Standing out on the music scene is a daunting task, especially for independent artists in a world full of noise and AI. It’s not always enough to just produce a really great hook or a memorable lyric to get your band noticed.
5 Ways to Get Your Band Noticed
In addition to mastering your sound, you also need to master (or at least practice) your business savvy. Learn how to start promoting your band with these five tips and strategies!
Build Your Brand
Knowing who you are as a band is the base for promoting yourself and your whole marketing plan. Your brand includes everything from your name and musical genre to the font you use on gig flyers.
Build out your brand identity with:
- Your name
- Your style and sound
- Your stage presence – persona, makeup, style of dress
- Your values and mission – what messages do you want to send through your music?
- A specific and consistent color scheme
- Imagery
- Fonts
- A memorable logo
Your brand should be consistent across all of your content. This includes any social media presence, photos, album art, posters, advertisements, and more!
Create a Strong Online Presence
With everything and everyone online now, making sure your band has a positive digital footprint is a key part of getting your band noticed.
Aspects of a strong online presence:
- Having consistent branding across all platforms to boost your recognition
- Launching a professional website featuring band background info, member profiles, discography, music samples, lyrics, performance dates, and contact information
- Utilizing local search engine optimization (SEO) features on your website and content
- Leveraging streaming services like SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube, or Bandcamp — (see how to get your music on Spotify)
- Creating engaging social media content that can include music videos, behind-the-scenes highlights, fun facts about band members, snippets of live performances or rehearsals, and more
- Posting regularly on social media channels, both in general and with specific gig info leading up to the show
With TikTok and Instagram Reels you even have the ability to make short videos featuring your own music. With the right combination of musical hook and short, engaging video, you have the chance to spread rapidly to new potential fans.
Network, Network, Network
Networking is huge in many industries, including music!
It helps you increase awareness of your band and music and can help put you on the radar for more local venues and/or events.
Networking may include things like:
- Collaborating with other artists
- Participating in local music scenes, festivals, or competitions
- Building relationships with local venues and other artists
- Engaging with the community individually or as a group
Engage With Your Fans
The power of music has been studied, talked about, written about, and sung about for ages. Whatever medicinal or therapeutic powers it holds, its ability to connect with people and connect people to each other, is undisputed.
The way you interact with your fanbase can also provide meaningful connections. You could turn general audience members into loyal fans based on the outstanding experience they had at one of your shows.
Promote your band by taking the time to engage with your audience, fans, followers, and listeners. Outside of the way you interact with them during shows, you can also:
- Host question and answer (Q&A) sessions, fan polls, merch giveaway contests, and more
- Create a mailing list for exclusive content or advanced show notice
- Fan subscriptions for exclusive merch, behind-the-scenes looks, and other perks
- Live stream
- Interact with fans on social media, within reason (if they share your music or post about going to a show, leave them a simple ‘thank you!’ message!)
- Introduce an enticing gimmick, also within reason (no one wants another Apple Music and U2 debacle)!
Leverage the Press and Other Media
Social media isn’t the only media available to you for band promotion. Put together a cohesive press release or band marketing kit so you can get more music gigs by efficiently pitching to:
- Newspapers
- Community organizers or event planners
- Wedding planners
- Local music blogs, podcasts, and radio stations
- Music journalists
What’s Next? Analyze and Adapt
As you continue to perform and grow, you’ll start to see which promotional avenues work best for you. Your marketing and promotion strategies will likely evolve along with you.
In order to capitalize on your efforts, it’s important to track your engagement and growth.
- Use SEO tools on your website and social media channels
- Adapt based on trends and/or audience feedback
- Analyze what avenues might cost more than they’re worth and budget accordingly
Take Care of Business: Get the Insurance You Need to Perform
You never know when a miscommunication with a venue, a faulty piece of equipment, or a total trip-and-fall accident will occur or be blamed on you. So take care of business! Make sure you take care of your band and your business with band liability insurance.
It can be a lifesaver if someone claims they sustained an injury or property damage because of your show. Plus, many venues may require liability insurance before allowing you to perform in their space!
You can get ahead of the curve by including your insured status in your marketing materials or pitch plan.
Protect your music, yourself, and your bandmates from potential liability claims with event or annual band insurance. Get a quote online in minutes with instant proof of insurance for as low as $59 for a single event or $199 annually.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Promote a Band
What Should I Include in My Band’s Promotional Materials?
- Artist bio(s)
- Contact details
- Playlists or music examples
- Music videos
- Press-ready messaging
- Social media profiles
- Sample setlists
- High-quality pictures/visuals
What Are Some Cost-Effective Ways To Promote My Band?
- Social media channels — most platforms are free to make an account
- Start busking where passers-by might turn into gig opportunities
- Run merch or other giveaway contests
- Use free design tools like Canva to make promotional materials, graphics, posters and more
What Does Band Insurance Cover?
Band insurance covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims. It’s designed to protect your band from the financial consequences of claims, and can even cover defense costs, medical expenses, advertising mistakes, damage to equipment, and more.
Does Band Insurance Cover Musical Equipment?
Band insurance is general liability coverage for third-party claims, so it doesn’t protect your gear. But you can add music instrument coverage (aka Inland Marine) to your annual band policy to expand protection to your instruments, equipment, and other business gear.
