Re: Booking gigs
Things may be different in your neck of the woods....but around here;
No one EVER returns phone calls, emails or Facebook messages. Every new venue gig I book has been in person. I walk into the place around mid afternoon and ask to speak to whoever handles the entertainment. Very rarely do I ever leave with a booking. It usually takes multiple visits. They'll tell you "I'll keep you in mind", "I'll definitely be calling you" or "I'll check out your videos on Facebook", but they never do. Unless they pull out their schedule right in front of you and write your band in on a date, your not gonna get a booking. Also, bartenders will ask you questions and act all excited about your band and tell you they'll give your card to the owner/manager....but it ain't happening. Once you're out of sight, you're out of mind. It's just the way things go, so you can't take it personal. Be confident, polite and persistent. If you get the chance for a face-to-face with the owner/manager, order a beer. That makes you a customer. Listen to and address their concerns. Let them know your goal is to work WITH them. They make money, you get invited back! Money is the bottom line for them.
I suggest having demo CDs of your band to hand out. They'll usually ask where you've played and where you're playing next (so they can come hear you and see what crowd you draw). Sometimes we leave a gig with a new booking to a new venue. If you're new, it makes it tough. You'll need to find out which venues in your area are the "entry level" ones. Also, which ones have the patrons that will be into your music.
You need to know the market and appropriate fee to charge. You need to be cheap enough that they'll take a chance on you, but not so cheap that you come off as low quality or you undercut established bands by to much. That's important, because....
The BEST thing you can do is network with established bands in the area. They can help get you in to places and vice-vesa.
It's tough starting out. The first year or two, I couldn't BUY a gig. Once we got exposure and 10-12 gigs under our belt, everything fell into place. Places started calling me. When I walk into a new place, they've usually heard of us. Sometimes there's even patrons at the bar who say, "oh, I've seen you guys! You're awesome". I always ask what bands they regularly hire. That tells me what kind of place it is and what level of bands play there. It's great when I can say,"yeah, I know those guys. We both play at ______ on a regular basis". NEVER talk bad about another band. I try to not give the impression that I'm looking to get hired...I'm looking for the best places to extend the opportunity for my band to put on a show. I'm not looking for places that allow us to play; I'm looking for places fitting of opportunity to hire us. Just be patient and don't get discouraged.
Last edited by N2Bluz; 04-04-2017 at 12:18 AM.
-Brian
"Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"
Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!
"I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham
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