Why Do You Play Live Shows / Tour?

I'll take a guess. It's probably because it's the most effective way of winning over a total stranger, even if in limited supply (most clubs have a maximum seating). There is something about a stranger seeing a packed house of fans screaming for a band that makes this stranger want to look into this band further. Just being in an environment where everyone is really that excited is enough to make them have a distortedly positive view of the band. Great!

Giving away a free mp3 on a website is a great idea, but it's not quite as good as seeing the band in it's real environment with the PA cranked up, girls barely clothed, and a bar full of liquid fun. Giving someone an experience is the most intense way of converting a stranger to a fan. While this can be done with a cd, you need to be DAMN GOOD to change someone's life with an audio recording.

So like it or not, playing live is a necessity for any band that wants to promote their music. A great website, a ton of myspace friends, and a killer record are also required but playing the big live shows really seals up the deal.

I'm of the opinion that every band should take over their home town before playing miles a way. Notice I've used “conquer” and “take over”. I didn't say a band should “play” their hometown. I hate watching bands “play”. That's what they do when practicing in the garage. I want to see a band conquer and take over. I'd have no problem dropping $15 at the door to see a band conquer. If you are simply playing shows at your home town, you may consider conquering. Just a thought.

There are a million reasons why you should take over your hometown first before assembling your Army for invasion of nearby tribes. The reason is the same as why it's difficult for a guy in Missouri to sell a newspaper in China. Because THAT guy lives is in Missouri!!

The most important part of promoting a successful band is having friends. You need friends at the radio stations who will promote your show for you. You need friends at the local TV station that will get you publicity. You need friends at the local college who will push your band. You need friends at the local tshirt printing shop to give you deals. In fact, your friends are probably the only people who you can count on actually attending the show anyway!!!

I don't have any friends in China and I bet you don't have that many friends in a town 2 hours away. So use all of your resources you have in your home town while you still can. Your home town is a safe haven where everything comes much easier.

Once you have conquered your home town, you fill find that it gets easier to play a club an hour away. For one, you already have hundreds of dedicated fans who already wear your tshirts. (You do have tshirts, right?) A few of these friends probably have a cousin that lives in that town an hour away. You'll be amazed at how many fans will actually follow you to the next city once you have them hooked. They'll bring in friends from the city you are attending as well. You'll see!

If you are already getting write ups in the local paper, there are people who have already heard your name in the new city you are about to “conquer” (The conquering concept applies to other towns as well. Just remember, if you want to conquer a new city, you'll need to bring your army with you. ) Basically, there will be marketing spillover from your local city to the next city. Use this to your advantage!!

In fact, I would be a little nervous playing in a new town. Many of the advantages of playing at home are gone. Sure, some people will travel to see the band, but a lot will not. Playing in this new town is going to be tough. It seams like it would be easier to just stay in the same city, rack in the dough, and not play shows outside the city until you simply had to. Well, maybe that's not the right approach, but I think it sums up my overall opinion of playing in far off lands.

“No One Appreciates My Music”

Cry Cry!!! I hear this all the time. “We've tried playing locally, but no one cares about original music. Screw this town!!”. It seams that quite a few people are frustrated by the fact that they can't simply play 2 shows and get signed to a $20,000,000 contract. It's a little tougher than that, I'm afraid. If your band hasn't had much success playing locally (even with all the advantages) you need to rethink your strategy. The most effective way to market anything is to get people to tell their friends. What are you doing that will make people run out and tell their buddies about you?

The 80s bands got attention for being real rock stars. Lead singers were getting arrested. Guitar players were trashing hotel rooms. Girls were lining up for naughty fun. Maybe this wasn't “ideal”, but it was something to talk about. That's for sure!!

If you are not giving your fans anything to talk about, you can probably see why no one is coming to your show. Note: “New Album August 20th” is not something to talk about. I mean something to really talk about. Bombs, assassinations, wars, chicks, lasers, and car crashes are things to talk about. Basically, all the stuff you see on the national news is something to talk about. Give your fans something to really talk about.

Your songs are the big ones. If you have great music, the word will spread. I've only seen this happen just one time, but I've seen bands that have exploded locally because people liked their music. Using Myspace to explode your music will make a big impact, if your music is great.

Conclusion

If you really think that just driving to a far off town is going to improve your band's ability to entertain, you are probably mistaken. If you are not having huge success locally, you are simply doing something wrong (unless you just don't want to entertain people). Playing in your hometown offers so many advantages that it's the only way for a band to succeed. So instead of blaming the town, you may want to look at your own band and its music.

?