Below are a few free listings. There are others I list on too in my local area.
Craigslist
Google
Yahoo
Superpages.com

Mike,

Another you may wish to try is http://www.kijiji.com - it's eBay's alternative to craigslist. It's kind of new and is only now building traffic but it's worth looking into.

All the best...
Keith

Mike
There are lots of places to list your services, but few of them will get you bookings, or at least quality bookings.

What Al says is true, however, the Italians have a saying, "Throw enough spaghetti at the wall and some of it's bound to stick." The more places you're listed the easier it will be to find you.

Don't overlook the free event calendars in your local paper, parent magazines, cable TV and local art council papers. If your area has a free Parent's Newspaper, they will often have an annual Family or Birthday guide - definitely worth getting into and it's usually free to have your info listed.

Also don't overlook the power of quid pro quo. I do a lot of complimentary work for Make-A-Wish, local adoption agencies and children's hospitals. I exchange these services for strong exposure in their newsletters and websites.

I agree with Keith. Kijiji is growing fast and I have gotten in the past 2 years at least 100 bookings from it. It is growing fast.

You see what happens is these from these sites you direct them to your website where they often qualify themselves by deciding whether you are right for them or not. I don't post prices on the sites or on my website so if they have gone through the trouble of contacting me after all that work, then they really want me and will pay the price.

Of course I do get some unqualified customers contacting me, but they are few.

Others that I know that have used Kijiji

Timothy Drake
Sam Pearce
Ryan Joyce
Steven Scott/Magic Enterprise Productions (not a member of the Café)

OK, I'll give it a try: http://detroit.kijiji.com/c-Services-Art......57769082

Mike
Skip is right, it can't hurt but you may get calls for $100 parties, and free charity events. After you have had your listing there for a while you will be able to judge for yourself.

The other secret to Kijiji is to actively search and send info to clients you want. Look in the events section.

Ebay is part owner in craigslist.

I'd check spelling Dynamike. Rememborable is not a word. I think you were looking for memorable. Don't put your phone number. Force them to go to your website.

Thanks, good lookin', Bill.

I'd also put another one in this section (you'll see some competition there already

http://detroit.kijiji.com/f-Services-Eve......dZ100143

Have we met before in Michigan?

Nucinud,

eBay is a minority owner in craigslist. But they have also been embattled in some legal stuff and eBay is trying to go their own direction with the new product from what I read.

Keith

Great stuff, thanks gang. As far as free advertising, that's basically all I do. Its a matter of google picking up your info. That is a big secret thingy though.
:)

I found out about Craigslist while on vacation. I received a ton of calls for a bedroom set. Found out it was all a mixup with my phone number being posted. I posted an ad when I got back in town. ADs are only good for 45 days however.

I agree, after putting up a free add on Kijiji I recieved two emails about shows in my area (withing two weeks might I add)! It's definatly worth the little time and effort it takes to place an add!

Zach

I couldn't disagree more.

Urge them to visit your website, yes. Force them? Not if you want their business.

The internet has bred a generation of people who are impatient when it comes to finding information. If they don't see what they are looking for IMMEDIATELY, they go elsewhere. Your competitor is just a click away!

It's better to take calls from 10 potential customers, only 1 of whom ends up booking you, than to take calls from 5 potential customers. If the odds are 1 in 10 (that's just a random hypothetical number for argument's sake), your close rate drops to a 50/50 chance of booking one show from 5 calls, as opposed to getting one booking from 10.

No-brainer to me. The phone number stays.

I agree with you Avimagic. Someone might get frustrated you did not put your phone number up front. That person might skip/ignore it because they can tell it is trying to be a force. And that person might just take the short cut of calling someone else who does have a phone number listed up front. Another reason the ad with the unlisted phone is ignored is because the person does not have to go thru performer's websites.

Just like on television with my local the news media. At times they mention a few things to get your attention about an event, but will not mention where it takes place. They tell you to look on their website. That fustrates me.

Well I posted my first ad and will track it and see what happens. Free is a good thing and I try and get my stuff up on as many websites as I can. I have quite an exstensive list now and every little bit helps get the name out. I combine this with Google Analytics and it becomes a very strong tool to see how well things are workinjg and where traffic is coming from to my website.

Kyle

Any other free sites?