How You Book Shows (tickets, punk, rock, effect, artist)

phoenixflames · 07-08-2005, 08:06 AM

I couldn't really find an exact place for this thread so I figured I would stick it here. Not many forums under the artist corner.

Anyway, I've been in various bands for several years, and we have played alot of shows. My question for you all is: How do you book shows for your band, and how do you effectively promote the shows and sell tickets?

We seem to get alot of shows through word of mouth. Also, since we are on a ton of sites on the internet, people contact us and ask us to play. We also get back into alot of the places we have already played by asking the booking manager.

As far as promotion for shows, we post them on our website and try to get people to come by word of mouth. This is an area we seem to struggle alot in. Its hard to get alot of people to come because where we play mostly (nearest big city) is over an hour away. We usually pack our van to as full as possible, but it would be nice to get some new people. Any ideas?

Fenixpunk · 07-08-2005, 10:59 AM

first I plan a date, usually a month or two in advance, then i get a couple other bands who are willing to play. then i start hunting around for a venue available, which usually isnt too hard since there arent too many that would draw a good punk show, stick with the venues that people are used to. Once the date/venue/bands are confirmed i flyer the hell out of record shops all over the city and on cars in the parking lots at other shows. Ive been playing in phx long enough so I personally know the club owners and promoters and its pretty easy to get them to help with promoting the shows via local entertainment newspapers (here the most popular is New Times). There are also a ton of punk rock websites that focus on a particular state where you can advertise a show. azpunk.com in arizona for example, which usually helps get a good turn out.

phoenixflames · 07-08-2005, 11:11 AM

^ Do you find that it is your band that brings the people in (like reputation or popularity), or is it just the fact that its a punk show and people want something to do?

Fenixpunk · 07-08-2005, 11:19 AM

a little of both, i guess it depends on the day of the show and the club. Some people go to the same club every weekend regardless of who is playing. And if your band has somewhat of a following you can get a good turn out even on a Tuesday night, after playing alot of differant venues on various days of the week, you start to notice the same faces in the crowd whether it be a friday night or monday night, at the most popular club, or a hole in the wall bar. Thats when you can pretty much get an idea of how big you draw.

07-08-2005, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
phoenixflames Something That You're Not Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cold And All Alone Posts: 475	How You Book Shows I couldn't really find an exact place for this thread so I figured I would stick it here. Not many forums under the artist corner. Anyway, I've been in various bands for several years, and we have played alot of shows. My question for you all is: How do you book shows for your band, and how do you effectively promote the shows and sell tickets? We seem to get alot of shows through word of mouth. Also, since we are on a ton of sites on the internet, people contact us and ask us to play. We also get back into alot of the places we have already played by asking the booking manager. As far as promotion for shows, we post them on our website and try to get people to come by word of mouth. This is an area we seem to struggle alot in. Its hard to get alot of people to come because where we play mostly (nearest big city) is over an hour away. We usually pack our van to as full as possible, but it would be nice to get some new people. Any ideas? __________________ ----------- I'm the lead singer and bass player for the band The Ascent (And Decline) Of Terrion. Yay for me... We're from Ohio. Yay for us... www.theascentofterrion.com Be our friend on MySpace

07-08-2005, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fenixpunk The Erroneous Hoodlum Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: West Side Phoenix Posts: 2,057	first I plan a date, usually a month or two in advance, then i get a couple other bands who are willing to play. then i start hunting around for a venue available, which usually isnt too hard since there arent too many that would draw a good punk show, stick with the venues that people are used to. Once the date/venue/bands are confirmed i flyer the hell out of record shops all over the city and on cars in the parking lots at other shows. Ive been playing in phx long enough so I personally know the club owners and promoters and its pretty easy to get them to help with promoting the shows via local entertainment newspapers (here the most popular is New Times). There are also a ton of punk rock websites that focus on a particular state where you can advertise a show. azpunk.com in arizona for example, which usually helps get a good turn out. __________________ This message has been approved by Shawn Erroneous - The Declaimed

07-08-2005, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
phoenixflames Something That You're Not Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cold And All Alone Posts: 475	^ Do you find that it is your band that brings the people in (like reputation or popularity), or is it just the fact that its a punk show and people want something to do? __________________ ----------- I'm the lead singer and bass player for the band The Ascent (And Decline) Of Terrion. Yay for me... We're from Ohio. Yay for us... www.theascentofterrion.com Be our friend on MySpace

07-08-2005, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fenixpunk The Erroneous Hoodlum Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: West Side Phoenix Posts: 2,057	a little of both, i guess it depends on the day of the show and the club. Some people go to the same club every weekend regardless of who is playing. And if your band has somewhat of a following you can get a good turn out even on a Tuesday night, after playing alot of differant venues on various days of the week, you start to notice the same faces in the crowd whether it be a friday night or monday night, at the most popular club, or a hole in the wall bar. Thats when you can pretty much get an idea of how big you draw. __________________ This message has been approved by Shawn Erroneous - The Declaimed