Bandhive

We’ve all seen a band getting raked over the coals on social media for an “insanely priced” VIP package, right?

Well, it’s time for you to be that band - but without the negative reaction.

Ultimately, what makes a VIP package “worth it” depends on the level of the band, what the offer contains, and how exclusive it is.

Paying $1,000 to meet a local band for a photo? No way. Justin Bieber? Take my money!

On the other hand, sitting down with your favorite regional band for dinner, at a $100 price point? Many people might consider that worthwhile, especially if a merch bundle is included as well.

Realistically, you’re likely barely breaking even on a deal like that… But what you do get is a closer connection to one of your top fans. It’s well worth a shot.

Listen now to learn why even DIY bands should consider offering VIP packages to their audience, and how to handle it without facing backlash.

What you’ll learn:

• Why small acts should consider VIP packages
• What major artists offer to VIP customers
• How to make VIP worth it to your fans
• Offering a premium package as a smaller artist
• The challenges - and solutions - of a VIP experience as a diy band
• Activities to share with your fans
• Marketing and planning your VIP experience
• Considerations for your VIP packages

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/185

Ticket fees are a divisive subject, and with good reason: they’re often excessive, equal to nearly 50% of the face value of a ticket.

Reasonable ticket fees are justified though, as they keep money in the artist’s pocket - money that the artist would be spending if ticket fees were built into the price of tickets.

Listen now to learn when fees are appropriate and why they’re charged, as well as some background on excessive fees and dynamic pricing!

What you’ll learn:

• Why ticket fees are increasing
• The advantage of ticket fees being levied on top of the ticket price
• What makes fees excessive at some venues
• How to avoid losing money on fees
• “Dynamic pricing” isn’t a Ticketmaster problem
• The greed of major artists’ management companies in the industry
• How to handle people who complain about taxes and fees

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/184

When it comes to playing shows, you’d think it’s all about just showing up and playing the set, right?

Wrong!

There’s so much more that goes into playing a show, and it’s important to follow proper etiquette every step of the way - otherwise you might not get a chance to play that venue again.

Listen now to learn how you can make the most of every aspect of booking and playing a show, so you can be sure you’ll have an open invitation to play again!

What you’ll learn:

• What goes into show etiquette for every part of playing a show
• Why polite and effective communication is an important skill to learn
• Playing a sloppy set is rude… Not even kidding
• The importance of backups for everything vital to your live set
• What goes into a good stage plot and input list
• Moving off stage quickly to keep bands, staff, and the audience happy
• Interacting with fans at the show to properly show appreciation
• Tracking all your shows for data-driven booking

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/183

The Bandhive Podcast may be focused on business most of the time… But, sometimes, we need to have a little fun, too!

That’s why this week, we’ll dissect what you can learn from the music video for "The Rock Show" and Blink-182's musical journey.

Listen now as we explore the genius behind Blink-182's brand and help you understand how to apply these insights to your own music career!

What you’ll learn:

• What made Blink-182’s music videos unique
• Why “The Rock Show” is no more than a dream come true for most people
• Shock value and music videos
• What independent artists can learn from “The Rock Show” and Blink-182
• The magic behind the video
• Why Blink has lasting power while others do not
• The genius behind Blink-182’s brand
• Takeaways from this episode

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/182

In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of communication. From using the right tools for efficient group chats to maintaining an empathetic tone with your bandmates, you’ll learn best our practices.

We'll share valuable advice  to help your band streamline communication, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and miscommunication is kept to a minimum.

But that's not all – we'll also provide insights on how to communicate with external parties in the music industry.

From timely email responses and leveraging email and social media tools, we'll help you enhance your communication with fans, promoters, and other industry professionals.

Listen now to learn more about communication and your band can improve to build a happier, healthier business!

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of communication in your band
• Using non-violent communication to maintain healthy relationships
• How the Android user ruins the group chat
• The advantages of flexible bands
• Why fans will never understand what really goes into planning a tour
• How communication leads to opportunities
• Why changing plans need to be communicated to all parties
• Timely responses in an industry known for slow replies
• How to set up templates for common responses

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/181

Hey, we all know live sound engineers can get a little cranky… Or sometimes very cranky.

Well, it's my turn to vent a bit - I'm spilling the beans on 16 ways you can annoy the sound engineer at your shows, and how that could totally mess up your night.

At best, they won't put much effort into mixing your sound, and at worst, they might even make you sound terrible on purpose.

But let's be real, you usually want to be invited back to the venue, right? To make that happen, it's critical to leave a positive impression on everyone you meet, and that definitely includes not ticking off the engineer.

Tune in now to discover how to keep the sound engineer happy, so your band can rock the stage and sound fantastic!

What you’ll learn:

• Why responding to emails quickly is important
• The lessons you learn when ignoring the sound engineer
• Pitfalls of complaining or arguing with venue staff
• Avoiding feedback from your vocal mics
• How to make friends with the engineer so your set will sound better
• The ways you might self-sabotage your band’s set
• What bands can do to get themselves banned from a venue
• The problems of playing late
• Set change: why it’s not the time to chat with fans
• Why I published such a whiny episode

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/180

You know what’s super awkward? When a band plays a show and afterwards asks to get paid - even though payment was never discussed before the event.

Yeah, not getting paid sucks, but why would you expect pay if nothing was offered in advance?

If the talent buyer doesn’t make a clear offer, then it’s your responsibility to ask about payment terms before confirming the show.

Ideally the venue or promoter makes an offer that outlines all the deal terms but that can’t be expected, unfortunately.

Listen now to learn how and why you should ask for payment information and get those terms in an email before you book your next show!

What you’ll learn:

• The importance of getting deals in writing
• Why asking about pay for the first time after playing is tasteless
• The signs of a bad or incompetent promoter
• When the artist is in the wrong for asking for pay
• Why bands who don’t ask about payment in advance are amateurs
• Professional communication about pay
• What items need to be covered when discussing pay
• How to offer yourself a bit of protection as a DIY band

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/179

When you’re playing shows, there is one key element that sets the amateurs apart from the pros: the advance.

Amateurs will show up entirely unprepared, sometimes even clueless, as to what is being requested if the venue asks for a stage plot and input list.

Professionals will proactively send the necessary information and more to the promoter, venue, and production manager, to ensure the show goes smoothly.

Listen now to learn how Robbie Litchfield of Saving Vice advances shows for his band, and why you should do the same!

What you’ll learn:

• Why advancing your shows is important
• Organizing your advance emails
• What to ask in your advance
• How to establish a dialog with day of show contacts
• The importance of making friends with the bartenders at every venue
• Discussing promotional efforts with the local promoter and local bands
• Being respectful of venue and promoter guestlists
• Finagling your way into getting catering
• Why good songs aren’t enough these days
• What to include in your advance packet

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/178

Let’s say you’re about to head out on your first real tour. Are you using a cohesive, well-branded promotional campaign, or is your tour branding a messy mix of random posters created by the locals in every market?

To really make a dent and turn heads, having a well-defined brand is not an option. That’s why Saving Vice plans out all of their assets in advance and makes it incredibly easy for promoters and venues to use those assets.

Listen now to hear Robbie Litchfield of Saving Vice talk about digital assets, graphic design, and the marketing materials you need for your tour!

P.S. there is some screen sharing in this episode - I’d recommend watching on YouTube if you can!

What you’ll learn:

• Turning a joke into a real opportunity - it works better than you expect
• How Saving Vice has recovered from headliners bailing… Three times
• What kinds of digital assets you need for a tour
• Creating cohesive assets to promote your shows
• The benefits of hiring a designer for your graphics
• Why doing everything yourself is not the path to take
• The importance of putting business fundamentals in place
• Keeping track of your to do list to get things done!

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/177

Want to make it big as a musician in the 21st century? It's all about being easy to find online! Your band name and song titles play a massive role in your discoverability.

Let's face it - if people can't find your music on streaming services, they're not gonna listen to them. It's that simple!

Tune in now to learn the secrets of picking killer song titles for your tracks and how to dodge common blunders that can keep your music hidden from potential fans.

What you’ll learn:

• Why “clever” song titles are a terrible idea
• Putting your best foot forward in a digital music world
• How “SMS spelling” ruins your chances of getting played by voice assistants
• Embracing your song titles in your branding
• Avoiding common song titles so your songs are easily searchable
• The importance of giving listeners the right cues to search for your song
• Where to find your song titles
• Creating catchy song titles to increase virality
• Why inside jokes make terrible song titles

For full show notes, visit https://bandhive.rocks/176