Do you want to start a business that brings people together for the love of music? A music venue is an inspiring and rewarding venture. However, it would help if you kept in mind that this is not all fun and games.
It’s a business that needs careful planning. To succeed in any business, you need a well-thought-out strategy, and the music venue business is not any different. There will be challenges, of course, but with a clear path, you will succeed. Read on to find out how you can start a music venue.
Location
The first thing you need is a location. You can’t open a music venue without a strategic location that will help your business succeed. Visit different locations and evaluate each of them. It would be best if you considered different factors. Is this what you are looking for? Will the rental rates and property value favor your business? You need to look into each area and figure out if it is a potential customer base.
After all your research, you can then determine the location that suits your business best. However, there is still more work to be done. You need to make some calls to the district council offices and community business organizations. Ask if there are any support programs or restrictions that apply to your music venue business. You need to look into your chosen location to ensure that your business will be commercially and financially feasible.
Hire a Lawyer And Get A Business Permit
You might be wondering why you need a lawyer, but they come in handy in many situations. First, they can get you a good deal on your mortgage or lease after choosing the location and property. A lawyer can help you come to favorable terms about rent and rent interests. This will save you from future surprises such as the rent skyrocketing after some time.
You also need a permit for your music venue. It ensures that you are not arrested or fined for selling alcohol, playing music, or holding events at your locations. As long as you comply with the laws of your business, it will run smoothly. Liquor and food licenses are also important. Besides, what is a music venue without food and drinks?
Decorate & Get Necessary Equipment
The interior décor of your music venue should be totally up to you. Whether you want it to look like a spaceship or give it under the sea vibes, there is no problem. However, the only thing you should keep in mind is complying with local building and fire codes.
Ensure that issues such as venue capacity, seating arrangements, and soundproofing are all taken into consideration. Additionally, do not forget about the emergency exits, bathroom conditions, and handicap access.
After decorating, it is time to get the necessary equipment for your venue. Purchase quality speakers, a PA system, stage lights, and speakers. It is essential to buy at least more than one item in case of malfunctions during live performances.
Hire Staff
You need staff to cater to your customers during events. You can visit sites that offer staffing services such as security guards, waitresses, doormen, booking agents, and sound technicians. Other members of staff that you might need include cooks, doormen, and cleaning personnel. You need to calculate all the money you will need for your employees’ salary and other benefits. Do not forget to ask for their documents and other official documents.
Market And Advertise
Once you have decided on the location and decorated your music venue, you need to let people know that you exist. Without marketing, how do you expect people to find you? Whatever platform you use, ensure that your marketing strategy attracts the right customers. You can use social media, television, radio, pamphlets, or billboards.
Other ways of increasing your popularity include passing out flyers in places you think your customers hang out; colleges, restaurants, concert places, and coffee shops. Ensure that people can figure out what your venue offers in your advertisements.
Currently, there are so many ways of marketing businesses. You can do a short video of people having fun listening to a live music band and then using it as a paid advertisement post. People will be curious and will want to click on the video.
Book Your Band
Once you are finally done with everything, you can not breathe life into your music venue by hiring a band. Book a lineup of people to keep your customers entertained. You can collaborate with local artists to increase the number of people that come to your venue.
If you have a business website, use it to promote booking inquiries. Bands need some form of payments. You can offer free drinks for amateur artists and pay well-known artists by charging money at the door. You are the one to decide what’s best for your venue.
How To Ensure You Succeed In Your Music Venue Business
Advertise! Advertise! Advertise!
Once you get customers with your first advertisement, that does not mean that you should stop there. Retaining customers is as important as getting new ones in a business. If you want to hire the best bands, you need regular customers coming to your spot.
Advertise your venue as the place to be even when the band playing is not popular. Who are your target customers? Is your venue catering to their needs? Once you figure out such factors, you can cater and draw people in.
Be Organized and Consistent
It is essential to keep a plan and be organized. You can use technology to your advantage by using apps that act as reminders and help with organizing your schedule. All of these things are free and will free you from unnecessary pressure.
Have an organized payment plan for the bands that play in your venue. You should also have a calendar that features all your live music events. If you do not want to do all of this, you can hire someone to do it.
Communicate and Keep Your Word
It is crucial to keep in touch with the bands playing at your venue. Ensure that you are always communicating at least some days before the performance. This promotes proper preparation and avoids mistakes. Unless you have to cancel, ensure you honor all the dates. Also, ensure that you pay your band what you initially agreed to because they worked hard for it.
The Take-Away
Starting a music venue is not all glitter and gold. There will be challenges, but with a plan, you can emerge on the other end successfully. Remember that anything worth it takes time. Take time to decide on the best location and the design to have the music venue of your dreams.
