Grow Your Audience - Step 3: Spread YOUR Virus!
Nobody has to know that you own BOTH domains, do they?
One more thing: I'm seeing a fantastic new trend. Bands are finding ways to totally own an audience member's experience on the web by turning their websites into portals. You might wonder what an offer of free e-mail and search engines will do for your music. But when your fans start sending messages to their contacts from iamafan@yourbandname.com, you've got that virus effect working overtime.
4. Spreading the virus at your gigs...
As always, when you provide an excellent experience for your audience, they'll come back with friends in tow. Let's make an assumption that your stage show is totally perfect, and look at some other ways you can spread your virus.
I spoke with a performer the other day who spends about 250 days on the road each year, and plays to packed houses almost every night. One of the things she likes to do is to make sure that every audience member feels included in the fun. Therefore, she asks her assistant to find the person with the worst view in the house. Someone who's far away, or behind a pole. The assistant approaches this person with a free CD, apologizes for the poor view, and tells them to enjoy the music at home, on the artist, no charge. Do that, and you've just turned your most unhappy customer on a given night into a fan for life. I dare you to try it, and not see that person back with friends in tow the next time you play that venue.
There's one more thing you can do to make sure your audience is treated well, and that you'll get invited back. BE GRACIOUS TO THE VENUE STAFF. If you're working at a club, tip the bartenders. If you're at a venue, ask the promoter how you can help make the show better, and be available to everyone from the box office attendant to the guy that cleans the concession stand. When you get the ground staff on your side, you accomplish three things. The staff will take better care of your audience the night that your there. On nights you're not there, they'll tell their customers about how great you were and when you're coming back. And in general, you'll get invited back. Apart from selling tickets and drinks, maintaining excellent relations with EVERYONE at a venue means you'll be on the short
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