#207 - 5 Tips for Organising a Headline Show
You don’t have to be a promoter -
You heard us. As an artist, you’re well within your rights to organise your own show. In fact, when you are the creative and administrative lead, you can have a much greater level of creative control. Plus, pro tip: Why not collaborate with friends or fellow musicians to spread the organisational load.
Start off small -
We all know that a smaller room that’s full has an infinitely better atmosphere than a large, empty room. Plus, nothing screams success more than a sold out headline show. So, when you’re starting off, keep things small and intimate - if fans don’t manage to get tickets to your first gig, they’ll make sure not to miss out on the second.
Curatorial curation -
Expanding on the greater creative control point, when you organise your own show, it’s up to you which artist supports you on the night. It pays to be strategic here - perhaps there’s an artist you really love, who’s sound meshes with your own, but who’s tapped into a slightly different side of the scene. By joining forces and appearing together on a lineup, you’ll expand into each other's fan bases.
Audience is key -
Obviously all your lovely, supportive friends will be there, and they’ll be bringing the best vibe! But other than this, you’ll want to consider inviting your industry connections - this includes people from other artist’s, to A&Rs, to promoters, to labels. Showcasing your talent to key players in the industry is a sure fire way to take your career to the next level.
Prepare Merch -
Sadly, ticket sales alone aren’t always enough to guarantee breaking even. Having a simple selection of merch available for fans to purchase at the gig is a great way to earn a few extra pennies. And, if you’ve organised the show yourself, you can avoid the issue of promoters taking a huge cut of the profits. Plus, when fans wear your t-shirt or add your sticker to their laptop, they’ll spread the word for you!
