That's the way it goes -- sometimes they want something from me, other times I want something from them. On good days, the relationship is mutually beneficial, but usually it devolves into a long and tedious power struggle.
Amid these battles, young band members will call looking for coverage, and their sincerity is a welcome change from jaded Noo Yawk publicists. They have this energy, a drive to make their band successful, and I just can't tell them no.
But I usually regret taking these stories; there's always a definite point where I realize this band knows nothing of how the media -- or publicity -- work. My sympathy turns to pity: These bands are playing with a volatile fire, and they won't be aware of it until they get burned. Badly.
I've grown to be quite protective of these young bands -- amid the vast number of people looking to exploit them, someone needs to look after their interests. It's become an unforeseen extension of my job; as the DTH's mission is to be a learning newspaper, I impart what I've learned so far to my staff. But the longer I spend in journalism, the more I realize I'm teaching small bands to deal with the press.
If you're a band trying to get coverage -- either in the DTH or bigger publications -- here's some hints for effective media relations:
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