Your Job Starts After You Leave the Stage
Stepping off the stage isn’t the end of your night—it’s just the beginning. People come out to shows to escape. They want to let go of the stress from their day, the weight of their week, and dive into something that makes them feel alive. That something is you. You’re not just there to play music—you’re there to create an experience. And if you do that right, they’ll come back again and again. From the moment you walk into the venue, your mindset should shift into show mode. Everything you do should be intentional: how you interact with the staff, how you talk to fans, how you carry yourself before and after the show. This isn’t the time to hide in the dressing room. The old ways are dead. Engage every single person you come across. Make an impression. Make them feel seen.Offstage Work = Onstage Impact
Your job offstage is to build a community—your own traveling party that people want to be part of. Start conversations. Shake hands. Thank the bartender. Chat with fans. When you build relationships, people will want to come back. They’ll follow you, support you, and bring friends next time.This is how you grow your fanbase organically. This is how you build loyalty—and yes, more income. But it only works if everyone in the band is all in. No excuses. If you ignore people, they’ll feel it. They’ll assume you don’t care, or worse, that you think you’re too good for them. And just like that, they’re gone—and they won’t look back.
They won’t care if you’re tired, sweaty, or had a bad day. Your job is to show up and connect. Every night.
Excellence Doesn’t Clock Out
Excellence comes from consistency—discipline, effort, strategy, and commitment. You don’t get to take nights off from that. If you think these rules don’t apply to your band, you’re already on the path to mediocrity. What you’re really doing is rallying a crowd of strangers around one idea: Let’s have an unforgettable night. You’re creating a shared experience, something bigger than music. You’re forming a tribe.“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea… A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.”
—Seth Godin, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
The Power of the Tribe
Word of mouth is the most powerful form of promotion you’ll ever have. When you give people a true experience, they’ll talk about it. They’ll bring their friends. Your crowds will grow. Your audience will be more engaged. They’ll see you not just as performers, but as friends. And friends show up. Friends drive hours just to be part of the night.The Job Doesn’t End at the Venue
Social media is your second stage—and it’s just as important. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube—these platforms are where your tribe lives when the show is over.Engagement isn’t optional. It’s everything.
Check your notifications. Reply to tags and comments. Don’t just post where you’re playing—share something real. Funny moments, personal stories, behind-the-scenes stuff. Give people a reason to feel part of your world. If you’re too “busy” to connect, don’t be surprised when fans are too busy to care.
Every member of the band should have active social profiles and be talking to fans regularly. Why? Because labels are watching. They want bands with real, active fanbases—and they’re paying close attention to how you build yours.
