Promotion
Conor Byrne’s Practical Guide to
Promoting Your Show
Want to crush your show promo game? Whether you love or hate social media, or you're ready to hit the streets with posters, this guide will help you get the word out and fill the room. Let’s dive in!
Or NAH- Just give me an EASY PROMO CHECKLIST!
Social Media:
Tips to Make It Work for You
We get it—social media can feel like a love/hate thing, but it’s still one of the best ways to promote your show. Here’s how to make it work without feeling weird about it:
Collaboration & Tagging
The Algorithm Reality Check: Only about 30% of your audience sees a post without paid ads. Gross, right? But here’s how to make the algorithm work for you:
Coordinate collaboration posts with the other bands and the venue when the show gets announced.
Tag all accounts in the caption and invite them as collaborators (or add them in the “tag” section of your post).
Important Collaboration Tips:
If your collaboration request isn’t accepted within the first hour, it could limit your post’s reach. Timing is everything!
Our Posting Schedule:
We post daily about shows between 9–11 AM (usually around 10 AM). On the day of your show, be ready to accept our request or coordinate with us for maximum reach.
If you send us a collaboration request, aim for after 12 PM and give us a heads-up. Too many posts from our account in one day can slow things down.
How Often Should You Post?
One post isn’t enough! A good promo strategy involves multiple posts over time, ramping up in the two weeks before your show. Here’s a cheat sheet:
Mix it up! Don’t just post your poster repeatedly—create a variety of posts, reels, and stories.
Faces Win: Posts with faces (even a cute cat’s face!) tend to perform better.
Post Ideas:
A carousel with band photos + your poster.
A reel featuring live footage or photos + your music.
Share stories when other bands/venues tag you.
Use your music if it’s available on Instagram—or have fun using songs from artists who inspire you.
Why Consistency Matters
People want to be part of something exciting! If you and the other bands on the bill post frequently and genuinely share your excitement, fans and friends will want to be there.
The Golden Rule: Always Tag Us!
Tag @conorbyrnepub in all your promo. (Don’t just write “Conor Byrne” in the caption—use the handle!)
What’s the Difference Between @conorbyrnepub and @conorbyrnecoop?
@conorbyrnepub: Use this for events, shows, specials, and merch.
@conorbyrnecoop: Reserved for venue business, co-op updates, and member news. (We rarely promote shows here.)
IRL Promo: Posters Still Work!
Poster Creation
Coordinate with the other bands to decide who’s designing the poster. (Free tools like Canva have great templates!)
Don’t stress if the poster isn’t ready at announce—it’s a great excuse to post again later.
Send the artwork to the booker so we can print some for the venue or let you know if we need you to drop some off.
Poster Printing & Distribution
Share printing costs with the other bands if possible. Keep these poster costs in mind when sending your door split percentages to the booker
Put posters up in the neighborhood a week or two before the show (coffee shops, record stores, etc.).
Show Lists & Radio
Websites like Do206, The Stranger, Show List Seattle, Seattle Synth Shows and others regularly collect information about shows going on around Seattle. Make sure your show is listed on their site. We feed our shows to Do206 & The Stranger but don’t hesitate to let other sites know about your show. Also, make sure it’s listed on your website and Bands In Town so it gets automatically picked up by aggregators like Song Kick and others.
Radio
College radio stations (like KBCS) and internet radio stations are more welcoming to new music- especially around album releases. Send over links to your music and any upcoming shows.
What Conor Byrne Does to Market Your Show
Here’s what we do to help get the word out:
Add your show to the Conor Byrne website (conorbyrnepub.com).
Include it in our physical venue calendars and weekly newsletter.
Post about it on our Instagram feed the day of the show.
Periodically share YOUR posts/stories. We’re also happy to accept collaboration requests.
Pro Tip:
Send us your poster artwork early! If we have it in time, we can print one for the venue.
By combining consistent social media efforts with good old-fashioned IRL promo, you’ll maximize your reach and create some serious energy for the show. Plus bookers like to work with bands who actively promote their shows - even if they’re still working on building their draw so the effort isn’t wasted even if you don’t have the turnout you were hoping for. It will pay off!