Getting Gigs

[Humblerumble]

How do most of you get gigs? My current band has been idle for about a year. Singer quit, everyone just kinda went on with other things. We started back about 4 or 5 months ago and got a new singer and have about three sets polished etc. I have never really been the person in my bands who went out and got the gigs, now it looks like I am. Do you typically send a demo and information, or do you call and follow up with a demo? and if so how many times do you call the same place before you give up etc.

 

[Juniorkimbrough]

1. most places that pay will want a demo, a live recording, home studio recording, etc......any recording is better than nothing.

2. bust your a$$

 

[chakah]

1. Ask all your friends if they know anyone who needs a band.
2. Talk to bar owners, waitresses, bartenders.
3. Talk to other musicians.

From talking with other musicians here in Houston, it takes going back to the manager of a bar, club, etc. a couple times and try to get your foot in the door so to say.
For my band - it helped that my singer currently does karaoke for about 5 bars in the area. So that helps us get a first gig - after that it's up to us to perform.

 

[trasser]

You'll have to dig into it yourself...don't expect someone to approach you and ask you if you want a gig. Look for places that would maybe want to hire a band like yours and go talk to them. Some recording would be a good idea. Remember to be polite and humble. Maybe you should offer to do your first gig for free to promote yourself. Get some business card to hand out to people at the place, and in between songs, tell them who you are, and where you will be willing to play, how people can contact you, stuff like that.

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

How do most of you get gigs? My current band has been idle for about a year. Singer quit, everyone just kinda went on with other things. We started back about 4 or 5 months ago and got a new singer and have about three sets polished etc. I have never really been the person in my bands who went out and got the gigs, now it looks like I am. Do you typically send a demo and information, or do you call and follow up with a demo? and if so how many times do you call the same place before you give up etc.

Well i'll give you the short version...

FIRST OFF MAKE FRIENDS WITH MORE SUCCESSFULL BANDS ON THE SCENE! It's amazing how many bands think competing and "protecting their fans" from other bands will get them ahead in the scene...it will not...we hook our friends bands up and they hook us up with great gigs..in the end everyone is getting hooked up with more great gigs....

email these bands and ask to open for them...keep in mind every band on the scene under them is emailing them as well...but just be presistant but not annoying...

SEND PRESS KITS TO SMALLER VENUES within say a 4 hour drive or so that a band of your size could get booked at...don't send press packs to huge rooms you can not fill yet...

you will have to call and work booking people....i've called rooms for A YEAR before getting a gig there....remember they have every band in the state calling them for gigs...email them..call them..again be persistant but not annoying....don't give up..SELL YOUR BAND

PLAY THOSE SMALL ROOMS AND TRY TO BUILD A CROWD..

GET OPENING SLOTS FROM BIGGER BANDS ON THE SCENE

SEND PRESS PACKS OUT TO MORE MEDIUM SIZED PLACES...

etc.....

 

[lonote]

NEVER offer to do a gig for free. There may be circumstances where you might consider doing a free gig (a charity function) but never offer to do one. Working for free or working too cheaply devalues not only your band but all the other bands in your city as well. You need to make up a press kit (sometimes called a promo pack) consisting of a demo recording, a biography, a picture and a listing of songs you do. As you gain more experience, you would also want to list what shows you've played in the biography. After the press kit is prepared, then start contacting clubs by phone. Make sure you talk to the person who actually handles hiring the bands...don't waste your time with the bartender, cocktail waitress or the guy who sweeps up. While speaking with the person who handles the music, let them know you'll be sending them a press kit (either by mail, e-mail or hand delivering it) and send it right away. Wait a few days for them to receive and review it and then follow up with another phone contact. It won't be easy and you'll certainly learn to handle rejection but keep at it and you'll eventually find work...that is, if you're any good.

 

[lonegroover]

Am bassist and relucatant gig-getter in chief with my band.

After bumming about for a few years we took some advice, got organised and:

1. worked out what was different about our band versus the competition
2. Compiled a list of potential venues
3. Called them all to ask about their band situation and tell them what we could offer /why we were different. Sometimes it took me many, many calls before we got to speak to the guy or girl making the decisions.(You can't give in). Once you get your 1st booking this way your fear of these sort of calls should start to turn to excitement
4. Mailed or delivered them a demo CD if they seemed interested but not sure enough to book via the call
4. At first, before we built up a name, we'd agree to a discounted "Trial price" first gig on the understanding we'd get our full price if they re-booked us
5, Made sure we delivered a kick ass live show
6. Always asked for a repeat booking (or 2) ON THE NIGHT after any successful gig

But from what the original posters says, I would say that,If your band mates aint motivated then either get some new band mates or find a way to help them get motivated.

In terms of the "guidence" we took re changing our gig fortunes in the 1st place, we clubbed together for the manual on Link Removed.

If you're any good, that and "forcing" yourself at first to call people you've never met, can get you into the postion we're in now of turning down almost as much work as we accept.

 

[tzadik]

Foremost, be awesome. Play amazingly well.

"Just take care of the music, and the music will take care of you."

When people are ringing your phone and banging down your door - then gigs come easily.

 

[Humblerumble]

We have a pro demo, and business cards etc. I have just never been the one spearheading the process. The other band members will pitch in but I am one of the members to get things rolling. I just wondered if most people called or stopped in or just sent out promo material or what. Also I didn't know how much contact before I became a pest. Thanks for all the input.

 

[Vanceman]

Sometimes it luck and knowing someone. The gig we played yesterday was because the new keyboard play knows the person responsible for providing entertainment to the 5K run. The band that has been there for the past couple of years couldn't make it, and she(the keys player) just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and she under bid the DJ(ha ha, take that you stinkin DJ). Several people asked for our business card afterwards, so we should get a few more gigs from that.

 

[Zappstorius]

Are you into the local music scene at all? If you are, then getting gigs won't be much of a problem.

Like some of the other guys said, go to the clubs (potential venues for your band) and watch other bands. Always have a CD with some recorded material on you (on in your car or something).

Network with other local groups. The bands that play out the most in my area are not neccessarily the best musically (far from it), they know how to market themselves and are in good with the clubs.

 

[lonote]

"Knowing somebody" and "being in the right place at the right time" certainly can get you gigs...occasionally. I don't think it is the best way to go about getting gigs, though. If you want to gig consistently, you have to market yourself and be able to deliver what you promise. It's as simple as that.

 

[SBassman]

It's definitely not an easy job. It's tough.

I personally don't think cold calls work real well.
Our approach is basically:
1. Visit in person, hand them a demo CD
2. Call back after some time, poking at booking
3. Call back one other time, if they are not ready at #2.

It's a pain. I have tried some soliciting where I e-mail bar owners and point them to our demo online. While I want this to work, since it's far less time consuming, the reality is that I have never scored a booking this way yet.

It really Does help to have personal relationships with some of the owners - and some of the bands playing at the places you want to play.

Definitely the worst part about playing out. It really is not easy to get the bookings started. Once you get started at a few places, if you succeed, it's much easier to keep the bookings going. But starting from scratch, in my experience, has been difficult.

One other thing. If you occasionally go out anyway, to bars and restaurants with bands, go to the places you want to play. Showing your face there and spending some dollars there - especially if you bring a contingent along - will help eventually getting a positive response when you have the booking discussion.