Welcome to the Riders In The Sky Electronic Press Kit!
Downloads and information for Riders In The Sky show and event producers and promoters only.
Thank you for choosing Riders In The Sky. We look forward to working with you through what we consider an important partnership to help ensure your success. No matter what age or demographic, your audiences are in for hours of fun with America's Favorite Cowboys. Using the info and guidelines on this page will help you achieve greater recognition and increased success for your promotion. If you have questions about using any items available here, please contact:
Matt Fox
New Frontier Management
1503 17th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37212
ph: (615) 321-6152
fax: (615) 783-0974
Email
Copy Guidelines
The files or photos used for show, event or product promotion must be from art or electronic files provided by New Frontier Management and/or Riders In The Sky. Photos must always appear in their entirety and may not be altered in any way other than resizing. The title of the band should always be capitalized as "Riders In The Sky" (all first letters capped).
How To Promote a Riders In The Sky Concert
Because Riders In The Sky are a variety attraction whose influences are drawn from numerous entertainment genres, a variety of formats should be utilized to effectively advertise and promote a Riders In The Sky concert.
- Riders are America's Favorite Cowboys, carrying the torch passed on by Roy Rogers & Gene Autry.
- Riders are stellar vocalists and instrumental virtuosos who have recorded over 30 albums, providing over three decades of the finest in western entertainment.
- Riders are comedians, whose wacky western wit is an integral cornerstone of their live performance as well as their National Public Radio series, "Riders Radio Theater."
- Riders are celebrated children's entertainers, whose Saturday morning network TV show, Grammy Award-winning children's albums and live performances have delighted Saddle Pals and their parents coast to coast.
- Although their music is decidedly Western in style, the country music community has embraced Riders as well. Based in Nashville, Riders are performing members of the Grand Ole Opry.
Mass Media
This online press kit contains the all the latest photos, a full biography of the band and also the individual Riders, a video biography, career milestones, appearance posters, stage plot, and more.
Need something else? For publicity materials such as photos, posters, video and music, as well as interview requests, contact:
Matt Fox
New Frontier Management
1503 17th Ave. South
Nashville, TN 37212
ph: (615) 321-6152
fax: (615) 783-0974
Email
DON'T FORGET to fill out the publicity sheet which is attached to your contract's tech rider!
- Local newspapers: It is much more beneficial to have a preview article than a concert review. Allow plenty of time to arrange this in advance with your local entertainment editor. Utilize Riders' photos and artwork to get the front page of the paper's weekend section. Don't forget to contact the calendar of events editor to utilize this free listing. Also, utilize the photos and artwork provided by the Riders to create the paid advertisements that will run in the entertainment section.
- Weeklies/County/"Free Pages": Don't overlook the entertainment calendars and inexpensive ad opportunities in these print outlets.
- Billboards: Especially in secondary markets, billboards can be a very cost effective element in your advertising campaign.
- Food Products: Milk cartons, bread wrappers and soda cans all sell advertising space. However, you must allow adequate advance time to capitalize on these opportunities.
- Posters: Trade out tickets to have college students paper your town with an aggressive poster campaign. Utilize public bulletin boards! Grocery stores, churches, apartment complexes, YMCA's, colleges, shopping malls, kiosks, book stores and libraries are some of the options which have bulletin boards available for posting. Also try retail outlets with street frontage windows. You'd be surprised who'll say yes if you just ask!
RADIO
- Country:
- a) R&R/Billboard Stations - They won't play western music, but they will invite America's Favorite Cowboys as a guest during morning or afternoon drivetimes. Because comedy is an integral element in those segments, Riders are naturals to "drop in" and liven up their show with comedic bits they dub "Cattle-Drive Time Radio," at the same time plugging that evening's concert.
- b) The Secondaries - There are about 1,400 country stations across the U.S. that aren't reporters. Many of these DO play Riders In The Sky. Especially utilize their services. They make great show sponsors. Get them to step up Riders' airplay 2-4 weeks prior to the show.
- NPR: If you have a National Public Radio station in your market, chances are they've been airing Riders Radio Theater. These stations will turn cartwheels to be involved with your concert. They also usually have some type of free event and local happenings listing.
- College Radio: Many have special "niche" programs that feature acoustic music. Guess who fits the bill? It's also free, and they are very open-minded to promotions.
- Talk Radio: Riders are perfect! The most overeducated musical group in history with a Doctorate in Theoretical Plasma Physics, a Masters in English Education and a Bachelors in Wildlife Management, Riders In The Sky will be the most colorful guests they've heard in a longtime spicing up their political observations or topical comments with wacky western wit!
INTERNET
- Don't overlook Riders' homepage at http://www.ridersinthesky.com. Lots of information can be found, such as biographies, upcoming events and artwork. This can be very useful in printing program material and advertising.
- If your venue has a homepage feel free to link with Riders' site.
- Create an Evite invitation and encourage others to do the same. It is a very creative way to get the word out and invite large numbers of people in a personal and fun way.
TURN YOUR CONCERT INTO A THEMATIC, COMMUNITY WIDE EVENT: CREATE A CITY-WIDE BUZZ AND SELL TICKETS!
CHECKLIST
_ Make sure you invite the kids! Invite preschool & early grade-school children to enjoy one of the most wholesome and family value oriented concerts in show business. Contact the Board of Education to aid you in reaching this valuable ticket-buying audience. Offer discounted or children-priced tickets to encourage attendance. Kindergartens, Montessori Schools and Day Care Centers are excellent places to display posters.
_ Sell co-op advertising sponsorships to local businesses to underwrite your show costs. Point of purchase displays and in-store postering should be utilized in record stores, book stores, music stores and western wear & boot outlets. Don't overlook high traffic possibilities such as banks, car dealerships and restaurants as well. Incorporate contests such as "Win an autographed Riders In The Sky guitar" for in-store visits or test drives.
_ Sponsors could receive:
- a) Name printed on newspaper ads & posters
- b) Name mentioned in radio & TV spots
- c) Title sponsor only gets name on tickets
- d) Free tickets for employees or contest winners
- e) Meet & greet / autograph session before/after concert for employees or winners
_ Utilize your sponsors' retail shops, offices and bank branches as ticket outlets.
_ Movie Theatres - Because the icon of the American Cowboy is so closely related to the western cowboy movies, a Riders In The Sky concert is a perfect tie-in for a cross-promotion with your local movie theatre. Trade out concert tickets for an in theatre lobby display. Have Riders' concert ticket stubs good for a discount on late night movie tickets or other low traffic / slowtime shows at the movie theatre. You can also buy or barter for pre-movie big screen advertising from the theatre.
_ Contact the Chamber of Commerce, hotels and convention centers to find out if any conferences are being held the same day. "Out-of-towners" are excellent potential ticket buyers who are looking for unusual evening entertainment after their seminar. Contact the convention's marketing director or coordinator.
_ Let the City Fathers know that Riders In The Sky are coming to town. Arrange for a special presentation of the Key To The City to garner additional free publicity. A theme for this could be "Carrying on the Tradition of The Cowboy Way.
IN-HOUSE PROMOTIONS
- Get into the western spirit "The Cowboy Way."
- Create "Sheriff's Badge" pins that announce the show date for personnel to wear.
- "Dress" your venue for the upcoming Riders In The Sky concert. Create a western storefront look, or create a lobby display utilizing saddles, lariats, cowboy hats & boots, cardboard standup cactus, etc. Utilize your marquee to announce the concert as a show for "Cowboys & Cowgirls of all ages."
- Have your ushers and ticket takers dress in their finest western regalia.
- Utilize pre-show contests:
- a) Riders In The Sky, or Gunsmoke characters look-alike contest.
- b) On stage roping contest - cowgirls can rope an eligible bachelor of their choice. Proceeds can go to local charity or law enforcement organizations.
- c) "Quarter-til Quick Draw" where sponsors donate prizes that winners draw for 15 minutes prior to the show.
- Insert fliers in your other concert programs.
