(08-07-2009, 09:03 PM)Hedelex Wrote: Well, here in Mexico we tried promoting VAMPS with flyers on conventions, we didn't give many info, we only put a picture of VAMPS, the myspace and mexican street team adress and that's it. I've realized that when you try to talk to random people on the street or cons, most of them will run from you! people is busy, sometimes shy, sometimes sick of other people trying to sell them stuff. So, even at cons, even with anime/ J-music fans, a lot of flyers would end up on the floor after 20 secs. Then there is the fact that weird outfits call attention, so we got costumes (vampire costumes and hyde/KAZ costumes) and tried to get to people; if you do that, people will at least read what you give them before ditching it X-D
Eventually I found that the better way to get people's attentions is with "gifts" the buttons idea was born that way. You might remember the pink small buttons that were handed at San Diego and LA... when giving flyers, a 30-40% refused to accept them, but buttons, only around a 2% won't take them :-D some random people on the streets even ask for another one for their friend or whatever. Why? They are wearable... and THEY ARE FREE!
X-D

So I might suggest we go for "useful" stuff. Postcards and posters are nice, but they have no use but being collectible and pretty.
If we hand, like someone said already, bookmarks at libraries or bookstores, if we hand pens/pencils at schools, if we give bracelets/buttons to teenagers, at least we get people to keep VAMPS stuff long enough for their friends circle to see the name, and for them to grow curious, the exposure time is a key point for ads. Also candy from VAMPS might work, like the lollypops doctors give from new drugs, you have a candy and read the envelope while you wait... maybe we could go to places where people are bored, hungry... and stuck X-D For example the lines for public transportation, bureaucratic paperwork, school line for lunch, the queue to buy tickets for the movies, etc.

In closer circles or a more personal approach, the contact with the music and our fandom is our best weapon. At work they didn't care about VAMPS, even when I kept on telling how great they were, but I kept on wearing my VAMPS button until everyone became curious, they asked me for buttons and saw the myspace, listened to their music... one on my partners even cosplayed Ju-Ken and that's the picture he posted on his blog X-D
Also on my way back home I talked to random people, the cab driver, people sitting nearby... anyone. And told them about our journey to see VAMPS, how people traveled from different countries: Peru, Venezuela, China, Mexico, etc; also told them about the camping, and see everyone was very curious, because they said: If you guys did so much just to see them, then they must be an awesome band!!! So I gave them all flyers.
:-P

About them being japanese, either we say they are or not, people will realize they are once they see them on video or are unable to understand a song, people is xenophobic like that and will be hard to convince them... but we will!!!!!

I know this is not easy, pens, buttons, bracelets... they are all more expensive than paper. I know also we are not rich, I come from a 3rd world country, and just going to see VAMPS to USA without sightseeing at all left me in debt for the rest of the year X-D... but we love VAMPS, we have to make as much as we can for them in hope they will give their best too at shows, try to hit more cities and stuff. If we work together it is easier.

I think the pencils are a good idea. They could be left anywhere. All that would need to be on them would be VAMPS and the website address. The cheapest I could quickly find was $.11 each. But I am going to have to find another job first before I can pay for anything. I still have this tour to pay off, too........