Recently we have had a couple of good associates and clients inquire about hosting a ” Battle of the Bands.” Their goal was to raise money for a charity event. What better way to drum up awareness than featuring four to five bands!
Running a contest like this can be very beneficial to all parties involved. If you are willing to put in the time. I have Included a shortlist to help orchestrate and conduct a successful ” Battle of the Bands. ”
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Schedule & Timing: Before you pick a date. Conduct research. Find out if there are any local events or National events that coincide with your date.
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Arrange the show during the week. If you are unable to schedule during the week, host the contest during the day on Saturday or Sunday. This will allow bands to keep their night gig. Most original bands also depend on cover gigs to pay their bills. The allure of playing for free will not be enough to reel them in.
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Market the show! Money is only a small factor when landing bands to play in a free contest. Connect with local merchants such as recording studios, local music shops, and venues. the better chance you have at putting on a successful show. Offer the winning band free studio time with a local recording studio. Or free air time on a radio station and the bands will be more inclined to help market the show. The right bands hold the key to promoting both the show and your business.
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Select the bands wisely. I would recommend having a selection committee. Or using your judges to handpick the bands. The bands you select will be your main marketing tool. They will be the ones to help spread the word about the show, the charity, and your company. You want bands who play in a wide variety of places so that they spread the word. Bands are a strong marketing tool considering how many people they interact with on a daily. Treat them with respect and they will always look after you.
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Ensure you are set up correctly. Make sure the stage plot is set up to accommodate the bands that will be playing. Having a PA and Sound technician is a must. You don’t want to take away from the show. Having a sound tech will make your event run smoothly. Make sure you have an event coordinator or choose someone to get the bands on and off the stage. If you are hosting a night show ensure that the stage is well lit. Take the time to think about how many bands will be participating. This will give you an idea of how much equipment will be going on and off the stage. If you are holding your contest outdoors make sure to provide a covered stage. This will help prevent any water damage to the equipment.
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Selecting a winner – This right here is the most crucial part of the show. If done wrong, the verdict may come back to haunt you and your organization. Don’t have crowd participation be a factor in the winning verdict. Don’t have online voting be a factor. Even though this is a great tool to drive traffic to your website it can work against you. Pick five judges that are either music fans or in the business.
* It’s ok to have bands submit through the website or Facebook page to enter into the contest. But don’t have the contest decided by online votes.
Good Luck and if you have any further questions feel free to contact us @ www.cjslivemusic.com
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