Too many Indie artists never think past the last song of their set. They put so much time into writing great songs, crafting an energetic stageshow, putting on a tight performance, but when their last song is through, they fade into oblivion, never to be seen again. Isn’t this the cool thing to do though? Aren’t Rockstars supposed to be elusive and mysterious? If you want to BE a star, you have to ACT like one right?!?

WRONG! This dangerous mindset stems from a case of mistaken identity.

The artists that we know who run away from ravenous crowds are so well established that they simply don’t need to make friends anymore. They are so huge that fans already believe they have relationships with the artists, via media like the television or internet (parasocial relationships, look it up). Anyway, my point is that Indie artists on the way up need to nourish their fans and build momentum from solid connections. Bands are businesses. At an early level in your career, you and your live show are your products; not necessarily your music. The music business at the Indie level is essentially a string of social events used to build momentum or ‘buzz’ around an artist, until word gets out and people actually start to LISTEN. The importance of people skills and rapport-building at this level will certainly make or break a band. The point of this particular article is to highlight the many opportunities an Indie artist has IMMEDIATELY after this stageshow to accelerate his success.Unloading Equipment and Building Rapport:

So, you’ve played your last song, your grand finale, and the crowd loved it! Now what? You must unload the equipment off the stage. I assume you don’t have ‘roadies’ yet, but wait - why not? The truth is, and you’ll read this everywhere, that the 5 minutes after you get off the stage are the most crucial time to make connections with fans and sell CDs - and it’s absolutely true.

If you are up on the stage coiling up guitar wires and lugging out drum kits, you are Not in the crowd meeting your fans (a.k.a. friends, a.k.a customers) building your band fanbase. If you have to, pay somebody $5 to help you get your equipment off the stage as quickly as possible, so you can go meet your fans! If you have a band, say 4 members, let the most sociable ones hit the crowd and the other guys to lug the stuff. It may sound cruel and unfair, and if they complain about it - say it’s for the best, OR, pay some people a couple bucks to help you unload.

It is really necessary? Unloading the stage only takes you 6 minutes! YES IT IS NECESSARY! Those 6 minutes are long enough to kill your momentum and make your fans feel unwanted and unappreciated. Let’s talk about what to do now that you’re in the crowd!

Remember, this is a business…the Music Business! You must thank your customers, and strengthen those bonds to ensure further business. This is a great time to shake hands, get peoples names, USE the names while talking to them, give them fliers ONLY AFTER thanking them and chatting a bit, free demo CDs are always great Ice-breakers.  NOBODY turns down a free demo CD, especially if it looks cool! You can tell them about your website, any contests you’re currently running, your next shows - but also, ask about THEM. Find out who your fans are, get feedback on your performance, and let them know that you value what they have to say.

You can accomplish a lot in 5 minutes, and if you have a band of 4 people doing the same thing, think of how many more fans you’ll have jumping on your website at the end of the night. Always have exciting news to tell fans at the end of the show, even if you have to exaggerate a little bit ;). Fans are excited by your progress, and they often want to ‘get on board’ of good things; so if you can convince them that your group (your music) is going places (is going to take THEM places) then they will come with you… Also remember that is an innate quality in humans that we love to be the ones to share good things and good news.

Think of the last time you saw an EXCELLENT movie. You were excited about it and you went and told people, because YOU wanted them to say, Hey- you were RIGHT! This movie ROCKED! We do this because it’s a validation of our judgment, and maybe we also want to see our friends enjoy a good flick.

What’s with the 5 minutes thing?

So you understand what to tell fans and why, but why only within 5 minutes after my set? Because fans have waited long enough. Some of them maybe just came to see you and are ready to leave. Some might start getting anxious for the next band to start playing and the exciting thought of your set is starting to fade. Some of them may be going to the bar to get that last drink that makes them sick, causing them to vomit all over your equipment and forget you even played a killer set.

Don’t let this happen. Seize the 5 minutes after your set ANY WAY POSSIBLE. If your lead singer is the main attraction for the band, for gods sake she better be right in that crowd IMMEDIATELY after the set, every show. No exceptions. If nobody cares about the drummer, and he doesn’t like talking to people anyway, DON’T SEND HIM INTO THE CROWD! This is hurting your success! Remember, IT’S A BUSINESS!

Fans are there to have fun and nothing else. Make it fun for them, and make them feel appreciated. They ARE your means to bigger shows, record deals, rock stadiums, limousines, mansions on the hills, or whatever motivates you. Building your band’s fanbase is like nurturing a steadily growing plant.

Take care of it…water it frequently, but not too much, and you will be rewarded. Good luck!

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 31st, 2007 at 12:35 pm and is filed under Band Leadership, Live Performance, Music Promotion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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