Wednesday, August 1, 2012

How to Promote Your Music When venues are Closing

How to Promote Your Music when Gig venues are closing Down


The question of how to promote your music through live work when venues are struggling with with their finances can be troubling.

In many countries across the world more clubs and bars than ever before are closing their door and ceasing trading. Some of these are obviously live music venues. So, the market for where your band can play is likely to be shrinking isn't it?

Quite possibly. But it's far from being all doom and gloom.

You need to remember the following:

 

How to promote Your Music by Playing Gigs

1. Make sure you really now HOW to promote your Music and act
It is becoming increasingly essential to know how to promote your music and band better than your competition. You need to make sure you'll have to stand out from the herd fighting for the gigs in those remaining venues which are still profitable.

2. There are still plenty of venues featuring live bands.
You'll hear it argued that in a "recession", venues will cut back on having live music or at least reduce gig nights. A few will for sure. But they will be the places that never had a crowd there in the first place.
The reality is that to avoid closing down too, successful bars and clubs will more need a "Draw". Something to get people out from in front of their iPad or Playstation and into their premises. Without their point of distinction (ie having live music on versus the bar down the road which doesn't) they can actually be MORE likely to fail not less.


3. Getting asked back is simple and essential
As venues number shrink it becomes ever more vital you make sure you're getting repeat bookings from as many places you play as possible. The keys are to ask for the next booking on gig night itself and ideally get more than further booking at a time.


4. Succeed when times are tough and clean up when they're not
This is a principle I advise all my business clients on. When times are tough you need to improve every aspect of your business to stay profitable. From a band situation this means you should examine everything from how much you pay for your guitar strings through to the quality of your live show (see point 4 below)and strive to make improvements.
If you know how to  promote your music successfully enough to prosper when times are tough you'll be raking it in when things are good again.

 

How to promote Your Music Onstage

5. You need a stand out live Act
Never has it been more important to give every audience (and venue) a night to remember than now. This needn't mean wearing fancy dress or setting fire to your drummer when you play. But think about how you can work some "events" or interaction into your shows. Your aim should be a moment or two that people will remember and smile about when they wake with a hangover the night after your performance.


Remember these points and you'll know how to promote your music no matter how many venues you have to target

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