gigging

Milkman Dan

in your opinion, whats the best way to get people to go to your gigs?

i'm not talking about inviting everyone you know, because after a while that gets annoying i'm sure. also without much money behind you or mainstream radio play....

posters?
radio ads?
flyers?

Doctor J

Good music and the power of word of mouth. If someone hears good music they'll probably want to check it out live. They'll probably bring a friend or two. Posters and flyers don't really do it for me, other than raise awareness of a band name. I don't listen to radio either. I think a good website is a great tool for any band to have and to have good quality music available for free on it as well as having as much information as possible about your band easily accessable from there. At an early stage, you're a fool if you think you'll make money from your music and I'm continually stunned by local bands wanting big money for a CDR of usually poorly recorded underproduced 3 track demos. You want people to hear you, so make free MP3's available to everyone on your website. Maybe try and drive traffic to your website using flyers and posters. Getting people to hear you is the challenge. If they like you or loathe you then, that's just the way it goes, but I'd never go to see a band on the strength of a poster.

Giblet

Hook up with another band, play some support, give away free cds.

If you're good enough, you'll eventually be able to stand on your own.

BobTheBeat

Without a doubt, hard work. Gig you ass off, put yourself in for as many different events as you can, wherever you can. If you are good enough, its word of mouth that will eventually do it for you! And remember, dont give up no matter what people say about you and your music

NeMiSiS

Free beer, Hot girls. the promise of more free beer, and more hot girls. And a few auld waltzes.
Tom

Milkman Dan

so.
we've worked our asses off, we've played great for lots of people, and we've a big mailing list.
but how do you publicise a gig?
like an album launch or something?