For many performers, campus show days start long before they arrive. It’s not uncommon for artists to wake up before dawn, take multiple flights, drive hours from the airport, or travel through difficult weather. Sometimes, this happens all within a single day.
That’s why feeling welcomed on arrival matters so much. As one performer put it, “It makes a huge impact when we feel welcomed - even if that means our name on a parking space, a poster or signboard advertising the show, or a simple gift bag. It lets us know that you’re excited for the show”. These artist hospitality gestures don’t require big budgets, but they make a big emotional impact. When performers feel welcomed, they arrive energized and ready to give students their best.
Artists spend a lot of time creating promotional materials that reflect who they are and how they connect with audiences. When those assets are used thoughtfully, everyone benefits. Using random images pulled from Google or AI-generated visuals that don’t reflect the performer’s brand can unintentionally misrepresent the artist and make promotion less effective. Performers want students to show up, and they’re usually more than willing to help with ideas, videos, and creative content if they’re asked.
The strongest promotions happen when campus teams lean into the materials provided, communicate early, and collaborate creatively. When promotion feels like a shared goal instead of a last-minute task, student event turnout and engagement improve dramatically.
One of the most common things performers share is this: there’s no such thing as too much communication in college booking. As one of our musicians said, “If we're coming to your campus, chances are most likely we've never been before, so please don't assume we know anything about how it operates or where to go. The more communication and transparency we get from you guys, the less stressed we feel and the more we can focus on our performance!”
What feels obvious to someone who works there every day (where to park, how to find the venue, when doors open, or how students typically engage) may be completely unfamiliar to a visiting performer. Clear, frequent event coordination communication reduces stress and allows artists to focus on what they do best: delivering a great show.
Advancing isn’t just about technical details. One artist stated that “the more that is done up front and the more we can know how the bookers/venue is preparing for the show/marketing it, the more we can prepare/do on our end. Things like ticket info (if applicable), specific promotion efforts, and anything they would like us to do on our end. We want to help do everything we can to make it the best show possible for all of us!”
When performers know how an event is being marketed, whether tickets are involved, what kind of crowd is expected, and what success looks like for the campus, they can prepare more intentionally for college performances. Artists want to help make events successful. Sharing details early gives them time to adjust content, energy, and engagement strategies to fit the campus environment. The result is a show that feels customized, not cookie-cutter.
At the end of the day, most challenges between performers and college activities teams aren’t about effort or intent. They’re about alignment. When artists feel welcomed, informed, and supported, they show up ready to give students an unforgettable experience. When campus event planners communicate clearly and collaborate early, they set everyone up for success. Thanks to all of our performers that shared their thoughts and work so hard every day to make their performances great!
At Degy, we connect college activities boards with professional performers who are ready to create unforgettable campus experiences. Whether you're planning your first college concert or looking to elevate your student programming, our team understands both sides of the booking process.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you book the perfect entertainment for your campus event. Let's work together to create shows that students will remember long after graduation.
College bookers should prioritize clear communication, artist hospitality, early advancement, and collaborative promotion. Artists perform best when they feel welcomed, informed about campus logistics, and partnered with on marketing efforts.
Simple gestures like reserved parking with the artist's name, welcome signage, promotional posters, or a small gift bag make performers feel valued. These low-cost touches significantly improve the artist's experience and performance energy.
Advancement is the pre-event planning process where college bookers share details about promotion, ticket sales, expected audience, and venue logistics with performers. Early advancing allows artists to customize their performance for the campus environment.
Use the promotional materials provided by the artist rather than random or AI-generated images. Collaborate early with performers on marketing strategy, and treat promotion as a partnership to maximize student event turnout.
Visiting artists are unfamiliar with campus logistics like parking, venue locations, and load-in procedures. Over-communicating details reduces artist stress and allows them to focus on delivering an exceptional performance for students.
Successful campus events result from alignment between college activities teams and performers. This includes welcoming artists, communicating clearly, advancing early, collaborating on promotion, and sharing campus-specific details that help artists prepare.
While booking timelines vary, early booking (several months ahead) allows more time for advancement, promotion planning, and collaboration with artists. This leads to better-prepared performances and higher student attendance.
Colleges should provide parking instructions, venue location and layout, load-in times, technical specifications, audience size expectations, promotional plans, ticket information (if applicable), and any campus-specific protocols or traditions.