ROCHE

Class teaches publicity tips to 'fame seekers,' musicians

By: DENECHIA POWELL

Posted: 9/17/07

Musicians have to learn to navigate the world of public relations before they can acquire the luxury of partying like rock stars.

Michelle Roche, who has been the head of publicity for five record companies, will share her public relations expertise with fame seekers and anyone who is curious about how to publicize a band or musician in a successful manner.

Beginning Tuesday, she will be teaching a class entitled, "It's More than the Music: Professional Marketing That Works for Bands and Musicians."

"I've taught it twice and gotten a great response," Roche said.

Roche will be teaching students about the various tools that go along with marketing a band, such as press kits, releases and photos.

MUSIC MARKETING CLASS

When: Every Tuesday except 10/9 from Sept. 18 to Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education
Price: $89 single and $139 partners
More Information: www.michelleroche.com, www.myspace.com/wilmawilma, Continuing Education Center's Web site or call 706-542-3537 or 1-800-811-6640

Resources such as MySpace also will be discussed due to their importance in the music community, she said. She will teach how to use them to self-promote, she said.

She also will show students how to research different music publications to find out if their music is appropriate for them.

Additional topics Roche said she plans to cover include radio and retail promotion, proper protocol for deadlines, database building, follow-ups and street-level marketing.

"I teach people how to pitch their bands professionally," Roche said.

She said the professionalism she teaches makes musicians appear to be at a higher level than they are in actuality.

The opportunity for students to have unique learning experiences also will take place.

Roche will set up conversations with music journalists across the country so students can hear how she pitches bands to them.

On the last day of class, she will bring in key journalists and people in the music industry so students can ask them questions and make contacts.

Roche said there are many local bands and musicians that record good albums, but focus all of their resources on the music and spend little time marketing themselves.

Wilma Pittard, a local singer, songwriter and guitarist, said she signed up for the class and went from having no gigs or exposure to being overbooked.

"It seriously changed my entire career," Pittard said.

After learning how to properly promote herself, Pittard has been featured in several local publications, invited to be an act on the Heart of Georgia Singer-Songwriters tour this November and has been asked to perform at a variety of benefits, concerts, conventions and festivals.

She obtained a role in "Sordid Lives," a University production that starts this Thursday.

"I highly recommend her class," Pittard said. "She knows what she's doing."

Roche has been working in the public relations field for 18 years. She has done publicity for a number of bands, such as 311, CAKE and Widespread Panic.

Roche graduated from the University with a bachelor of arts in journalism and frequently serves as a speaker at Terry's Music Business Certificate Program and Public Relations Student Society of America meetings.

Roche works as an independent publicist and marketing consultant for her own company, Michelle Roche Media Relations.

Her class is open to all people, not just University students.