Thanks for the replies, you guys have verified my thoughts on it. I'm going to have to have a talk with the vocalist who is also the guitar player and de-facto band leader - does the bookings and handles the money. It might be a difficult conversation. Gig on Saturday at a new venue for us so it's probably the right time to address this.
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Promoting band gigs from the stage.... your thoughts
- Thread starter Runnerman
- Start date
I'd expand on that a bit -
If you're onstage at "Jim's Bar and Grill" and you tell the audience "We're on stage next week at Bill's Bar and Grill" - not cool.
but if the gig you promote is a festival, Christmas tree lighting, Toys for Tots - that's OK.
Also a good Karma thing to as you say promote the next band, if we're talking about a restaurant/bar gig, where customers to the establishment is what pays the bills.
We have always suggested that the crowd give management feed back! We have been booked every weekend since 2008
We always thank the audience, thank the venue and the hardworking staff for keeping everyone lubricated. Then tell people to find and follow us on social media and direct them to the handy QR codes on the banners hanging from our speaker. Staff are happy they get thanked, and no one gets upset that you're promoting yourselves. Besides, venues know you play other places, so it's not that big a deal. The popular bands will always have a following that follows you around various venues. It's up to the venues to get decent bands with their own following in when you're not playing there!
NEVER promote another club when onstage. We carry a professionally made sign with our schedule. The type is probably an inch tall- large enough to be read in low light, small enough to fit in a phone pic. We put it right next to the stage and tell people it’s there. The guitarist orders it online one or twice a year, we pay for it out of tips. People snap pics all night if we’re rockin’…
That's why you (the band) mingles between sets. We have never done it from the stage. If you are worth your salt people will ask.
I think, you do what you do. The venue owner that gets irritated if you play somewhere else and say so is not behaving appropriately.
personally i think it depends on the band, gig, and venue you are playing at. kind of a read the room situation. i don't see it as quite the offense some do in this thread, and i certainly wouldn't have a stern talk with the BL hiring me about it.
Update. Last night's gig nothing was mentioned, only the FB page and that people could see where we were playing next. He did highlight another date at the same venue in August. All done very professionally. I never actually had to have the conversation, was planning to say something off the cuff as we were loading up. Ended up just encouraging him on how he promoted us. I'll reinforce it again when I get the chance.
Did have a few people come up between sets asking where we were playing next. Thanks all for the inputs.
Did have a few people come up between sets asking where we were playing next. Thanks all for the inputs.
I (used to) play in a band that not only were other venues plugged, but he also plugged another band that he was in playing at other venues. I'd ask him to stop. let him know I thought it was unprofesional.
Next time he did it, I opted to plug a few groups as well.... playing everywhere from the local mortuary to the local Kmart, you just had to fallow the blue light special cart. The band names were equally ridiculous. (my favorite was always Buddy Stump and the chain saw boys. playing at the local small engine repair shop.)
Granted, he was shooting flames out of his eyeballs, the rest of the band was cool, and the crowd loved it. He never did it again.
Next time he did it, I opted to plug a few groups as well.... playing everywhere from the local mortuary to the local Kmart, you just had to fallow the blue light special cart. The band names were equally ridiculous. (my favorite was always Buddy Stump and the chain saw boys. playing at the local small engine repair shop.)
Granted, he was shooting flames out of his eyeballs, the rest of the band was cool, and the crowd loved it. He never did it again.
Management expects you to draw customers into their bar. How would you expect them to feel if they hear you attempting to pull those customers away to other bars?
(Already been said many times, just putting it a different way)
(Already been said many times, just putting it a different way)
In a word: No.
#1 Promote beer, food, etc - All right, everyone get a shot for the next set, order some beers, The Wings are awesome!
#2 Promote tipping the wait staff/bar servers (know their names!) - Let's give it up for Maria, she is working hard for you, tip her hard!
#3 Promote the Venue - So glad too be back a t Billy Jacks!!! LOVE this place. Text your friends to get down here now!
- Always put out on the socials day of the show ~ noon...link to their socials, etc.
#4 Promote YOUR next gig there; We'll be back August 6th - looking forward to seeing you and we'll have a couple of surprises!!!
#5 You can find us on FB and Myband.com!
In that order; Regardless of what you think, you are there to fill seats and sell drinks.
Always check with the staff to see how they did after the show.
#1 Promote beer, food, etc - All right, everyone get a shot for the next set, order some beers, The Wings are awesome!
#2 Promote tipping the wait staff/bar servers (know their names!) - Let's give it up for Maria, she is working hard for you, tip her hard!
#3 Promote the Venue - So glad too be back a t Billy Jacks!!! LOVE this place. Text your friends to get down here now!
- Always put out on the socials day of the show ~ noon...link to their socials, etc.
#4 Promote YOUR next gig there; We'll be back August 6th - looking forward to seeing you and we'll have a couple of surprises!!!
#5 You can find us on FB and Myband.com!
In that order; Regardless of what you think, you are there to fill seats and sell drinks.
Always check with the staff to see how they did after the show.
Typically it was always just "Tip your bartenders, they make us sound better" and "If you want to see where we're playin next follow us on (insert whatever social media we were using at that point)"
My favorite was my punk/metal band. After not announcing any songs and blasting through 4 of them in a row booing the crowd when they'd cheer "Don't look for us or our music online. F#$@ You". Of course, it was a certain kinda crowd lol
My favorite was my punk/metal band. After not announcing any songs and blasting through 4 of them in a row booing the crowd when they'd cheer "Don't look for us or our music online. F#$@ You". Of course, it was a certain kinda crowd lol
We'll debate anything on TB, though nowhere near the level of other forums.
BTW, I don't see how any of it's debatable either. The reality is we're there to help draw and retain paying customers, without whom the utility bills don't get paid and the band checks bounce. Think of it as a true business partnership based on a shared goal.
It's a two way street. We might think the gig isn't for us...and the venue might think it hasn't worked commercially for them.
I wouldn't do anymore than engage with the owner/booker in a positive manner.
If they like us, they'll make a move and if we like them we will thank them and hope they'll follow up.
Might send an email or txt to remind them later, but thats all.
I wouldn't do anymore than engage with the owner/booker in a positive manner.
If they like us, they'll make a move and if we like them we will thank them and hope they'll follow up.
Might send an email or txt to remind them later, but thats all.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
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