Playing a live show is one of the best things that bands can do for their music career at any stage. It helps them connect with fans and one of the leading ways to get paid in the industry. With all that being said, it is still hard to get anyone to go to shows. They want to watch everything online and not have to leave their homes. Fans want to come and see you live, but sometimes even they don’t want to leave. You have to peak their interest to want to go. There are many ways to help get fans interested in coming out to your shows, but only a few very effective ways to get fans to shows. Here are the 3 best ways to get fans to shows.
How to Get Fans to Listen to Your Music
Every musician wants people to hear their music. Why wouldn’t they? They put so much energy, emotions, and themselves in their songs and want to share it with the world. They write and record for hours and post the songs up on sites, hoping that people will hear their music. The problem is, there is so much music out there that some people are getting overloaded by music and find it difficult to listen to songs from musicians they don’t already know. So, how does one get fans and possible fans to listen to their music? Here are some tips that might help:
How to Get Fans to Listen to Your Music
Songs:
The first thing you want to look at is the song themselves. You want to make sure the quality is good and if it’s something that you would listen to. Even recording in a bedroom or basement can produce some good quality sounding music. You’ve got to listen to every detail before putting it out. Just recording won’t work and posting won’t work. You will listen to the song if it’s yours, but if it’s from another artist doing it in that quality, would you listen to it?
Don’t rush to get the song out. Fans will know if it’s been rushed and shy away from listening to it. You put the time and effort into writing it, why not show them that in the recording? Fans will feel like you didn’t care about the song or them. Take your time. They will wait for it to come out the right way. You also don’t want to rush and put out a bunch of songs at once. As the old saying goes, its quality over quantity. Fans would rather hear one amazing song than 10 average songs that have been put together fast.
Fans:
The next thing you want to think about is the fans. They are the ones who will be listening and passing the songs on to others. You want to make sure you find the right fans as well. Just because they follow you back on Twitter or Instagram doesn’t mean they’ll want to actually listen to your music. Nowadays, people will follow anyone online to get numbers. Do research on them and see what they’re posting and who they’re talking about before sending them music. You want to make sure you put effort into the right people.
Once you find the right people, you want to show them that you actually care about them. Send them a personal message or comment, not a generic one with a link to your music. People are tired of getting messages every time they add a band that just talks about the band and has a link to the music. They want to know about the people in the band as people, not as just musicians. Talk to people after shows, whether they were there for you or not. If you’re performing with someone they like, they will most likely be interested in your music as well. Don’t just talk about the music either. Talk to them about anything and then talking about music will flow in the conversation without sounding like you’re forcing it on them.
Do things for the fans, don’t expect them to do things for you. Fans will wait for new music, but you want to show them that you’re still thinking about them while writing, recording, and doing shows. Post short videos of what you’re doing. Either of the songs you’re recording/practicing or of acoustic covers of songs they want to hear you do or that you want to do, or of just daily things you’re doing. Post things on social media sites of things you’re interested in. There are sites that will help you post on all them at once. Live streams are great ways to do things. FaceBook has made it so easy to do that since everyone is on there anyway. Another great site is Twitch. Those are the most popular ones that people will hear you on.
Promotion:
The last thing is promotion. A lot of people think this should be the first thing, but I personally believe that once you have everything else, promotion will be easier. You need a song in order to promote and to do shows with so people can hear your music. Fans will hear your song at a shows and then help spread the songs around. Not saying that you should just use fans to promote, but if you get the right relationship with them and show them you care, they will want to help you without you even asking.
Finding shows isn’t easy if you don’t have many fans, but if you find the right musicians who are willing to put you on a show with them, you will be able to get on a bill. Some venues are even willing to give any bands a chance, but you want to make sure you play with others who are in the same genre. Performing with someone who is in the same genre as you will help you gain fans and will have people who will be interested in you. For example, if you’re a metal band and you end up on a bill with a very pop oriented performer, it will be hard for either fans to like either of the performers. Getting on a bill with like performers isn’t all you need to do. Help promote those performers and they will help you back. Performers can help each other. Post their shows and tag them in things. The tags will show you tagging them and their fans will want to know about you.
These things may not always work and may not work for everyone. The one thing to remember is to have quality over quantity with the music and to have a relationship with fans and other performers you’re working with. They will be the ones who help.
Michele Enoch
Michele Enoch is a music business graduate from Musicians Institute who has managed and promoted bands for years. She is now working on her photography and helping performers advance in their career. Her passion has always been music and she is exploring all aspects of the industry. Michele appreciates all kinds of music and seeing music in all kinds of environments. She enjoys crocheting hats and toys, reading and writing mystery and horror stories, taking pictures of everything she can, food from around the world, and adorable animals. She is always on the look out for anything new and exciting.
5 Reasons to Apply to Perform at youbloomDublin 2017
Will you or your band be at youbloomDublin 2017? If you’re a musician, there is no better place to be in Ireland from June 1 to 5 than Dublin City Centre for this year’s youbloomDublin. With hundreds of local and international bands and artists performing music in every genre imaginable as well as music industry professions speaking on panels where they will be taking questions from independent musicians, the benefits of applying to play youbloomDublin 2017 are many.
Here are 5 reasons why you or your band should apply to perform at youbloomDublin 2017.
- If you’re an independent artist or band looking to share your music with the world in a unique DIY festival alongside a selection of the most promising rising stars, look no further than youbloomDublin 2017.
- Meet other musicians from around the world. You don’t need to live in Ireland to perform at youbloomDublin 2017. This year’s music festival & summit will feature over a hundred musicians coming from all over the world to perform and share their music.
- Get introduced to music industry professionals. Last year’s music festival & summit featured panels from Liz Garo, Talent Buyer & Event Producer at Spaceland Productions, Loretta Muñoz , Vice President at ASCAP, James Leach, Vice President SESAC, and many more of the top music industry influences from around the world – And youbloomDublin 2017 looks even more promising!
- Perform at venues all over Dublin. Not only does youbloomDublin 2017 offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience unlike anything else, performing at the music festival & summit gives independent musicians the opportunity to win more fans, increase their visibility, and become a well-known international artist.
- When you get accepted to perform at youbloomDublin 2017, your entire band and crew also gains free, all-access passes to everything that the festival has to offer. Not only will you be able to perform, but you’ll enjoy performances from tons of other bands, music industry conferences and panels, and everything that the best venues across Dublin have to offer.
Be sure to fill out your application early! This year’s youbloomDublin has already received a record-breaking number of applicants and we anticipate more than twice as many as last year. What are you waiting for?! Apply to perform at youbloomDublin 2017 here.
Want a taste of the youbloom experience? Take a peek at all of the photos, videos, interviews and more coverage from this past youbloomLA 2016 here.
Need more reasons to apply to perform at youbloomDublin 2017? Subscribe to the youbloom newsletter and you’ll get valuable music industry insights delivered directly to your inbox each week. When you subscribe to the youbloom newsletter, you’ll also be the first to discover who will appear at youbloom.
When is youbloomDublin 2017? The 5th annual youbloomDublin Music Festival & Summit takes place June 1-5 in Ireland’s gorgeous Dublin City Centre.
Music Festival Etiquette Part 2: Do as the Romans Do
Music festivals are all the same; the only difference is the music played.
Uh, not completely true. Yes, these festivities may have the same pattern but the songs are different. But there’s one thing more that separates each of these events: the audience.
In a study conducted with more than 30,000 participants, the researchers found out that we share similar traits with people who have similar music tastes. And these traits determine how we behave in music festivals.
So, if you are a newbie going to a concert for your very first time, watch out for these personalities and take note of the music festival etiquette.
Classical
Grandiose and elegance. These two words probably sums up my perception of this type of music and the people who play them. Consequently, I also presume the lovers of this genre are stylish and classy.
Interestingly, the study revealed that those who are into this genre are actually high-earners with high-self esteem. They also seem to be smart (and they see themselves as smart) and a bit older than the metal fans. They may be classified into the ENTJs or “the commanders,” the INTJs or “the architects,” and the ENTPs or “the debaters.”
ENTJs are leaders; INTJs are known to be very strategic; the ENTPs are “the devil’s advocate.” Some people known as ENTJ, INTJ, and ENTP respectively are Steve Jobs, Christopher Nolan, and Adam Savage.
No wonder watching a classical music concert seems to be quiet, with only rounds of clapping after each rendition.
Etiquette for the newbie: be prim and proper. Dress elegantly but not too elaborately. Remember that in a classical concert, the audience is all seated. Don’t wear a headpiece that will block the view of the person behind you. Also, be prepared for some intellectual discussions before, during, or after the festivities.
Dance and Electronic
Unsurprisingly, those who are into the electronic genre are outgoing and sociable. They are also creative and highly determined. The people who are mostly listening to this type of music are the ESTPs or “the entrepreneurs,” the ENFPs or “the campaigners,” and the ENTJs or “the commanders.”
ESTPs are usually the center of attention, and they love being so; ENFPs, on the other hand, are the free spirited. The life of the party. A famous ESTP is Eddie Murphy while a Robert Downey, Jr. for the ENFP.
Etiquette for the newbie: you can be more relaxed when attending a dance music festivity. And there is a high chance that you can widen your circle of friends. Just be prepared for some creative conversations and make sure your dance moves don’t scare people away.
Heavy Metal
If I tell you that heavy metal fans are actually gentle, you may be surprised. It is hard to visualize someone who listens to Death Slayer almost the entire day has a soft spot for cuddles and the like. But that’s what the study said.
People who are into this genre are delicate yet creative individuals. They are also mostly ESTPs, INTPs, and INTJs. INTPs are the so-called “logicians.” They are known to be inventive. Some examples of INTPs are Bill Gates, Kristen Stewart, and, of course, Albert Einstein.
Etiquette for the newbie: You can enjoy coming to this festival as much as being in the Dance festivity, but be extra cautious when throwing jokes at someone. Although these people are well mannered and gentle, they usually have low self-esteem and are reserved.
Hip-hop
Extrovert is the one word that sums up those who are into hip-hop. This comes as no surprise because they have high self-esteem, assertive, and intuitive. They love sharing with others; hence, they prefer carrying a boom box around to using headphones.
Individuals who are into this genre may be categorized into the ESTPs, ESFPs, and ESTJs. ESFP or “the entertainer” are the ones who easily break into song and dance and what others to do the same. ESTJs or “the executives” are the lovers of tradition and order (Surprising, isn’t it?). Popular ESFPs and ESTJs are Adele and Frank Sinatra, respectively.
Etiquette for the newbie: when attending a hip-hop concert, be ready to do what other attendees do. When they ask you to sing and dance, sing and dance along no matter how awkward it is for you.
Pop
Much like the rap lovers, pop music junkies are outgoing, hardworking, and confident. Interestingly, nonetheless, they are also known to be nervous and lack creativity. Could this be why there are pop singers rumored to have composers other than themselves?
Going back to the personalities, pop lovers are usually the ESFPs, ESFJs, and ISFPs. ESFJs are called “the consuls” while the ISFPs are “the adventurers.” The consuls are, unsurprisingly the popular ones—the cheerleaders and the quarterbacks in high school. The adventurers are the ones who go beyond the social convention. A sample consul is Taylor Swift while a popular adventurer is Michael Jackson.
Etiquette for the newbie: when in a pop music festival, keep your mind open to any possibility. Do not box yourself and be as outgoing as the people around you are.
Rock
Easygoing but selfish. These two sum up rock music enthusiasts, particularly the classic rock lovers. They are also hard workers, intuitive, and prospecting. Just like the pop lovers, classic rock listeners listen to their favorite songs to express how they feel inside, hence, regulating their mood.
Rock listeners are usually the ENTPs, the INTPs, and the INFPs, which is also known as the mediator. INFPs are idealists, calm, and shy. Popular personalities under this category are Johnny Depp, William Shakespeare, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Etiquette for the newbie: scoring a spot in a rock concert may be a bit of challenge given the attendees’ selfish trait. But their being easy going and calm gives you the idea that you won’t probably end up fighting over a seat or something. Just be there to express what you feel and at the same time respectful of others’ personal space.
Overall Music Festival Etiquette Tip
If you’re the type of person who wants to experience different environments of music festivities, be aware that you can be a Greek while others are Romans. “Do as Romans do” is an adage very applicable for you. Just remember the music festival etiquette mentioned above and you’re good to go.
On the other hand, if you are uncomfortable dealing with other personality types, then you have to figure out first which one you really want to be in. The song you are currently listening to may not be the exact person you are. What you listen to is different from what you are into.
If you haven’t figured that out yet, get your best record player and figure out which genre fits you the most or hook up your music player to your soundbar and identify the songs that reflect you.
Author Bio
This guest post was brought to you by Erin. Erin is the founder of YouthTune, a music adventurer. She loves learning about music and audio devices, which she also shares with others so that they too can go on exploring the melodious world of music.
BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM #9 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival.
Sometimes all it takes is a little list. There’s a big world out there full of choices and for an ambitious musician it can be hard to know which direction to steer in. That’s where a BEFORE I DIE list comes in.
Narrow things down. Weed out distractions. Focus on the three things that will make your time on this mortal coil the best it can possibly be. Then go.
The youbloomLA 2016 Music Summit and Festival is in full swing, with scores of the finest independent artists around hitting stages all around the city of angels with one thing in mind: to share the music they love with you. They’re on this journey because they know, deep down, that this music train ain’t stopping; they’re in it for the long haul; they’re married to rock ‘n’ roll...you get the picture. But where the path will lead is different for every single artist up there tonight, and five of them were kind to provide us with some truly great answers when we asked: Hey buddy, what do you want to do before you die?
1 | Be featured on a hip hop banger
2 | Play a show somewhere stupid like underwater or in space or while freefalling from a great height
3 | Play a show in which I actually don’t screw up
An act we’re pleased to welcome back to the youbloom stage, Rittman is an artist who brings fresh footfall to the well-hiked trails of acoustic storytelling, making it more about the listener than about himself, which is dignified and refreshing. Like a relaxed, neofolk Dylan; instantly persuasive and warmly addictive. For fans of: Nick Drake, Hudson Taylor, Mark Kozelek
Nasty, Dirty and Nasty:
1 | Become a touring artist full time.
2 | Be featured on a song with Nas.
3 | Perform the 5 fingers of death on the Sway in the Morning show.
Eclectic, exploratory hip-hop that pulls no punches. The chemistry between Dirty and Nasty is colossal; together they capably tackle a range of different compositions, from sexy grooves to party anthems and rhymes to make you stop and think. This is an act that’s going places, and you really want to be there to see their live show before they blow up. For fans of: Black Milk, J Dilla, Digable Planets
Jonny Cat, frontman & guitar, Coo Coo Birds:
1 | Write an Opera.
2 | Score a great film.
3 | Tour three times a year in Europe and Asia.
Welcome to your new favourite garage band. Coo Coo Birds bring the fuzz and crunch with all the references to sex, drugs and rock’n’roll essential to doing justice to this timelessly rebellious musical style. They’re groovy, they’ve got swagger, and they write really great rock’n’roll tunes. You’ll love ‘em live. For fans of: The Stooges, The Black Keys, Jay Reatard
1 | Make a positive change with my music, rather it be in a listener’s personal life or in the overall music scene in general.
2 | Go on a world tour and have every show sell out.
3 | I would love for the creative collective I’m a part of to be a staple and known for our influential and positive efforts to better not only the music community but the entire world as a whole.
Like a dark dream shot through with sharp-as-a-knife clarity, Bargé’s music blends ambient tones and synthy, electronic landscape sounds with rhymes so deftly spat you get the sense they must be red hot. It’s top class hip hop with more than enough food for thought for a feast. For fans of: Tyler, the Creator, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q
1 | I would kill for one of my songs to become so ubiquitous that everyone rolled their eyes when it’s played, even if that meant someone else played it. Like, I want to feel like Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show does when Darius Rucker’s version of Wagon Wheel comes on.
2 | I’d also like to play in one of those overstuffed tribute performances that they do every year at the Grammys, like when Growl & Springsteen & Costello & Little Steven did that Clash Tribute.
3 | I’d like to tour with Garth Brooks. In my book, he’s the best live singer-songwriter that you can see, and I want to learn everything I can from him.
Wistful and clever, the wonderfully proficient Grover Anderson weaves together songs that mix youthful whimsy with heartfelt daydreams, delivering them to eager ears with a stripped-back, pure and well-considered expression. From the acoustic gems to rockier grooves, It’s the perfect road trip music, and it’s sure to be a killer live. For fans of: Paddy Casey, Josh Ritter, Ryan Adams
What three things would you put on your BEFORE I DIE list? We’re, uh, dying to know. 😉
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