how do we get people from shows to web site, and from web site to shows...

[ffud]

So after playing annother non-fanbase-growing show this weekend, I am trying to figure out how on earth to get people who are at the shows to go to our myspace. At our show this weekend we gave just about everyone in attendance a free button with our band logo on it. These buttons were attached to slips of paper that had all our URL's on them as well as explaining how to get a free song download by signing up for our email list online.

 

I figured, everyone likes free stuff, they will take the button and then get a free song. Not a single new email, myspace friend or anything. We talk about all of it from the stage ect, no hits. How do you get people to go to the pages?

 

Also, the reverse, how do you get the people who have gone to your page after a show to come to annother or come check you out for the first time. There have been many people who have said, yes I'll be there, and then never show.

 

What is acturaly successful for you guys?

 

thanks

[sventvkg]

you have to bring it...Your music has to be better then everyone else, and you need to be able to bring it live...that is the only thing that will start a buzz and get people to start coming. No gimmicks work. It's about Being {censored}ing good, flat out.

[richardmac]

More and more, people do not see giving out their e-mail address in exchange for a song as being a good deal. Probably because they can get any song they want for free via illegal downloading and they don't have to give up their e-mail address and risk being spammed by a band.

 

Regarding live shows, the previous poster is right. People want to come to a live show to have a good time. If you don't impress people, they're not going to want to follow up.

[sixstring-LYM]

First, if your a serious band, I believe you need to have your own website...not just a MySpace page.

 

Second, I would not worry so much about getting the people at your shows to visit your website. In time, like the previous poster said, "bring it.." people will start visiting the site.

 

Third: Use the web as a tool to get your music out there. Record a good quality CD, and start selling them. You may think the day of selling CD's is old, but my band has CD's out to small distributors all over the world. Selling them in a digital format is definitely an option you want to do as well. It takes hard work to get your name out there on the web.

 

NONE of this is possible though, unless you got some music that people like.

[espec10001]

You gotta be {censored}ing good man and make good music. {censored} all that web {censored} and promotion. Focus on the music and the performance, and the rest will follow.

[RickGoetz]

 

You gotta be {censored}ing good man and make good music. {censored} all that web {censored} and promotion. Focus on the music and the performance, and the rest will follow.

 

 

It is absolutely true that you have to focus on the music and worry about having something good to market rather than having good marketing. That said- you have to let people know as well when something comes out so I don't know that I would completely ignore web marketing and promo either.

 

Try an online contest offering a free show of yours at someone's home for the contest winner and announce it from stage. If you have no takers you may want to consider going back to the shed and working on the songs and the show some more as depressing as that might seem. If you announce that online and from stage and can track that out of 30-100 people that no one cared enough to part with their email address in exchange for that opportunity - it might be an eye opening statement about your live show.

 

I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

 

On a side note I just interviewed a New York Club owner about getting gigs etc- please let me know if you find it helpful.

 

Ask a cub owner

 

Best,

 

Rick

[espec10001]

 

It is absolutely true that you have to focus on the music and worry about having something good to market rather than having good marketing. That said- you have to let people know as well when something comes out so I don't know that I would completely ignore web marketing and promo either. Try an online contest offering a free show of yours at someone's home for the contest winner and announce it from stage. If you have no takers you may want to consider going back to the shed and working on the songs and the show some more as depressing as that might seem. If you announce that online and from stage and can track that out of 30-100 people that no one cared enough to part with their email address in exchange for that opportunity - it might be an eye opening statement about your live show. I hope you find the answers you are looking for. On a side note I just interviewed a New York Club owner about getting gigs etc- please let me know if you find it helpful. Ask a cub owner Best, Rick

 

 

While I fully understand that in today's world we cannot ignore the business side, I am still a firm believer that if you give it your all, and strive to make the best music you can possibly make and perform the best you can, then you will create fans right then and there in front of you. As unrealistic and difficult as it sounds, if people aren't reacting the way you want them to in performance, you got to go back to the drawing board and make it better. Crowds are insanely tough to please, insanely. But that doesn't mean that it is impossible. The music always has to be #1. Otherwise why the {censored} are you up there playing?

[Dancebass]

What you are looking for is not an easy thing to achieve so don't be too hard on yourself. What you describe happens to everyone at the start of a new project.

 

I have had to deal with this a lot and I've learned a little that may help. None of the members in my new band are originally from the city were we live. That makes things pretty hard sometimes. We don't have that lifelong group of friends or family to draw from, it's up to us, we are 100% on the wire out there. This city can be VERY clique(ish) also, we are outsiders, and we get treated that way pretty often. Our draw, booking relationships, and press contacts have all been gained through ridiculous labor.

 

As far as "the draw" which seems to be your main concern here, we learned early on that the bands that had a great draw had something else to offer as well. They were able to create an atmosphere in which "John Doe" was 100% guaranteed to run into most of "John Doe's" friends if he came out to see(blank)'s show on any given night. Don't play too often and this becomes VERY helpful. Make damn sure that you play host to your audience. Make introductions, before and after you play. Treat your show like you would treat a party in your living room. It puts people in the right mind to make friends. Tell "John Doe" you want him to meet "Paul and Tina, they are beer importers, yada yada yada."

 

Next time you play look out into the crowd when you're tuning up, I can promise you that Paul and Tina are standing next to John Doe chatting about going out to dinner next Wednesday. If you create this, you have created a "scene" all to yourself and you will kill.

 

p.s.- My apologies to any women reading this, I know you understand these things instinctively.

[Tom Siegel]

 

What you are looking for is not an easy thing to achieve so don't be too hard on yourself. What you describe happens to everyone at the start of a new project. I have had to deal with this a lot and I've learned a little that may help. None of the members in my new band are originally from the city were we live. That makes things pretty hard sometimes. We don't have that lifelong group of friends or family to draw from, it's up to us, we are 100% on the wire out there. This city can be VERY clique(ish) also, we are outsiders, and we get treated that way pretty often. Our draw, booking relationships, and press contacts have all been gained through ridiculous labor. As far as "the draw" which seems to be your main concern here, we learned early on that the bands that had a great draw had something else to offer as well. They were able to create an atmosphere in which "John Doe" was 100% guaranteed to run into most of "John Doe's" friends if he came out to see(blank)'s show on any given night. Don't play too often and this becomes VERY helpful. Make damn sure that you play host to your audience. Make introductions, before and after you play. Treat your show like you would treat a party in your living room. It puts people in the right mind to make friends. Tell "John Doe" you want him to meet "Paul and Tina, they are beer importers, yada yada yada." Next time you play look out into the crowd when you're tuning up, I can promise you that Paul and Tina are standing next to John Doe chatting about going out to dinner next Wednesday. If you create this, you have created a "scene" all to yourself and you will kill. p.s.- My apologies to any women reading this, I know you understand these things instinctively.

 

 

 

I think this is great advise. The rule is that your fan base doesn't translate into stability until your audience is made up of fans. How to build loyal fans is the real trick. You have to connect with your audience in a real and meaningful way. I am in no way impying that this is easy but that is what has to be done. Here is one key thing to remember; people are concerned about themselves. So when you are concerned about them too, you'll have something in common.

 

Try a tweak in attitude overall. At every show and for every email subscriber and every audience member just really feel greatful that they are there. Try to express your gratitude to your audience and to your email list sincerely. When you make your audience feel important that is when they will become fans.

 

The music has to be good too, or your screwed. But you were asking a marketing question so I am just assuming that your music rocks.

[theboywho]

It might be worth a try giving out badges to people who sign up for your mailing list first, then a day or so after the gig mail the new people with a link to a song. People are lazy, and are much more likely to click on a link in an email than to bother finding a slip of paper, typing in a URL then entering their e-mail address.

The ones who would do all that would likely have bought a CD in the first place.

 

Just don't make your mailing list too frequent, I've dropped off a few mailing lists after getting mails every day, keep it to promotion of gigs and occasional news, twitter and blogs should be for everything else.

 

sixstring is right about the website too, looks far more professional, and can be a good hub to bring together other online sites. Be interested to know more about the distrubutors too.

[RickGoetz]

"Be sure and tip your bartenders an waitr....Oh...you are the bartenders and Waitresses..." I've been there. I'm sure most people on this forum have been there. It tends to be the people who can stay alive and continually improving the longest have the best odds at "making it" whatever that means.

[doppelbanger]

make alot of friends. this may sound like a joke but having alot of friends that like your band and frequent your shows is a good thing. then they will all bring other people to your shows and get them interested in your music. i've gotten into alot of other local bands in this fashion.