A very good reside present might be the engine that really drives your music profession. Let’s be certain that individuals are there to see it!
You place your coronary heart into your efficiency, however enjoying to 5 folks and a bartender might be soul-crushing. The issue isn’t your expertise or a perceived lack of means, it’s the promotion.
Listed here are 7 action-oriented methods that can assist you fill the room, whether or not you’re enjoying an area gig or heading out on tour.
1. Announce the Present Like It’s an Occasion and Not a Gig
You will need to pique their curiosity and make them really feel like one thing distinctive or particular will occur.Don’t simply submit a flyer and say, “Come out for those who’re free.”
As an alternative:
- Make it really feel like a celebration or milestone
- Use phrases like “One night time solely,” “This Friday goes to be wild,” or “You have to see what we’re bringing this time”
Takeaway: Folks present up once they really feel like they’ll miss out in the event that they don’t.
2. Textual content Your Superfans Personally
DMs are good. Texts are higher.
“Hey! Taking part in [venue] on Friday [date] would like to see you there! Need me to place you on the listing?”
Even when they will’t make it, the non-public contact builds loyalty. You may as well embody a fast teaser about WHY they need to come out for this explicit present.
10 private invitations > 100 flyer reposts.
3. Collaborate With One other Act (Or Two)
Extra bands = extra attain. Even higher: decide acts from completely different scenes (like the following main metropolis) to cross-pollinate your audiences. If coordinated correctly and ALL the artists and bands promote the present, it may be a giant win for everybody!
Bonus:
- Create a joint flyer that options everybody (not simply the headliner)
- Movie a fast “See you Friday!” video collectively
- Encourage every act to advertise prefer it’s their very own present (as a result of it’s)
- Within the final set, carry out a collaborative tune with all of the acts from the night time
4. Use Countdown Posts the Week Earlier than
Don’t simply announce it as soon as, remind folks usually! The gravity on followers to remain house and simply watch Netflix is robust. Use highlights from previous exhibits to advertise the upcoming present. It faucets into the concept leaving the home is not going to solely be price it, it will likely be an expertise!
Put up one thing like:
- “7 days out” – rehearsal clip
- “5 days out” – throwback to an emotional present second
- “3 days to go” – throwback to a wild present second
- “Tomorrow night time!” – stage shot or new merch teaser
Takeaway: Repetition + momentum = attendance.
5. Make Your Poster Shareable
You have to give your followers (and normally the venue) the supplies that make it simple for them to share and do promotion for you. Static JPEGs of a cluttered flyer received’t minimize it.
As an alternative:
- Make sq./vertical variations for IG Tales & Reels
- Embody your face or band pic, not simply textual content
- Add a hyperlink QR code or easy link-in-bio data
- Use Canva or PosterMyWall to make it look 🔥
Takeaway: Good design = extra shares.
Sure, folks nonetheless verify them on a weekly foundation. Particularly locals searching for issues to do. This received’t be the silver bullet that brings the followers out in droves, nevertheless it’s a part of the fundamentals that make it simpler for folks to recollect your present once they see it on all of the occasion calendars.
Strive:
- Fb Occasions (and native FB teams)
- Reddit metropolis subreddits
- Native alt-weekly or newspaper occasion listings
- Eventbrite, Bandsintown, DoStuff, Indie on the Transfer
Takeaway: It’s free visibility you’re in all probability ignoring.
7. Provide a “Deliver a Good friend” Bonus
Nobody desires to go to a present alone, so flip your followers into your private live performance promoters.
Instance:
“Deliver a buddy to the present and get a free sticker / pin / shoutout / entry to win a hoodie.”
It offers folks a purpose to not come alone, which can improve turnout and fan engagement.
Takeaway: Incentivize the conduct you need.
Don’t simply play the native scene, use it as a launch pad!
Your subsequent present doesn’t need to be empty, however for those who’re simply counting on the membership or venue to fill the room, chances are high, you’re setting your self up for a foul night time. You simply must put it up for sale with the identical power and pleasure you place into your music. As a result of for those who don’t imagine it’s price exhibiting up for, why would anybody else?
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