You’d be hard-pressed to find an industry that has seen more growth than the live music scene in the last decade. Whether it’s a small local music event in a private venue or a massive outdoor festival, the thirst for live music shows no signs of abating anytime soon. Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, live music events and festivals are back and thriving…and we couldn’t be happier!Â
To tap into this creative and profitable opportunity, music event planners must know how to plan events so memorable that they keep their attendees coming back for more. After all, not every event is a success—even if it’s backed by big names in the entertainment industry.
But what makes one event stand out among the rest? It all comes down to planning music events with intention and understanding your event goals. In order to create a memorable experience for your guests, you need to follow these 5 tips when planning your next live music event:
1. Know your audience
Before you even get started with your event planning, you need to know who your target audience is. You may already have an idea of who your typical attendees are, but if you don’t nail down your target audience, you’ll never be able to make your music event truly unique.
When it comes to live music events, it’s not just about the music. It’s about the overall experience of the event. Are your attendees a group of young professionals in their 30s? Or are they a group of teenagers planning a private party? Knowing who will be in attendance will help you make better decisions throughout the entire music event planning process.
Â
2. Understand the venue
Music venues are the second most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to planning an event. The event venue you choose will help determine the type of event you can throw and will impact your budget. It will also impact your overall event branding and the type of experience your attendees have. The venue size you choose for your event will also determine the type of sound equipment you will need to use.
If you book an outdoor venue, for example, you will have to work with a sound engineer who can bring their own equipment. On the other hand, if you book a well-known indoor venue, they will most likely provide the sound equipment and personnel.
3. Hire a great sound company
The sound engineer is responsible for setting up and mixing the audio during your event. Depending on the type of event you are hosting, you might not need to hire a sound engineer. But for live music events, it’s crucial that you hire a sound engineer who has experience with whatever type of event it is you’re planning.
The sound engineer will need to know the exact number of speakers needed to provide sound at the venue. They will also need to know if they need to bring their own sound system or if they can plug directly into the venue’s system. It’s also important that you hire a sound engineer with experience working with your specific type of performer to ensure that the audio mix sounds great.
For example, heavy metal bands, solo folk singers and DJs will probably require completely different sound setups as they are wildly different genres of music. There’s nothing worse than getting to sound check and realising that the set-up is all wrong!
Â
4. Find the best lighting company
The lighting engineer is responsible for setting the mood of your event by controlling the colour, intensity, and location of the lights at the venue. The lighting engineer is also responsible for making sure the lights are controlled properly through the lighting console.
Having the right lighting equipment at your event is crucial for creating the right ambience. This can include anything from having one light source to having a complex light show. The lighting engineer will need to know your vision for the event and will be able to work with your sound engineer to make sure the lighting equipment and sound are properly synchronised.
Â
5. Plan for effective marketing and PR
The success of your event relies heavily on your ability to market it. The marketing plan you put into place should start months before the actual event. There are a number of ways to market your event and create a lasting impact.
The best way to market your live music event is to let your guests know it’s coming in advance. Make sure to include the details of your event in all of your marketing materials. This includes your website, social media channels, printed marketing materials and more.
Make sure to include the date, time, location, performers, ticket prices, and any other important details. You can also reach out to local radio stations, newspapers, and other local media outlets to see if they’re interested in covering your event. This will help you bring in new attendees and earn you a bit of recognition in the process.
Also, it’s a good idea to get your performers to promote it through their social channels. Many bands and artists will already have a fan base on Instagram, Facebook or elsewhere, so be sure to leverage their existing audience.
Conclusion
Planning music events might seem easy at first glance, but there’s a lot that goes into it. You need to make sure you’re booking artists who resonate with your audience, as well as getting the best venue that best fits the needs of your event. An event is only as good as its execution, and the same goes for planning one. If you’re following these 5 tips, you’ll be well on your way to planning the perfect live music event.
If you’d like to take a more structured route when learning about planning live music events, BCE runs a hugely-popular Level 3 Music Events Management course. It will teach you everything you need to know about successful events management, from managing to marketing a successful event and everything in between.
