Promoting band gigs from the stage.... your thoughts

[Runnerman]

Is there a decorum for doing this when playing at a bar venue? I feel like giving a Facebook page is cool, maybe saying, "you can get info on our upcoming shows" or "you can stay in touch with where we are playing next".

But does it cross the line when you announce a show at a different location, like, "We are back in the area in two weeks at BillyBob's Tavern at 9pm"?

Does the owner see this as advertising for the competition? Or do they just see a busy band that I want to get back here again soon?
I'm not 100% sure where I fall on this, but lately it's been the common them for our vocalist to be very specific about upcoming shows.

 

[ArtechnikA]

IMO -- never promote a competing venue.
Encourage people to check out any online calendars and coming events, encourage people to join your mailing list [and use it].
Everybody knows there are other venues, but don't promote the competition.

If you want to promote friendly competition, promote the next band that's appearing where you are.
'If you like what we're doing, come back next week and check out Fred and His Band, they always put on a great show.'
You might make some points with the management.

 

[silky smoove]

IMO -- never promote a competing venue.
Encourage people to check out any online calendars and coming events, encourage people to join your mailing list [and use it].
Everybody knows there are other venues, but don't promote the competition.

If you want to promote friendly competition, promote the next band that's appearing where you are.
'If you like what we're doing, come back next week and check out Fred and His Band, they always put on a great show.'
You might make some points with the management.

Excellent advice

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I agree with what was said already. Mention your website or social media pages, encourage people to take a business card with that info and contact info on it, but don't promote another bar while you're playing at the competition. Just how we've always done it.

 

[51PRI]

In addition to promoting the band who is playing there next, you can also announce the next time you're going to be at that venue. If you don't have other bookings there you might say "if you like what you're hearing let the management know and maybe we'll be coming back."

 

[JazznFunk]

An establishment generally doesn't like it when you advertise another establishment with whom they are in competition for bodies in the door. So no - don't mention other places you play by name from the stage when you're at one of those competing venues. You wouldn't hang a poster for your gig next week at Billy Bob's Beer and Butts in the window at Jeff's Jammin Jukebox, where you played last weekend. Ya dig? This is beginner stuff really.

Whenever we did radio performances back in the day, we were always instructed to give general statements on air, not 'calls to action'. 'Our website is....' 'You can find our new album and show dates at.....' I've applied that logic elsewhere in promotions as well.

 

[jerry]

In addition to promoting the band who is playing there next, you can also announce the next time you're going to be at that venue. If you don't have other bookings there you might say "if you like what you're hearing let the management know and maybe we'll be coming back."

Asking the crowd to bug the venue is kind of a amateur move, its not a good look. If you want to be invited back, be nice and generous with the the staff.

 

[Parzival]

Asking the crowd to bug the venue is kind of a amateur move, its not a good look. If you want to be invited back, be nice and generous with the the staff.

We go out of our way to be great to the staff. It does make a difference. I always get to a venue with plenty of time to spare so that after I get set up, I can go hang out and visit with the staff.

We’ve gotten booked for additional gigs at some places even though the venue didn’t have a good night just because the staff liked us and enjoyed us being around.

 

[jerry]

We go out of our way to be great to the staff. It does make a difference. I always get to a venue with plenty of time to spare so that after I get set up, I can go hang out and visit with the staff.

What some people don't realize is bar staff often hang with staff from other bars too. I've seen many bar staff and bartenders go on to manage other clubs, and a future in if they remember you fondly. Bar staff are also usually the same age as the patrons, asking them what songs you might want to add to to the setlist is not a bad idea either.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

I think its ok if its something like the county fair show or a festival or something.
Just not competing businesses.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

IMO -- never promote a competing venue.
Encourage people to check out any online calendars and coming events, encourage people to join your mailing list [and use it].
Everybody knows there are other venues, but don't promote the competition.

If you want to promote friendly competition, promote the next band that's appearing where you are.
'If you like what we're doing, come back next week and check out Fred and His Band, they always put on a great show.'
You might make some points with the management.

Hear Hear @ArtechnikA, well said!

One of the groups I played with hosted an open-mic night every Friday Night for over 40 nights a year at a small brew pub. We'd play for an hour and then start pulling up the sign-ups for the open mic. If there was time left after going through the list, we'd get back up and play some more. It was always an early night, typically 7PM to 9:45PM. We would announce if we were playing elsewhere for a full gig on a Saturday night but would remind them we'd be back here on that Friday.

HOWEVER, we never announced where we were playing next at a regular 3 to 4-hour gig, but would refer them to our web site for the latest info on when and where to find us. The last thing you want to do is advertise a new venue while playing at a current one. Owner of the brewpub told us to go ahead and make that announcement for our full-blown gigs as long as we reminded them about open-mic night too. Mentioning the group coming in the next week always helps build up a bit of appreciation with the owner or manager too.

 

[Peteyboy]

Hyping other shows and social media presence is something that's done at your merch table. Undignified onstage. My opinion.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Ideally, you wrap up your show by announcing when you'll be back.

 

[Reedt2000]

IMO -- never promote a competing venue.
Encourage people to check out any online calendars and coming events, encourage people to join your mailing list [and use it].
Everybody knows there are other venues, but don't promote the competition.

If you want to promote friendly competition, promote the next band that's appearing where you are.
'If you like what we're doing, come back next week and check out Fred and His Band, they always put on a great show.'
You might make some points with the management.

Agreed

The only future gigs we promote from the stage, is the next time we'll be at that venue.

 

[FretRiff]

Don't mention other venues.

A friend's band has a banner onstage with the band's name and big QR code so people can visit their site, see upcoming shows, sign up for mailing list, buy merch, etc, and the code is referred to so people can get info on the band and dates. (When they have merch tables the QR code is on placards, and on merch tags.)

 

[Dincrest]

IMO -- never promote a competing venue.
Encourage people to check out any online calendars and coming events, encourage people to join your mailing list [and use it].
Everybody knows there are other venues, but don't promote the competition.

If you want to promote friendly competition, promote the next band that's appearing where you are.
'If you like what we're doing, come back next week and check out Fred and His Band, they always put on a great show.'
You might make some points with the management.

And to add to that, if you'll be playing that venue again, say, "We'll be back here on such-and-such a date! Come party with us again!"

 

[Oldfartguy]

Promote the band first and second, the place... That was the rule years ago when I played in bars.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Just to echo what others have said, you never mention another bar while you're working in one.

 

[2cooltoolz]

You wouldn't hang a poster for your gig next week at Billy Bob's Beer and Butts in the window at Jeff's Jammin Jukebox, where you played last weekend.

In the case of my last band, not only would Jeff's not want us to advertise for Billy's, but Billy's wouldn't want us to warn people we were coming!!

 

[pepj]

We promote the place who are paying us the better rate.
If people like the gig, they know to find you on FB/SM. We try and put up new video but people will be pretty chatty afterwards if you've had a really good gig.