publicists since then. This was my experience and the experience of several of my friends. So please don't call me a liar or dismiss my words. I wrote only with the goal of trying to save others from the lack of service and response that I received. And, I do have to say, I still want my $1500 back.
Best, Heidi Stone
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Rhonda was on my short list of possible PR people to
work with for my "Reality-The Rock Opera" release. She
was very prompt about answering e-mails. But my CD's
sound and concept was a bad fit for her personal
agenda, which I must confess, I found rude and
insufferable. I declined to employ her since I felt we'd
cross swords over direction. But I just attribute this to
crossed agendas.
Les
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Hey again to all - Miraculously it seems, Rhonda Kelley of Rainmaker Publicity has sent me four emails in the span of a couple of hours with an ultimatum that this was her last attempt to get a hold of me and hash things out. Could have used that great response when I needed it for the CD. I sent her this email: Hi Rhonda – I wasn’t ignoring your messages – I just got three of them at the same time and have a really good spam filter which is where your first two emails ended up – In my spam file. I spent months trying to get a hold of you via both email and phone. I left messages and emails which all went unanswered. And it wasn’t only me that had this experience. I don’t know what happened to you but my career has been quite good since that time and I have no desire to ‘hash it out’ or have any other contact with you.
This closes this nasty chapter for me and I'm done with this thread (and reliving that experience and having to defend myself about it, including nasty emails from Rhonda about why I won't respond to her!) but I do wish everyone well and much future success -
Best, Heidi Stone
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Heidi;
I am happy you were able to move forward and get past this;I wish you all the luck in the world with your new release...really!
Rhonda Kelley
Rainmaker Publicity
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| by
on Tuesday January 27 2004 @ 01:40PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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i could rattle off 20 bands rhonda has ripped off outright in the boston area. everyone working in the local music biz avoids her like the plague--her reputation couldn't be worse. most bands find themselves expertly coaxed into believing they've hired a caring genius only to find she's literally done nothing and taken their money. yet sometimes rhonda does actually find it within herself to care and does genuinely help an artist who's paid her, so i'm not surprised to find some positive responses here. at the very least, you're taking a huge gamble with your money and reputation by hiring rhonda. there are plenty of more credible people to hire for publicity. otherwise, you're playing with fire.
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I'm not usually in the business of bashing people which is why I'm posting anonymously, Rhonda probably knows whom I am and some of you may figure it out - I managed a band many years ago that hired Rhonda. She stole $650 of their hard earned dollars and did absolutley nothing for them. The only reason we didn't sue is that our attorney advised us that $650 was not a significant enough amount to offset our costs of suing. She didn't return any phone calls and didn't so much as mail out a press kit to anyone. The list is long of bands who've been doinked over by Rainmaker at some point in time. Prior to that experience I was booking a VERY VERY marquee club in Boston, similar to the Marquee clubs I book now - after a lot of friendly armtwisting she convinced me to book one of her acts. Three weeks before the gig she called me to tell me the artist wasn't paying her on time and could I please cancel the gig? When I declined she flipped out on me. I could relay you a dozen other instances where Rhonda has either ripped off a band i've dealt with or done some really sketchy back biting petty thing. I'll let you all be the judge here people, Rhonda has always been a major Sketch o matic to me and to most of the legit bands I've worked with. She's a bottomfeeder and will likely get you the same press love you could get yourself if you put the time in. I handle a LOT of PR for the clubs I currently book and I'll tell you that no journalist at any legitimately big meaningful publication (ie Major daily newspaper, major weekly A/E paper) will take or return her calls. So I'll leave you with this - GOOD PEOPLE who practise GOOD BUSINESS do not have posts on CDbaby about how they've ripped people off. They also don't take the time to respond either, they are too busy getting things done for their clients. Back to work for me. Hope this helps the cause.
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thank you. very cool of you to speak up.
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:35PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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DAN MILLEN....How did I know it was you????
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| by
on Tuesday January 27 2004 @ 02:12PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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Truth is, Rhonda Kelley is a master manipulator who only cares about her two-week-in-advance payments for services rendered. And then once you terminate the deal because of her ineffectiveness, she pockets the cash. It's a nice scheme Rhonda. Yeah, we can send out press kits to the Noise, Lollipop, The NE Performer, and Soundcheck too. Does anyone read that shit? Has she placed a feature in the Globe or Herald in the last 5 years. Have you EVER seen her in a club? No, of course not. And she loves to prey on young bands who think they're famous because there's a review of their EP in the Performer. Ha! Oh yeah kids, a major label deal is right around the corner. Here's a tip to the up-and-comers: do it yourselves. You'll work harder and get better results. She doesn't have her finger on the pulse of the music community; she has her fingers, instead, in your pocket. I could list 5 bands -- including my own -- that have been ripped-off. And I won't name them. That's right I'm a coward. I'm hiding behind the cloak of anonymity because the best thing my band ever did was drop her (and that was 5 years ago). Wouldn't want to jinx it...afer all, we're still kickin ass! Good luck.
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| by
on Friday January 30 2004 @ 12:20AM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:39PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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Is this Dan Millen again???
Why are you so hostile,man?
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Rhonda Kelly is evil! Not a nice human being and should be ashamed of herself.
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:40PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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Frank Rollo? This is DAN MILLEN again.........
You need a hobby dude!!!
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| by C
on Tuesday January 27 2004 @ 04:21PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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I produced a now defunct but once very popular band in the Boston area.
She used their name as one of her main clients. She never worked for them at all. The had to force her to stop using dropping the name.
Anyone can send stuff to The Noise, Soundcheck and NE Perfomer by the way, and they will most likely review it. I alsobelieve that she worked for a semi popular Boston band with a type of city bird in thier name. If I recall they were in the paper saying that had signed with Interscope..of course the deal never happend. I don't know if she was responsible for that..however that is pretty bad PR if she was. There are good PR people out there.
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| by
on Tuesday January 27 2004 @ 04:36PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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Rhonda Kelly ripped my band off and talked shit about everyone in the "scene" she talked about how much she hated everyone at the noise and performer mag. she talked shit about local show d.j.s on wbcn and waaf. Rhonda shit on everyone who she's trying to get help from. She talked shit about her whole roster of bands and how she's screwing them out of their money. Rhonda Kelly is a very sad person who preys on baby bands.
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| by
on Tuesday January 27 2004 @ 04:49PM PST [ reply | parent ] |
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Rhonda Kelly= leech/scam artist.
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| by
on Saturday October 16 2004 @ 04:43PM PDT [ reply | parent ] |
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OK, so the last 3 posts were all sent within 3 minutes of one another.....do you think they were the same person???
Perhaps....DAN MILLEN!!!!
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I personally don't think any contractor should be paid a large predetermined fee for services that they cannot guaruntee 100% successful results for. Unfortunately in the publicity & radio worlds this is the normal structure for how publicists and radio promoters get paid. They recieve exorbitant fees and if they don't produce garner even one article or radio add for their client...it's totally legal for them to get away with it and still get paid. To my mind there is something utterly wrong with this. "Services accomplished" should equal "services paid".
Musicians are typically never paid for shows they don't perform and neither are 99% of the rest of hard working class Americans. You get paid when you show up, work, and produce tangible results that everyone can see. So why should publicists or radio promoters be paid garuantees for work they cannot guaruntee 100% sucessful results for?
If the media industry is structured in such a way that publicists and ratio promoters cannot guaruntee 100% successful results for their work, I feel they should be paid a reasonable predetermined commission fee for each article or radio add that they produce for their clients. This would build incentive into the pay structure and help produce better results for their clients. One might argue that a large up front fee pays for the publicist or radio promoters hourly wage for a campaign. But it's such a high risk field that I feel hourly wages are unmerited. There are many jobs in this world that are based not on hourly wage but on commission structure such as most sales positions, music induatry management, waitressing etc. I feel that publicity or radio work should be treated like these jobs and held more accountably.
Think about this. $1500 will buy you approximately (214 office hours at $7 hour) from a hard working intern you can hire and oversee in your own home office. That's one entire month (30 days at 7 hours a day) of fully accountable work. You can see each press kit that goes out and know each contact it is being sent to. You can hear the follow up phone calls being made. Maybe you or they don't have all the amazing contacts that publicists purportedly have but maybe those publicists don't have all those amazing contacts either. They just say that they do. You'd be suprised how many amazing contacts you can find if you use your noggin to find the back door ways to contact high profile writers and editors.
I did this with my last album and produced great results for myself garnering articles and reviews for myself in these major magazines and newspapers.
Curve Magazine, The Advocate, Performing Songwriter, A Magazine, Rockrgrl, Alice, Girlfriends, Yolk, Bamboo Girl, Women's Monthly, LA Weekly, Trenton Times, Poughkeepsie Journal, Seattle Weekly, Raleigh News and Observer, Berkeley Fr | | |
