Music, Marketing, and Mischief with Tory Smith

Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Are you tired of staring at your iPad during gigs, struggling to read lyrics and chord charts? Discover how to elevate your stage presence and connect with your audience like never before!

In this episode of Gig Gab, host Dave Hamilton welcomes Tory Smith, a guitarist, band leader, and entrepreneur. Tory is the creator of the BLACK BOX Prompter, a revolutionary teleprompter designed specifically for musicians.

Tory shares his journey from leading cover bands to developing a game-changing tool for performers. He discusses the BLACK BOX Prompter’s features, including auto-transposition, wireless syncing, and integration with popular lyric apps.

The conversation also delves into effective marketing strategies for bands, including leveraging Facebook ads and engaging with audiences. We know what you’re thinking: Facebook can work? Tory says YES!

Dave and Tory explore the importance of investing in quality video content, the transition from bar gigs to corporate events, and the impact musicians can have on their listeners’ lives. They share touching stories of memorable performances and unexpected generosity from fans.

Don’t miss this inspiring episode that reminds us why we play music and how to “Always Be Performing.” Tune in to learn how to take your stage presence to the next level and create unforgettable experiences for your audience!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 466 – Monday, January 27, 2025
  • January 27th: National Chocolate Cake Day
• 00:01:17 Guest co-host: Tory Smith from BLACK BOX Prompter
• 00:02:07 80s Gadgets — North Texas’s funnest 80s cover band
  • Started, was rocking…and then Covid hit.
  • Came out of Covid rocking!
• 00:04:10 90 PROOF Country
  • I’m not a country music guy, but I’m a marketing guy!
• 00:06:15 From Soundcheck to … a new band?
• 00:07:39 Transitioning from Clubs and Bars to Private Parties & Corporate Gigs
  • Thinking of your band as a side hustle
  • Always be following-up!
• 00:12:16 Hire a videographer crew with real, 4K cameras plus your individual stems from the soundboard.
  • 80s Gadgets media
  • 90 PROOF Country media
  • Invest in YouTube
  • Learn SEO 101
  • Social is a must (Facebook and Instragram)
• 00:16:02 Facebook is a marketer’s dream
• 00:20:23 What do you put in your Facebook ads?
  • Build your Facebook Event a month out. Flesh out all the details, plus a photo, an emoji-filled description that describes your band (include artists or songs that you cover).
  • Use ChatGPT: “I’m in [x] cover band that covers [genres], please make me a Facebook event description that will captivate people who have never heard of my band before and attract them to the event.”
  • Then, Facebook Boost the event and target your audience (20mile radius of bar, fans of bands you cover, age-ranges, any other interests).
  • One month in advance: spend $30-$50 for the 30 days worth of boosting.
• 00:24:03 Engage with your audience on set break!
  • Use QR codes with something like HelloBand
• 00:25:48 Your competitors are likely not yet doing this…
• 00:26:43 BLACK BOX Prompter
  • It’s intelligent…with a Raspberry Pi inside
  • Custom software
  • Now has internet access for pulling in songs from Ultimate Guitar or YouTube
  • Bringing in audience interaction functionality to show who requested a song or tipped you.
  • QR-code functionality to show the lyrics to audience members on their phones
• 00:39:08 NAMM this year (booth 1229…with the rest of the innovators!)
  • Partnering with OnSong!
  • BLACK BOX Prompter powered by OnSong
  • Promo code for 10% Off: GIGGAB (applies to most promos)
• 00:42:22 3 Sins: Swiping, Squinting, and Scrolling
• 00:46:11 Auto-transpose saves the day!
• 00:46:51 The night with the $1,000 tip!
• 00:52:08 Gig Gab Outtro
  • Follow Tory Smith on Facebook (or LinkedIn)
    • BLACK BOX Prompter
    • 80s Gadgets — North Texas’s funnest 80s cover band
    • 90 PROOF Country
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • [e-mail]
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

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