Training your fans to either come to your show or not. Not dependent on day of the week, price, time, opener, venue, etc.
Weekend shows are great. People go out more on Fridays and Saturdays.
But if you’re going to make a living on the road, you need to be able to play more than two shows a week.
The goal is for the day of the week not determine whether or not someone will buy a ticket.
Certainly when Paul McCartney or The Killers come to town I don’t think I even look at the calendar, I just buy.
“Are you going to see Paul McCartney?”
The answer is simply yes or no…not “if it’s a Thursday yes, Wednesday no”.
Starting down this path is scary for young artists.
Because you start off just touring weekends. You build up some markets but now you want to add some new markets. You want to go from Fri/Sat shows to Thurs/Fri/Sat shows.
So you put the new market in the Saturday slot…and a city you usually play on a Friday night you have to book for Thursday night.
Ahhhh! But people in that city are used to seeing you on Fridays. You have a great draw in that city. You don’t want to let the promoter down. You want to have MORE people at the show, not less. Fridays are convenient for people. Fridays are better than Thursdays! We must play all our shows on Fridays!!
Slow down. You’re training your fans. And it’s good for both you and them. It ups their commitment and strengthens your bond.
Eventually you’ll be able to play your ‘best markets’ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and maybe even Sundays.
And wah-lah you can make money any day of the week.
It takes time and a plan. This is part of your plan.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com