What Venues Love (and Hate) About Bands

5 Things You Should Never Screw Up

Straight talk from the live music scene: How to become a venue favorite – or end up blacklisted

If you think it’s all about playing tight and putting on a great show, think again. Venues look at a lot more than just your sound. They've seen it all – from diva attitudes and no-shows to bands that earn a permanent spot in the calendar.

Here are 5 things venues love – and 5 things that can get you blacklisted faster than you can say “backstage rider.”

1. Show up on time – and be prepared

Loved: Bands who arrive on time, are ready for soundcheck, and have their gear in order
Hated: Late arrivals, forgotten cables, and spending half an hour tuning your guitar on stage

"We run on a schedule. When one band messes it up, it affects everyone else.” – Booker at a mid-size venue in Copenhagen

2. Respect the sound tech (and everyone else on the crew)

Loved: Bands who listen to the tech crew and work with them
Hated: Musicians who treat the staff like servants and complain loudly about monitor mixes

"If you snap at our crew, we don’t talk about ‘next time.’ There is no next time.”

3. Promo is your job too

Loved: Bands that share the event, post on socials, tag the venue, and show they care about bringing people
Hated: Bands who show up and expect an audience without lifting a finger to promote the gig

“We like bands that understand it’s a team effort. We don’t book ghost bands.”

4. Behave backstage and on stage

Loved: Bands who enjoy the beer but don’t trash the backstage area or start drama
Hated: Bands who get too drunk, cause scenes on stage, or steal from other bands

“We’ve kicked people off stage mid-set because of how they behaved. That’s not rock’n’roll – it’s just embarrassing.”

5. Follow up and say thanks

Loved: Bands who say thanks after the show, follow up, and show appreciation for the opportunity
Hated: Bands who ghost the venue afterwards and assume they’ll be booked again automatically

"A simple 'thanks for tonight' and maybe a post the next day can make all the difference. We remember the good vibes.”

Bottom line: Be professional – and human

Venues don’t just book music – they book people. And people want to work with folks who are reliable, easy to deal with, and contribute to a great night for everyone involved.

Want to be a favorite? Act like one.
Want to screw it all up? That’s pretty easy too.