What ways can a young band promote themselves better to get fans?

[Crimsyjo]

I recently saw a new band I liked and was thrilled to not only meet them but show them my daughters amazing art and suggest a collaboration. They are same age as my daughter (18) and been playing a little at local bars and festivals as a support band. They have a YouTube channel and Facebook and music on various platforms but I think they need help getting more out there. I'm thinking they need to do shorts and takes, maybe funny rehearsal clips and stuff. But what else? Any advice? I want to help them!

[Staximus]

I used to work at a couple of live music bars venues whatever you want to call them. Being under 21 is a big hindrance to playing at bars and venues. Not only because the band is under 21, but also because most of their fans are not of drinking age and are not going to be buying expensive food or drinks. There are live music venues that don't care about the band members ages, but those places are usually pretty big and the band needs to be able to draw a crowd in order to be booked for a show. Nobody is going to want to book them if only 10 or 20 people show up to see them because that is not going to sell drinks or food or whatever. Finding more successful or popular bands that this band can open for will get them more exposure. The band needs to find a promoter to work with who can book them shows, the promoter will know which venues will book them if they know what they are doing.

[Crimsyjo]

Yeah that's good advice. They been supporting some other bands here and there. Which is where I saw them. And liked them better than the main band!

[beefcakebradybatson]

Here in Windsor (nineteen-year-old drinking age), there are far fewer venues for aspiring bands than the 70's through the nineties, when a rock bar scene flourished and bands were everywhere. Bars stopping paying for live music when EDM and other sort of music not requiring bands began to become popular, partly because young Americans came here to drink at 19 rather than 21 and the loonie, our dollar coin, was at less than two cents for every three Yankee cents, so they got FAR more liquor for their buck, which often resulted in brawls with our lads and our ERs being full of brats Saturday and Sunday mornings.

[Crimsyjo]

@beefcakebradybatson haha drinking age here is 18. I'm sure there are still brawls and Friday and Saturday night ER rooms full. But I've actually only witnessed one fight in a year of clubbing. Think alcohol is just too expensive now to get really wasted.
And a lot of the younger crowd I talk to say they stick to house parties instead of bars.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Are you a Quebeckoise, Crimsyjo? (I think Quebec has Canada's lone 18-year-old drinking age). I never thought getting smashed and beaten up was anything but stupid blue collar boy BS, and being terrifically handsome, I wasn't going to risk having my profile spoiled.

[Crimsyjo]

@beefcakebradybatson haha I'm British born and bred lol
And I live in a student city with famous universities so the young are popular here. But so far.. more well behaved than my tennis drinking era lol
Tbh other than vapes and weed I think the youth today are more conscious of health. Or just broke lol

[kellytheman]

Yeah they might need to keep grinding on mobile platforms and wait till someone with connections to see it. They might also get a good manager or agent and spend some money on more promotions. Maybe perform at a fair or open for certain events.

[Crimsyjo]

I saw them randomly as a support band at a local bar and they've done some festivals. I guess just keep trying to get their name out there and recognition right?

[kellytheman]

Yeah they need to keep working hard and keep mastering their craft. If you really like them maybe take upon yourself to tell people about them.

[Crimsyjo]

I am lol. Tho I don't have like a big network or anything. My daughter does. She has 40k followers for her art abd I'm trying to get them to collaborate. But my daughters like, autistic and not feeling it yet. I'm taking her to see them Sunday.

[kellytheman]

Maybe if they see the art and like it maybe it be a nice story that could get some popularity and go viral to get more fans.

[katiesmuff]

Just keep on plugging away is the way most successful bands make it to big time. Lots and lots of small gigs wherever the opportunity arises and your audience grows and gets the attention of those in the music business

[Nikki1989]

Patreon in conjunction with Bandcamp.

[AI Opinion]

Helping a young band gain exposure is exciting! Engaging content plays a key role, so encourage them to create short, engaging videos on platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels to reach a wider audience. Collaborating with influencers or local artists like your daughter can diversify and expand their reach. Encourage them to interact with fans through live Q&A sessions or acoustic performances on social media. Participation in local contests or events can also boost visibility. Additionally, focusing on strong branding with unique visuals and artwork will help make them memorable. 🎸🎨

[LiamJHayden]

What @Nikki1989 said plus maybe Youtube, Insta, etc. Big labels do not seem very interested in bands at this time, preferring to push pre-fabricated and autotuned/pitch corrected individuals who are aesthetically pleasing over actual talent.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Play every possible venue until they get heard by a record label.(They're young, so it could happen ala Boston's hit "Rock And Roll Band.")

[Nerdvana]

Time and play any gig. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertisement.

[strateguy632]

Short samples on youtube, like justin beeber did, but in shorts.

[MikeTheGreek1979]

YouTube or TikTok, probably from what I saw working at a high school.

[Still-alive]

Try to get them on other platforms that younger people are on like tiktok and instagram

[Ethan_T]

Probly make TikToks and YT videos

[Crimsyjo]

Thank you Ethan! I guess they are. I'm not on tik tok so i can't check there. They have you tube. They did some shorts. But it's building up views! How to attract people to know about them and go see?

What makes you go check out things? Or is it quite random?

[Ethan_T]

The best way is hashtags (#) tell them to hashtag things that people search for when they upload to get it on ppls fyp. I usually just scroll through my fyp and look at stuff there

[Crimsyjo]

Oh God u making me feel so old lol... what's fyp? 🙈🙈🙈

[Ethan_T]

Oh haha it's for you page. Like when u first log in on tiktok, it's like they videos that show right away without searching anything

[Ethan_T]

U can message me if u want if u don't get it I'll try to help

[Crimsyjo]

Oh thank you. It's cool. I know and use most things. Snap in particular. But just never got into tik tok. Tho my daughter is 13 and is on it.

[AviatorTom]

Study how Ed Sheeran became famous.

[Jennz6]

Absolutely 💯

[Anonymous]

Social media and posters

[Bklynbadboy12]

Social media, merch and listening parties