It’s 11:00 PM on a Friday night. The headliner finishes their set, and the house lights turn on. Within ten minutes, fans leave your venue and head home. However, fans who just watched a fantastic show do not want their night to end at 11:00 PM, especially on a Friday night. They are energized and looking for where to go next. If you give them a reason to stay in your venue, you can easily add an extra hour or two of peak bar sales to your night with almost zero extra overhead costs. 

The main reason why fans leave the venue immediately is those harsh lights, sudden silence and security ushering people out. This signals that the party is over, to capture post show revenue you need to do the following: 

• Shift the lightning instantly: Instead of turning on the harsh house lights, transition into a lounge or club lighting (depending on the vibe of the show) the second the band leaves the stage. 
• Keep the music going: Have a playlist ready or hire a DJ to play music the second the main event is over. Never let the room go quiet.
• Market your post show spaces: If your venue has a front bar, lounge, or patio space, brand it as the official “Post Show Lounge” or “Afterparty Bar”.  Make announcements from the stage before the encore, and use clear signage so fans know that the night is far from over. 

Partner with Local Talent

You do not need to spend thousands of dollars booking another touring act to keep people in the building until 2:00 AM. That will just drain your revenue and defeat the purpose of staying open past 11:00 PM. Instead, partner with local DJs who know how to keep a room lively. 

Make sure you are matching the show’s energy. If the headliner was a rock band, bring in a local DJ to play some music that matches that vibe, like 2000s indie or classic rock hits. Aligning the sound ensures fans feel like the afterparty is a natural extension of the concert.

Now how do you stop fans from leaving? The decision must feel like a no-brainer, giving them a clear incentive to stay. 

• Offer free entry to anyone who attended the show
• Provide drink specials to those who show their tickets to the bartender. 
• Partner up with local food trucks and have a food station set up. When fans get hungry they usually leave to find a late night food spot. Offering food in the venue keeps them inside drinking at your bar for a couple more hours. 

The easiest way to guarantee fans stay for your afterparty is to lock in their intent long before they even step foot in your venue. Trying to hand out flyers at the door when fans are just trying to get into the venue is messy and not effective. With AdmitONE, you can inform guests during the online ticket process. Include a checkout add on for VIP afterparty passes, or include an automated message that mentions afterparty access with the purchase of a ticket. Maximize your venue profitability and keep the party going all night.