Engage...engage...and did I mention...engage your fans! They need to
know you're real and you value them and their feedback on your music and performances. The fans are the critics that matter most. You can't take
the "ivory tower" approach to growing your career. No artist
succeeds without a good, growing and stable fan base and networking.
So just how do you
become a "star"?
Too many people record music and want to be a “star” with
out realizing it is about entertaining people! It's not just about the
music. Listen to producers who can help you improve your end product but make sure you are ready to stand behind what you record also.
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 main stream radio is just as difficult today as it ever has been. You can grow a career as an Indie artist and perform frequently.
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- How about a new angle for your next show
Just like in songs you need a hook, you need a hook as a
performer also.
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 or 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.
