It’s always exciting to play in a big city. It cannot be easy to put together a successful show, but it can be rewarding. Playing in major cities has the obvious advantage of exposing yourself to more people and targeting niche groups that may not be available in smaller towns. However, there is more competition. This is why flexibility and planning are important for performing concerts in major cities.
We live in the age of social media, so we can spread the word about the upcoming show to people before it happens. Even if there isn’t a local fan base, we can target specific audiences and demographics interested in artists with similar sounds. This will help you sell more tickets and build word-of-mouth marketing. Here are 10 ways to create an audience in major cities:
Use hashtags and location tags to promote your event on social media platforms.
Social media is a great way to reach new people. Many platforms let you tag your location in your posts. This will allow you to be found amongst all the photos and videos from that specific venue or city you are interested in. You can also use hashtags related to your style or genre and other artists.
Use the touring add-ons for popular music streaming services.
Some streaming services have a live music feature that allows you to list future gigs if your music has been uploaded. This will allow you to list your future gigs on your artist profile. Some services will also email those who have followed you in the city you are from before you perform.
Sync your social media calendar
You can use touring apps to list future shows and add them to your social media artist accounts.
Reach out to your existing fanbase in the city
You can micro-target your email list to market to your fans and send emails to fans who live near your venue.
Include your event in the local calendars
Many tourists and visitors visit major cities to enjoy live music. If your show is included on one online concert calendar, you might find new fans.
Teaser videos are created to let people know what to look forward to.
You should create videos that highlight your performance. This will allow people to get a sense of your performance. Upload your videos to your social media accounts and share them with your event page.
Reach traditional media by being proactive
It would be best if you didn’t depend on the venue to promote your event. They probably won’t. Write a press release if you plan to reach media outlets like radio, magazines, and newspapers. You should also have song samples and photos that you can share. Depending on your budget, social media ads can be used in addition to traditional media. You can target specific audiences and even tag fans of bands who sound like you.
If possible, keep ticket prices under $20
Your music is likely to appeal to younger audiences. They won’t pay $20 to see a band they have never heard of if they don’t have the budget. For bands that are just beginning, I recommend keeping ticket prices at $5-$15.
Enjoy the ‘good days.
Friday and Saturday are the best days to perform, but venues reserve these nights for groups with a larger following. People venture out on Sundays and Thursdays, so Sundays and Thursdays are good options. To get the best crowd size on weeknights, finish between 9 and 9:30 pm.
Sign up for an email list
You can include them in future reach outs and let them know when you return to town.