Increasing Audience numbers

[mark.urmston]

As a Commitee member of Epsom and Ewell Silver band, one of the hot topics for discussion is how do we increase audience attendants at concerts.

Based in Epsom, Surrey, we don't have the sort of community associations a northern band has and therefore don't have a vast army of dedicated followers.

We tend to get around 100 people to a good concert, although at least 25 are usually family and friends. We are concerned however, that some of our audience members are on the older side and are starting to struggle with mobility and therefore could lose the ability to come to concerts.

There are Brass Bander's in the general area (A week ago, Dyke played to a packed theatre less than 10 miles down the road), but a relative few seem interested in listening to an ambitious 3rd Section band.

Question 1:
Are other bands worrying about the fact that the stereotypical brass band audience is getting older and are attendance figures dropping in general?

Question 2:
If so, has anyone had any good ideas in how to get new audience members interested?

Question 3:
In general does anyone have any good publicity tips?

I hope my post makes sense; it is a pet rant of mine at the moment. It's just I have realised that as a band and possibly as a banding community, we need to act now to secure audiences for the future and therefore secure a future for our bands.

Any Thoughts?

Mark.

[njh]

One thing to ensure you do, is to publicise your event at http://www.bandsman.co.uk/cgi-bin/event ... ?db=events

-Nigel

[mark.urmston]

Our next concert (17th June, St Baranabas' Church Epsom, 19:30 ) is advertised on the announcements list on the Forum, however I will add it to the events page as well.

Thanks

Mark.

[njh]

Another thing to try is press releases. I used to be on the board of a company selling software to PR agencies and before that I worked closely with an agency that the PR for the division I ran of a software company down south. I learnt the art of putting together a release and how to get publicity through the media, so if you want some advice just ask me!

-Nigel