Too many people record music and want to be a “star” with out realizing entertaining is not just about the music. There are far too many bad artists on mainstream radio today than good ones. Many more talented artists have recorded tracks that are not selling, as they should be. Getting on the mainstream radio is difficult today as it ever has been.
You do not just wake up one day as a success; you have to earn that through perseverance, trial and error.
When you are a performer you are in the business of entertaining. That is what you need to realize when marketing yourself. Whether it is music, performance art or stand up comedy you are there to entertain and this is a business first not a talent competition.
Even without being on the mainstream radio you can be financially successful in entertainment. When performing live, the name of the game is “Can I fill the seats in the venue?” That is what the venue wants and so do you! How many seats you fill will tell the venue to rebook you again or not. This is marketing 101.
How do you become financially successful and accomplish filling the house?
1-Develop Fan loyalty to your brand
You are a “brand” just like a bar of soap. You need to sell yourself. Without a doubt you need to network and connect with your fans. You need fans to want to spend their hard earned cash for your tickets. If fans do not care, they will not spend.
Today it is up to the artist to interact with their fans regularly on social media such Twitter, Facebook, Google + and others. Do entertaining tweets and posts. Share about yourself enough to be interesting to the fans. Occasionally you may need to do a free song give away too. Keep their attention on you. It is NOT just about a fan loving your comedy act or song. They have to like you as a person too not just as a performer. That building of the love will keep fans longer term than if they do not care about you the person. Appreciate your fans! This is all part of building your brand and brand loyalty. You are after all a commodity in the entertainment world.
2- Give a new angle for your next show
Just like in songs you need a hook, you need a hook as a performer too.
Try a song or album release to get them out. Or, maybe you are going on tour…so kick off the tour at home for your home base of fans. If you have a cause or charity you care about. Develop that caring in your fans through your media interactions with them. Don’t be afraid to give a portion of what you earn to the cause and encourage them to do the same by them filling the house. This can help with brand loyalty. It is good for fans to know that you are a real human being who cares about what is happening in the community and world.
3- Play Less Often
That may sound strange but if you play constantly and always do the exact it show in the same area, fans will become bored. Your seat numbers will decline over time if you do play too often in the same city.
4- Mix it up
Keep your show interesting! Have other artists perform with you to change up the show. Try out new material! The best way to try out a new tune of comedy piece is to perform it in front of your loyal fans. If they do not like it, you know you are heading in the wrong direction. Do not make the whole show new, just parts of it. Make the fans feel special knowing they are the first to hear the material. Ask the fans once in a while what they want to hear. Be creative! Have t-shirts? Think about giving out a couple once in a while.
5- Promote!!!
This may see obvious but if fans don’t know about you performing, they will not be showing up. Ask the venue to list you on their websites and in their promotional materials. Post a poster on their premises. As your fame grows, maybe a local radio station can do a give away of some tickets. Have you connected with the college radio stations? Online radio stations? Be creative here, no perfect right or wrong way to promote yourself. This is where word of mouth from your fans online comes in handy too. Do event pages on sites like Facebook. Have friends and fans invite their friends too.
6- Be creative
Remember: You are selling “you the brand”. Do not be afraid to sell yourself. Volunteer to perform at fundraisers. Have confidence in your abilities in self-promotion as much as your confidence in your art. Most importantly, show the fans how much you enjoy their company at every show you do.
