Promoting yourself for sub/fill in/part time - Help me out.

[IvanMike]

hey kids.............

silly question but i figure some of you may have some advice.

I've been gigging and recording for 18 years as well as doing live sound. I currently play in a band doing about 3 gigs a month. I've done some sub work for friends, but not a ton. I've been meaning to get into some more gigs/recording for a while, but my current financial situation has given me a kick to do so. So far I've posted on a few online sites for musicians wanted/available. I've also just begun to make rounds at the open mics in the area sitting in with whomever wants it and in cases where there is a house band, giving the bass player a break and doing backup for open mic'ers with the rest of the house band. Needless to say, most bands and individuals are looking for someone to commit entirely to them. (They're gonna be stars ya know, they can feel it - ).

I can generally do a sub gig of totally unfamiliar tunes with a day's analysis of a band's CD or copies of their cover songs, plus a I know a lot of tunes. even tonight I went to an open mic, had a singer/songwrite dictate me the chords and arrangements of 4 songs and pulled it off.

So, any other ideas as far as promoting myself for this sort of work? I'm even willing to commit to another act as long as the gig schedule isnt more than a few times a month and i can coordinate the two schedules (or have a friend stand in for me occasionally). And sub gigging and recording is a blast and helps with cash. I haven't been promoting myself for very long and i know it takes time to get "networked". Just wondering if any of you had some brilliant or even mundane suggestions. Of course, it would help if those of you doing the suggesting actually had experience with exactly this sort of thing.

Thanks a ton,

Ivan

[Passinwind]

Open mikes are definitely a good move, but try to play with the better players, or at least someone who will make you look good. I get gig offers pretty often on the strength of open mike performances. Plus, it's fun playing in groupings that a lot of us don't have time to make happen otherwise.

If I let them, the local music store would probably send me a few bass sub calls a month. Double-edged sword there though, for sure.

Best of luck. It does take time to build some networking, and that seems key to what you're looking to do.

[brianrost]

It takes time, you need to just keep plugging away and schmoozing with people. I do a lot of freelancing and it all came via word of mouth or meeting someone on one gig who called me later for another one.

The only tip I can give you is get tight with as many local drummers as you can ESPECIALLY those who freelance themsleves! Drummers who like playing with you will recommend you for other gigs that they are on.

[IvanMike]

Originally Posted by brianrost

The only tip I can give you is get tight with as many local drummers as you can ESPECIALLY those who freelance themsleves! Drummers who like playing with you will recommend you for other gigs that they are on.

thanks, great advice.

[IvanMike]

Originally Posted by Joshua

I'm not sure how many gigs Mike Nunno is currently doing, but he has passed on the odd gig to me. Let him know you're available and it might lead to a few.

Good luck!

thanks josh, i already talked to him a while ago about that. as far as i know, mike still gigs more often and with more different people than just about anyone i know.

[NV43345]

I also posted on a local on-line site and was swamped with work.I had to pass some off to other local Bass Players.
In the past I have posted ad's on the bulletin boards at all the local Music stores,as well as networking with as many
sales people as i could at the stores.But the real work came
from the local studio's I went around to all of them and
talked to them and left my card,and got some good work from that,and kept a spreadsheet and I call back to the ones
I have not heard from.I have built some really good relationships doing that.

[xyllion]

Posting to musician available/wanted sites won't get you anything of value. You need to get out there and shamelessly promote yourself. Open mic nights are a start. Make use of every contact that you have and let them know that you are looking. Hang out at local music stores and get to know anyone and everyone. The more people that you know, the better chance you have of making a connection.

If you know anyone that is in any way connected with a local studio, beg and plead with them to introduce you to the engineers.

Finally, best of luck. I hope that you get what you are looking for.

[Jace The Bass]

I think what you are doing is fine also I think brianrost said everything that you need to know by networking with drummers , musicians that freelance themselves they will spread the word and as you do it's like a chain-reaction others will catch on and then your rep grows so like brian said be patient this takes time by your thread it looks like your musicianship would speak for itself
I've been there and it took me a while but once they HEAR YOU bothby word of mouth as well as playing you begin to get calls and they will hunt you like flies

[Pacman]

I used to be just about everybody's sub in Atlanta. My advice: take lessons with the busiest guy in town.

[NV43345]

[quote=xyllion]Posting to musician available/wanted sites won't get you anything of value.

Maybe in you area this is true,however I did real well posting.
Here are just a few of the responses to my ad.

1.We've got a gig this Friday at Bourbon Street in New Port Richey. Need fill-in bassist badly because bassist dropped out at last possible minute. Pay $100 for 12 song set. All original Alternative Rock. Also full lemgth Mp3's on the Reality Snap jukebox under Alternative.

2.Well, we're an original project / band (acoustic / electric) in need of a versatile bassist A.S.A.P.
Also have a cover side gig for extra $, if your interested. We play any where in the Tampa Bay area (beyond... for more $). The original project is the main thing.
I have a 24-track digital studio, so we'll be doing a lot of recording along with rehearsals.

3.We are lead Vocals, Guitar and drums ...And we are very well fused ...Mostly
blues with Jazz....I would like us to get together and see what happens ..if
anything...ie you dont fit with us, maybe I could hire you to come out and
help us practice...i really need a bass player that can keep up with some of
the guys that i have brought to this project.....I havent met one yet

4.HI, my name is Rob Clark, my band and I are in search of a bass player, that's into an all original project. We have recorded 4 cd's, and currently working on our song productions and arrangements for our 5th. We have played together for the last 8 years, and have opened for many national acts, as well as winning many Battle of the Bands contests. We have played every venue in the area as well as Jannus Landing, and the St. Pete times forum. We wrote the Buccaneers " Going to the Superbowl " song the year they won it, and have had our songs played all over clearchannel radio, as well as Disney Radio. We practise 2 times a week, Usually Wed,and Sat. If this is something you might be interested in checking out, please feel free to contact me back, via e-mail, or my cell.

This was just a few of the ones I made Money on and built
some good relationships out of.There were so many I could not
get to cause of schedule conflicts I passed some of to a fellow TB'er and some other local Bass players.Right now I
am booked thru Easter with work.

[IvanMike]

nv, what site did you post on?

[NV43345]

Originally Posted by IvanMike

nv, what site did you post on?

It is our local site.http://tampabayentertainment.com/
It gets folks from all over the state.It is a mirror of
Realitysnap.com

You can post gigs on there also,all in all not a bad site.