Bucky Covington beneath electric stars in Canton, Ohio; photo by the very talented dbrosch.Edited to add a link to an interesting article on Bucky from the Canadian That's Country site. Needless to say, we agree with them about the "talent and charm." (Thanks to Becky for the heads-up!)
Kathy at Team Covington has a new post you won't want to miss--not only is she revamping her beautiful Bucky Covington fansite (check out that lovely opening graphic), but she's also written some excellent tips for Bucky's unofficial (but highly motivated) street team, already in progress...go check it out!
Chances are we won't be unofficial for long. Music City Networks, the people operating Bucky's official site, BuckyCovingtonMusic.com, are brilliant at coordinating official street teams and fan-based initiatives. But while we're waiting for the official team to take shape--and for that much-anticipated label announcement, and a timeline for Bucky's debut CD--there are still a few things we can do to get the word out about our favorite singer.
The first street team operation is pretty much in progress, and has been for a for a little while now--Bucky's fans have been contacting their local newspapers, country radio stations and other media outlets to spread the news about the GAC Country Christmas tour. And it's paid off--as the tour has gone on, the newspaper stories have increased steadily. If your show is still to come, contact your local newspaper's Arts and Entertainment editor and let them know about the show in general and Bucky in particular. (And be sure to ask if there'll be a review!)
(Edited to add--looks like there's another initiative taking shape on the boards even as we speak! The Christmas at the Tennessee special just aired on GAC ; Bucky's "Please Come Home for Christmas" was his sole performance in the finished broadcast, but by all accounts, it was a knockout. Having seen him do it live, I believe it! I think a Christmas at the Tennessee DVD with the whole show might be an excellent idea--looks like I'm not alone...)
If your GAC show has already come and gone, never fear. One of the most underused--but highly effective--means of encouraging media support comes with a simple application of what your mom and mine always said were magic words--thank you. If your local paper or radio station had a piece about Bucky, the tour or both, be sure to call (radio station) or write or leave a comment on their website (newspapers and magazines) to thank them for the coverage--and to indicate that you're looking forward to hearing more about Bucky from them in the future. Bucky might already have a substantial fanbase in your neck of the woods--but the local media won't know unless you speak up...
And this doesn't apply solely to local media, either--even a fleeting mention like that fun Country Weekly poll a few months back merits a short, sweet "loved reading about Bucky in your magazine" note.
Might as well admit it--after the GAC tour ends, we could be facing yet another of those dreaded lulls. The good news is that this time, Bucky's fans and the general public have an official website to go to for news on when that possible lull will end and when Bucky's label announcement--and eventual CD release--will happen. Right now, a great way to promote Bucky is simply to promote his website! Add it as the sig line on your email; create a banner with the address and pop it into your mails as a footer. (Lisa at Buck Wild has a truly beautiful one--talk about inspiration! And Kathy's new graphic at Team Covington is just stunning.) Eventually, the official site will no doubt have all kinds of graphics for us to use, but in the meantime, even a simple text signature will let your friends and contacts know that Bucky Covington has an official home on the web.
Once the official site is expanded and Bucky's first single is out, we'll have plenty to do--requesting his song on radio, getting the word out for his next tour, letting local venues and festivals know we'd like him on the bill. By that time, of course, the professionals will probably have the official street team ready to promote Bucky Covington with maximum effectiveness. But a little unofficial practice now is a fun way to get the ball rolling.
More soon!
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