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Well, I don't know about your area, but I wouldn't really overkill it, and I'd try to play in places you know you'd be most appreciated. For example, I live in Columbus, Indiana.. a shitty, closeminded, little hicktown where like 3 people appreciate the shit I do. No one here has ever been the least bit successful with anything they've ever done in their lives, so they automatically are jealous and hate anything that even slightly has any success. I can travel 20 miles north, however, and go to this insane art/college town and have 200 people at my show on, like, a Tuesday night, with little promotion, not because a bunch of people worship me, but just because they're more open minded, more supportive, more into art and things that are different. Also, PLENTY of people from that town have broken out and gotten successful, there's record labels there, all kinds of fun shit (Bloomington, Indiana).
So, I guess what I'm saying is, playing a bunch of shows to a town that isn't supportive is going to be pointless, pretty much, but if you can play shows in larger areas, places where people will actually come, then that works. I've played shows to 500 people and I've played shows to 5, and honestly it's all about what you want to do. With 500, you're guranteed to piss some people off, but it was probably more fun. With 5, it was more intimate, and it was nothing but cool people there so I preferred it a bit...
I think the old adage "play a bunch of shows, that's how you do it!" isn't true in every case. Playing a bunch of shows doesn't mean anything, but if you play a bunch of the RIGHT shows, in the RIGHT places -- that might mean something. Again, it's all down to your geography, which I can't comment on to much, or how receptive people are in your town.
As for bringing people to shows.. your guess is as good as mine. Some obvious stuff... make it on the weekends usually, make it as a decent venue... but I think it helps to have some hook. When Scissor Shock was playing a bunch, I had some bullshit description put on the flyer every time... one time it said "The harshest skronk punk to ever exist EVER." or some garbage, haha. Little things like that can get people to be like "What the fuck?"
I saw a band recently called butt piss. Just becuase they were named butt piss.
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