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What does a Party Promoter do?
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
A party promoter is an entertainment professional who specializes in getting visitors to an event, club, or party. Sometimes a highly lucrative job, being a party promoter is essentially a sales and marketing job, with all the frustration and elation of handling potential customers. There are many ways a party promoter can choose to work, but most involve a great sense of the local nightlife and a charismatic ability to convince people where their night should lead.
If a party venue, such as a dance club, bar, or live music club, is looking to increase their customer numbers, they may hire a party promoter to do so. Using advertising techniques such as flyers, announcements, and Internet posts, the party promoter attempts to draw the largest crowd possible to the event. Usually, a party promoter will be paid at least partially based on the amount of people who attend the event, although some charge a flat fee as well.
There are many different ways a promoter can attempt to make an event a success. Some go to similar events in the days prior to the party, handing out flyers that give details of the upcoming party. Others use social networking websites to build a following and give details of the next great party. A party promoter can also find customers for an event by spending time in the nightlife scene himself or herself; by making friends with party-going people, a promoter can open up new avenues of clientele.
It is important for a promoter to maintain healthy professional relationships with the club owners or management. Since many promoters sign on to promote a weekly or monthly event, good business skills are often necessary to keep an ongoing relationship positive and lead to even more jobs. Although a party promoter may get a reputation as a hard-core party-goer, successful promoters know how to be professional business people as well.
Other details important for a party promoter include the size of the club and the type of crowd desired. These vital pieces of information help determine the scope and size of the promotion campaign. If a venue has only 100 seats or spaces, getting 90 people there may qualify as a success. If a space has 1000 spaces, 90 people will qualify as a massive failure. The type of crowd desired can also be a major factor in determining where and how to promote an event, since a party geared toward beer and a college rock band will draw a different crowd than improv jazz and martini events.
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a PracticalAdultInsights writer.
Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a PracticalAdultInsights writer.
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![A party promoter should know what kind of crowd to attract for, say, an improv jazz and martini event.]()
By: Lulu BerluA party promoter should know what kind of crowd to attract for, say, an improv jazz and martini event. -
![A party promoter wants to assemble the largest crowd possible.]()
By: drxA party promoter wants to assemble the largest crowd possible. -
![If a party venue, such as a dance club, bar, or live music club, is looking to increase their customer numbers, they may hire a party promoter.]()
By: Moreno NovelloIf a party venue, such as a dance club, bar, or live music club, is looking to increase their customer numbers, they may hire a party promoter. -
![Party promoters try to create a fun atmosphere for attendees.]()
By: pressmasterParty promoters try to create a fun atmosphere for attendees. -
![Party promoters might plan different events depending on the makeup of guests.]()
By: nikkytokParty promoters might plan different events depending on the makeup of guests. -
![Party promoters are in charge of securing food for an event.]()
By: Aleksey KondratyukParty promoters are in charge of securing food for an event. -
![Party promoters may help with the selection of drinks for the event.]()
By: donfioreParty promoters may help with the selection of drinks for the event.
Discussion Comments
I had a friend who worked as a kind of jack of all trades at this bar that opened up. He was the cook, the bar back and busboy, the bar promoter and also the show booker. He had a lot on his plate.
The problem that rose up was that most of his music connections were in the jam, R and B and hip hop areas. But the bar owner wanted it to have a punk feel. So the two never quite matched up. It was always like the music and the crowd were not right for each other. The bar had a lot going for it but it ended up closing after just 5 months.
How do I become a club promoter? I think I would be really good at it but I have no idea how to break into the industry. I spend a lot of time in clubs and I know how to get the party started but I am not making any money for it.
Is anybody out there a promoter now? How did you become a party promoter? I know that it is a lot about luck, timing and natural skills, but any advice you can give me I would really appreciate.
It is not easy being a party promoter, especially in a large city. The simple fact is that there is a lot of competition to draw a crowd, especially when you are trying to court celebrities or VIPS. There are bars and clubs all over this city that will go just as far as you and farther to get a certain kind of people in the door.
I remember when I first started out I promoted a few parties that didn't draw more than 20 people. The venue owners were really mad, as you would expect. But once you make some contacts and start to get the hang of the marketing the crowds get bigger. And once you build a reputation for being involved with hot parties you can market using your own name.
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