There I was, in an Atlanta bar really enjoying a show. I had walked in late and didn’t know the name of the band that was playing. So, I just waited. I figured they’d eventually get to saying who they were.
I went to the bar for another drink and I waited. Nothing. Oh sure the crowd seemed to be into it, but that meant nothing to me. I was from out of town. So the fact that this band was popular locally was a moot point.
I mean, if this was some small town in the middle of nowhere, then maybe I could cut the band some slack. But this was a major city with a thriving music scene. The concept of a stranger happening upon a band’s performance shouldn’t be a foreign one.
It’s Marketing 101
Like it or not, being in a band is the same as running any kind of business. Whether you’re in it for fame, fortune, free beer, or to get laid, you need to market yourself. And the best way to do that is from the stage.
Never Assume
You should never take for granted that everyone in the place knows who you are. That’s not only ridiculous, it’s dangerous. Even if you’re playing in a bar you play every weekend. Even if 99% of the people there have seen you before. Even if you’ve been in every local newspaper or on TV. Even if all of this is true, someone may be there for the first time and you should want everyone to know who you are.
Won’t The Promoter Do It?
This practice of nondisclosure is not exclusive to bands alone. Big-city promoters tend to book shows without regard for who is actually on stage.
Oh sure they may list out the band names on a poster over the bar, but how often does the sound guy actually announce the bands? Rarely. And that’s why it’s important for you the performer to take matters into your own hands.
The Solution Is Simple
Say the name of your band at least three times during every performance. After all, don’t you want to get as many people as you can to know who you are? Isn’t that why you do this? If you want to live in anonymous oblivion, just go back to your basement.
