A superb dwell present might be the engine that actually drives your music profession. Let’s make sure that individuals are there to see it!
You set your coronary heart into your efficiency, however taking part in to 5 individuals and a bartender might be soul-crushing. The issue isn’t your expertise or a perceived lack of capacity, it’s the promotion.
Listed here are 7 action-oriented methods that will help you fill the room, whether or not you’re taking part in a neighborhood gig or heading out on tour.
1. Announce the Present Like It’s an Occasion and Not a Gig
You could pique their curiosity and make them really feel like one thing distinctive or particular will occur.Don’t simply publish 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 evening 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! Enjoying [venue] on Friday [date] would like to see you there! Need me to place you on the record?”
Even when they’ll’t make it, the private contact builds loyalty. You can even embrace a fast teaser about WHY they need to come out for this specific present.
10 private invitations > 100 flyer reposts.
3. Collaborate With One other Act (Or Two)
Extra bands = extra attain. Even higher: choose acts from completely different scenes (like the subsequent 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 music with all of the acts from the evening
4. Use Countdown Posts the Week Earlier than
Don’t simply announce it as soon as, remind individuals typically! The gravity on followers to remain residence and simply watch Netflix is powerful. Use highlights from previous reveals to advertise the upcoming present. It faucets into the concept that leaving the home won’t solely be value it, it will likely be an expertise!
Submit 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 evening!” – stage shot or new merch teaser
Takeaway: Repetition + momentum = attendance.
5. Make Your Poster Shareable
It’s essential 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 gained’t minimize it.
As an alternative:
- Make sq./vertical variations for IG Tales & Reels
- Embrace your face or band pic, not simply textual content
- Add a hyperlink QR code or easy link-in-bio information
- Use Canva or PosterMyWall to make it look 🔥
Takeaway: Good design = extra shares.
Sure, individuals nonetheless examine them on a weekly foundation. Particularly locals on the lookout for issues to do. This gained’t be the silver bullet that brings the followers out in droves, but it surely’s a part of the fundamentals that make it simpler for individuals to recollect your present once they see it on all of the occasion calendars.
Attempt:
- 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. Supply a “Carry a Good friend” Bonus
Nobody needs to go to a present alone, so flip your followers into your private live performance promoters.
Instance:
“Carry a pal to the present and get a free sticker / pin / shoutout / entry to win a hoodie.”
It offers individuals a motive to not come alone, which is able to enhance turnout and fan engagement.
Takeaway: Incentivize the habits you need.
Don’t simply play the native scene, use it as a launch pad!
Your subsequent present doesn’t should 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 nasty evening. You simply have to put it on the market with the identical vitality and pleasure you place into your music. As a result of for those who don’t imagine it’s value exhibiting up for, why would anybody else?
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