Whether you are in a jazz band, a heavy metal band, or a country-rock group, there are certain things that you will need to do in order to have successful live shows both in your hometown and on the road. One of the most important things to do as a music artist is to find ways to engage with the audience. There are a variety of ways that this can be done both on stage and off stage. By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your fans feel more connected with your band.
Engage with the Audience Before and After the Show
Improving your engagement with the audience is a multi-faceted task. It is about more than just presenting an active and engaging onstage show. Many popular brands are well known for doing meet and greet (either formal or informal) before and after their shows. During these, you can talk to audience members, autograph items for them, and invite them to future shows. This is often done at the merch table or directly outside of the venue when weather permits.
Move Around on Stage, Look Out at the Crowd
Having an engaging live show is one of the number one things that you can do to improve your band’s sense of overall audience engagement. An engaging live show does not have to involve full costuming, elaborate props, or pyrotechnics. Doing something as simple as pointing and looking out in the direction of an audience can help to improve engagement. By dancing and having a good time with your bandmates on stage, you can encourage audience members to do the same.
Talk to the Crowd Between Songs
Think of the best live shows that you have ever attended. The frontman of the band probably took time between songs to share quick anecdotes and jokes and to thank the audience for coming. They may have made you laugh or even made you cry. You may have learned the story behind one of your favorite songs or found out something new about a band member that you did not know before. These things help to make live shows more engaging and more memorable for the people who attend them.
Bring Audience Members On Stage
Some bands even choose to bring audience members on stage. You can select someone from the front row to join in with guest vocals for a well-known chorus or you can bring someone up to play a fun onstage game while your bandmates switch out instruments or get a drink of water.
Connect with Fans on Social Media While Off Stage
Your audience does not only exist in music venues. They also exist in their homes, their cars, their workplaces, and all of the other locations where they enjoy your music. This means that there is always a way to engage with fans, at least on the internet. By replying to comments, liking fan photos, sharing on different social media platforms, and tweeting out at your audience, you can continue engaging with crowds from anywhere in the world.
If you are trying to become more successful as a band, then you need to focus on improving audience engagement. By following these tips, you can make your fans feel more special and sell more records, more merchandise, and more concert tickets through the process as well.
Amanda is a theatre producer. Being passionate with arts, she also does stage designs and writing. Together with her friend Bailey, they own a theatre production company in which produces a lot of performances and tours.