Press & Media

Here are some tips on how to use the Press and Media to help promote your show.

Press Release or Advert?

Don’t pay for advertising in the local press unless you already do this regularly and local people are used to seeing information about your events in this way. A press release will tell thousands of people about your show all for the cost of a stamp/e-mail! The time invested in this will save you time publicising the event in other ways.

What do you have to do?

Live & Local sends press releases out about the whole programme or tours not about individual performances. It is up to you to send them out about your individual show. We strongly advise you to send a Press Release as well as sending out listings (which are just a basic, short what’s on and often published in a village by village round up). It's very simple and all the information you will need to do this is below and you can ask for advice from the Live & Local office.

What do Live & Local provide?

We can provide lots of advice and of support. If your venue is new (or new to Live & Local) this is a particularly good story to tell or you are very nervous we might even write it for you the first time.

We send you information about the show (your Marketing Sheet) and photos by e-mail and you can check the company's website and use the Show Details on the Live & Local website.

How do I find out who to send my Press Release to?

You may already know the contact you need - they may even live in the village – in which case just talk to them. Otherwise contact the Live & Local office for your local press contacts. There are probably 2 – 3 local papers that most people in your area read, plus possibly a local radio station. Try to find out if these have an Arts & Entertainment Section. Some of them also have a village section so try that too, but not exclusively, as you won’t get much space.

Don’t forget your local parish/community newsletters, but they may have a very much longer deadline.

When do I send the press release?

Tell parish/community newsletters one to three months in advance and send a Press Release to the local newspaper/radio three weeks before the show, followed by a quick reminder two weeks before the event.

Promoter Tip - "Phone BEFORE you e-mail. Then, don’t forget to follow up and phone a couple of days AFTER you sent it to check they got it or to offer photos. Always try and send stuff to a ‘name’, not a ‘job’."

How do I write a Press Release?

Below you will find a link to a basic guide on how to write this miracle piece of print! It is set out as if it is a Press Release (obviously don’t copy it – it needs your story!). There is also a real Press Release along with a clipping of the published article.  We have loads more examples in the office so contact the Live & Local office for more information.

Sample Press Release

A real example of a Press Release

How that Press Release was published