How to Focus (Your Lens) On Your Fans
FOCUS ON YOUR FANS -- YOU KNOW, TAKE MORE PICTURES OF THEM.
You want to increase your reach on social media? Take more pictures OF your fans + take more pictures WITH your fans. Not only is it free advertising when you're tagged, but (wait for it) you can start to develop relationships with your fans.
No, not like that. I mean, technically it could happen, but that's not the point of this post. 😳 MOVING ON 👉🏼⠀
Here's something we did at every show that grew our band's page. ⠀
1. BREAK THE ICE
Before your set or on a break, strike up a quick conversation. "Hey, thanks for coming out! (insert idle chit chat about the food, the weather, whatever)." Feel it out and if they seem engaged in the conversation or you know they're there to see you, ask for a quick pic for your website. If there's a group of people, take one of them first, then see if you can selfie style one with you in it. ⠀⠀
By the way - if the picture isn't feeling right, don't force it. The main benefit of this is the personal interaction, so don't ignore that :-)⠀
2. KEEP IT MOVIN'
Don't worry about posting online right away. That's just one of hopefully several more pics! Move on to the next fan or group of fans and thank them for coming. REPEAT until it's time to hit the stage.⠀
3. SHOW... THE SHOW
If you've got a good crowd for your show, try to get some audience pics during the set as well. It'd be great to have your sound engineer or trusted band friend get a couple of shots from behind the band too (drummer point of view). I always loved those angles, especially if there's great lighting and you can see fans' reaction to what you're doing on stage! Show what the show is like!⠀
4. EXTEND THE NIGHT
If at all possible, get the pictures online within the next 12-24 hours. You want to extend that night into the next day. You want them to go to sleep thinking of how much fun they had and potentially wake up REMINDED of how much fun they had! If you've got enough for a photo album, be sure to date it, label it with your band name (possibly venue), but just make it FUN!⠀
5. CONNECT
When fans start to like and comment on your post, interact with them, respond to their posts, and let them know you're just as fun online as your are on stage!
You'll definitely start to see the engagement on your posts increase. Of course, depending on the current version of Facebook Algorithm, you may have to pay yourself to see your own images soon, but we'll cross that boosted bridge when we get there.
Work Smarter. Gig Harder!