In garages and basements all over the world,
amazing bands are practicing, writing, and developing their
own styles. Some of these could become hitmakers or achieve
heavy rotation on your iTunes playlist. But you also might
never hear them, because they can’t get out of that
garage.
Due to youth, a lack of experience, or a lack
of leadership, these bands aren't getting booked consistently
and nobody is hearing them. That’s because no one in
the band is taking charge of the non-musical things that keep
bands playing out.
Are these things the fun parts of being a
musician? Probably not. And some of them are pretty hard work,
but when these items aren’t handled, bands don’t
perform, and they don’t stay together. Here are a few
non-musical skills you and your band need to master.
1. Following up after
shows
Most acts disappear after a show, leaving the backstage area
a mess with nary a call or a thank you. Don’t be that
band. Be thankful that you had a space in which to rock, and
stay in touch with the venue. Bands that are respectful to
the venue, thankful to whoever booked the show, and check
in frequently are the ones that get called back. They’re
also the ones who are on speed dial if another band cancels.
Of course, making nice with everyone you encounter
is always a good practice; that’s how opportunities
are made. But having a good relationship with those gatekeepers
who control performance spaces has to be at the top of the
list.
2. Staying consistent
with social media
There’s a lot of information out there, and there are
a lot of bands. It’s essential to consistently keep
in touch with your consumers: the fans who come to your shows
and buy your merchandise. Unfortunately, for-profit businesses
tend to be a lot better at this than sole proprietors and
partnerships, like most bands are.
For instance, I wrote a car dealership in
Methuen asking if a certain car was in stock, and now they
email me every single week trying to get that sale. And my
local pharmacy gives me a robo phone call every single day,
sometimes twice (and they won’t stop, even though I’ve
asked them to). These people want my money, and they’re
hustling for it.
With your fans, of course, you want more than
their money – you want them to stay interested and engaged
and know what you’re up to. How do you make that happen?
Just keep telling them, and vary your social media posts so
it’s not just “played the Red Stallion last night,
thanks for coming out” every time.
You have so many things you can post: demos,
news from the lives of band members, and videos, videos, videos.
Fans love band videos. You can post live show clips, clips
from practice, slice-of-life clips like the band on the way
to the show. And of course, you can make your own “official”
videos and post those.
Mix things up by doing contests and giveaways,
too. But above all, keep doing it. Don’t let a week
go by without reminding people that you’re still an
active band and you’re excited about what you’re
doing.
3. Keeping your band
together by being a good leader
Nothing sets a band back like losing a member. Your bandmates
are your biggest asset, and your most fragile one. It’s
easier to find new fans or buy new gear than it is to find
the right drummer. Keeping that in mind, you need to make
sure everyone is happy with the direction you’re going
in. Different things motivate different people, so know what
the needs and bottom lines are for each band member.
Travis, the sax player, has a new baby at
home, so money is tight. He loves to play, but he absolutely
needs to at least cover his travel expenses or he can’t
afford to be in the band. Lisa, the guitarist, has a steady
job, so she doesn’t care if some of your shows don’t
pay well, but she won’t be satisfied unless she gets
to write some originals for the band. And Andre, the drummer,
plays in three other bands, so he just needs you to work with
his demanding schedule and keep things fun.
All these people need to be respected, and
not all of them will just come out and list their needs and
wants. You have to ask them.
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