How do you get people to come to your recital?

[Bethelbass1]

I have recital coming up this Monday (so its a little late), but what tactics have you used to get people to come to your recital. The space I ma playing in is a large hall (our school doesn't have a recital hall!) that seat about 1,700 people. I'm getting decent projection into the room so sound isn't an issue, but even if I have 100 people the room looks empty.

BTW If you are in the Minneapolis area, feel free to come to my recital at Bethel University in Benson Great Hall @ 8:00 p.m. on the 23rd (Monday). I'm playing Eccles, Koussevitsky, and a variety of Bass duo, trio, and quartet music including the Contrapunctus I from Art of the Fugue.
Sorry, I had to do a plug.

[mcnaire2004]

Originally Posted by Bethelbass1

I have recital coming up this Monday (so its a little late), but what tactics have you used to get people to come to your recital. The space I ma playing in is a large hall (our school doesn't have a recital hall!) that seat about 1,700 people. I'm getting decent projection into the room so sound isn't an issue, but even if I have 100 people the room looks empty.

BTW If you are in the Minneapolis area, feel free to come to my recital at Bethel University in Benson Great Hall @ 8:00 p.m. on the 23rd (Monday). I'm playing Eccles, Koussevitsky, and a variety of Bass duo, trio, and quartet music including the Contrapunctus I from Art of the Fugue.
Sorry, I had to do a plug.

I would ask the music directors of local professional and youth orchestra's to make a announcement. A few of them actually will. I would probably put out flyer's throughout the school (I have seen this done with great success). Maybe throw some flyer's around town (you can get in trouble for this in the wrong spots). Finally I would basically tell people to tell people. Word of mouth is always the best advertising. Convince them that your performance will be so good you'll turn their ass wholes inside out.

[jsbarber]

If your town newspaper has a website with an online entertainment guide, you could have it posted there.

If there is an appropriate radio station you might be able to get them to mention it.

Music stores (offer to put out brochures/catalogs from their store), cafes/coffee houses, music departments at colleges.

Jim

Also, you might want to try to collect people's email addresses, so you can email them notices of future gigs/performances.

[stedtale]

...can't promise, but I might come check it out....depend on the baby however.

[TheGrayBassGuy]

Three Things:

1. Create a Facebook Event, and invite as many people as possible. (I'm assuming you're on Facebook since just about every college kid has one)

2. Make baked goods for afterward. Free food does wonders.

3. Place flyers around whatever buildings the School of music has.

[Marcus Johnson]

I like the food idea.

Does your local Public Radio station have an events calendar? Ours does, and they broadcast upcoming events free. Check their website, although it may now be too late for Monday's performance.

[Bethelbass1]

I'll look into the public radio thing. I have posters around campus and have emailed/"facebooked" all of my acquaintances. I truly wish people understood just how rare (and exciting IMHO) a Double Bass recital is. The problem is, most people don't really care about the event, they are only going foe my sake which means there is a good chance they will forget. Thanks for the tips.

[Marcus Johnson]

[quote=Bethelbass1;4097449] I truly wish people understood just how rare (and exciting IMHO) a Double Bass recital is.[quote]

Amen, bro. I'd be there if I weren't a zillion miles away.

[mcnaire2004]

I wish more people advertised their recitals. It seems to be difficult to find out about the bass recitals.