From 2005-2011 I used to play with a band called the Cangelosi Cards. For the majority of my time with them, the band had no website, no Facebook page, no email list. They passed out hand drawn cards with their weekly schedule.
The rest was word of mouth.
The Cards ended up with one of the most loyal and enthusiastic followings I’ve ever witnessed for a local band in NYC. It was the fans who started a Facebook group to share news about band performances with one another. They introduced their friends to the music and brought them around when the band performed. They even became proactive about finding opportunities to support the band – scouting venues, making introductions, etc.
The band was good, maybe even special, in that intangible sort of way (I’m admittedly biased). But what was more beautiful to bear witness to than the music being played, was the trust, joy, and love that expressed itself between the band and their friends (aka audience) at every gathering.