© 2011 Vinny Ribas
All too often having great talent isn’t enough to get people to leave the comfort of their homes and come out to see you perform. So, here are some creative ways to draw more people to your shows. Many of these work just as well on the road as they do in your hometown. Get creative! Modify them so they fit you. Change the giveaways, prizes etc. Make it unique. This accomplishes several key things:
- It can introduce you to new fans
- It can enable you to charge more money
- It enables you to play bigger and better venues.
- It makes the venue want to bring you back!
Here are the ideas:[private_member]
- Run a contest and draw for the winner at a show. You might be tempted to put the restriction of ‘Must Be Present To Win’ on it. A better choice might be – ‘If you are present for the drawing you will also receive…’ Make it worth their while to come out!
- Advertise that you will have a special offer on your CD(s) or merchandise at your show.
- Advertise to your fans list that you will be making a huge announcement at your show (only if you have one).
- Advertise to your fans that you will be selling something that is not available anywhere else but at your shows.
- Give a discount to your show to people who are on your mailing list. Announce this at all of your shows and of course, in your newsletter!
- Have a special giveaway for anyone who attends. Some examples include free downloads, promo CD or DVD, a stuffed animal, something for fans to give to their better halves (e.g. a branded greeting card) etc, as long as it is in your budget.
- Make a deal with the venue to give away a coupon for a free drink to anyone who attends, or who returns to see you perform again.
- Get a show ‘sponsor’ – a local business (not another venue) that will offer a discount on their products or services to people attending your shows. For example, this would work great for an all-night diner that is not too far from your venue.
- Give the local radio station some CDs to give away for free the week of your show. This will encourage them to play the CD as well.
- Partner with a nonprofit to use their name and give them a percentage of the door. Be sure they will advertise it to their mailing list as well.
- Make a habit of giving a prize to the person who traveled the farthest to see you.
- Make a habit of learning the names of some of your fans. Tell them you are going to write a song about them and perform it at your next show. You can write a generic song that you change the names in each time.
- Tell your audience to take a picture of you and them together after the show. Let them know that if they email it to you, you will send them a special gift. You now have their email address. Ask them if you can use their picture on your Facebook page as well (they will share the link with all of their friends). Make the gift something that will drive them back to see you again (e.g. free or half-price admission, a free t-shirt that they can pick up at your next show etc.)
There is no limit to how creative you can be to get both new and current fans to your shows! Please use the comment box below to add your ideas![/private_member]
