Got a question

So I got a second show booked in a couple weeks, but I'm having some trouble thinking up ways to sell people on the idea of watching some kid wail on his guitar for 20 minutes at a hole in the wall venue for $10.
My question isn't really "how do I sell?" but rather, how would you like to be approached about something like that? I mean from the random guy on the street POV--what would make you want to come see a band/solo act?

ANY thoughts or tips are welcome.

I need to up my ticket revenue since, well I want another tattoo :P haha

Also, the set is:
Tornado of Souls
Devil's Island
Disposable Heroes

...yeah I love Megadeth and Metallica--shoot me! XD

Well for me, it's usually genre specific if I go see live music that isn't a formal big concert. I usually like to see blues and jazz, because I just prefer that atmosphere for live music. But that's just my $0.02.

the fact that you have a guitar in your hand will make me come watch you

but to give you a real answer...i would want to hear your stuff
i know i said this like a billion times already but...covers is not my thing

and also, if you dont already, interact with the crowd...keep them goin

I would keep it simple and just tell people what you plan to do. I would pay ten bucks to see some kid play a few Metagadeth songs!

the deal is, people aren't paying $10 to see YOU, they are paying $10 for the show which consists of 3 other bands. people like me wander into rock clubs all the time unsolicited. your best audience is built in regulars who go to the club.

i don't think approaching people on the street is a great idea. it's not a bad idea, i just think it will have a very low success rate.

Burn the stage, spit on audience get some hot go go girls (as cheap as possible)... after couple "shocking performances" you cant handle bookings by yourself

oh...and your clothes... c'mon man, you been there already so... LOOK like a STAR.

check Eric Sardinas XD...

Emp

@Gx

yeah, I realize that, but unfortunately I think I've been had XD The other acts I think are idie-rock/hip-hop... no joke. I guess someone dropped out and they needed a fill in act haha

Don't personally like the idea of going to the streets either, but I've got to up the sales somehow(even though it sucks "cold-selling").

@Emp

I would totally get into the whole 'rock star' thing, but there's a few reasons I don't:
I have an afro... just let that sink in XD haha
The venue's stage has no AC/fans plus lights, so it's roughly the same temp as outside give or take(100+), so any leather is out haha
I'm sticking with what I saw the guys from Megadeth, Metallica, etc. doing back in the day which was to just be you on and off the stage(though I'm much more mellow off).

@Mac

That's probably what I'll end up doing...

Thanks for the input guys, definitely like to see what people think from the other side of the show(off the stage) since I don't usually like to trust my perspective on matters I don't know much about. Never been a huge fan of concerts unless I know the band--I prefer to be on the stage stealing the show anyways ;) haha

Well, when you're onstage, you have to kind of have that attitude of "Mess with me, and I will beat your ass." or the crowd is gonna eat you alive. Don't be a douche, just be confident. As for the afro...you could always start playing old 60s and 70s jam stuff and advertise yourself as Jimi Crackcorn or something. Like a white-boy-from-the-burbs version of Hendrix haha. xD

Just do your thing bro. There are millions of people who haven't heard your music yet; so if a few knuckle heads don't like it, they can * off.

I go see local bands all the time because I know how hard it is when you are up and coming. Whether I'm always am willing to pay is a different story hehe.


Rock on!

i'm not sure i understand the "sales" part here. granted i've never performed in a band or on stage, but i've paid LOTS AND LOTS of covers over my years. how does that cover charge directly affect you? surely you don't get $10 out of each person who comes in while you are playing. when i pay $10 to get in a show, i see 3-4 bands.

i always thought that the bar pays the band an agreed-on price, and then the bar keeps 100% of the cover collected. this is how it works for a lot of cover bands...

*not only that, but i don't even pay cover at most of the bars i go to because i'm a regular. that's an act of the BAR letting me in for free because they know i spend money there every weekend. the band is still getting paid by the bar, right? but again i have no first-hand experience so you tell me.

Well, the company that puts me on the shows(http://www.aftonshows.com/Case2112--if you want to check out my page) only pays me a small percentage of ticket sales from the three areas they are sold from: online($9), physical pre-sale($10), door($12)
Doesn't matter which one they do(they can tip online) I still end up making a dollar for every ticket regardless of how much they actually paid to get in. When I can pull off the superhuman feat that afton wants me to do(sell 25+ tickets) then they start throwing in perks for higher pay each ticket sold(like $1.10). It bumps up again to $1.25 after I hit 50+, $1.50 I think after 100+, then I should probably start thinking about bigger things XD haha
However, since they hit me with this show on such short notice(literally signed up with only 2 1/2 weeks prep) they're throwing in some other perks right off the bat, which is nice. The big problem, is that I think I'm on a bill with idie-rock and hip-hop acts... Don't want to scare away potential clients! haha

@ozz
Well, that's my attitude whenever I go to a show to play XD haha I always want to be the most badass guitarist in the room bar none :P Which I think at the last show I was(or at least that's what I heard)

@GS
My problem is that I don't want to make people feel obligated to pay to see me haha I mean if they stay through the other 6 acts on the bill then they get their money's worth(unless they all sort of suck--which probably won't happen). I feel a lot of the time though, that people that I get to go the show usually won't stay past my set--I mean they might, and I don't really know since I sort of got run out of there haha

i wouldn't worry about "scaring off" potential clients. if they like you, they will remember you. i've seen lots of shows where all of the bands suck, but one band in particular i really enjoy. i like indie rock, i don't much care for metal and hip hop. but i've seen hip hop and metal acts that i've enjoyed before.

but my question is, you make $1 for every ticket paid to get in. is this ticket TO SEE YOU, or ticket TO SEE THE SHOW. what i'm saying is that you are 1/4th of the lineup of the night. if someone comes in right at the start of the show and pays $10 how do they know if that person came to see you, or one of the other four bands?

They ask if they pay at the door. My physical presale tickets have my name in bold letters on them so they know just who they are there to see(they keep a tally). And online, they give you a list of acts to choose from so they pick whoever they want to see, and at the door, they just ask who they are there to see, and if they are just sort of curious I guess they just say whatever name comes up first haha
I mean if someone stayed through the whole night, it's actually relatively cheap if they aren't paying for any drinks($4 drinks), but usually I see a lot of people clear out after they see the act they came to see. I'm hoping that my set will be head turning enough to keep some people in there, because, well, playing for 10 people kind of sucks haha fun, but it sucks compared to 40-50 :P