How Venues and Musicians Can Work Better Together 🎶

Musicians and venues are each other’s lifeline—without venues, musicians have nowhere to perform, and without musicians, venues have no concerts to offer their audiences. Yet, we often see misunderstandings, miscommunication, and frustration in the collaboration between the two.

So how can we improve this partnership?

Here are some practical ways for venues and musicians to strengthen their collaboration and create better experiences for both the audience and the industry.

1. Clear Expectations and Communication

Many problems arise simply because expectations are not clearly aligned.

✅ For venues: Be transparent about what you offer—what is the payment, what is included in terms of hospitality, and what technical setup is available?
✅ For musicians: Have a clear technical rider, send your PR materials well in advance, and be realistic about your requests.

A great idea is to create a mutual checklist before booking so both parties know exactly what to expect.

2. Shared Promotion – A Joint Responsibility

Many venues expect musicians to bring their own audience, while musicians often assume the venue will handle all the promotion.

🔹 Solution: Create a plan together!

• The venue can use its network and mailing list to spread the word.
• The musician can actively promote the event on social media.
• Share content: Use videos, interviews, or livestreams to engage potential audiences ahead of time.

By working together on promotion, everyone benefits!

3. Fair Payment – Both Parties Should Profit

Musicians often experience low fees or "payment in exposure and drinks," while venues struggle with financial constraints. How can we find a balance?

💡 Possible solutions:

• Guaranteed minimum fee + ticket sales: A base fee combined with a percentage of ticket revenue.
• Partnerships and sponsorships: Venues can seek local sponsors to help cover performance fees.
• Transparent agreements: Always have a written contract so both parties know the terms.

4. Technical Preparation and Sound Checks

Poor sound can ruin a concert, and it’s often preventable with better preparation.

🎤 For musicians:

• Send your technical rider in advance.
• Be flexible if your exact setup isn’t possible.

🎛 For venues:

• Have a sound engineer who knows the venue well.
• Give musicians realistic expectations about soundcheck time.

A short soundcheck guide could be a helpful document to send to musicians before a gig.

5. Build Long-Term Relationships

Good partnerships don’t happen overnight—they develop over time.

💡 Think long-term:

• Musicians can build a strong relationship with a venue by being professional, easy to work with, and delivering great performances.
• Venues can create a loyal music scene by treating musicians fairly and providing good conditions.

👉 Consider recurring collaborations, where bands perform multiple times a year and develop a consistent audience at the venue.

Conclusion: Working Together Strengthens Everyone

When musicians and venues work together better, everyone wins—musicians, venues, and most importantly, the audience. Clear communication, fair deals, and joint promotion are the keys to success.

Do you have good or bad experiences with musician-venue collaboration? Share them in the comments! 🎶🎸