Ace Gabbana

If it seems like it’s impossible to book a show in your city or that no shows are going on in your local music scene at all, maybe it’s time for you to throw one of your own.

Putting on your own showcase at a local venue might seem like a difficult task, but it’s actually pretty easy if you’re willing to do the research and the groundwork.

Some of that research entails calling venues in your city to inquire about rental fees, finding a host and a DJ, deciding if you’re going to provide food or have vendors come in to sell goods and services, and so on.

Some of the groundwork includes properly promoting your event and keeping the performing artists informed on the show details. You’ll have to put some work in but the results will be worth it.

If you don’t feel comfortable throwing a show yourself, toss the idea around with some of your friends or reach out to some influencers in your city to see if they’re down.

You don’t have to do everything yourself, there’s always people willing to help if you reach out and ask.

In 2015-2016, The Dope Show threw live events of our own in Flint, MI that gave a stage to local talent and provided a safe space for local businesses to promote and sell goods and services.

With each show, we learned something new and understood the importance of being active in the local music scene.

When you’re first starting out, reaching out to venues and artists can be a little intimidating, but don’t let nerves get the best of you. Here’s some advice from our boss Tia Scott.

Creator of The Dope Show explains her experience with throwing The Dope Show (LIVE!) events:

“I remember when I first started throwing shows. I was so nervous to contact venues to tell them about my show idea and inquire about rental prices. I just knew I would get laughed at, shot down or hung up on. However, I was mostly met with excitement from the owners of those venues. They loved my idea of bringing local talent in to perform because it would draw more people into their business. Although I didn’t realize it at the moment, it was actually a win-win for me, the venue, and the performing artists.”

If you’re down to put the work in, you should throw your own show and see what kind of impact it has in your city. Don’t be surprised when you see others start to throw shows of their own which in turn makes your local scene thrive and grow.

We’re actually cooking up something special that’ll give a more in-depth look on throwing your own dope show so make sure you stay tuned.