Alternative Venues and How to Find Them
This week I want to discuss looking at alternative venues. Here are a few ideas of finding those places to perform that aren't necessarily the typical music or performance venue but can bring you new fans, opportunities and income.
1. First go back to last weeks blog and look at your demographics to find out WHERE your current fans live.
2. Run a Demand it or Facebook campaign to get your fans to request you to come to their city. Once you have enough people to make it worth your while to go to a city use search engines like Google to find venues.
3. Don't give up. I spent a year looking for a venue in Atlanta, with fans asking for Kevin to appear there and just kept running into dead ends. I was randomly searching one day and came across a great venue called The Basement Theatre which Kevin performs at twice this month.
4. Once you have the fans to bring you to a city and a venue, you can always sell your own tickets online using a number of different platforms including Topspin or Bandzoogle or place a Paypal Buy Now button on your webpage
5. A few ideas for "alternative venues"
Hip and Upscale Clothing stores. I saw Ryan O'Connor do his one man show at a hip little clothing store that had a built in stage specifically for that purpose. They set up some folding chairs and it not only brought in a crowd for the show but introduced some people to the store and their products.
Upscale Grocery Stores. Here in Nashville Whole Foods often has live music and I just learned the Kroger in Green Hills also has live music and children's entertainers.
Coffee shops and tea rooms
Private Parties (especially around the holidays)
House Concerts. Use your fan base and ask them if they'd like to host a house concert. Again use the tools mentioned above to sell tickets or have them pass a collection at the event.
Ask your friends in those cities for suggestions and where they've seen performances in their city or town. Look at artists who are doing something similar to you and look at their websites and tour information. Facebook, LinkedIn, YELP and yes sometimes even MySpace are also good resources for finding venues.
Good Luck - Go Get A Gig!
*Article I came across googling "Alternative Venues" http://www.themusiciansguide.co.uk/blog/28/five-alternative-venues-to-consider-for-gigs/
