31 Ways to Promote Your Book in March During Small Press Mont

March is the month to promote! With that in mind, here are 31 ways you can leverage Small Press Month, one for each day of March. Time to get started!

Mar 1 - If you do not have enough author's copies on hand, contact your publisher and order more so they arrive in enough time to pursue these other tips throughout the month.

Mar 2 - Contact other independent published authors in your area (through local associations you may belong to) and combine your resources to fully exploit the opportunities during this month. There's a lot to do, and four hands are better than two.

Mar 3 - Contact your local bookstores and suggest they offer discounts on Small Press books. Bring in yours and offer it to them at a discount to get them started. Show them the rest of this calendar as a way of indicating your commitment to making their event successful. Offer to leave a free copy with them along with a sales sheet.

Mar 4 - Contact your local newspapers and inform them of Small Press Month (in case they don't know about it). Suggest they write a small article or events calendar for Small Press events in the area, specifically the ones you secured on March 3rd. Tell them you will be sending them a press release on the 5th.

Mar 5 - Send a press release to the local media (newspapers, radio, television) mentioning Small Press Month and your independently published book. (If you secured some events on March 3, mention them in the release.

Mar 6 - Follow-up on your press release from yesterday with the local media via telephone. Reiterate Small Press Month, your planned events in the community, and your Small Press book. Offer to compose a review that they can use as a foundation. (Less work for them).

Mar 7 - If you haven't yet published your book, today is the day to start. Go to http://www.outskirtspress.com for the future in book publishing today.

Mar 8 - Contact your local libraries and suggest they feature Small Press titles, including yours. Offer to leave a free copy with them, along with a sales sheet. Your free author's center generates your sales sheet automatically if you have published with Outskirts Press. You can even change it and update it first.

Mar 9 - If you haven't yet sent out review copies for book, now is the time. The free Outskirts Press author's center has many book reviewers listed in the Author Resources section, available no matter where you have published your book.

Mar 10 - Contact local schools in your area and tell them about Small Press Month. Mention that you are a local published author and offer to speak to their assembly about how to accomplish their dreams of being published. This is particularly effective if you have a children's book you can then sell after the assembly.

Mar 11 - Contact local universities and colleges. Same concept as yesterday -- promote yourself and your book by sharing your knowledge of how to write a book and get it published. Sell copies of your book in the back of the room.

Mar 12 - Schedule a seminar or tele-seminar on "How to Write and Publish a Book" and offer a "Small Press Month" discount on the registration fee. Send out a local news release about your class.

Mar 13 - Contact other sales channels outside of the bookstore that may be likely to sell your book. This may include websites related to your book's topic, gift stores, hardware stores, grocery stores, boutiques, etc. Look at your book and ask yourself where your readers may be shopping.

Mar 14 - Contact local art studios, design boutiques, or other small independent businesses in your area. Give them the opportunity to share in co-op on some advertising initiatives (plus, if applicable, offer to conduct some events in their venues).

Mar 15 - Join with other independently published authors and arrange a co-op advertisement in the local media, using any dollars secured from local businesses you spoke with on the 14th. In addition to simply promoting your book, promote your upcoming events, so people show up at them. The other authors can join in the events, which may lead the bookstores to be more interested in scheduling it (even on such short notice).

Mar 16 - Contact all the local radio producers in your area. The Outskirts Press author's center makes it easy, with free contact information in your local area.

Mar 17 - Think St. Paddy's day thoughts. Then make sure your online Amazon.com listing is all it can be.

Mar 18 - Contact the major newspapers about Small Press Month. They're likely to write up something if enough authors contact them, and you will want to be among the piles of information they have received:

THE NEW YORK TIMES: 229 W 43rd Street, New York NY 10036-3959 (212) 556-1234

USA TODAY: 1000 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA 22209-3901 (703) 276-3400 and 535 Madison Avenue, 20th Fl, New York NY 10022-4212 (212) 715-5410

WALL STREET JOURNAL: 200 Liberty Street, New York NY 10281-1003 (212) 416-2000

WASHINGTON POST: 1150 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20071-0002 (202) 334-6000

Mar 19 - Contact your local community center and inform them of Small Press Month. If you have gathered a band of local authors, this will be more affective. Schedule an impromptu event, celebrating Small Press books.

Mar 20 - This may be the month to switch independent publishers if you have published elsewhere. Is your retail price too high? Is your profit too low? Is your author's copy price too high? Compare and save by using this free pricing calculator at

Mar 21 - Join a Yahoo Group devoted to the newspaper trade, which includes tactics for writing articles in papers as well as contacts for promoting your book. Send a blank email to:


Mar 22 - Register for the Outskirts Press tele-seminars on "Signature Book Signing Tactics" from within your free author's center by signing up at

Mar 23 - Contact the Learning Annex (or similarly themed Adult Education Program) in your area and offer to teach a class on the subject of your book. As a published author, you are qualified to teach on your subject since you are an expert. Your book may even be required reading for each student!

Mar 24 Start writing online reviews. Write reviews for every book you have ever read. Mention that you are the author of your book at the bottom of each posted review. If people like the writing style of your review, they may investigate your book, especially if you write reviews for books within the same genre as yours.

Mar 25 - Contact the public libraries in each state and mention your involvement with Small Press Month. Send them information about your book. Here's a link that will get you started:

Mar 26 - Start preparing for April (National Poetry Month), especially if you have a volume of poetry you have published.

Mar 27 - Help other writers you know get published and earn a 10% commission for the referral after their book is published. Register for the exciting Outskirts Press affiliate program at

Mar 28 - Start a blog and keep it active and up-to-date. Register it with blog directories so others start reading it and participating. There are many blog programs to help you get started. Conduct a search on Google for the one that works for you.

Mar 29 - Submit your published book to the Google Base listings. It's free.

Mar 30 Publish a "Large Print" edition of your book. With the world's demographics growing older, "large print" editions are becoming more and more popular. Featuring 14 or 16 point fonts, these editions appeal to the aging community because they are easier to read. You've already written the book, now re-publish a new "Large Print" edition to increase your revenue and double the effectiveness of your marketing initiatives. It's easy to get published here.

Mar 31 - Take a breath. It's been a busy, productive month.

Brent Sampson is the President & CEO of Outskirts Press Publishing at and author of Self-Publishing Simplified. For a free e-book visit

Jeff Healey - Extraordinarily Talented, Much-Loved Musician Leaves the World's Stage

My first awareness of Jeff Healey was when I heard "Angel Eyes" on the station that I began listening to when I moved to a new place. This was 2006, so I had no clue the song was from Jeff Healey Band's first album, See the Light, released in 1988.

My first awareness that he had died was a link on an Internet news site saying something like "Blind Canadian musician dies." Well, I hadn't known that Jeff was either blind or Canadian, so no one came to mind; I clicked and there it was: Jeff Healey of Jeff Healey Band had died at age 41 on the afternoon of March 2, 2008.

Under any circumstances, a death at age 41 is a sad event. I was curious to know what had happened, but more importantly, what kind of man the world had just lost. My quest for information took me online to an encyclopedia entry about his life, to news about his performances, to his available recordings, and finally to a series of YouTube videos.

While the official sources provided the basics, such as when and where he was born (March 25, 1966, Toronto, Ontario); why he was blind (retinoblastoma in his first year of life); and how he died (metastases from the original cancer, which became pretty much a lifelong struggle), the comments from his fans really brought Jeff to life.

Here's a YouTube sampling as of a week and a half after the news: Jeff Healey Band "Angel Eyes" live UKTV performance in 1989, Jeff Healey Band "Angel Eyes" music video, and Jeff Healey "See the Light" (live), combined, have over 713,000 views and more than 2500 comments. Since Jeff's talents encompassed several styles of music, from jazz to blues to soft rock to harder rock, it is reasonable to expect that his fans come from a similarly broad demographic. Yet from young kids to those older than Jeff, the comments are universally adoring.

Some praise his music: amazing...outstanding talent...one of the best.

Some his character: nice and genuine...a true gentleman...a great human being...a true Canadian hero.

And some capture the whole man: an inspiration to all of us...a beautiful song, a beautiful voice, a beautiful man.

Lots of "love ya, Jeff." Lots of "I wept when I heard." Lots of "such a loss."

Without benefit of having been a longtime fan, I wanted to know him better. I watched the video clips of his performances, sometimes with the sound turned off, and sometimes just listened with my eyes closed. And each experience drew me in deeper.

One repeated theme in the comments was "I didn't know he was blind." Well, the complete mastery he has over not only his instrument but also his physical space is something to behold. Sure, lots of blind people become accomplished musicians; many come to mind immediately. But the way Jeff moves around, holding the guitar every which way...I read that once someone in the audience threw him a glass of water and he caught it.

His being blind doesn't make that amazing. It just makes it more amazing.

And then there are the gentle love songs like "Angel Eyes." Jeff was a mere 22 years old when this song was recorded, but in songs like this you can really appreciate the beauty of his voice. Not all rock musicians can really sing, but Jeff can...I mean, could. And that angelic face--are there any girls in the audience who don't wish he were singing directly to them?

I get the sense that Jeff Healey was underappreciated during his time here. Certainly there are musicians less talented, less likable, less enjoyable to watch--yet more famous--than he. It troubles me to think I almost missed knowing Jeff ever existed. If the radio wasn't still playing this one song after almost 20 years, I never would have heard of him, and the fact that he had left us would barely have crossed my radar.

Yet in honor of his amazing talents and his extraordinariness as a human being, I hope he becomes better known in the future. I'd love to see a series of tributes to the amazing and much-loved Jeff Healey--a documentary, a movie, of course a book. We owe it to him...more to the point, I suppose, we owe it to ourselves.

Marching Band Field Show - What is This All About?

Marching band field show is an exciting and fascinating show to watch. In general terms marching band field show effectively combines both musicianship and athleticism.

When this show is executed properly, the audience can witness the moves that place marching band members in various formations while the band would continue to play music. These shows are most commonly held during half time of football games. In order to encourage these types of show, some of the organizations host even marching band show competition. However there are numerous marching bands spread across the world that doesn't perform shows. The choreography of such bands would be limited to one or two minutes of changing formation only in parades.

Some of the schools, high schools and colleges have opted themselves out of marching activities. Because it is not easy to participate or present marching band field shows. Field show generally involves several complications concerned with bands which are specialized particularly in this type of entertainment. Here there is a need of coordinator or choreographer to simplify moves and assist band members in learning complicated choreography. At the same time field show demands skills, hard work and commitment from fellow band members, in order to execute a field show to perfection with balanced movement.

Generally a marching band show would last for about 5 to 10 minutes long and this can be performed under any weather condition. This show will definitely be easier once when the band members are fit and hard working. On the other hand there is a health benefit from field show like the members carrying bass drum or sousaphone will be performing cardiovascular exercises, when they are creating complex formations.

Today some of the show presenting bands adopt scatter or scramble movements. During these
movements the band members will be running to create a new formation or picture instead of marching to choreographed moves. Some times these field shows involve narration and dance moves to entertain audiences. This type of band is one of the most important features of any high school. This band shows strong work ethic, as well as patience and dedication.

Most presentations create a unique opportunity for most school organizations. These presentations usually occur during sports, mainly during some sort of break. These bands also travel abroad in competition against other schools. If this is something you're interested in, make sure to contact your school's music club.

Ways to Find Great Marching Band Music

Today it's not difficult to find marching band music through reliable resources. On the other hand the coordinator of a marching band will be continually searching for better music to entertain the gathering.

The band genre of music is similar to music genre that we listen to everyday. Below is a list of ways to find great and better marching band music, so that musical performance would become successful.

1: Browse through internet or search engine by entering keywords like band marching music or marching band music. The website results would lead to you to thousands of websites offering comprehensive on marching music. In addition some of the sites offer online listening and purchasing facilities.

2: Suppose if you are not able to find a reliable resource on search engine results. Then locate a local college or high school website that has a marching band. Afterwards check out to which kind of music that band has performed in past. If the music interests you then request for the same or contact concerned college for band music.

3: Search for the sheet music pertaining to band marching at music stores, college or high school. It is advised for a person to get original marching music for band instead of purchasing a copy of music on internet.

4: Track down music stores in your locality or conduct online research to check out variety of band marching music available. Large music stores and music sites carry popular band marching music.

5: Finally verify the football games schedules, because during half time period you will be able to catch field show from particular band performance. In addition even during sporting events there is a possibility of performance from marching band commonly referred to as pep bands.

Finding this type of music may not be as hard as you would think. Many stores will often provide discounts for this type of performing arts. The best way to find it - go out and look for it. Your teacher may also know good places to find great music, as well as local musicians.

Just like band competitions, finding good music can also take hard work, patience, and dedication. Once you've found a good location for it, make sure you hold on to it. You never know when you'll need more. Make sure to always ask your parents before searching for this, you never know what they may already know.

The Basics of Marching

BandsMarching band is a term given to musicians, dance teams, or color guard members that play woodwinds, brass, or percussion instruments while adding marching with their performance. They wear costumes that consists of the organization or school's name or symbols as part of the uniform.

Marching bands are differentiated by size, function, and style of their performance.They usually perform in parades which are outdoors, but they also perform in indoor concerts that apply the traditions and flair from outside performances. They also perform at unique events such as band competitions, especially during sporting events.

Marching bands are believed to be originated from the troops of wandering musicians who performed at celebrations, functions, or festivals throughout the world in ancient times. Bands with names pertaining to certain areas came into prominence after emergence of different states, named "Military Bands". This is the main reason why many marching bands still wear costumes similar to military uniforms.

There are various types of marching bands:

Military bands: These bands have been classified by historians as the first type of marching band. The instrumentation rarely varies from the percussion and brass instruments. They usually march forward in straight lines and the music is played in a continuous form to assist the military group who march to the tune and rhythm.

Show Bands: These bands generally perform at sporting events providing entertainment.

Carnival Bands: These bands usually participate in sports competitions and parades. They usually use instruments of percussion and brass.

Scramble bands: They are also known as Scatter Bands and they often include humorous rudiments in their performances.

Drum and Bugle corps style: These bands follow the military type of marching along with the music. They are divided into classic and modern bands.

Some other important changes that have occurred in marching bands are the addition of dance lines and the inclusion of color guard members. In recent days, most music bands are usually associated with American football besides the military and police organizations.

No matter what type of band your performing in, hard work and dedication are the keys to success. Yes, it's going to be a lot of work. Though, a person can learn so much through these types of bands, including team work and patience. If one person is unable to perform at their highest level, the entire band can be thrown off. This takes a level of commitment that can surpass most recreational activities.

Choosing the Best Marching Band Shoes

Marching band shoes are worn by most all marching bands across the world, and for good reason. Beside the obvious reason being a look of uniformity amongst the band, there are also the very important aspects of comfort, durability, and even price. When you are on your feet for multiple hours straight, either marching in a parade or during game days, you are going to want to be wearing a pair of marching shoes that agrees with your feet. There are many varieties of marching band shoes on the market, and deciding which one is the best fit for you and your band can sometimes be a difficult task. In order to make this decision an easier one, we will examine all of the main things to look for in a marching band shoe.

Since you can be on your feet for up to around 7 hours average on game day, finding a shoe that is comfortable is almost always the top priority. If your feet are comfortable, it will give you one less thing to worry about when you are marching, allowing you to march at your best. Shoes that are designed for comfortability will help prevent blisters from forming on your feet. Also, many styles will include some arch support or a split sole design, giving you more support and flexibility. Lastly, purchasing a style with a rolled heel will make it much easier and more comfortable for you to make your turns, being that your heel will not dig into the ground. Drillmasters shoes offer the rolled heel concept, while Super Drillmasters offer the split sole and rolled heel.

Another important thing to consider when decided which marching band shoe will best suit you, is to find one that is durable. Durability, especially in the sole, is extremely important because of how much time you will spend in them. Ensuring that your marching shoes are waterproof is a big plus. Waterproof marching shoes will prevent water from entering the shoe through the seams and sole. Waterproof shoes will also last longer, since they can take the abuse of rain.

Lastly, the cost of the marching shoes can always play an important role, especially in this tough economy. The price of marching band shoes can range from as low as $18 per pair to as high as $35 per pair. When you take into account that marching bands have about 100 members on average, the shoe pricing can make quite a difference to a school's budget. Some lower priced marching shoe styles are the Speedsters and Showstoppers while the higher priced ones are the MTX and Super Drillmasters.

Keeping these points in mind, you will be much more knowledgeable in making your decision when it comes to your next marching band shoe. Just remember that your shoes play a very important role in your marching routine, so analyze your options and make your decision carefully, because it can make quite a difference in your final marching product.

Moving Commands - Fundamentals of Marching Band Maneuvering

Before teaching moving commands, the band should be familiar with marching and executing stationary commands. An entire level of complexity is added when the band actually begins marching. These commands can only be executed while moving. They are presented in the order I teach them. There are many different ways to both teach and execute commands; I can only present what I know.

Marking Time
Today, most all bands use a low mark time. Much like a drag right, the toe remains planted on the ground, while the heel lifts up. In this case the command is "mark time mark" and the response is "and one." The left heel lifts first two inches or more on the "and" beat and goes up on the "one" beat. This repeats for the right foot. Thus, in two counts both feet have moved up and down. Marking time only occurs when feet are together and shoes should rub against each other. Make sure to keep the upper body solid throughout this move.

Movement
Most high school Marching Bands now use the glide step as the method of choice when marching. Some bands still high step or double time, but that is pretty antiquated and rare, even though proper execution makes it neat. The glide step is synonymous with rolling the feet. Teaching just this concept should take a few hours.

The point is to take all of the wobble out of the upper body when marching. This allows for the vibrato that occurs from the mouthpiece bouncing against the lips to be eliminated. Have the new marchers stick their left foot out with toes up as high as possible. Then, have them individually practice transferring their body weight from the left to the right foot. Start slowly sticking out one foot while the other rolls up onto the toe. Gradually increase the tempo.

Now that the new marchers can perform a glide step, it is important to cover a basic eight to five stride as well as cover points and dressing and covering ranks and files while marching.

Forward March
The most basic and essential step of band, this step is what is practiced when learning to roll the feet. "Forward march" is the command and the response is "and one." Once the glide step is mastered, this command is easy. Marching always starts on the left foot and feet move one in front of the other. The step size should be eight steps per five yards or 22.5 inches per step. Feet should not lift off the ground, rather be pushed out from the body along the grass with as much force as possible. On beat eight, the shoelaces of the right foot should be in the middle of the yard line.