Gas Prices cutting into your profit?
Before you decide to cancel that tour or long road trip consider this…
You need to make MORE money!
Just the sight of the rapidly rising price of gas can put most in a panic.
Don’t fall into that trap. Take this as an opportunity to push harder on what you know you should be doing anyway, marketing.
It is fairly easy to either cut spending back but what I prefer is to increase my income to cover it.
If your band is playing 2-3 nights a week figure out what extra you would need to
make. If you are paying to play negotiate a lower amount to make up for it or have them add in
extras that are not normally included.
There are plenty of options to try.
You may think of a new creative way to sell more merchandise. You do bring plenty of merchandise to sell, right? It should be your goal to have at least one member of the band shake hands with everyone in the joint look them in the eye and ask if they’d like to buy a cd. If you have someone else to do that for you, great, but people love interacting with the band. Work the room before and after the show. People love the personal interaction and will tend to buy what you are selling. Plus they will tell their friends to come next time to meet you.
Always think on the side of increasing income rather than decreasing spending.
Better yet, do both at the same time!
You could negotiate for part of the bar and while you are playing talk about how much you love their signature drink or an expensive one. Help up the bar sales!
I’ve seen a tip jar at a place with a cover before. The band (truthfully) laughingly claimed it was for the gas. It probably was! You can also put a Paypal donate button on your website as a virtual tip jar.
Are you promoting yourself every way possible? There is a band I love to watch but they haven’t updated their myspace or website. Any news is good news. Keep it fresh.
Have you canvased the area with flyers? Do you have contacts with the local media? Having local marketing in place will increase your exposure resulting in more money.
Band together with other groups on tour. Vanpool to shows. Yes, you will be packed like sardines but it will save a bunch of gas money.
Before canceling your tour get together with your group and brainstorm all the ways you can make more money and better success.
How have you fixed the money crunch?
Pamela Doyle
coachpamela
www.rocksolidbandingskills.com
Filed under: Money Management | Tagged: band, group, Money Management, road tour
