How to Decide the Right Music Acts to Hire for Your Venue
Not everyone that has a passion for music has the ability to do it for a living. Some of us can’t even carry a tune. That doesn’t mean you can’t make music a major part of your life. One of the coolest, and most potentially profitable, ways of getting involved in the music business is to own and operate your own venue. But finding a location to call your own is just the beginning. How do you know what kind of music to start booking in the first place?
Look into What Kinds of Acts are Available
The first step in determining what kind of music acts are right for you is researching what kind of bands for hire are available. What is the local music scene like? How many bands are there? What genres of music do they play? A big part of starting a music venue depends on what acts you have access to, especially early on when you’re looking to establish your venue’s identity.
Consider the Audience You Want to Attract
Speaking of establishing your venue’s identity, it’s worth taking the time to really think about the kind of audience you’re hoping to attract. Are you looking to attract the local teenage audience so they have someplace to go for a good time on weekends? Or are you looking for an older adult crowd that you can serve alcohol to? Do you want the atmosphere to be relaxed or energetic? Affordable or expensive? Once you know your audience, it’s a lot easier to cater to them.
Figure Out How Much You’re Able to Spend
Running a music venue isn’t easy. Nor is it cheap. After the cost of rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance, you might not have much left over for talent booking. How much you can spare determines what acts you’ll be able to bring in, as well as how often. Again, there’s a lot of questions to ask yourself. How many days of the week do you want to host live music? Do you want to focus just on local performers and or do you want nationally touring headliners? Knowing your limitations is important.
Ask Your Customers for Helpful Suggestions
As your venue becomes more and more established, you might find the same old acts don’t quite bring in the crowds the way they used to. Or you might find that your audience is diversifying in new and interesting ways. If you want to keep things fresh, don’t be afraid to ask your customers directly. Who do they want to see? What kinds of acts are they excited about? What can you do to keep them happy? That’s what it’s all about, keeping your audience happy. Without them, you’re toast.
