Independent Promotion Persistent promotion is the only route to a packed calendar. For artists interested in making serious income through performing in schools, self-promotion is an absolute necessity. Even if you're working with arts commissions and other presenting organizations, you'll find it necessary to supplement their promotional activities in order to maximize the number of bookings attained. Obtaining mail lists All states publish a directory of public schools. These directories can usually be obtained for ten or fifteen dollars from the state's Department of Education.
Some states also produce mail lists printed on label format.
Mail lists in label format are also available from commercial list brokers. You must rent it again the next time you do a promotion. And yes, they have means of finding out if you copy the list and use it a second time without paying. A brochure accompanied by a cover letter is probably the most common format for marketing school assemblies. This combination has the advantages of low printing costs and low mailing costs.