How to Credit Performers and Venues in London Social Posts

If you’ve ever posted a photo from a live gig in London - a jazz set in Soho, a DJ set in Peckham, or a spoken word night in Camden - you know how powerful those moments are. But posting a great shot isn’t enough. If you don’t credit the right people, you’re not just being careless. You’re erasing the work of the artists and spaces that made it happen.

Why crediting matters in London’s nightlife scene

London’s live music and performance scene thrives on community. Small venues, independent promoters, and freelance performers don’t get big budgets or PR teams. Their visibility comes from people like you - the audience who shows up, takes photos, and shares them online. When you tag the DJ, the saxophonist, or the bar owner, you’re not just being polite. You’re helping them get booked for the next show, attract new customers, and even land sponsorships.

Instagram and TikTok don’t just show your photo. They show who made it possible. A post with no tags gets lost. A post with clear credits gets shared by the artist, the venue, and sometimes even local press. In 2024, a study by the London Music Fund found that venues that received consistent social media tags saw a 37% increase in ticket sales over six months. That’s not magic. That’s attribution.

Who exactly should you credit?

It’s not just the headliner. Here’s the full list of people and places you should tag:

• Performers: Solo artists, bands, DJs, comedians, poets, dancers. If they’re on stage, they deserve a tag.
• Venue: The bar, club, pub, or gallery hosting the event. Use their official Instagram handle - not just the name.
• Promoters: The person or group organizing the night. Look for event posters or the venue’s Instagram bio - they’re often tagged there.
• Technical crew: Sound engineers, lighting techs, stage managers. If they’re visible in your photo or you know their name, tag them. Many are freelancers who rely on these credits to build their portfolio.
• Artists behind visuals: If there’s a projection, mural, or custom stage design, credit the visual artist. London’s underground scene is full of muralists and projection designers who rarely get named.

For example: If you took a photo at The Jazz Café during a live set by Lila Rose, tagged @thecafe, @lilarosemusic, and @londonjazzcollective (the promoter), you’ve done it right. Don’t just say “great night at The Jazz Café.” Name the people.

How to find the right handles

You won’t always know the exact Instagram handle. Here’s how to track them down fast:

1. Check the venue’s Instagram bio - most list upcoming events and promoter handles.
2. Look at the event poster. If it’s digital, it’s usually posted on the venue’s feed or a promoter’s page.
3. Search the artist’s name + “London” in Instagram. If they’re active, their profile will pop up.
4. Ask the bartender or door staff. Most know who’s playing and can point you to the right tag.
5. If all else fails, search the venue’s name + “events” on Facebook. Many smaller gigs are announced there first.

Pro tip: Save a quick note in your phone with the handles of your favorite London venues and artists. That way, next time you’re out, you’re not scrambling to find them in the dark.

Where to put the credits

Don’t bury them in the comments. Put them where people see them - in the caption.

Here’s a simple format that works:

Photo by [Your Handle]
Live at @venuehandle
Featuring @performerhandle
Promoted by @promoterhandle

Keep it clean. No hashtags in the first line. No emojis replacing names. If you’re posting on TikTok, use the on-screen text feature to display credits as the video plays - don’t rely on the caption alone. People scroll fast.

Some photographers add a small text overlay on the image itself: “Photo: @yourhandle | DJ: @djname | Venue: @venue.” That’s optional, but it helps when the post gets reshared without context.

What not to do

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Tagging only the venue and ignoring the performer. That’s like crediting the restaurant but not the chef.
• Using generic tags like #londonmusic or #nightlife. Those don’t help anyone get discovered.
• Posting a photo of a mural or stage design without tagging the artist. Visual creators are often invisible in this scene.
• Tagging the wrong person because you guessed the handle. Double-check spelling. @jazzlovedj is not the same as @jazzlovedj_.
• Deleting your post because you forgot to tag someone. Just comment with the correction. People understand.

What happens when you do it right

When you tag properly, you start seeing results:

• The artist reposts your photo to their 5,000 followers.
• The venue shares your post in their story, tagging you as a guest.
• A promoter DMs you asking if you’d shoot their next event.
• You get invited to exclusive previews because you’re known as someone who respects the scene.

One photographer in Hackney started tagging every performer at open mic nights. Within three months, she was invited to shoot for the Camden Fringe Festival. Why? Because the organizers saw she was the only one who consistently credited the artists. They trusted her.

It’s not just about etiquette - it’s about equity

London’s nightlife is built on creativity, not corporate backing. Most performers earn under £100 a night. Most venues operate on thin margins. Every tag you give is a tiny lift - a digital handshake that says, “I see you.”

You don’t need a fancy camera or a big following to make a difference. You just need to pause for five seconds before hitting post and ask: “Who made this happen?”

Then tag them.