That’s so cool! Yeah, it might not be an exact fit for markets outside the US, but the theory is sound and the general audience-building principles will work anywhere.
Lots of good advice here folks for moving things forward! Good work Cassidy for making a simple framework for learning about playing, traveling and working the day job so there’s some support. I want one of those work books.
I love when there are actual tangible steps to take. It feels like most so called strategies deal in mostly big ideas and broad strokes. I took DEVELOPING A STRONG REGIONAL DRAW and in 5 minutes had a list of both city tiers as well as potential clubs to play and their websites. Making this list also prompted a list of general band things that needed double checking and updating. (demo links, bios, photographs, web updates)
Serendipitously I came across your Substack this morning when you shared another writer’s work you admire. I am mediately hit the subscribe button after reading a few of your articles. My whole life is magic and music. I am the magician, and my husband is the composer. I look forward to your work! Thank you for being here on Substack Cassity!
Wow - so glad to have linked up here! I LOVE Grace Fell's work, so anyone who's a fan of hers is a friend of mine. Can't wait to hear more about what you do.
Thank you @Cassidy Frost it’s nice to meet you! You can read about me in my Substack here, and watch me on my Magic Moments and listen to me on KIYQ Las Vegas where I chat about Retro Vegas entertainment. Enjoy a magical musical day! ✨✨🎵✨
This was very helpful. I'm a rapper/singer in the north east and im sure between nj, philly and nyc I can gather a following from my live shows. Thank you
Thank you so much for this. My band is just starting out and we are starting to gig in the Bay Area. Our first gig is on 12/27 and we are stoked. The different weeks and locations that you mentioned is something I resonate with. I want to play different parts in the Bay that were far enough from each other to get our audience growth going. I also appreciate that this was simplified. I will codify this with our process. I also just bought Book Smart Grow Fast. THANK YOU!!!
As an Australian, it always stings to read things like this a little bit. It's completely accurate and will absolutely work, but the distances in play here are just comedically far.
I moved to Sydney from Hobart recently. I stopped gigging since I moved here. But! from what I can see of the Sydney scene, and from talking to musos, Sydney is a geographically huge city made up of pockets people don't like to leave. So I think you could make this model work there. Marrickville/Newtown, Ashfield, North Sydney, Liverpool, Parramatta, Woy Woy, Newcastle, Wollongong, Kiama, Canberra - I've been to gigs at most of these places and found it's a different crowd each time. I reckon you could build a following in each of them.
Not sure how it would go in another Australian city. Certainly Hobart, Launceston and Burnie isn't enough to make it work.
I met a few bands in the past that were able to book a 6pm show and an 8pm show in the same area on one night. Sorry if that is confusing. Glad you are the writer and not me! I'm terrible at it. Lol.
“ Now pick a nearby town that’s 1-3 hours away. Far enough away that you won’t compete with your hometown draw, but close enough that you can drive back home after the show and not worry about lodging. College towns are great for this. Commit to playing that town on a weekend night 4 times a year. Build relationships with bands and venues in that town just like you would in your own market. Build your email list in that town.”
The Police did this on a national level. The members lived in some location central in the United States so they could easily fly back to home each night after their gigs. Their band continued to remain on the road.
Lets start at the beginning. How does this play out in different size communities? So, for example you are Material Issue, and you live IN CHICAGO, then that changes the map. But, if you are CHEAP TRICK and you live IN ROCKFORD, then how does that change? I tell bands that touring is like the game Risk. But, lets start at the difference between large and medium and small markets? My man Mike moved from Long Beach to Des Moines, Iowa. I think the strategy would change, right?
I mean, I mentioned some markets will make this kind of thing prohibitive. Some markets make this easier. Also this is a strategy for developing bands. Conventional touring is probably still the most economical option for legacy bands, though maybe not always.
One thing I want to add is that I’ve worked with several bands who can sell out 200 cap rooms in teeeeny tiny towns. I see it all over Northern California.
I do not understand this, "Also this is a strategy for developing bands. Conventional touring is probably still the most economical option for legacy bands, though maybe not always." Your strategy is a strategy FOR EVERY BAND. Not just developing bands. You and I both know 200 'legacy' bands that could not screw this up more, if they actively tried.
I would say this isn’t really a strategy for legacy bands because presumably they’re not trying to break into new markets. A famous band really doesn’t need to tour more than a few rounds per album cycle, I think. The frequency in my plan really has to do with maximizing opportunities to get in front of new fans. I don’t think Cheap Trick needs to try and get opening slots or figure out how to draw their first hundred people in every nearby town.
The outro was worth staying for :)
Finally someone mentioned my outro!!!!!
Cassidy this is an amazing strategy, I am going to try to rework it to fit my current situation.
That’s so cool! Yeah, it might not be an exact fit for markets outside the US, but the theory is sound and the general audience-building principles will work anywhere.
This is awesome! Love the framing to a readership where some of us do need a 9-to-5 (I feel like that's rare in music biz writing). Thanks Cassidy.
Lots of good advice here folks for moving things forward! Good work Cassidy for making a simple framework for learning about playing, traveling and working the day job so there’s some support. I want one of those work books.
Thanks so much, Fred!!
I love when there are actual tangible steps to take. It feels like most so called strategies deal in mostly big ideas and broad strokes. I took DEVELOPING A STRONG REGIONAL DRAW and in 5 minutes had a list of both city tiers as well as potential clubs to play and their websites. Making this list also prompted a list of general band things that needed double checking and updating. (demo links, bios, photographs, web updates)
Appreciate you!
Hot damn, Patrick! Get it!!
Serendipitously I came across your Substack this morning when you shared another writer’s work you admire. I am mediately hit the subscribe button after reading a few of your articles. My whole life is magic and music. I am the magician, and my husband is the composer. I look forward to your work! Thank you for being here on Substack Cassity!
Wow - so glad to have linked up here! I LOVE Grace Fell's work, so anyone who's a fan of hers is a friend of mine. Can't wait to hear more about what you do.
Thank you @Cassidy Frost it’s nice to meet you! You can read about me in my Substack here, and watch me on my Magic Moments and listen to me on KIYQ Las Vegas where I chat about Retro Vegas entertainment. Enjoy a magical musical day! ✨✨🎵✨
This was very helpful. I'm a rapper/singer in the north east and im sure between nj, philly and nyc I can gather a following from my live shows. Thank you
Thank you so much Sean. I totally believe it!
Thank you so much for this. My band is just starting out and we are starting to gig in the Bay Area. Our first gig is on 12/27 and we are stoked. The different weeks and locations that you mentioned is something I resonate with. I want to play different parts in the Bay that were far enough from each other to get our audience growth going. I also appreciate that this was simplified. I will codify this with our process. I also just bought Book Smart Grow Fast. THANK YOU!!!
Heck yeah! Drop the band/show links!
Sure, thank you!
https://www.instagram.com/e.s.c._band/
https://eschxc.bandcamp.com/
We are also on Spotify and Apple Music! Just released our single in November. Been an amazing journey so far.
As an Australian, it always stings to read things like this a little bit. It's completely accurate and will absolutely work, but the distances in play here are just comedically far.
And here I was thinking how easy it would be on the mainland compared to Tasmania
I moved to Sydney from Hobart recently. I stopped gigging since I moved here. But! from what I can see of the Sydney scene, and from talking to musos, Sydney is a geographically huge city made up of pockets people don't like to leave. So I think you could make this model work there. Marrickville/Newtown, Ashfield, North Sydney, Liverpool, Parramatta, Woy Woy, Newcastle, Wollongong, Kiama, Canberra - I've been to gigs at most of these places and found it's a different crowd each time. I reckon you could build a following in each of them.
Not sure how it would go in another Australian city. Certainly Hobart, Launceston and Burnie isn't enough to make it work.
This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
No sympathy for a nation whose govt funds arts and healthcare!
excellent and very true! the only thing I would add that I saw a few bands implement is book more than 1 show in a night in nearby cities if you can.
Oh interesting! Weirdly the second half of your comment wasn’t visible the first time!
Sorry not sure I understand
I met a few bands in the past that were able to book a 6pm show and an 8pm show in the same area on one night. Sorry if that is confusing. Glad you are the writer and not me! I'm terrible at it. Lol.
excellent and very true! the only thing I would add that I saw a few bands implement is book more than 1 show in a night in nearby cities if you can.
“ Now pick a nearby town that’s 1-3 hours away. Far enough away that you won’t compete with your hometown draw, but close enough that you can drive back home after the show and not worry about lodging. College towns are great for this. Commit to playing that town on a weekend night 4 times a year. Build relationships with bands and venues in that town just like you would in your own market. Build your email list in that town.”
The Police did this on a national level. The members lived in some location central in the United States so they could easily fly back to home each night after their gigs. Their band continued to remain on the road.
Lets start at the beginning. How does this play out in different size communities? So, for example you are Material Issue, and you live IN CHICAGO, then that changes the map. But, if you are CHEAP TRICK and you live IN ROCKFORD, then how does that change? I tell bands that touring is like the game Risk. But, lets start at the difference between large and medium and small markets? My man Mike moved from Long Beach to Des Moines, Iowa. I think the strategy would change, right?
I mean, I mentioned some markets will make this kind of thing prohibitive. Some markets make this easier. Also this is a strategy for developing bands. Conventional touring is probably still the most economical option for legacy bands, though maybe not always.
One thing I want to add is that I’ve worked with several bands who can sell out 200 cap rooms in teeeeny tiny towns. I see it all over Northern California.
I agree with all of this. If conventional touring is not an economic option, though, I wonder what we are talking about.
I don’t think I understand the question
I do not understand this, "Also this is a strategy for developing bands. Conventional touring is probably still the most economical option for legacy bands, though maybe not always." Your strategy is a strategy FOR EVERY BAND. Not just developing bands. You and I both know 200 'legacy' bands that could not screw this up more, if they actively tried.
I would say this isn’t really a strategy for legacy bands because presumably they’re not trying to break into new markets. A famous band really doesn’t need to tour more than a few rounds per album cycle, I think. The frequency in my plan really has to do with maximizing opportunities to get in front of new fans. I don’t think Cheap Trick needs to try and get opening slots or figure out how to draw their first hundred people in every nearby town.