My band has a gig tonight and is also playing a gig next weekend at a nearby venue (within 3 miles of each other). Is it bad etiquitte to mention the next show at tonight's gig because it is with a competing venue? We don't usually play gigs so close together, but the second gig is at the best venue in the area.
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Is this a no no?
- Thread starter strummer21
- Start date
I wouldn't mention it over the PA, but you might say something along the lines of "check our website for upcoming gigs in the area".
Yeah, good advice. That's a great idea to mention our website, that is something we always forget to do and need to remember!
Absolutely, and word of mouth, helped by friends/family/girlfriends are always effective. But you should NOT say it on stage.
Another way of seeing it is that you, as a band, are not responsible of the venue's business...
Another way of seeing it is that you, as a band, are not responsible of the venue's business...
I don't see anything wrong with saying "hey if like what you heard tonight, come check us out at _____ next week." You got to promote yourself. Nobody else is gonna promote you. Why would a venue care?
Sidenote: i like to say the following from the stage, encourages a good band/venue relationship. "Hey everybody get some drinks, buy some food... venues need to make money too, support (insert venue name) so they can keep supporting great shows" Kinda a twist on the "tip your waitress" line.
Sidenote: i like to say the following from the stage, encourages a good band/venue relationship. "Hey everybody get some drinks, buy some food... venues need to make money too, support (insert venue name) so they can keep supporting great shows" Kinda a twist on the "tip your waitress" line.
- Dec 15, 2007
- 556
- 45
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ashdown/ESP/Dunlop/Line 6/Normandy.
Because venues are in business for themselves, not for you. They aren't going to appreciate you using their stage to promote another venue's business. Don't do it unless you don't care about playing in the first venue again.
That seems ridiculous to me. I've never had a problem with this. I do it all the time and rebook at the same venues often. If some crazy venue owner gets pissed that I say "come see our band again" That's a venue I don't need to play anymore. If the booking guy/venue owner is even at the show, I doubt they're paying any attention.
In fact, I'll go as far as to say i've never seen a band that DIDN'T promote their next show from the stage, no matter where it's at.
In fact, I'll go as far as to say i've never seen a band that DIDN'T promote their next show from the stage, no matter where it's at.
Specifically with your gig, it's probably not worth it. Typically, if someone sees your band on one weekend, they need at least a month or more before they'll go out and see your band again. Knowing that, it's probably not a good idea to tick off the bar owner by telling everyone to take their money elsewhere next weekend, when you won't get much payoff by actually getting those same people and/or their word of mouth friends to your other gig.
That brings up another point... Unless you can pack the place or sell out the place your playing tonight, why book a gig so close to today? Spread your gigs out more, both geographically and time wise. Next weekend, you should be playing in the 'burbs, if tonight is in Hollywood. The week after that should be in the Beach Cities, then Orange County, etc., etc., until at least a month (better yet two or three months, if you can) go by and you hit up your first place again.
That brings up another point... Unless you can pack the place or sell out the place your playing tonight, why book a gig so close to today? Spread your gigs out more, both geographically and time wise. Next weekend, you should be playing in the 'burbs, if tonight is in Hollywood. The week after that should be in the Beach Cities, then Orange County, etc., etc., until at least a month (better yet two or three months, if you can) go by and you hit up your first place again.
if you don't want to play at that venue ever again... then yeah it's fine haha... but then you should have some fun with it and make fun of the venue you are currently at while your at it.
Yeah, but if you`re a good enough band and bring a large enough following they`ll have you back regardless of what you say* as long as it`s bringing them in money.
*Not every band can get away with it, but I`ve seen a few bands basically get away with murder and have returned to the same venue multiple times.
I take it a step further, & promote the heck out of the upcoming shows at the venue I happen to be standing in! No question, they appreciate it, & when the club appreciates you, they tend to ask you back...
Right on. Then follow that with, "We had a great time playing here tonight. If you had fun, tell Gino (or Rocky, or Ginger, or Moondoggie, or whoever does booking for the club) you want us back, because we would really love to play here again!"
Always mention/push your website... We are even going to make some glow-in-the dark stickers to go on our floor monitors so we don't forget and its good publicity.
Good call! Always promote your hosting venue, including a list of coming events, bands, whatever.
Riis
I have NEVER heard of a club owner getting pissed off because a band plugged their next gig.
I think that it's stupid to assume that they would.
OP: If you really think that this might be an issue, why not just ask the person that booked you what they think.
I think that it's stupid to assume that they would.
OP: If you really think that this might be an issue, why not just ask the person that booked you what they think.
It's only stupid until it happens once.
We found out after the fact that the owner of our current gig had a long running feud with the owner of our next gig (and this was apparently public knowledge to many people, but not us). Our cross promotion created (what I would call) an unreasonable, furious reaction from the owner, and our wildly successful performance was suddenly graded an F. We were able to smooth things over somewhat, but damage was done.
Obviously this situation isn't going to happen everywhere, but it's not stupid to consider the possibility.
The website mention is the way to go, saves grief from dealing with a grumpy club owner. We do sometimes mention festivals, as most of the club owners don't consider them direct competition. A competing venue, never!
