How to Take Your Band to the Next Level

Most people start bands because they want to get recognized and live from their art. If you are currently struggling to make ends meet or feel like your band should be more popular than it is right now, you will have to take the steps necessary to get your name out there. You might need to hire people, revise your marketing strategy, or improve your act. Either way, you must forget the idea that your talent alone will get you there. Let’s take a look at a few things you need to do to take your band to the next level.

Be More Tech Savvy

You first have to assess where you are as a band and look at the state of the industry. You will need to get really techy if you want to get noticed nowadays. If your online presence is lacking or you’re simply against using social media, know that you’ll have a nearly impossible time trying to build traction. If you’re ready to ramp up your online presence, however, you need to devise a clear social media strategy. Choose which platforms you will concentrate on and know how to monitor your results.

If you want to be able to manage your social media efforts, we suggest you start looking at software like Hootsuite. This will allow you to tell exactly which pieces of content are resonating with which demographic, and on which platforms. You will then be able to target specific audiences with specific content on the right platforms.

Improve Your Live Performance

As a band, your live performance is what will ultimately make or break you. There is no point in being a great studio band if your music doesn’t sound good live or if your performance is sloppy. This is why you will need to focus on rehearsals and see if you can improve your visuals on stage. Look for ways that you can make your shows more interesting with lighting effects, props, and costumes. Even if you don’t want to dress up, most major bands have a cohesive style, so at least try to make it seem like your band wasn’t just patched together.

If you want to research the best Houston rehearsal studios and you live in the are, we suggest you check out Pirate.com. They’re the way to go if you’re looking for a rehearsal studio in Houston, where you’ll be able to rehearse your sets in all tranquility. They have state-of-the-art installations that will replicate the sound and feel of a real venue and it’s a great place to try new ideas for compositions.

You also have to care about your audience during shows and make it about them, not you. For instance, so many bands make the mistake of trying to explain what the inspiration was for every song before they perform it. This might work if you’re a major artist with a long history and people have had a chance to get to know you. But, if you’re just one of a thousand new bands, people don’t want to hear this; they just want to be entertained. So, watch your pacing and waste as little of your audience’s time as possible.

Build a Brand

If you’ve never thought of branding before, then you need to start doing it right away. There isn’t a single popular band that doesn’t have a well-defined brand. So, you will need to look at who you are as a band, what you stand for, what your artistic direction and purpose is, and also work on your aesthetics.

Your brand is what will allow you to be memorable. Having a strong visual brand will help people remember you after you’ve done an opening set and push them to learn more about who you are. Your branding will also help you build a strong core fanbase.

Sell Merch

You should aggressively sell merch at every concert you have as well. Merch will contribute to your branding and build awareness for your band. Colorful merch could end up in places you could never access through performances or social media, so don’t neglect that part. Merch doesn’t necessarily have to be t-shirts either. You could have coffee mugs, bobbleheads, blankets, etc. As long as it looks good, useful, and aligned with your brand, it will work.

Another thing you could do would be to set up a pop-up shop and sell merch there. Make it an event and advertise it on social media. You could open these shops in areas where you have a strong fan base, but if you want to expand it, go into markets where you’re just beginning to build a buzz.

Make sure that you perform there as well. It doesn’t have to be a full show. You can have a condensed version with only your best songs. Have good energy and connect with fans afterward. These are things that will allow you to get more recognition.

Sign with a Major Label

If you have been approached by a few major record labels and were against the idea, you should definitely consider the option now. Being an independent artist can be hard, especially if your goal is to make it to the big stage or get nominated for major awards. If you want your band to get nominated and top the charts, you’ll have a very hard time doing it as an independent artist.

If you’re scared of getting taken advantage of by a record label, learn about music contracts as much as possible. Be careful to not commit to too many albums and always run contracts by multiple lawyers before you sign them. And, if you don’t have a lawyer, have one on retainer so they can explain the clauses to you.
These are all things that you can do if you want your band to be more recognized. Improve your product and get in front of as many people as possible while disseminating your brand and things will eventually work out for you.