What can we do as a band to boost turnout at gigs?

kennydakid · #1 06-11-2009, 08:43 AM

I know this topic has been covered before, but I find that rehashing the idea is good for everyone involved.

As some of you know, I am the Drummer in a 3 piece pop/ rock outfit. We also have a vocalist/guitarist (subject of another thread) and a bassist. We play at least 1 gig a month (most months 2-3) and we are looking for ways to boost turnout at these gigs. We try to promote at the venue we will be playing at by playing an open mic night or getting our songs played on the PA durring breaks in other bands performances. We also do the normal fliers routine. The other thing I do a lot of is internet promotion (myspace, facebook, various message boards)

Some Ideas that I have for further promotion include getting a sampler CD and handing them out at shows (3-4 songs on a CDR) with our myspace and reverb nation page on it. I was also thinking about trying to do a gorilla show (just set up and play somewhere until we need to bolt)

Any other ideas or things that have worked for you guys.

FYI, depending on the night and the venue we can get somewhere between 20 and 75 people at our shows (usually we know half of the people, the other half are people we don't know who happen to be regulars at the venue or just show up maybe because of our promotion)

www.myspace.com/drivetheoryband
www.reverbnation.com/drivetheory

lorenk · #2 06-11-2009, 10:22 AM

One of the things my band does is tell the local radio station (which has a decent following) and they will announce the live music events for that day.

Another thing we do is wander around down town handing out demo cds to people who we think would be interested in our music (ie, no retirees or gangsta wannabes).

Joe.shaffer · #3 06-11-2009, 10:27 AM

I wouldn't recommend a guerilla show. I got arrested for that.

RFord04 · #4 06-11-2009, 10:28 AM

Arrested? Did you refuse to stop or something? Incite a riot?....

RexNFX79 · #5 06-11-2009, 10:30 AM

Three words......free taco night. No one can resist a free taco.

Chickencha · #6 06-11-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe.shaffer

I wouldn't recommend a gorilla show. I got arrested for that.

Well what do you expect? Gorillas can be dangerous, man.

Guerrilla shows, on the other hand...well, you still might get arrested for those.

I don't know.

mikeyswood · #7 06-11-2009, 10:35 AM

The three rules for good theater are:

1) Don't Suck
2) Don't Die
3) Eat

I would say that at least two apply. If you are a cover band then play songs crowds like;
If you play it they will come. If you are an original band and have no crowd - good luck.

Joe.shaffer · #8 06-11-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFord04

Arrested? Did you refuse to stop or something? Incite a riot?....

I was 17 and had a blue mohawk at the time. I'm sure you know my conversation with the police went.

Anyway I (though I should say we since we all got arrested) ended up getting charged with disturbance of the peace and something to do with a permit of some sort.

Did it work? Yes. Worth the hassle and fines? Not in the least.

lorenk · #9 06-11-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe.shaffer

I was 17 and had a blue mohawk at the time. I'm sure you know my conversation with the police went.

Anyway I (though I should say we since we all got arrested) ended up getting charged with disturbance of the peace and something to do with a permit of some sort.

Did it work? Yes. Worth the hassle and fines? Not in the least.

ahahahahaha, that's punk as %$*!

jtc_hunter · #10 06-11-2009, 10:39 AM

If you have your "next" gig already booked, print up some flyers with all the info about that next gig, and hand them out at the current gig. If you are any good, ppl just need to know when and where the next one is. It creates a little talk. Having lots of cute chicks in skimpy clothes helps alot too.

SlingBass4 · #11 06-11-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

What can we do as a band to boost turnout at gigs?

Pretty simple, really - play distinctive, good music...play it well...and look good doing it

LowEndDrew · #12 06-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Dido on the taco night idea. Other things that I have seen work:
1) Get an attractive female member for your band. It doesn't matter what she does, she could just pretend to play tambourine or something

2) Tell quick jokes/be funny/act crazy on stage. I've seen bands with pathetic musical ability get decent turnout because they make people laugh aka have a good time.

3) Besides the usual hyping, get your attractive female friends (if applicable) to post their status on facebook and other related sites as "OMG going to XXX's show with my bffs!" People will come.

4) Make sure you dress as a band. Pick some sort of "outfit" theme for the group. Shorts and generic band t-shirt = not a serious band. Vest and tie = it's bizness time.

Oh, and also play music that people like. If you find any other ways let me know

kennydakid · #13 06-11-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chickencha

Well what do you expect? Gorillas can be dangerous, man.

Guerrilla shows, on the other hand...well, you still might get arrested for those.

I don't know.

I need to stop sneaking these messages in at work.

Although that would be cool, maybe the gorilla could play crash cymbals.

kennydakid · #14 06-11-2009, 11:11 AM

right now we're at the point where we get a crowd, and we have a small following. Really I am just interested in boosting our following. We've come a long way in less than a year. Our first gig of our "modern era" was August 2, 2008. We had 12 people show up. Since then we've had gigs with as many as 80 people in the audience (we were the only band on the bill) and the fewest we've had is 20 (wednesday night in Boston, about an hour from our home base).

I've noticed that the girls thing does work. When my GF brings out her friends, they bring out their friends, and then guys show up. We do a mailing list at every show, we anounce our web site, our name, etc... every 2-3 songs or so.

We are an originals band which fills out its set with covers our covers go from Jack Johnson/ John Mayer/ Dave Matthews for the ladys, to Lenny Kravits, Johnny Cash, George Thorogood, Tom Petty, and Eric Clapton to get everyone up and rocking.

If any of you live in the North of Boston area you should check us out sometime.

And thanks for the ideas, keep them coming

TimWilson · #15 06-11-2009, 11:20 AM

In my experience—my long, long experience—nothing pays off like investing in your stage show. Whaddaya got for lights? Add more. Lots more. And get someone to run 'em for you. Whaddaya running for PA? Add more/better sound. Fog machine? Intro tapes? The point is, treat your local shows like arena shows. People respond when you show them that you don't look at your local gigs like local gigs.

It costs up front, yeah, but it pays back big.

Bongolation · #16 06-11-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimWilson

experience—nothing pays off like investing in your stage show.

Maybe, but it has to make sense for the kind of music you're doing.

The very concept of "stage show" is antithetical to a lot of kinds of music.

Still, good sound and decent appropriate lighting can't hurt -- though a lot of times both of these are entirely out of your hands at most venues.

But absolutely: Every show is a big show. Do everything you possibly can to be professional and ACT like pros, even if there are only twenty-six people in the audience.

Mookie musicians often don't take every show seriously and what I find is those types never seem to take any show seriously.

Illbay · #17 06-11-2009, 11:46 AM

Give away a bobble-head of your bass player?

(Well, it works for the MLB clubs...)

MNAirHead · #18 06-11-2009, 11:46 AM

Forget the music..

1-Smile
2-Have fun
3-Use breaks to thank attendees and take a sincere intersest in them - most guys smoke, make out or talk to the band.

Illbay · #19 06-11-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

The very concept of "stage show" is antithetical to a lot of kinds of music.

Poppycock. That's a snobbish attitude that flies in the face of centuries of entertainment history.

This whole "we're too cool to actually entertain you; in fact, you should thank us for allowing you to come to our show" chaps my butt.

The guy you're responding to is right: invest time and effort in the SHOW, not just stringing together a bunch of your songs that you are there to "bless" your audience with. If you're paying them to attend, that's one thing, but I'll bet you're not.

MNAirHead · #20 06-11-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illbay

Poppycock. That's a snobbish attitude that flies in the face of centuries of entertainment history.

This whole "we're too cool to actually entertain you; in fact, you should thank us for allowing you to come to our show" chaps my butt.

The guy you're responding to is right: invest time and effort in the SHOW, not just stringing together a bunch of your songs that you are there to "bless" your audience with. If you're paying them to attend, that's one thing, but I'll bet you're not.

Ditto.. ticket sales to Brittney Spears "Circus" tour are the exact pontification of this .. the music sux.. she has a 6 note vocal range..