What is the best way to find paying gigs.?

Cofrancesco · #1 05-24-2010, 07:49 PM

We made this band 8 Months ago, and have already played tons of shows and have a decent following. How would i go about finding gigs that actually pay?

Steve · #2 05-25-2010, 07:57 AM

Your profile is a little thin so, it's hard to be specific to what you're into but...

Be professional, marketable and worth paying for.

Seriously, that will do you more good than all the tactics, tricks and gimmicks on the planet.

Bruce Lindfield · #3 05-25-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cofrancesco

How would i go about finding gigs that actually pay?

Seriously - if we knew the answer to that, we would be out there making millions and not typing on an internet forum!!

jgroh · #4 05-25-2010, 08:02 AM

Do what we do...put together a good marketing kit (really all we needed was a cool website with some half decent demos on it, and a good business card) and go to bars, clubs, anywhere that has bands play and let them know about you. Talk yourself up to the owner or person that books bands and try to leave with a date or promise to check you out. Thats what we do and it works for us.

DiabolicLow B · #5 05-25-2010, 08:07 AM

Start looking online for a local agent but make sure you have some kind of package together, band photos, set list, posters and a video of a live performance is a big plus.
The agent will usually take 10-15% of your pay but it is more than worth it.
Good luck!

bluewine · #6 05-25-2010, 11:04 AM

Get an agent, and if you are an originals band switch to 100% covers.

Bruce Lindfield · #7 05-25-2010, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluewine

Get an agent, and if you are an originals band switch to 100% covers.

That sounds like as surefire way to lose money - very quickly!!

jive1 · #8 05-25-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

That sounds like as surefire way to lose money - very quickly!!

I'd like to know how a cover band with an agent will lose money faster than an original band?

Does it mean that in your neck of the woods that original bands get more gigs and get paid better than cover bands? If so, someone's musical utopia is somewhere in Britain.

Or maybe you read the post incorrectly?

Bruce Lindfield · #9 05-26-2010, 02:06 AM

I think it's just funny - I can imagine telling that to U2, Radiohead or a band like that when starting out ...

I saw both at small venues in Brighton and I actually saw Radiohead doing a free gig at Sussex University..

If they had taken advice like that given in this thread - they would have lost a lot of money!

EddiePlaysBass · #10 05-26-2010, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I think it's just funny - I can imagine telling that to U2, Radiohead or a band like that when starting out ...

I saw both at small venues in Brighton and I actually saw Radiohead doing a free gig at Sussex University..

If they had taken advice like that given in this thread - they would have lost a lot of money!

And of course they are the rule, not the exception ...

somegeezer · #11 05-26-2010, 03:02 AM

You can definitely make more money with originals over here in the UK. Definitely most the gigs me and fellow music lovers will go to are original bands. If you want to hear something that's already written, buy the CD or watch the actual band who wrote it play it. I think covers are more of an American thing really. People here like to hear something they've never heard before.

Bruce Lindfield · #12 05-26-2010, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somegeezer

You can definitely make more money with originals over here in the UK.

Definitely most the gigs me and fellow music lovers will go to are original bands. If you want to hear something that's already written, buy the CD or watch the actual band who wrote it play it.

I think covers are more of an American thing really. People here like to hear something they've never heard before.

Yes - it's always interesting to me how we speak the same language, yet we live in different worlds!

jive1 · #13 05-26-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I think it's just funny - I can imagine telling that to U2, Radiohead or a band like that when starting out ...

I saw both at small venues in Brighton and I actually saw Radiohead doing a free gig at Sussex University..

If they had taken advice like that given in this thread - they would have lost a lot of money!

And if you had given that advice to every original band you ever saw, they would have been the next U2 or Radiohead.

amosjones · #14 05-26-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I think it's just funny - I can imagine telling that to U2, Radiohead or a band like that when starting out ...

I saw both at small venues in Brighton and I actually saw Radiohead doing a free gig at Sussex University..

If they had taken advice like that given in this thread - they would have lost a lot of money!

I think the OP is talking about making money right now, not building a music empire and being a super star some time in the future.

In my area people are much more willing to listen to classic covers than original music, and Bars pay for what people want to listen too. There is a lot less risk(as a listener) in going to a cover show than an original show.

Kenner · #15 05-26-2010, 07:51 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm8iUjlCByo

Yeah, it's a cover band, but this is what we send to prospective bars we want to play to get paid.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83iN0...eature=related

....and we send these to the bars we are going to play ahead of time so they can loop it into their ads.....

BassLand · #16 05-26-2010, 07:58 AM

1. Be very good at what you do

2. Let people who like what you do and hire musicians know about you

3. Keep you cell bill paid

**251** · #17 05-26-2010, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cofrancesco

We made this band 8 Months ago, and have already played tons of shows and have a decent following. How would i go about finding gigs that actually pay?

The 'best way' is to use every way you can think of & ask everyone you know what they would do. Perhaps you will find more ways. Expect to do things that are unproductive. It is likely 20% of effort will bring 80% of results. Getting the last 20% of results is where the real hard work happens. Do not settle for the 'easy' 80% of what is possible. That remaining 20% is probably the difference between long term success & a marginal existence.

Be prepared to "interview" sales pro's, about how they work. Look for people trained by Insurance, Investment & Pharmaceutical companies. They have been well taught to persist without offending, to recognize body language & word choices & to take a step by step approach to a prospective customer.

Sad to say, there are no short cuts, there is no magic.

DrayMiles · #18 05-26-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

I'd like to know how a cover band with an agent will lose money faster than an original band?

Does it mean that in your neck of the woods that original bands get more gigs and get paid better than cover bands? If so, someone's musical utopia is somewhere in Britain.

Trust me.. It isn't

A smaller scene, is what ol' Blighty is fer sher..

crijan · #19 05-26-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somegeezer

You can definitely make more money with originals over here in the UK. Definitely most the gigs me and fellow music lovers will go to are original bands. If you want to hear something that's already written, buy the CD or watch the actual band who wrote it play it. I think covers are more of an American thing really. People here like to hear something they've never heard before.

That's strange, because I know there are hundreds of Tribute Bands playing in the UK, which is for the sake of this argument are bands that are playing covers.

mpdd · #20 05-26-2010, 11:00 AM

don't play in kent, ohio or pittsburgh, pennsylvania if you want to get paid