I used to throw some great parties. All I would have to do is mention party, and my house would get packed.
Now many years later, I can't seem to get folks interested in my parties or coming to gigs. I know there is a LOT of various reasons (i.e. kids, money's tight, lazy, don't party no more, my wife hates your wife, you ain't as fun as you used to be, etc.). Age seems to be the biggest factor. Many of my friends are approaching 50, just like me. But I still get out and go to parties and gigs.
I send out 80+ email invitations and post flyers on newsgroups and such. I call my faithful party aninmal friends. But still, I can only get about 1 to 3 couples to come to a gig (the rest have not heard me play in a band for 30 years - surely they can't remember that far back
). My last party was a disappointment with only about 25 guest - and we had live music. We had food for 75 people.
So, do you have any solid suggestions on how to get more folks to attend gigs (without giving away stuff)?