GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOOR

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by funkingroovin

No offense taken,the OP asked for suggestions to bring people in,and I gave him one that has worked pretty darn well for my non-concert playin' cover band..
I don't see how you can't see the benefits of people,especially the 'right' people,getting a free sample of what you're offering. And I think you're wrong..it IS about the band,or more specifically,the performance of said band. Just ask yourself how many times you've stuck around to party all night at a place with a half-assed band compared to how many times you've stuck around because the band was nailing the songs,even though you've heard the same songs by the original artist a thousand times before?

If passing out demos has worked to bring people in the door for you and might work for rymiraflores, despite what I may think of it, that's great.

I think you don't see how I can't see the benefits because we have a different set of experiences and perceptions and operate in different circumstances.

From my experience and by my perception, a totally kickass gig is one where the room is packed and the people are engaged. They dance, drink, sing-along and stay late. Those nights happen, in part, organically, and I believe given any equally capable band with well chosen songs and a good front, the results would be the same as far as the crowd goes. In my experience, those people were brought in for various reasons, the majority of which were not that a particular band that was playing.

How does a demo tell people that's what is going to happen on a given night?

You're saying it IS about the band, but the reasoning that you follow with says it's not about a particular band but whether the band is good or not. Any number of bands can play well and deliver a good show. In terms of cover bands, since they going to be playing from the same pool of popular songs, there is no significant differentiation between those who select and play songs well, from the point of view of the random person looking for a fun night out.

Since the random bar-goer is looking for a good time, I don't see what mechanism there is in hearing a CD that translates into telling them that this band will deliver a good time.

Yes. I would be more inclined to stick around for a good performance versus a halfassed one. But the idea of sticking around because of the band logically requires that something already brought me in the door.

So, no, based on my experience, I don't see how, as a general matter, allowing someone to hear a demo of well executed covers would really move the average person to actively seek to go see that band. Again, I don't believe well executed covers (which aren't exclusive to one band) is what drives people to go out. Well executed covers can be part of the fabric of a good time for the average bar-goer.

[drpepper]

Originally Posted by rymiraflores

Actually here in Lima they basically ARE all concerts they are all smallish but real venues where the purpose is to see a band...I guess word of mouth and a very good show will be what it´s all about..same as anywhere. There are around 4 places that go up to 250...ah well see how it goes and let you know.

Very good. Possibly in Lima, Michigan and many other places I don't have personal experience with, most people do go out with the purpose to see a particular cover band, as a general rule.

Here, that only seems to be the case with a small percentage of the people and with a few top bands, and even then, they are going to see those particular bands because they've built reputations for bringing the party and delivering a good time.

Here, people seem to go to the places that are hot. Any one of a number of good bands could be playing any given Saturday night.

[Downunderwonder]

Interesting circular non-discussion of the question at hand. My advice is same as the other non answers: "play your ass off and hope for a few new facebook fans".

Two Fingers has a harsh point. If there is a magic formula I'm not privvy either, I was hoping someone might have some novel tips.

MY local newspaper carries a free gig guide and also does a weekly feature on a visiting original band. Occasionally a cover band gets the spot when there is no visting band. From the sounds of it you might be worth a writeup if you are as unusual as you say with your material. No harm in asking the music reporter for a 'pre'view to a show.

[obimark]

IME this only applies with people coming for the VERY TOP bands in an area- like for Atlanta this is probably 2 bands total!

The rest of the people are coming for the PLACE, and may stay longer if the band is respectable.

If your band plays a GOOD place with a crowd that goes there and you are reasonably good/ entertaining you will do well.
Its the same old catch 22, if your band plays SORRY-A places with limited/no built-in cientelle, you will not have a good crowd, unless somehow you are big enough draw to bring your own crowd.

[Ed Fuqua]

If the reaction your group is getting from the few people that fall by a rehearsal is good, then you need to find some ways to get the group in front of more people. If there aren't any charitable organizations that are having large, public events that you can volunteer a set for, look for opportunities to create your own. Toy collection drives, food drives, admission goes to a local charity etc., enlist one or two other bands (preferably with a large following) to appear as we'll, as hosts you supply the PA and backline. If it's a drive, then you should be able to sound one of the local non-profits (depending on what kind of drive you are doing) for space. If you're doing a donation of admissions, that gets a little more complicated; you'll need a venue that will hopefully waive any rental fee or you have to make the decision to either absorb that cost or take it off the top of the donation amount.
But you'll need to work the event-collect e-mail addresses, chase down any media angles for advertising or covering the event. Having a short ( one or two songs) recording available gratis (mp3 download, CD, thumb drive), t-shirt, small poster/postcard etc., all of that is good.

[Freddels]

The bands around here that I see bringing in lots of people have a few things in common. Being very good musicians is a given. The bands all seem to do a couple of things very well. They don't play the same old tired tunes that every other band is playing, they groove very well and play danceable tunes (people like to dance or bob their heads or whatever) and the most important thing is the singer(s) can actually sing.

There's nobody playing anything on their instrument that you just go "wow". Everyone plays well. But the vocals (and if they do harmony, it's even better) really makes them stand out. There are a few singers in my area that it's a joy to hear them sing.

They also play tune after tune after tune with either no break in between or only a few seconds. Did I mention they GROOVE and they don't play too loud (not quietly but just loud enough for the room and the mix is usually very good).

So, if your singer is just OK, start looking for a great one. Re-assess your song list and make sure everything has a groove that makes people want to dance/bob their heads/tap their foot.

my .02

[Astreaux]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Stay away from the under 30 crowd. People will disagree with me, however I doubt you get much traction out of that demographic.

Blue

Attachment 307927

Agree with this. Tips come from those who appreciate the music and who can afford to spend it. OLDER CLIENTELLE. Yuppies could care less about what you are playing. No appreciation and no money for tips as well...

[hrodbert696]

I actually think there is some value in marketing - as in flyers etc. But it doesn't work in a vacuum. You can't just put up a set of cool-looking flyers and expect crowds to flock to your show. Nor can you drive around in an old police car with a speaker on the roof announcing it either. People come either because they know the venue and it's their favorite hangout - partly because the venue can be counted on to provide good music - or because of networking. The band can network by TALKING to people in the crowd during breaks, inviting family and friends to shows, getting family and friends to invite THEIR friends to come along, and letting this snowball. Takes time, and the friends-of-friends who show up need to enjoy themselves enough that they would come back if they hear you're playing again somewhere.

Having said all that, what's the value of flyers, ads, whatever? Familiarity. Nobody is going to come just because they saw a flyer, but if people are seeing your flyers all the time, that creates a sense that you're a legit part of the local scene. Then when some friend of theirs says, "Hey let's go see this band," the person is less likely to say "Never heard of 'em." And when they see your flyer again afterward they remember, "Oh yeah, I saw that band. They were pretty good." Thus, they're more likely to come see you again later.

[ChrisB2]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

My advice is same as the other non answers: "play your ass off and hope for a few new facebook fans".

+1

And it doesn't hurt to have a large stable of friends who like to get drunk in bars... not that I do, but I can testify that it brings a following to your band.

[SquierJazz72]

It's two-fold, I guess, and both should work together. Shameless and aggressive promotion, through any means available never hurts. People need to know who you are, in order to care about going to see you or hire you for others to see. And it's true, that some people are going for the PLACE, more than the band.

Which is where musicianship and showmanship come in. You need to entertain people to the best of your ability. If people come to know and respect you as a band, and you build a solid reputation, then it can become about them coming to see YOU. And if you are in demand by a decent majority, you'll keep getting hired.

There is no magic formula, nor any absolute guarantees, but if you can make the right things come together and work in your favor, your chances are much better than if you don't, as I see it.

[jive1]

Back in the old days when we had an actual mailing list that we sent mail to, we found 2 things that worked well to bring people in.

We would make a deal with a bar for a drink special for anyone who comes in with a postcard that we sent out for that gig. Some guys would do first beer for $1, some would do $2 beers all night, and one actually gave a free well drink for each postcard. What helped was asking the bar what they have in surplus that they are trying to sell off.

We would send our postcards to every hairstylist in town, and offer something like an "employee appreciation" night. It's a mostly female crowd, and they are usually young and like to go out in groups when they aren't being catty to each other. It made for some pretty good looking crowds.

[zachoff]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Sorry big guy. But I think we WERE actually answering your question. You have to BUILD a crowd. Fancy poster won't matter if nobody knows about you. I'm not sure about your market, but starting a blues band doesn't make the news around here. Getting a radio interview or a TV interview by starting a band isn't likely. I suppose you could get a permit to stand in the parking lot of your local grocery store dressed like a clown and give out free tickets and beer. But more than likely you will (like the rest of us) have to take whatever gig you can. And when you get the gig, put on a SHOW.

If you DO come up with ways to get hundreds of people in the door to see a brand new band for the first time, keep them a secret until you write your book. Then you will be able to sell the book for $40 easy. Then you won't have to worry about playing in your little blues band. You'll be rich!

+1... The long answer to my short answer.

[wcnewby]

I do this thing on halloween called "Lynn ann's Spookwalk" A friend/co-worker and I build an outdoor haunted hike that is now almost legendary in the area. The problem, in the begining, was that it was a lot of work for only a few people. Then I discovered this, well, not so much discovered as noticed or learned. You need advertising. The way I did it was to make the spookwalk a charity event. We picked MS and we donate half of our ticket sales to MS. In return we get all the media we want for nothing. Well, not for nothing, we give up half our ticket sales, but the volume covers it.

What I would do is this... Set up a benefit concert with yourself and another band, maybe two others. Decide which charity first, then look for a hall that will give you a cheap rate because you are doing a charity gig. When you find one, call the charity, which will be happy to take your money, give them the date the place and the time and your bands names with links to your pages and FB accounts. They will do a press release. Get a list of the places they send the release to. Call those places and ask them to do something for you. It only takes a call. People love supporting people who support charities. It will take some time on the phone, and you might have to go record a blurb at a radio station, but it will cost nothing. Charge a ticket price and give a piece to charity, and they will help you sell lots of tickets. You will get exposure on radio, newpaper, tv, and internet doing something good. If that doesn't get you noticed you may need to hire topless backup singers.

And leave a couple of weeks for you marketing to be out... Ie make sure your show is two weeks from when your marketing starts.

[Freddels]

As far as a new band, somebody in the band needs to be well known in the local music scene. Around here, there are a handful of musicians that if they put a band together and announced it, they would draw a large crowd b/c everyone knows how good they are.

If four unknowns start a band, then it's going to be a tough haul getting people to come out.

If a new band is put together and the name doesn't include one or more of good local players, people will always ask "who is in the band?" before they decide to check them out.

It's always a catch-22.

[PimasterPearson]

Originally Posted by zachoff

Play well. Be entertaining. Play a lot. People will tell people about it.

This. There's no better publicity than word of mouth. Especially if you can get some influential trendsetter type people to your show. You know who I'm talking about.

And when you play a gig, you need to make your audience feel good. Yes you need to play the right notes, stay tight, thank the venue, introduce the band, talk to the crowd, mention the drink specials, remember to move around on stage, and all that other stuff. But the only reason you do all that stuff is to make sure the audience feels good. They're not musicians, they're not judges, they're paying customers who want to have a good time, and your job is to make sure they get it and come back for more.