Halloween is right around the corner! Are you ready? Got plans to perform live or throw a listening party somewhere?
As with any holiday, the opportunity to do a little something special for your fans is not to be overlooked. In fact, Halloween is prime time for breaking routine, having a little fun, and connecting with people through a shared cultural context. And everyone goes out on Halloween, so it’s a great chance to get a few extra fans in the door to your show at home or on the road.
Here’s how to make this year extra special for your fans.
Throw a Haunted House Halloween Show
Three years ago, I went to the coolest (and only) haunted-house themed Halloween show I’ve ever been to, and as you can tell, it left a lasting impression. Why more bands aren’t taking the opportunity to combine two of the greatest things ever (haunted houses + live music) is beyond me, but if you really want to celebrate Halloween with your fans, there’s no better way. A little bit of effort goes a long way, but going over the top and decorating every nook and cranny of the space and stage will make it unforgettable.
Go to the Dollar Store, buy some supplies, maybe splurge on renting a fog machine, ask a few friends to volunteer as actors to scare and entertain guests, and make it the most incredible show they’ve ever been to!
Make Spook-tacular Limited Edition Merch
How fun is this?! Imagine going to see your favorite band sometime in October and, not only do they put on a memorable live show, but instead of the same old T-shirts and stickers they always have, there’s something a little special. A little Halloween treat in the form of limited-edition-themed merchandise (glow in the dark pins, posters specific to the show, a bowl of edible severed fingers on the merch table, etc.), will get them pretty stoked.
Don’t shy away from putting out candy corn, spooky stickers, Halloween-themed shirts, sweatshirts, socks (why not?! Your feet do get cold in the Fall), custom puzzles (hey, that’s a great idea any time of year), custom Halloween bags, and anything else you can brand in a way that involves ghosts, pumpkins, and all the frights included in the best time of year.
Hold a StageIt Costume Party
If you want to give fans in other cities a treat, this is the way to go. Dressing up in a unified band costume (a quick Google search of “group Halloween costumes” should help you there) then putting on a StageIt show can be a great way to celebrate. If you really want to have fun, ask fans to dress up, too, or have them vote on what costume you should wear.
Have a Social Media Costume Contest
Use the crowd to your advantage! A really fun way to engage your fans via social media is to hold a costume contest on your preferred social media platform. Ask fans to submit their photos using a specified hashtag and feature your favorite one every day or week throughout the month, and on Halloween, choose a winner and reward them with a prize pack of merch goodies or show tickets!
Not only will you score major fan loyalty points, but you’ll also get to see some pretty awesome costumes, too!
