How to Actually Get People to Come to Your Gigs (Without Begging)

Promoting your own gigs is one of the hardest parts of being in an unsigned band. You post. You share the flyer. You remind everyone it’s free entry. And still, the room’s half empty. Or worse - your mates say, “Looks sick, but I’ll come to the next one.”

We’ve all been there. But here’s the truth: most bands don’t have a promotion problem - they have an urgency problem. The gig sounds optional. Easy to skip. That’s what you need to fix.

Start with how you talk about it. “Come to our gig” is easy to ignore. “We’re playing our first ever headline and trying something completely new with the set - this one really matters to us” lands differently. Give people a reason to show up. Tell them what they’ll miss if they don’t.

Time matters too. If you start promoting a few days before, it’s already too late. Most people need 2–3 weeks’ notice to lock something in - especially for local gigs. Start early and keep momentum going. Don’t just post the same flyer over and over. Share rehearsals. Show the setlist taking shape. Build the story. If the show looks exciting to you, it will to other people.

Make it feel personal. DMs are more powerful than public posts - especially for people who’ve supported you before. Instead of mass-inviting 100 Facebook friends, personally message 10 people and say, “Would love to see you at this one - feels like a big step for us.” If they’ve come before, remind them how good the last one felt. You're not begging - you're inviting someone to be part of a moment.

Bundles and perks help. Offer limited merch. Early access. A free zine or badge for the first 20 through the door. Give people something extra for making the effort. It doesn’t have to cost much - it just has to feel intentional.

And make sure the event is easy to attend. Clear times. Reasonable ticket price. Easy-to-find venue info. A stacked lineup with acts who will also promote it. Don’t rely on friends. Don’t rely on the other bands. Own the turnout. Because when you do - and it works - you’ll be trusted to headline again, book bigger rooms and take bigger swings.

One show with 50 real fans who came for you will always beat three shows in front of random bar crowds. Focus on why this show matters - and communicate that over and over in every post, every story, every caption, every chat.

And when they do show up? Make sure it was worth it. That’s how you get them to come again.