Thanks for playing our venue! PROMOTE your show. Be proactive and help us find local acts who will complement your sound if we haven’t already done so. Here are several ways to get the word out and bring an audience:

• Make a flyer. I couldn’t possibly overstate the importance of an eye-catching poster. It serves many purposes beyond being informational. As the show’s date approaches and more and more people share the image online or post the link to the Facebook event page, the image will become a consistent reminder and will reinforce the show in people’s minds. **If you can’t make your own flyer, consider either asking another band on the bill for help or paying someone to do it. Nicholas Holman, KC Roberts, or Mark Baran are graphic designers in Charlotte. They have made beautiful flyers for countless shows over the years.
• Post a bunch of crap online. Try to post on social media early and frequently leading up to the show. I recommend biting the bullet and utilizing as many social media channels as possible. Post about the show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, all of it. If you’re like me, you don’t necessarily love having an online presence at all, and don’t love that the internet is basically 45% commercials from your friends promoting their side hustle, but recognize if you’re in the biz of playing music in front of people, you have to be an active presence to get the people in front of you.
• Spread the word to your friends. Go to their shows and support them. They’ll return the favor. If you’re a homebody, that’s understandable, but if you never support other local musicians it’s a lot less likely they’ll support you. I see this happen around town all too often.
• Memorize the date of the show and familiarize yourself with the other bands on the bill. In a recent very scientific study done in Charlotte, it was found that 87% of my conversations with my musician friends include us asking each other, “Hey, when’s your next show?” It really helps to be able to tell them the date and a little bit about the other bands.
• Send information about your show to local press outlets: CLTure, Creative Loafing, Charlotte Magazine, Charlotte Observer, Cream Puff Records, WTF Charlotte, MyCity Magazine. Include information about the show, photos of your band, and that you’d greatly appreciate any coverage they can offer.
• Post flyers around town. These days it might not be as important as spamming your friends online, but hey, it counts for something. I have seen lots of folks take notice of posted flyers, including some who took pictures of them!
• Send physical promotional materials to: 1919 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte, NC, 28205. At least 4 11×17 posters for hanging in our window is great!