Best and worst business advice?

[TBrett]

Truth! Being involved with other bands is probably the best networking.

We have found is it's much easier to get a gig if you call the venue and say you have a complete bill -3 or 4 bands to fill the night. It takes a lot of work off their plate, the evening is booked an they can move on to the next thing. For a venue, filling your calender with acts takes a lot of work, so if you can pitch an evening long event package you put together with 3 bands and a puppet show or whatever, they usually will bite.

being on good terms with many bands increases your chances of being referred to when a band can't make a date they are asked to play, or when an event or collaboration project needs more peeps on board.

Having engineering gear and chops, and a bunch of engineering geek friends is another way to help out and build contacts with bands.

I have known bands whose members were also bookers for some of the more desirable venues , and they always managed to play those places too.

We have friends who are live sound guys, they get asked to run sound for a block party or a local bar and often need a band...

In fact flipping the question form "who would book us " to
"who will frequently need to book a band?" is a good way to generate ideas for who to help/network with.

(we also had a member briefly date someone who worked at the supportive local radio station, that led to useful info about who to drop our CD / 1 sheet on...)

As I said in my other thread, the idea is to maximize your exposure to opportunity. You wan to be on the minds of people who might need a band, or know of someone who might need a band.

Admittedly, it's a little distasteful to force yourself to schmooze. That's why I try to see it as seeking opportunities to help other folks out.

Would that be Puppet Show and Spinal Tap...?

Seriously, I appreciate the input. I confess to not knowing many bands in our genre personally. While I'm not a big fan of schmoozing, either, I'm guessing I should be going out to see other bands, letting them know who we are and that we're available for opening slots, and finding out if they'd be interested in participating in one of our events. Am I right on that? Are there any dos and don'ts I should be aware of?

 

[mambo4]

Definitely get out there and see and meet other bands.

It certainly is harder if you aren't a natural extrovert. common tactic for meeting people (if you aren't a natural) is to get them talking about themselves as much as possible- and be honestly interested in them. Establish a connection first, maybe leave the marketing pitch for the next time you see them play.

It's awkward to just walk up and introduce your self and suggest another band play with you, for both parties. That's why I emphasize the 'being useful to others' angle. Any skills you can bring to your scene that would benefit others gives you a legit reason to establish that network connection.

A band member who also has photography chops will go to shows and take good pics of the bands, introduce himself with a photography biz card and offer to email them links to the pictures. Next show, they remember him, and he gets in a 'yeah, I'm in and, and we don't suck, haha...here's our web page, check us out and if you like maybe we can play a bill together.'

Of course nothing gives you more cred with other bands than calling them up with an offer for a slot.

 

[TBrett]

Definitely get out there and see and meet other bands.

It certainly is harder if you aren't a natural extrovert. common tactic for meeting people (if you aren't a natural) is to get them talking about themselves as much as possible- and be honestly interested in them. Establish a connection first, maybe leave the marketing pitch for the next time you see them play.

It's awkward to just walk up and introduce your self and suggest another band play with you, for both parties. That's why I emphasize the 'being useful to others' angle. Any skills you can bring to your scene that would benefit others gives you a legit reason to establish that network connection.

A band member who also has photography chops will go to shows and take good pics of the bands, introduce himself with a photography biz card and offer to email them links to the pictures. Next show, they remember him, and he gets in a 'yeah, I'm in and, and we don't suck, haha...here's our web page, check us out and if you like maybe we can play a bill together.'

Of course nothing gives you more cred with other bands than calling them up with an offer for a slot.

For sure. Makes sense, and thanks again for the info!