Music trade shows attract a wide array of professionals, from musicians and music promoters to technical production professionals and music distributors. Your music tradeshow marketing efforts should reflect that diversity so that you can reach a wide audience with your services and products. Let current and potential clients know where they can find you at the show through music trade shows advertising at the show and through industry publications.

To build music trade show traffic, plan to use unique music trade show giveaways and special music trade show promotions. Become a sponsor and receive additional exposure through banners and pre-show publicity. Make your music trade shows advertising work in a number of ways.

1. Use show directories and guides for music trade show marketing.

2. Get involved with music trade show promotions as a sponsor.

3. Advertise your trade show appearance in magazines that reach your target audience.

4. Generate music trade show traffic with unique giveaways.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look to the trade show for music trade shows marketing advice

Groups that put on the tradeshows are always looking for sponsorships to help defray costs. Increase your exposure with music trade shows advertising as a sponsor or by putting an ad in the show directory. Register early to get a prime spot on the tradeshow floor. Offer to speak or hold a seminar for even more music trade show marketing.

I recommend: South by Southwest has grown from a tiny music festival to a large trade show that attracts vendors form all over the country. Download their Marketing Brochure for more information. LDI is an entertainment tradeshow that focuses on the new technology shaping the music and entertainment industry. They offer a Marketing Opportunities packet you can download to find out how your business can gain additional exposure at their tradeshow.

Increase music trade show sales through trade shows advertising and sponsorships

Becoming a music trade show sponsor can provide you with great benefits. Ask organizers for additional tickets to the show as part of your exhibit fee so you can send invitations to important clients or prospects. Send out press releases to local news media and industry guides to announce your participation.

I recommend: Download details about sponsorship opportunities from the Winter Music Conference to see the benefits of becoming a sponsor. There are also great advertising and sponsorship opportunities for the Americana Music Festival.

Market your company using music trade shows advertising in industry specific magazines

Industry magazines go directly to your potential customer base, so you don't waste any money on people who will never need your business services or products. Promoting your trade show in one of these magazines allows you to generate interest in potential clients, and it gives you extra time to present the message you want to send. Many trade show visitors only spend three seconds checking out a booth, but they may spend additional time looking over your advertisement, then seek you out at the trade show.

I recommend: When looking for a music magazine to advertise in, consider SPIN. The Source is another great advertising option to help in your music tradeshows advertising efforts. Of course, other popular music magazines include Rolling Stone and Billboard.

Get creative with music trade show marketing

Make sure that your name is on everything you hand out at your exhibit. Look for unique and interesting music trade show giveaways that also serve as conversation pieces.

I recommend: Be a real hit at the show with musical pens from World Class Promotions. Reach out to potential customers with great musical electronics from ePromos. An mp3 player or speaker set will keep your company in the customer's mind every time they want to listen to their favorite tunes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In the competitive music industry, you need to make sure that you stand out through your music tradeshow marketing. Spend a little extra to have your ad designed by a professional advertising agency and ensure that your ad is unique.

This is meant to provide some of the most important information to help get you started planning for a trade show. Outlined are informational tips on how to help you get the utmost benefit from your trade show appearances.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the trade show that will best increase your company proceeds!

Carefully select the venue that best suits your target audience! Scrutinize the show's worthiness.

I recommend: Be positive that the attendees of this show will be your organization's most likely clientele.

Obtain a copy of the show manual and more importantly - read it!

It will outline everything you need to know about the show. Registration information, forms, floor plans, exhibit specifications, a schedule and all other pertinent details.

I recommend: Create a check list to ensure accurate and timely completion of all tasks and deadlines.

Plan early!

Attending a trade show requires extensive advance preparation. Reserve booth space in advance and keep in mind costs differ depending on size and location in the exhibit hall.

I recommend: Start planning and coordinating your ideas at least a few months in advance.

Identify your goals!

Specific goals are imperative.

I recommend: Make sure you are focused and clearly distinguish what it is you aspire to achieve as a result of participating in the show.

Create a strategy - write a show plan and stick to it!

Outline a comprehensive timeline including booth schedules and a list of preparation activities. Assign responsibility to individuals for each task.

I recommend: Make sure the show plan clearly outlines the objectives and everyone is working toward the same goal.

Implement a key message for your exhibit and create an open, inviting area.

An open and welcoming design, one that is free of clutter will produce a more inviting atmosphere. It will also allow more prospective clients to walk through easily.

I recommend: Create a comfortable more relaxed and inviting space so potential customers feel welcome and want to spend time learning more about what you have to offer.

Train your exhibit staff before the show!

It is very important that each and every staff member knows exactly what is expected of him or her. Be sure they practice their presentations. Presenters need to be rehearsed, well informed and up to date on all new programs and initiatives.

I recommend: Make your booth representatives easily identifiable and add a sense of professionalism to your exhibit by deciding on appropriate attire for your staff.

Supplies, marketing materials/informational brochures.

Make sure all of your printed marketing material and other collateral is accurate and up to date.

I recommend: Don't risk not having your most current information available to hand out! More importantly make absolutely certain it does not contain any errors or omissions.

Evaluation - What Worked and What Didn't

After each show, assess what went well and more importantly what didn't. Evaluate every facet of the show.

I recommend: Encourage and be open to all feedback and comments from staff members and outside sources. Analyze opinions pertaining to how well you were perceived by prospective customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to have a considerable presence at an innovative or influential show be sure to plan and design a booth layout that is visitor/customer friendly.
• •  An organized exhibition area will attract more dynamic prospects into your booth.
• •  Be sure to advertise your show participation indicating the dates of the show and always be sure to include your booth number.
• •  Make sure your logo is unobstructed and prominently displayed.
• •  Create short/easy and to the point forms to capture potential prospect information.
• •  When preparing for your next trade show be sure to review prior show evaluations to help improve your overall performance.
• •  Consider giveaways to generate attention and a sense of fun! They don't have to be expensive! Promotional items are useful links to better promote your company. Always attempt to find the one that'll make you the talk of the show! There is no limit to the level of success imprinted promotional products can help you achieve! Work with a good, reliable and responsive promotional company to help you decide on just the right custom product for you, your budget and your audience! They will be able to help you figure out which items will bring you the best return of investment. Choosing the right promotional gift or tradeshow giveaway can be a very difficult task. The item(s) you choose could end up being the difference between success and failure. The promotional company will help develop a program to organize your branding and merchandising efforts and revolutionize your promotional giveaways to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.