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Darts
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
557 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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 Posted - 2013/06/07 : 18:07:46
Hey you guys, some of you know I run a Hardcore event in Leeds called "Stomp!" - Hardcore hasn't been big round there for a while (not since Vibealite were running really big lineups a few years ago, which brought in a lot of people from all over the UK - but as soon as they stopped, the scene there pretty much died on it's backside again  )
We get a good turnout at our events but I'm always trying to extend our reach and try to help build the scene in the area again... we do all the usual promo stuff - flyers, posters, Facebook, Twitter, promo mixes... but people are sick of getting their social networking pages spammed (I know I am!) and I can't help but feel there's more we could be doing.
Have you ever had any original ideas for promoting an event? Or seen an existing promotor doing something really different that's caught your attention? It'd be really good to hear your thoughts and ideas on this! 
(Our next event is on August 16th - with Kutski, Scott Brown b2b Al Storm, Fracus & Darwin, Endemic, Miss Special K, MC Obie, MC Frikshon and more - you can check it out on FB here - https://www.facebook.com/events/448863478541885 - we get a great hhc.com forum turnout so it'd be ace if some more of you could make it! )
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Warnman
Advanced Member
Germany
2,677 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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Posted - 2013/06/07 : 19:51:07
quote:
Originally posted by Darts:
Have you ever had any original ideas for promoting an event? Or seen an existing promotor doing something really different that's caught your attention? It'd be really good to hear your thoughts and ideas on this!
Hi Dave,
I don't know how the scene in the U. K. works but over here, some great clubs/events/raves became regionally quite popular because they rediscovered the old school roots: mouth to mouth propaganda plus a great location. Of course these promoters are on Facebook these days as well, but still my favorite club in my home town barely uses any needless knick-knack. Everything is focussed on the music and the lights. The walls are very naked, but this gives this place a touch of old dirty celluars or warehouses. Plus they don't use flyers at all.
One event called Vollgaaas usually monthly celebrates in a private pub run by a local biker club. They use the same concept.
Approx 30 km away from my place there is a former convent right in the woods where once in a while Goa raves occure. These one's usually are just known, if you've joined relevant internet forums.
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Ravers unite!
"Happy Hardcore: Love it... hate it... it's fun!" (Matt Stokes)
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Edited by - Warnman on 2013/06/07 19:55:53 |
Darts
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
557 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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 Posted - 2013/06/10 : 07:43:20
Deffos agreed on going back to the oldskool, Christian!
I know a lot of events don't even bother doing flyers anymore... when I flyered Stomp outside HTID in Blackpool last year some people were really miserable! Whenever I come out of raves I always want to get as many flyers as I can, I love looking through them when I get home and checking out all the designs and lineups... and thinking about what events to go to next 
ps. it sounds like you have some really good parties over there!
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No hecks given :)
Help yourself to some new Happy Hardcore merch at https://www.happyhardcore.store - tees, hoodies, hats & more!
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Edited by - Darts on 2013/06/10 07:45:55 |
djDMS
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
10,304 posts
Joined: Feb, 2003
572 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 08:54:56
It's a totally different world now mate. I used to love all the word of mouth, looking out for flyers and checking for events in magazines, shops etc.
Now, it's. Just poorly made online flyers and getting spammed to death on Facebook!
I wish the old approach could be feasible again, but sadly online is by far the best way to get the message across to a large number of people very cheaply. Trouble with that approach though is that even great events like Stomp! can get swallowed up by all the shitty events being shoved down our throats 24/7.
You ever considered doing a Stomp! podcast or maybe some sort of spoof/viral videos or radio ads that can be spread around? With your imagination and talent for randomness they could be brilliant!
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Taking my time to perfect the beat
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Edited by - djDMS on 2013/06/10 09:25:37 |
HollowRipper
Average Member
United Kingdom
155 posts
Joined: Aug, 2008
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 09:32:26
There's a company my mate uses for his events where they print out all the flyers and flyer every similar event in a given area. Saves you traipsing around yourself. I'll try find the name if you like?
Leeds is a nightmare though. You remember that night that got put on at stinkys with Kurt? The amount of people Stomp gets is amazing compared to that lol.
A podcast is a good shout, you with a special guest etc. Could ask whoever you got playing if they'd do a little mix for it for you?
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Thumpa
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,608 posts
Joined: Feb, 2009
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 09:50:41
Remember when CLSM started getting gigs Dave? They did live pas and gave out stickers, lots of odd marketing and promotion that really worked for them, they had and still have a great gimmick that really got everyone talking back in 2001/2, especially on ush. I think stuff like that still works! Last year I did an album and got buyers to take pics of the album with their pet or animal, got around 60 pics in the end so that's 60 people who put a pic of the album on their Facebook and the album sold more than any other album, maybe that had something to do with it.
Maybe flyering in fancy dress outside raves or doing something different is the answer, maybe spending a bit on flyers and giving them out with gifts like sweets or fruit outside big raves would cheer people up a bit, and then they'd look at the flyer more! I still love looking at flyers even if I have no intention of going to them, I agree that Facebook is very soul-less and spammy, shame really but everything has moved into the digital age including music and friendship!
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latininxtc
Advanced Member
United States
7,307 posts
Joined: Feb, 2006
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 15:38:50
There are shit tons of promotions that you could do out there, but there's only a handful that would reach your target audience.
I honestly think a podcast tie-in would be really good. People do love podcasts so many of us still miss the next Generation one. Or even something like a digital album with the title Stomp! presents...
Flyers still work a lot here in the US, it's always been a huge fad to collect flyers here.
I know people bitch, cry and whine about the spamming at facebook, but I notice the ones who complain the most are the ones who are involved in the events themselves. You always have the option of ignoring invites from certain people and it cuts down your spamming by a lot.
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wong
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,991 posts
Joined: Feb, 2006
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:11:33
record the sets and give them away as a free download just as you announce new line ups . not much input from me but it's something
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intensify the treatment
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_Jay_
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
6,868 posts
Joined: Oct, 2011
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:16:50
Sadly Dave, I don't think there is much more you can do. I mean, you could try all sorts of things, but I don't think there's a specific, big promotional idea out there that you haven't thought of yet, but would radically increase your visibility or attendance figures.
Here's a suggestion, though. And you may well have already thought about it. Have a word with other Hardcore promoters/events about doing a 'Stomp! vs Hardcore Underground' night (as an example). Twice the reach, half the price (presumably?!).
Beyond that, I don't think you can do too much more. You're a clever boy, and it's not because you're not creative enough or haven't thought hard enough - it's just that that is the way it is. There simply isn't much more you can do.
As for people's suggestions about Podcasts and stuff. Yeah, fair enough. You could do. But I personally think the 'effort to value' ratio simply isn't there. There are so, so many podcasts and mix series and free this and free that - it's just too much for the average fan to keep up with. And it's taxing and time consuming to routinely, consistently put Podcasts out there. Most Podcasts and series' fizzle out after a few episodes.
I know it must be frustrating to know there are more people out there, locally, that would love the night if they knew about it. But I really feel the organic growth you're already achieving is good enough, and is a very wholesome way to develop and expand. Just look at your line-up for August - fcuking nuts mate!! That will get a lot of people involved!
See how the next one goes, and then possibly consider moving to a more central location in Leeds City centre? All money though, I guess. Decision.
Mah, hope that was some help? :-)
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_Jay_
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
6,868 posts
Joined: Oct, 2011
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:18:03
quote:
Originally posted by wong:
record the sets and give them away as a free download just as you announce new line ups . not much input from me but it's something
Yes, definitely! That's good.
And it reminds me, have you got Jamie and Alex's set from April up yet?! Despo's to hear that! One of the best sets I've heard this year!
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Darts
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
557 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:18:52
Thanks for your responses guys, some really good points made here.
I'm definitely up for doing some podcasts and YouTube vids... sure it couldn't be too hard to put a video together (I used to study Media and Film & TV so hopefully I'll have remembered something useful!) - we've got some great DJ's and MC's on our regulars list so I'm sure we could get someone to rustle up a podcast. I've given some thought to doing a Stomp album before, and getting some of the guest DJ's we've had on over the last couple of years to submit tracks...
I'm gonna finish my own solo artist album first (currently about 1/3 done!), then think about doing that one next.
Ha yeah I remember when CLSM first started out, there was a really intriguing mystery about the whole thing... and then they had awesome music to boot (Sound of the Future, anyone?!)... you can't beat dressing up and doing fun stuff so that's deffos on the cards... it'll tie in with the whole "fun / stupid" vibe we've got going on with the event too.
HollowRipper - if you could find out the name that would be great, I'm not 100% sure if it's something I would go for 'cos I have to keep costs down but it's always good to put yourself in the know about things like this
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No hecks given :)
Help yourself to some new Happy Hardcore merch at https://www.happyhardcore.store - tees, hoodies, hats & more!
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wong
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,991 posts
Joined: Feb, 2006
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:19:55
quote:
Originally posted by _Jay_:
As for people's suggestions about Podcasts and stuff. Yeah, fair enough. You could do. But I personally think the 'effort to value' ratio simply isn't there. There are so, so many podcasts and mix series and free this and free that - it's just too much for the average fan to keep up with.
spoilsport
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Darts
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
557 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 17:26:10
Wong - haha that has been a big problem for us over the last couple of years due to an incomprehensible sequence of technical problems and common sense failures  - we're working on it!
Jay - yes mate we do have that set here! I need to send it over to the guys first but other things keep pushing it out of my brain! Must remember to do it!! 
Thanks for your feedback on this one, I know it's probably something you've thought about too. I definitely don't think that we've done too much wrong, I'm just never 100% happy with anything that I do in music and that's what drives me on to make things better.
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Help yourself to some new Happy Hardcore merch at https://www.happyhardcore.store - tees, hoodies, hats & more!
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Claxton
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,061 posts
Joined: Dec, 2011
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 19:09:48
You have got an amazingly tough job in a very tough area. Leeds is an incredibly hard place to get something like this started (with the overbearing house popularity) and considering you have done immensely well to do what you have.
Perhaps really target the clientele of the more local events? So hammer events like TLI in Manchester, Elevation in Durham and other events in Yorkshire etc with flyers. These are probably the people who are most likely to attend an event like Stomp!
Maybe hit up a little partnership with one of these events? Even if it isn't doing an event together, it could be something as simple as promoting each other's events on Facebook etc..
I think that reach on Facebook is really important. The more people you invite to your event, the more potential ravers you are likely to attract. Big events like HTID have over 50,000 people to invite, Stomp! obviously has far less. Increasing this base, I think, would significantly widen your audience.
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djDMS
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
10,304 posts
Joined: Feb, 2003
572 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 20:01:30
Whatever it is though, stick to your principles!
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Warnman
Advanced Member
Germany
2,677 posts
Joined: Jun, 2010
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Posted - 2013/06/10 : 20:39:25
quote:
Originally posted by Darts:
ps. it sounds like you have some really good parties over there!
I wish I could be able to agree to your statement, but I really really lowered my personal standards (musical and humanly) for events and raves very much and I'm still happy if I find anything pleasurable in my area. Still the majority is focussed to the big clubs and the music MTV orders them to listen to. Even people who are interested in electronic music still hate ravers. The only raves I can recommand are Goa ones, but they don't occure very much in my area and in a lot of other regions people tell me to stay away, because there is so much hate occuring these days like thieves, rapers who simply wait for druggy people and of course police razzias. You really need to check out events in advance and the best way is by word of mouth.
To get back focused to your original post: You must choose what is more important to you and what is your main focus and personal goal to achieve! Constantly presenting your events in every possibility might boost the amount of visitors, but people who care about the atmosphere might loose their interests, if a locations gets rushed by idiots or what British prefer to call them: chavs. Quantity or quality: you must decide it for yourself! I can only tell you the former "popular" clubs in my area shut down one after another, because to my opinion they lost the touch to the scene and have been more focused to visitors like wannabe snooty-nosed little upstarts.
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Ravers unite!
"Happy Hardcore: Love it... hate it... it's fun!" (Matt Stokes)
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