I have been observing the way bands & musicians act in facebook when they have a new show coming up. Like a week before the show, they get all excited about it. They publicly express how they are so psyched to be playing the show and all that stuff. Then they go on and on about how they’re gonna go drinking and get themselves drunk after. A lot of bands and solo artists seem to be acting like this. You see it all over facebook. Whenever they have a show coming up, it all seems to be about themselves rather than respecting the fans excitement for the gig. A lot of them are all over their facebook music pages saying stuff like, “Ooooohhh, I can’t wait to play this gig, we’re gonna rock it and get drunk after.”… you get the idea, right? Yeah, the fans will eat it all up, give their facebook status’s about the show a bunch of thumbs-up.

It’s all crazy, I tell you. I never understood why bands go all crazy for their upcoming gigs. To me playing gigs is nothing really. You just go up and do it. Play it and get it over with. I don’t see how you can compare gigs to Disney World and other theme parks. Hey don’t me wrong! I love getting gigs. I just don’t go nuts over it like so many musicians do. I don’t really care.

The point I’m trying to make here is, I like making my shows about the people who come to see it. That’s how you want to promote yourself. You don’t want to come across looking like a selfish person. Getting all excited for your own gigs, makes it look like you’re jerking yourself off, ya know? What’s even worse that bands saying they’re gonna party after the gig is kind of a turn-off as well. Is that all this band is about is drinking or is it about the music?

When I promote my shows, I don’t act like a kid going to Disney World. I just put my stuff out there and see what happens. When bands act like this when they have shows coming up kind of shows their arrogance. These bands should be a little careful of how they promote themselves but they won’t. They like to act like selfish jackasses ’cause they know the fans eat it up and they love that attention with them.

If you want more people to come out. Want a bigger crowd and successful show, leave your ego at the door. Yes, people do take how you promote yourselves seriously. No doubt about it. Don’t get me wrong. There are bands who don’t act like selfish arrogant pricks; there are some who know how to promote themselves well but there’s not too many. The whole point is that these guys are always about “me, me, me” when it should be about the fans interest in coming out.

Instead of facebook status’s like, “Hey guys, we got a show coming up. We can’t wait for this, we’re psyched to play it and we got a great set planned for the night. We’re gonna rock this place.”… which I see bands posts often — how about more humble posts like, “Hey guys, we got a show coming up. If you have nothing going on, hope to see you at (this venue here). It’ll be great to see you there!”. See how that second facebook status is more kind and respectful to the fans? I’ve always tried my best to make my postings courteous and humble as possible when promoting my own shows. I never made the posts about me when it should be about them.

The fans don’t realize that bands are acting like arrogant pricks when promoting themselves ’cause you know how fans are! They’ll be supportive of their favorite bands no matter how they are or what they do. These fans will like everything they put up in facebook. I am not being jealous, just telling things like it is.

Also, you should let the music speak on it’s own when promoting your shows. A lot of bands also like to say how they’re gonna play a great show before that night which is a bad idea, in my opinion. Nothing wrong with saying that you have a great set planned and I understand it’s your way of trying to talk people into coming out but that’s the wrong way to go about doing it.

Bands promote however they want to and most of them promote themselves in the craziest ways. I understand you’re trying to get the word out and get people to come out to your shows the best you can but you must do it right and respectfully if you want to bring more people to your shows. It’s your job to get people interested in coming out. People are not going to come out if they are turned off by the way you promote yourselves online. I made those mistakes before myself.

Kev