Every independent musician needs to develop a strategy for promoting their concerts and there's no secret formula for selling out a venue, it’s largely the hard work and the time spent connecting and following up with your fan base that undoubtedly makes the different. Here are 5 top tips to help you promote your next concert.
1. Don’t Over Book Your shows
Don’t book multiple show within a 6 week period in the same city. You don’t want to spread your time and efforts thin and you want to give your fans in any particular city the pleasure of not having to attend your shows every other week but rather aim for one amazing concert every month or two or even seasonally. Part of your strategy should include how to focus your energy and not wasting time and resources by playing more shows to smaller crowds. Playing fewer shows to bigger crowds is the way to go.
2. Send Personal Invitations
Of course you will be making a Facebook event and will invite all your friends, but there’re countless Facebook events being generated and spread around that it’s easy for people to overlook your events. In order to avoid getting lost in the crowd, take the time to also write personal invitations to your friends whom you know would probably like to go to your show. Do it well in advance, a month beforehand is reasonable. Send them a personal message explaining what is special about your next show, why it would be great if they came, and thanking them for their support. Send them a reminder a week before the show but be sure not to become annoying.
3. Share the Stage
Book your show with another band that is different enough from your music project that it makes for a compelling evening but not so different that it doesn’t make sense. Sharing the stage with another band is a great way to reach new fans, and to network. Be sure that both groups pull their own weight, if you ask another band to play a concert with you remind them that they need to put in the work to get their own fans to the show as well.
4. Offer fans unique concert experiences
Always go above and beyond to provide the ultimate fan experience for your devoted audiences. Take Justin Timberlake for an example, During his 2013 tour, Justin Timberlake invited a member of his Louisville, Ky., audience onto the stage to propose to his girlfriend. This ultimate fan experience had a happy ending: the fan's girlfriend said yes.
Also read: How to Host an Online Concert.
5. Promote your events online
Obviously make your show available everywhere online. This means that anyplace your music can be found on the internet should list your next shows too. It is also a very good idea to get on independent music podcasts and local internet radio shows. Lots of people who would genuinely be interested in your music listen to these kinds of programs as an alternative to the mainstream. And remember to utilize online ticketing services such as Eventbrite, Resident Advisor, etc. which will make your efforts even more professional. You can also set competitions to win free tickets to your show as a fun incentive.
To sum it up
Remember to utilize good quality pics and vids of your preparations for the show, i.e. rehearsals, set-lists, etc. to your social networking sites. Documenting the processes you are putting into making your next show a success is an excellent way to keep your fans interested.
Ready to get your music out there?
Sign up to MusicDigi to release your music to all major music store and streaming service.
