April 12, 2022
You will know if your podcast has gained traction if it has amassed a loyal following. You’re even more fortunate if your show has helped build a community of fans who are eager to attend a live show. Especially if you’re planning a tour, you will need to think about allowing your followers to see you in person and engage them further. For this reason, you might want to organise a fan meet where you can get closer to your fans and, more importantly, amplify your brand.
However, arranging a fan meet is easier said than done, considering all the details involved in planning an event that’s expected to see record attendees. It gets even more difficult if your podcast is among the most followed, and you will have to make sure it remains engaging and safe for everyone eager to see you live. Proper planning is all it takes to organise a successful fan event for your podcast, so here’s a simple guide to help you make the most of your time and resources:
For the most part, you need to lay down the objectives and long-term goals you want to accomplish for your fan meet. You can treat it as a way to thank your followers for their loyalty and, at the same time, increase awareness of your show. Once you have established these foundations for your event, you can then proceed to figure out the other details, including the budget, date, and venue of the event.
It would be easier to organise one if your podcast only has less than a thousand followers, but you may have to take as much time as you need for event planning if you’re expecting more than a thousand attendees. If that’s the case, you may have to think about the logistical and security-related challenges you will have to face and the amount of money you need to pull this off.
If you’re thinking of organising a standalone event, you may have to think about getting support from content creators or podcasters who have worked with you before. Promote your event as a means for these influencers to get traction. In turn, they may use their platforms to advertise your event or sponsor certain aspects.
For this reason, you should always consider tapping into your professional network so you can lessen the complexities involved in putting your event together. What’s more, it would also help if you could form partnerships with brands related to your niche so you could funnel more money to your event budget.
The venue should also be among your top priorities when planning a fan meet. You just have to consider the context of the event and the number of people expected to turn up. If it’s going to be an intimate fan meet, you can opt for smaller function halls or public spaces so long as you secure the right permits.
All you need is to shop around for 10x15 custom tents or similar arrangements, which are great if the fan meet is part of a larger event such as a convention or conference. Larger venues may include activity areas in malls or theatres. Whichever the case, your venue should provide your attendees with optimal comfort.
You can put a premium on event execution, but it still matters to know what to do after your successful fan meet. It won’t be the last, so it pays to learn about what needs to be improved for your next meet-up.
If you’re planning to give away loot bags to your attendees, you may have to consider giving them pamphlets with QR codes that lead to an online survey form. Learn from the comments sent by your attendees so you will know how to organise future events with larger turnouts.
A fan meet is your podcast’s way of engaging its community. Make the most of it by following these essential tips.
