How to Get More People to Your Gigs Without Begging the Algorithm
Stop posting and hoping. There's a different way to fill shows—and it has nothing to do with Instagram.
- Build a real fanbase that shows up—without paying for ads
- Own your audience—no algorithm can take it away
- Fill shows consistently—without starting from scratch each month
You post on Facebook. Maybe people see it. Maybe they don't.
You spend $100-300 on ads. No idea if they worked.
You text friends individually. Feel guilty posting again.
Three days before your show, you can't sleep because you have no idea if anyone is actually coming.
Every show, you start from scratch.
You're capable. You manage complex things in other areas of your life. But you can't answer this simple question: "Will people show up?"
The Moment That Breaks Your Heart
After your last show, someone approached you with tears in their eyes. They told you: "That was exactly what I needed tonight."
A real connection. A real fan. And then they walked out the door and disappeared.
Maybe they'll see your next Facebook post. Probably not. You have no way to reach them.
They're gone—not because they don't care, but because there's no system to stay connected.
Stop renting your audience. Start owning the land.
You've been told the answer is "post more." But that's the problem, not the solution.
Here's what actually works: Stop renting your fans from social media platforms. Start collecting emails at your shows.
6%
Followers who see your Facebook posts
30-50%
Fans who open your direct emails
500 email addresses = 150-250 people see your message. Every time. No algorithm. No noise. Just you and people who actually want to hear from you.
You know—before the show—that people are coming.
What This Is Really Costing You
$2,400/year
On ads you can't track. That's real money.
84 hours/year
On promotion that doesn't work. That's 2+ full work weeks.
But the real cost?
- The album you're not recording because you're stuck in the promotion hamster wheel.
- The stress that's stealing the joy from something you love.
- The fans you're losing after every show.
- The momentum you're not building.
The cost is looking back years from now and thinking: "I had everything I needed. The talent. The resources. The time. Why didn't I just BUILD this?"
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO THIS
12 people on your list
87 people you can reach directly
200+ real fans
500+ people. Performing to 60-80 people consistently. Better venues reach out to YOU.
But more than the numbers:
- You stop feeling stressed about promotion
- You spend 2 hours per month on communication (not 10+ hours per show)
- You know—before every show—that people are coming
- You finally have the mental space to record that album
- You're building something that compounds over time
You have no regrets.
YOUR CHOICE
The Hamster Wheel
Keep doing what you're doing: Posting on social media. Spending money on ads. Starting from scratch every month. Wondering if anyone will show up.
The Renegade Way
Build something you actually own. Direct access to fans. A system that grows while you sleep. Full rooms and zero stress.
GET THE FREE MANIFESTO + STARTER KIT
No algorithm. No noise. Just the path forward.
Your data is safe. Only renegade vibes here.
WHO I AM
Malene — Sound engineer and musician from Norway.
I've watched talented musicians burn out trying to "do social media right."
This is the different approach for performers who want to build a real audience.
You don't have to play their game.
GET THE MANIFESTO
Get The Manifesto + Starter KitRenegade Musicians | The Gigging Musician's Guide to Filling Shows