Will you ask people to come to your gigs?

[Skel]

I'll of course, tell people who I know would be interested, and go to clubs that have live music, that my band is playing and where. We played a bar a while back, and the guy told me to try to get as many people to come as possible.

I simply refuse to do things like ask my brother-in-law to come and see us, and in trade I'll mow his lawn, babysit, etc. If the person wouldn't normally go see a live band, I don't even want them there doing me a "favor". What happens the next time that bar books you, and all the people that did you a favor by coming "that one time", aren't there this time?

I will do anything I can to get the "right" people into the club, distribute flyers, the obvious....have a good product, etc. I just don't want people to come as a favor when they normally wouldn't come.

I'd be interested to know others' thoughts on this topic.

[Dave Muscato]

No, never like that.

It's not a favor to invite someone to a show, any more than it's a favor to invite someone to go out to dinner with you, or go see a movie with you. You are simply alerting him/her to something you think he'd enjoy.

I would never offer to mow a friend's lawn, babysit, etc in exchange for him coming to my show any more than I would offer to mow his lawn in exchange for him having lunch with me.

[Bassbasixx]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

No, never like that.

It's not a favor to invite someone to a show, any more than it's a favor to invite someone to go out to dinner with you, or go see a movie with you. You are simply alerting him/her to something you think he'd enjoy.

I would never offer to mow a friend's lawn, babysit, etc in exchange for him coming to my show any more than I would offer to mow his lawn in exchange for him having lunch with me.

+1

And if your in a good band original or cover play well and put on a good show, and people have a good time they will be asking you when and where are you playing next?

[Skel]

Ok I exaggerated by talking about mowing somebody's lawn. What I really mean is, what is the definition of "trying to get people to come"? Telling, or inviting as many people as you can - sure I see no problem with that at all, but to me, that's really all you can do.

I'm also starting to wonder if some clubs just have a bad atmosphere and layout for bands. We played a club a week or two ago, the owner loved us and wants us back, but it was dead. And the guy actually apologized to us for it being dead.

I just remember the lighting being to bright, no stage, no dance floor. I know if you get enough fun people into any room, it can be fun, but I think that trying to create a good atmosphere isn't such a bad thing either. I don't want this to be misconstrued as blaming the bar. I always think of a gig as a partnership. I just feel that it should be a situation where the bar management advertises and promises excellent live music, and you make sure nobody can say the bar was kidding about that part.

[Bassbasixx]

For sure it is a big plus when clubs do there part as well and advertise. One thing that is effective is pounding the pavement book a show and flyer like crazy at the venue 3-4 weeks before the gig and take a add out yourself if you can or ask the promoter to split the add if he won't pop for the whole thing. and flyer near by clubs when bands are playing your type of music it works pretty well with decent results sometimes even better then you would have expected. also put some time into the flyer add a picture and make it look pro. If the flyer looks cool people are more likely to keep it then throw it on the ground.

[phatbass]

Fortunately as a gig-whore I don't have to do the promo stuff for bands any more. I just have a gig-guide group set up on my phone, and I send out a text message to a select bunch of people to alert them to my gigs.

I've never pressured people even when I was doing promo stuff - I'd just make sure everyone knew about the gigs.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by Bassbasixx

For sure it is a big plus when clubs do there part as well and advertise. One thing that is effective is pounding the pavement book a show and flyer like crazy at the venue 3-4 weeks before the gig and take a add out yourself if you can or ask the promoter to split the add if he won't pop for the whole thing. and flyer near by clubs when bands are playing your type of music it works pretty well with decent results sometimes even better then you would have expected. also put some time into the flyer add a picture and make it look pro. If the flyer looks cool people are more likely to keep it then throw it on the ground.

Okay, thanks for the input. I just want to make sure I understand some of this; you're saying, create a flyer, and it would be good if it has a picture of the band - sure. You're just talking black and white though, right? And do you mean by "flyer" - is that putting a flyer on everybody's car windshield? And finally, you do this 3-4 weeks before the gig at the venue you're playing at, and any other bars around the area that have live music similar to yours?

Also I just remembered that I always see little adds on Craig's List - bands advertising themselves in the "musicians wanted" section. I guess for the few minutes it would take to do that, it couldn't hurt. I really need to change my mentality and learn what it takes to get people into a bar, even if the bar doesn't do their part. The band will benefit, be asked back, and hopefully if you played that bar often enough, you wouldn't need to go through so much effort if you had a good reputation and a recognizable name.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Nick Kay]

It's called promotion. You don't need to a GUARANTEED head in the bar, but you do need to let as many people know about the show as you possibly can. Flyers anywhere you can put them legally(music stores are usually great about this, especially indie ones), handing out flyers to random passersby, calling up all your friends that like good music, whatever. Welcome to DIY.

[Bassbasixx]

Originally Posted by Skel

Okay, thanks for the input. I just want to make sure I understand some of this; you're saying, create a flyer, and it would be good if it has a picture of the band - sure. You're just talking black and white though, right? And do you mean by "flyer" - is that putting a flyer on everybody's car windshield? And finally, you do this 3-4 weeks before the gig at the venue you're playing at, and any other bars around the area that have live music similar to yours?

Also I just remembered that I always see little adds on Craig's List - bands advertising themselves in the "musicians wanted" section. I guess for the few minutes it would take to do that, it couldn't hurt. I really need to change my mentality and learn what it takes to get people into a bar, even if the bar doesn't do their part. The band will benefit, be asked back, and hopefully if you played that bar often enough, you wouldn't need to go through so much effort if you had a good reputation and a recognizable name.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Yep that's what I am saying take some cool photos of the band and make the best flyers you can, color cost more but you can do black on color paper which looks a little nicer IMO. I don't think craigs list will offer much. You could also do a myspace and try to add friends in your local area. I have friends in cover bands that even do this. Mailing list with there email address are good to. If you do originals make a two song EP and have them at the show give some away, sell the others for the cost of the EP, what ever you can think of be promo machines. I was lucky to have a member that worked in a print shop.

[Elrend]

No.

[Geddy Claypool]

You are thinking way too hard about this.

[Rick Auricchio]

I'm with Geddy.

I send an email to a group advising of the gig, or I mention it if the topic comes up in conversation. That's all. If they come, they come. If not, they don't.

My gigs don't come with requirements for bringing people.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by Skel

I really need to change my mentality and learn what it takes to get people into a bar, even if the bar doesn't do their part.

People either go to bars or they don't. You're not going to change their behavior. Many might atttend once out of courtesy to you, but they're not going to start going to bars for music unless they already want to.

[ryco]

I always tell friends where and when I'm playing, but I don't twist arms or get commitments to show up.

Great post from Bassbasixx. DIY on top of whatever promotion the club offers. Posters in music stores record stores, laundrymats, college bulletin boards (get permission!), coffee shops, kiosks - anywhere ppl hang out. Ads in local music 'zines and tell the entertainment section of your newspaper (give two week notice - these guys like lots of advance time!). Try and get the posters out 2 weeks before the show, and maybe another refresher round on the Monday before the show. Handouts are good too - little 3x5 miniatures of your show posters you can carry around in your pocket and hand out to ppl in line or on the street or put on counter tops.

I wouldn't advise putting handouts on windshields - they just end up in the street making a mess - doesn't look good for the band.

[Skel]

Originally Posted by ryco

I always tell friends where and when I'm playing, but I don't twist arms or get commitments to show up.

Great post from Bassbasixx. DIY on top of whatever promotion the club offers. Posters in music stores record stores, laundrymats, college bulletin boards (get permission!), coffee shops, kiosks - anywhere ppl hang out. Ads in local music 'zines and tell the entertainment section of your newspaper (give two week notice - these guys like lots of advance time!). Try and get the posters out 2 weeks before the show, and maybe another refresher round on the Monday before the show. Handouts are good too - little 3x5 miniatures of your show posters you can carry around in your pocket and hand out to ppl in line or on the street or put on counter tops.

I wouldn't advise putting handouts on windshields - they just end up in the street making a mess - doesn't look good for the band.

This is really good advice, thank you.

Yeah, this DIY promotion part is new to me. I called a club today, got to talking to the lady, she asked me where we had played and how long we had been together. Then, just out of the blue she said "we need some new blood so I'm gonna go ahead and book you", and she did. I was shocked, pleasantly of course. I knew she was just going by instinct and I know she'll be happy.

[BassScum]

Most people that come to my gigs on a regular basis are into going to bars/clubs to begin with. A lot of people that I have become friends with, I met at the bars/clubs that they frequented when we 1st started playing there. Most of my family and friends away from the music or bar scene don't come out to often because thier not into the bar or club scene to begin with. Friends and family all know where to view our schedule and sometimes show up unexpectedly. And as previously stated getting people to come out to pad numbers might work the 1st time but not the 2nd.

[mrkreuzschlitz]

The shows I've played where we need a big crowd, I just distribute flyers like crazy around the mall. Now, if you're in a blues cover band with 4 "elderly musicians" (no offense guys), expect very few teenagers to come. Aim for your crowd. I pass out flyers to kids that look like they'd be at a show to begin with. I've had great success doing that.

Aim for your crowd, don't be too bold, you know?

[nsmar4211]

Please don't go putting your flier on peoples windshields....personally, I *hate* that and would not go just because someone stuck the flier on my vehicle. Someone recognizing your band as the "little so and sos who stuck garbage on my car" is not good for publicity . Hand them out, music store, local hangouts, all good stuff .

The original question was basically "do you bribe people to come see you"..... nope. We tell everyone when we're playing... but most of them have asked us to keep them informed. Had an owner ask us where all of our friends were when their place was dead (keep in mind they'd done *no* advertising and the waitresses/bartender didn't even know who was playing...). Thinking about it, most of my friends are musicians so they were out playing .

If people aren't going to the place for the food/drinks/friends, that's the fault of the owner not the band. It can take several months for word to get around that such and such club has good music on fridays.....if the owner stops booking based on 3 or 4 slow nights, they'll never build it up.

[mrkreuzschlitz]

Originally Posted by nsmar4211

Please don't go putting your flier on peoples windshields....personally, I *hate* that and would not go just because someone stuck the flier on my vehicle. Someone recognizing your band as the "little so and sos who stuck garbage on my car" is not good for publicity . Hand them out, music store, local hangouts, all good stuff .

The original question was basically "do you bribe people to come see you"..... nope. We tell everyone when we're playing... but most of them have asked us to keep them informed. Had an owner ask us where all of our friends were when their place was dead (keep in mind they'd done *no* advertising and the waitresses/bartender didn't even know who was playing...). Thinking about it, most of my friends are musicians so they were out playing .

If people aren't going to the place for the food/drinks/friends, that's the fault of the owner not the band. It can take several months for word to get around that such and such club has good music on fridays.....if the owner stops booking based on 3 or 4 slow nights, they'll never build it up.

Haha, I didn't mean on cars.
I personally hand out flyers to people not hunks of metal.

[ryco]

Originally Posted by nsmar4211

Had an owner ask us where all of our friends were when their place was dead (keep in mind they'd done *no* advertising and the waitresses/bartender didn't even know who was playing...). Thinking about it, most of my friends are musicians so they were out playing .

If people aren't going to the place for the food/drinks/friends, that's the fault of the owner not the band. It can take several months for word to get around that such and such club has good music on fridays.....if the owner stops booking based on 3 or 4 slow nights, they'll never build it up.

I agree, there is some truth to this. The club should promote itself and the bands playing there. The bar staff should be informed as to what's up and coming.

But eventually a band wants to break away from having to depend on dumb bar owners, because most barkeeps don't have a clue about how to promote a show. It's really up to a band to promote itself and it's show. You are the only ones you can truly depend on and it's in your best interest anyways.
Once you get ppl to see you, you want to put on a great show with fresh stuff every time so the audience will want to return, bring all their buds, and build up a strong following. This way the party shows up even if the club itself doesn't draw well. They're there to party with you guys!
The beauty of this is then your band can start naming the clubs they want to play in. "Oh, you don't want us that night? Well, maybe we can make Club X down the street 5 grand that night."

story time: We once sent an out of town barkeep 300 posters to put up. Checked with him "How's it going putting up posters?" "Oh great - hired some kid to put 'em up around town!" "Great! See ya inna couple of weeks!" Get up there -- dead club!! Singer happened to look in the back of this guys car and there was the bundle of posters minus 3 or 4 he put up in the club itself. Of course the next night rocked "Hey! Great band down at Speedio Tubs!!"
We met the local poster guy at the show and dealt with him directly after that.