My friend and I are putting a metal band together and we're not done yet. We're no where near ready to perform but I'm just looking to the future. We're also in high school so I think that means we can't play in bars. So my question is, when you guys were in high school how did you get gigs?
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How does a new band get gigs?
- Thread starter djbass28
- Start date
Wish I could give you advice, but when I started playing in high school in the late 60s there were loads of gigs for high school age bands (school dances, county fairs, private parties, dances sponsored by various organizations and clubs, etc. etc. etc.). This was back when people actually were interested in making their own music and listening to their peers and friends play live. I probably played 50-60 live shows per year in my junior and senior year. Not one in a bar. And we each made about 30-40 dollars per gig.
Now people are playing largely the same music in crummy bars for 50 bucks a night, if they're lucky.
Progress. Ain't it wonderful?
Now people are playing largely the same music in crummy bars for 50 bucks a night, if they're lucky.
Progress. Ain't it wonderful?
Like interp above, when I was in HS there weren't many regular gigs to play 'cept Friday night kegger's at kids houses when their parents were out of town, and the occasional school organized event or Battle of the Bands type thing.
There were not many (if any) all ages venues in So Cal in the '70's.
Is there an All Ages scene where you are? Party scene? Where do the other bands at your school play? See if you can open a show for the popular bands in your area.
Does your school put on any talent shows?
There were not many (if any) all ages venues in So Cal in the '70's.
Is there an All Ages scene where you are? Party scene? Where do the other bands at your school play? See if you can open a show for the popular bands in your area.
Does your school put on any talent shows?
Hi,
You'll have to look for private parties and outdoor picnic or festival type events. Maybe you have a local fair in your area? I played school dances, church picnics, talent shows, civic events, birthday parties, etc, when I was in high school. Only about half of the gigs were paid back then. A lot of communities have a summer concert series but you have to sign up really early for those, usually in January. Just beat the bushes, maybe make up a few flyers and business cards to pass around to perspective clients.
Once you are ready, perhaps you can find your own place to put on your own free show just to introduce your band to the area. Invite all your friends, their friends, local businesses, perspective clients, etc, to showcase your band. Then hand our promotional and contact materials to let them know you are available for their functions, events, parties, etc.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
You'll have to look for private parties and outdoor picnic or festival type events. Maybe you have a local fair in your area? I played school dances, church picnics, talent shows, civic events, birthday parties, etc, when I was in high school. Only about half of the gigs were paid back then. A lot of communities have a summer concert series but you have to sign up really early for those, usually in January. Just beat the bushes, maybe make up a few flyers and business cards to pass around to perspective clients.
Once you are ready, perhaps you can find your own place to put on your own free show just to introduce your band to the area. Invite all your friends, their friends, local businesses, perspective clients, etc, to showcase your band. Then hand our promotional and contact materials to let them know you are available for their functions, events, parties, etc.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
When I was in highschool (graduated 10 years ago), the majority of the shows my bands played were at local coffee shops that were used as venues at night. Also, we played birthday parties, battle of the bands, and a couple other random venues around. We had a network of bands/friends that would book shows together, so your scene might be vastly different.
Depending on your state or local laws, you may well be able to play bars. In Massachusetts you can perform in a bar as young as 14, which is the legal working age (with permission). There are certain rules and regulations regarding employment in those establishments, but it's legally possible. Realistically, most places won't hire you based on your age and the genre of music you perform. It's just not attractive to most club owners, by and large.
Sooo....what could be available to you? Well, I'd check a few things. First of all, see if any of the areas around you have a summer concert series. You might get something there, those "Thursday Night Music In The Park" type of things. Again, it's usually family-friendly acts that get hired, but you never know. Private parties are probably where you'll do best. Parties at friends' houses, family events, etc. Again, usually people would like you to be "non-offensive" if the neighbors can hear everything. Does the area have what we used to call, "Block Parties" for the local teens? If they do, you might get something like that. Maybe a high school dance? Check around with other local bands who are slightly older and see if there's a way you could open for them, maybe do a set or so, they could help you get your name out there.
You're in a tough position. Not old enough to get serious consideration from most paying venues, and playing a style of music a lot of places tend to shy away from unless they cater to that crowd.
Sooo....what could be available to you? Well, I'd check a few things. First of all, see if any of the areas around you have a summer concert series. You might get something there, those "Thursday Night Music In The Park" type of things. Again, it's usually family-friendly acts that get hired, but you never know. Private parties are probably where you'll do best. Parties at friends' houses, family events, etc. Again, usually people would like you to be "non-offensive" if the neighbors can hear everything. Does the area have what we used to call, "Block Parties" for the local teens? If they do, you might get something like that. Maybe a high school dance? Check around with other local bands who are slightly older and see if there's a way you could open for them, maybe do a set or so, they could help you get your name out there.
You're in a tough position. Not old enough to get serious consideration from most paying venues, and playing a style of music a lot of places tend to shy away from unless they cater to that crowd.
Metal bands will only get the rare paying gig - most bars / clubs want dance music. Coffee houses want stuff that's quieter... So parties are it, and you usually get paid in beer.
Just start asking around. Put up flyers at local colleges. Stuff like that.
Just start asking around. Put up flyers at local colleges. Stuff like that.
I started playing in bands in high school, too and my first "gig" was in our drummer's driveway who lived on a pretty busy street. The next day in school, a girl that I didn't really even know came up to me and asked "Was your band playing in front of a house the other day?" When I told her "Yeah," she said "Cool. You guys sounded pretty good." We were terrible, but I figured this whole band-thing might not be a bad idea.
My advice would be to look for gigs wherever you can. I'm not sure where you live, but most decent-sized cities will have some all ages clubs and coffee shops, and I'd start there. Parties are also fun. You may have just missed the graduation party scene, but 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. etc...
My high school band also played lots of school events- not really dances, but pep rallies, lunchtime concerts, talent shows. Is there a county/state fair where you live? Or Battle Of The Bands-type shows through guitar shops, clubs.
Good luck, and the biggest thing is just to get out and play. Not every show's going to be perfect, maybe you feel like you're not quite ready, but just get out there. It's the best way to improve both as a band and as a bass player.
-b
My advice would be to look for gigs wherever you can. I'm not sure where you live, but most decent-sized cities will have some all ages clubs and coffee shops, and I'd start there. Parties are also fun. You may have just missed the graduation party scene, but 4th of July, Labor Day, etc. etc...
My high school band also played lots of school events- not really dances, but pep rallies, lunchtime concerts, talent shows. Is there a county/state fair where you live? Or Battle Of The Bands-type shows through guitar shops, clubs.
Good luck, and the biggest thing is just to get out and play. Not every show's going to be perfect, maybe you feel like you're not quite ready, but just get out there. It's the best way to improve both as a band and as a bass player.
-b
Nowadays there aren't that many gig opportunities for metal bands. Too agressive and $#!+ like that. If you really are ready to gig, it might be a good idea to start a YouTube channel with your band. Play your repertoire and make it look and sound as good as possible. Show what you can do and let people know that you're in for a gig. Give them the opportunity to communicate with you by e-mail, FaceBook or whatever suits you.
Go out and see other metal bands in your area.
Talk to them after the show and arrange jam-togethers.
Group up, and put together shows where a couple of you (bands) play.
This may already be happening in your area.
Talk to the other metal bands around you and find out.
Stick together as a scene and you will generate a following.
This has worked very well in my area.
If you can't get into the clubs/bars wherever they are playing (cause you're 'underage'), look to contact them outside of their gigs (fakebook, craigslust, myface, whatevers).
These guys will most likely love to help you out, help you get gigs, and welcome you to the scene.
Have fun!
Talk to them after the show and arrange jam-togethers.
Group up, and put together shows where a couple of you (bands) play.
This may already be happening in your area.
Talk to the other metal bands around you and find out.
Stick together as a scene and you will generate a following.
This has worked very well in my area.
If you can't get into the clubs/bars wherever they are playing (cause you're 'underage'), look to contact them outside of their gigs (fakebook, craigslust, myface, whatevers).
These guys will most likely love to help you out, help you get gigs, and welcome you to the scene.
Have fun!
Asked schools to let us gig at lunch, after school, etc. Gym, drama room, wherever. Book all-ages shows with other bands into your community centre.
Look up a young metal band called "Unlocking The Truth" and see if what those kids did might work for you. They have a lot of live videos on YouTube going back to basically Day1. Now they're on ads for major fashion brands and playing the Warped Tour, and still in their early-mid teens.
Point being, plenty of opportunities if you're good and you hustle.
Unlocking The Truth Cloe Haan Christmas Commercial:
This^^ unfortunately it's hard enough to get gigs in any bands with all the DJs and open mics. Even harder for a metal band when I was in highschool am played in a metal band we all chipped in rented out a venue passed flyers and built a small following. A small following that didn't really pay even when they paid cover charges we may have broken even usually ended up paying out of our pockets so that stopped.
If your looking to play and have fun different story but if your looking to make money that will be a hard thing to get.
What I would do as a metal band I think this is good advice so please read. Focus on making great music, record and maybe invest in recording equipment then put all your stuff on the internet. Then find were there are metal scenes and network. That way if there are metal shows somewhere you will be on the list. That is if you wanted to go beyond local gigs.
High schoolers playing metal? If you were here in Fort Wayne, most of the clubs we play at would give you OUR gigs!
Sorry dude. Not sarcasm; just trying to be funny. We are a classic rock cover band playing hits, and we do have venues here that would give the gig to a younger band, playing anything but hits. As a high schooler, you couldn't gig at most places that serve alcohol, and as to whether there is actually a metal scene; I wouldn't say there is, but there are places that would book a wide variety.
Anyway, you don't want to move to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Almost any place would be better.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
The key to ANY band, regardless of genre, is building a fan base. If you can tell the owner of a venue you will likely have X people there, and then do it, you will be popular.
At your age, you probably know media much better than I. I am sure there are battles of the band and such at your school. Start getting people into your music. In my town, the town hall has a nice theater seating about 225. You can rent it fairly inexpensively, depending on the night. If you find something like that, you could do a Monday night or similar. Simple enough math to figure out how many tickets you have to sell at a set price to break even.
At your age, you probably know media much better than I. I am sure there are battles of the band and such at your school. Start getting people into your music. In my town, the town hall has a nice theater seating about 225. You can rent it fairly inexpensively, depending on the night. If you find something like that, you could do a Monday night or similar. Simple enough math to figure out how many tickets you have to sell at a set price to break even.
Honestly, I would start going to shows and making friends with the other bands in your metal sub-genre. That's all we did when we first started and we ended up playing almost every weekend at different places. Network, Network, Network!
EDIT:: oh and youtube is a huge resource, put up quality a video once a month or so on a channel and push it on social networking and build a following that way
EDIT:: oh and youtube is a huge resource, put up quality a video once a month or so on a channel and push it on social networking and build a following that way
