The Social Set List
How to Make Marketing Work for You
You’re posting. You’re tagging. You’re doing everything the “experts” said.
But all you're getting is crickets. Sound familiar?
You're not alone.
Welcome to The Social Setlist – where we cut the fluff and get down to what actually works when it comes to marketing yourself as a live music artist in Australia. You’re not just fighting an algorithm—you’re navigating the brutal reality of a crowded content economy, an attention span shorter than a TikTok loop, and the ever-elusive mystery of “engagement.”
But here's the kicker: it can work. You just need a system that aligns with who you are, what you’re offering, and how your audience wants to receive it.
Let’s break it down.
🎯 What Actually Works on Social Media and Marketing?
You post. You hashtag. You pray to the Algorithm God.
And what do you get?
Maybe a like from your mum. A spam comment from a crypto bot.
And a whole lot of meh.
So… what gives?
Let’s decode the noise with ten real-world strategies that artists in the Pushworth Network are using to convert their social media into actual audience growth, better venue relationships, and (yes!) more gig bookings.
✅ Strategy 1: Document, Don’t Perform
You’re already performing on stage. That’s where the show belongs.
On socials? We want process, not polish.
Rehearsals. Pack-ins. Soundchecks. The sleepy post-gig servo run.
This is the stuff that makes fans feel like they’re part of it.
📸 Tip: Snap that backstage moment. Record that mic check.
Let them in on the journey.
✅ Strategy 2: Be Consistent, Not Constant
Posting every day? Burnout.
Posting once a month? Obscurity.
You need rhythm—like a setlist.
🎶 Find your beat:
2–3 posts a week. Stories on show days. Monthly behind-the-scenes drops.
Build a pattern they can follow—like a tour schedule for the online world.
✅ Strategy 3: Stick to Three Platforms, Max
Facebook. Insta. TikTok. YouTube Shorts. Threads. X. BeReal. LinkedIn?!
STOP.
Pick three platforms where your audience already lives—and live there too.
Be present. Be active. Don’t spread yourself thinner than your gig paycheque.
✅ Strategy 4: Use Short-Form Video
There’s no excuse anymore.
Your phone shoots 4K. The tools are free.
And the algorithm loves moving pictures.
🎥 What works:
15–60 sec gig highlights
Crowd singalongs
Raw acoustic takes
Fan reactions
Tour life snaps
People want to feel the show before they buy a ticket.
✅ Strategy 5: Tag, Tag, Tag
Venues. Collaborators. Local journos. Community pages.
Every tag is a bridge. Every bridge builds reach.
And if they share it? You just doubled your audience.
✅ Strategy 6: Weekly Gig Calendar = Essential
Don’t post your gig list once and ghost.
Every week, make noise. Remind them where to find you.
Tag the venue. Add the set time. Share a story from your last gig there.
🗓 Repeat after me:
“Catch us at [Venue] this Friday! Tag your crew—see you front row!”
✅ Strategy 7: Build and Use Your Mailing List
Yeah, it’s not sexy. But email still converts.
Social platforms own your followers. Your list? That’s yours forever.
🎧 Drop a monthly gig update.
Include pics. Behind-the-scenes. Fan shoutouts. Merch drops.
Keep it personal. Keep it real.
✅ Strategy 8: Feature Your Fans
Someone posts a story from your show? SHARE IT.
A fan comments “Best night ever”? SCREENSHOT IT.
That’s not vanity—it’s community.
Make them the co-stars of your story. They’ll stay for the next chapter.
✅ Strategy 9: Always Have a Call to Action
Every post should lead somewhere.
📍“Come to the show.”
🎧 “Stream the track.”
📲 “Tag a mate.”
💌 “Join the list.”
Don’t post for the sake of it. Post with purpose.
✅ Strategy 10: Be Real
You don’t need to “brand” yourself into a box.
You are the brand.
Authenticity outperforms airbrushed perfection every single time.
Let them see you. The messy bits. The funny bits. The human bits.
Because that’s what builds loyalty. And loyalty brings bums on seats.
🎤 Final Note:
If you’re gigging regularly, socials are part of your toolkit, not your to-do list.
They exist to connect your audience with your live experience.
It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about creating touchpoints—moments where someone says,
“Hey, I wanna go see that!”
So no more shouting into the void.
Build a system. Tell the story. Book the gig. Repeat.
🧠 Want help? Subscribe to the Musoverse to access our resources.
Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2025
