Industry news & advice blog

In our continuing series of blogs brought to you via our partnership with legendary recording studio Strongroom in Shoreditch (who are offering a massive 50% discount - full details here!), we have some solid advice if you're thinking of putting on your own event. Events Manager at the Strongroom Bar, Georgy Moore, gives tips on how to make sure you’re ready on the day.


Calendar
Make sure your calendar is organised and share it with the right people. I tend to use Google Calendar as it’s an easy platform and can be shared with multiple people (sound engineers, the venue and promotors). This way everyone is in the loop and you can add in all your timings, tech information and anything else that’s relevant.


Venue Information
Have a folder ready so you can share with artists, managers, venues and anyone else you may be working with. This can be shared through Google Drive, One Drive or Dropbox. You’ll want images of the space, backline available, contact details and parking information (especially important for London where parking is limited).


Get everyone linked up
You’ve found your artists, you have your venue and now you need to start the ball rolling. Link everyone in an email so you can stay in touch and grab tech riders, discuss set lengths and answer any questions.
When sorting out timings, it’s good to do around 45 minutes sound check per band and leave 30 – 45 minutes from doors open to when the first act is on. (Make sure you know the venues licence for live music)!


Creative assets
Time to gather your logos, images, fonts and create your posters, Facebook banners and IG flyers. I tend to use Illustrator as it’s easy to move images around, edit and create multiple workspaces in one file, but use something your comfortable with - whether that’s Photoshop, InDesign, or making collages on paper and scanning it in.

Sizes you need to work with are..
Posters: Make them A4, portrait as most venues have frames to pop these in, so landscape can be awkward.
Facebook Event Banner: 1920 x 1005 pixels.
IG / DICE: Square image, avoid too much text, especially towards the bottom for DICE, as it’ll be covered up by buttons.


Get it listed and scream about it!
With all your creative assets made, time to put it out into the world! Posters and IG flyers can be sent to bands, managers and venues. When sending the image, write a 50 word caption along with it that they can use, and make sure to include yours, and everyone else’s social handles for easy reposts. 

Then, great places to list it are DICE, Skiddle, Facebook and Instagram (there are plenty more in the world too). The best way to get events on Instagram is using a site like Linktree, you can then put this in your Instagram bio and have a nice looking, easy access page that directs people to multiple events or sites.

If you want to push it further, get in touch with your local indie magazine! DIY, London In Stereo, Crack… Whether they list it, or they don’t, it’s always good to put your name out there and keep at it.


Be available! Have fun!
It’s always best to be present at the gig itself, arrive at soundchecks if you can. Introduce yourself to everyone, be confident! Bring friends, make friends and enjoy listening to a band you enjoy that YOU have put on.