You’ve
finally moved past sound checks and warm up slots. Now promoters hit you up
constantly to play this event or that event. Take a moment to think about the
effect you have playing every week in your local market.
4-6
months down the line, the dancefloor starts to thin out. People begin going
outside to smoke, socialize, or chill at the bar during your sets. What
happened? You became background noise. How do you avoid the downward spiral of
a local act?
You
have two options. The first is to start working on gigs in different markets.
The second is to create demand and maintain it. The easiest way to create
demand is to play every set like it’s your last. Rock the house and be
different. Now, do this once a month at the most and never at the same venue
twice in a row.
Now
people look forward to seeing your name on a bill. They are also more likely to
come out knowing they can’t just wait until the next event to catch your set.
You
must still stay relevant. Keep up with musical trends and update your style to
keep up with the times. Stay involved with your local community. You have those
same 4 people you see show up to every gig? Maybe it is time to become part of
their social circle. They will work harder for you than anyone else.