When it comes to live music in Toledo, size matters.

Before the Christmas holiday, Trans-Siberian Orchestra attracted more than 14,000 people for a pair of shows when it rocked the Huntington Center, making the venue a perfect fit for the number of people attending the shows.

When local musicians need a place to perform an acoustic set to a much smaller audience, restaurants such as Ye Olde Durty Bird, Fleetwood’s Tap Room, or Swig are capable of providing an intimate atmosphere.

While venues like the Huntington Center, which can seat about 7,200 people, the Stranahan Theater at roughly 2,500 seats, and the Valentine Theatre with its 900-seat house, provide key environments for national acts coming through the area, promoters say there is a need for smaller settings for local musicians and bands to perform.

That’s where venues such as Frankie’s Inner-City, the Ottawa Tavern, and Headliners fill that gap, as well as Cock N Bull Tavern, the Village Idiot, Black Cloister Brewery, the Blarney Irish Pub, and more.

Cody Sizemore, director of operations for Innovation Concerts, said his organization has a partnership to promote shows for Frankie’s Inner-City, the Ottawa Tavern, and Headliners, which typically tries to have at least five to 10 shows per week.

He said bands are usually booked after Innovation reaches out to a group’s booking agent, or if the organization is notified of a specific band traveling through Toledo.

“We’re the type of company that books all kinds of different genres, and that’s something we pride ourselves on,” Sizemore said. “We don’t like to stick to one genre.”

Venues like Frankie’s and the Ottawa Tavern have an occupancy capacity of about 350 people, a size that works to the advantage of many up-and-coming bands, as well as Innovation Concerts.

“We catch bands on their way up and help them grow to be a better band in our market through time,” Sizemore said.

Smaller venues not only provide a starting point for newer bands, but offer more intimacy for fans. Sizemore said a place like Frankie’s Inner-City allows people to watch their favorite band up close, while also providing a chance to meet the musicians before or after the show.

“You’ll meet the band you’ll see,” Sizemore said, adding such opportunities would be much harder at a larger venue. “You’ll meet them, hang out with them, and get the front row. When you’re at a smaller place you feel much more connected to the music and bands.

“I’ve seen bands become close with fans, swap numbers, and have them stay at their house,” he said. “It’s always cool when someone can say, ‘Oh yeah, I helped that band grow.’ ”

Broc Curry, Innovation Concerts founder, said other factors contribute to scheduling a concert, including crowd size, whether the market can financially support the show, and the breadth of a given band’s appeal.

Curry said Innovation has promoted shows for more than five years, but decided to take a break in November, 2015, for several months because of a lack of people attending shows and being burned out on overworking. After a torrent of support from fans and musicians, Innovation Concerts picked up where it left off last March.

“It was really cool to see that, and it made us, as a company, excited to do more,” Curry said, adding that ticket prices for local bands usually range

from $5-$7 while admission for larger acts could be as high as $25.

After deciding to promote concerts again, Curry said he’s seen an increase in the number of people coming to a show. He said Toledo-area bands like Citizen, Convictions, and Five Horse Johnson, who tour on a national level, only contribute to the momentum.

“It’s cool to see these things come together and I think as the scene becomes tighter as a unit, it’s only going to keep growing,” Curry said.

Local restaurants also fill a need for acoustic sets from local musicians.

Julie Ketterman, general manager for the Ye Olde Durty Bird in the city’s warehouse district, said hosting live entertainment attracts more people to the restaurant, and is a way to support local musicians seven days a week.

“It’s important because there are so many talented musicians here in town,” Ketterman said. “It’s a major element here.”

Michael Keedy, director of events and entertainment for the Toledo Mud Hens, Toledo Walleye, and Hensville Toledo, promotes shows at Nine, Fleetwood’s Tap Room, and Hensville Park. He said he is always looking to see who is performing in the area and who would be more appealing to each place. Local musicians perform not only in Fleetwood’s Tap Room, Nine, and the Hensville Park, but on the rooftop areas of the restaurants as well.

“I feel like there is a lot of momentum right now in the warehouse district in Toledo where it’s become a destination for people in northwest Ohio to see live music,” Keedy said. “It’s become a great community where you can walk around and see 10-15 bands at different bars. I think it’s great for the scene and the community.”

Sizemore said an average of 200 people will stop out to see a local band perform, which might not be the case for other towns and cities.

“It’s very underrated and underestimated,” Sizemore said. “There’s so much talent in Toledo. We just really want to help the Toledo music scene grow in every aspect. The sky is the limit.”

Contact Geoff Burns at: gburns@theblade.com or 419-724-6110.

First Published January 5, 2017, 5:00 a.m.