How do you get new gigs?

[Big_Bend]

The new band I'm in is off and running. We've got our 4 piece with all the members getting along great and doing what they need to do. We got our 50 songs and more on the way. We have a demo CD, facebook page, web page, marketing package, business cards, an account on gigmasters. We go to lots of clubs and hand out our marketing package with the demo CD and business cards and then call them back a week later. We go and play open mic nights for free to get our name out and meet new people and make contacts.

But its still a ton of work lining up new gigs for a new band.

Any other suggestions on how you market your band? Any other resources we should be using? When you were in a new band starting out, how did you ramp up to get to the "big time"? I guess at some point we'll meet an agent type person who can help us find gigs.. for a price of course.


Thx for suggestions.. take care...

[muudcat]

From my experience" big time" is only going to come if you or one of your band mates write, and even then it's going to take some time. Serious time! You may start with covers but eventually you must write. Gotta pitch em to the right people and network every chance you get. Over and over again. Good youtube vids that are kick A will help, especially if you get lots of "hits". Agents should charge 15-20% by the way but get ready to travel, a lot, and play places you might not like. Your name has to be plastered every where, get the "buzz" going, it's momentum man. I haven't "made it" yet but I aint quitting either.

[kman900]

We once had flyers with our next dates to place them at the venues we played. So people have something to take home and to remember.
Update your website regularly, so people are encouraged to come back regularly. Write stories about the band or specific members to make them feel like part of the family and to prove that there's always something going on in the band.
The content of the whole "package" is important, but the "wrapper" is what they see first.

[TeleTim911]

I've been out of it for years, but when I was steady gigging we first put together a promo pack, photo, demo tape (yes it was that long ago), bio of band, and songlist. Then literally went to every place that had live music (back then there were live music bars on every corner). We lived in Tampa, and just went all over Tampa Bay. And once we got in the door we were on their rotation and had regular gigs there. Eventually word spread and other bars started calling us - we charged a decent price, were very profesional, easy to get along with.

Good luck.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by muudcat

I haven't "made it" yet but I aint quitting either.

63 years old. You da man, muud.


Big, first question, are you guys any good? Sure you are. Next, what kind of stuff do you play? Go to those places and meet the other bands. The owners need to be met and sweet talked but if the band playing there right now, drawing a crowd can put in a good word, right now, that always helps. They also know who to talk to and what kind of money to expect. As said above, network. I know, it takes time.

[pondcaster]

All great suggestions, IMO. Never been in anything more than a fun-time, garage band so I'm definitely not in the know.

From what a few friends that were in good, respected local/regional bands (that unfortunately never made any $$) have told me, "... if you're really good, gigs find you."

Probably not what you want to hear but...

[GigsbyBoyUK]

But its still a ton of work lining up new gigs for a new band.

You bet - and unlikely to be any different for most bands.

The thing you haven't told us about is what sort of music are you playing? This can make a big impact on how many gigs you can get.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by pondcaster

From what a few friends that were in good, respected local/regional bands (that unfortunately never made any $$) have told me, "... if you're really good, gigs find you."

And that's why they never made any money. If it's going to be a job (meaning you get paid, even if you do it part time) then it's no different than selling cars, going to a job interview at a burger place or running for office. You got to sell yourself. If you're neighbors are the only ones that ever hear you then you need to be really good to keep the cops from showing up but that ain't gonna get no work for ya.

[Wrong-Note Rod]

Originally Posted by Big_Bend

But its still a ton of work lining up new gigs for a new band.

...

Welcome to the real world.

In my town, the "music scene" has all but dissolved into the clubs vs the bands thing... all the clubs care about is "how many people can you bring" and if you dont bring enough, and they dont drink enough beer, then its "sorry the receipts arent there, we cant use you".

So for my area, its all about how you can put butts in the seats.

I tried everything, anything I could think of, to get people to show up... with todays in home entertainment, no easy trick.

[String Tree]

Accept the fact that you will work long hours on weekends and holidays for little or no pay.

Sadly, sometimes the 'product' has to prove itself by low-balling the competition.
Around here, there are some A-holes low-enough to lie about other bands to get the gig.

Case-in-point: I have a buddy who found out his gig was cancelled when a rival band told the club owner my buddy's band couldn't do the gig!!! Talk about chicken-*****!!!

Did anybody call my buddy to verify? No.

They were out, just like that.

These two rivals have known each other for years, they have even played together in the past.

Watch your back, you never know when you'll find a knife wound in it!

~ST

[jimdandy]

Originally Posted by Wrong-Note Rod

Welcome to the real world.

In my town, the "music scene" has all but dissolved into the clubs vs the bands thing... all the clubs care about is "how many people can you bring" and if you dont bring enough, and they dont drink enough beer, then its "sorry the receipts arent there, we cant use you".

So for my area, its all about how you can put butts in the seats.

I tried everything, anything I could think of, to get people to show up... with todays in home entertainment, no easy trick.

My band is going through that now. We're scratching and clawing -- fortunate that we're playing a few places on a regular rotation, but it's like pulling teeth to get people out to listen to live music anymore -- and my band is one of the better ones in the area.

[Wrong-Note Rod]

Consider the reality of trying to get people to come out to a gig at a smoky bar where a loud band plays. Just think about how much entertainment is literally beamed into peoples houses now. You're competing with 500 channels of cable, pay per view, computer gaming and the internet. If you're playing classic rock or old school country, you also have to figure that most of your target audience, is already in bed asleep by the time you hit the stage.

[Old Cane]

Well, the drunks I play for for are starting to heard about that internet thing. Some have hear of facebook. I get the impression they would have joined if it was called beerbook or ^*%)^*book. I hear a few even have a place to live now so my days playing may be numbered.

[Telesavalis]

The musicians I know who are always working are booked via a booking agency.
Those who book themselves don't work nearly as much.

[Martin R]

Many threads on this...but you're doing what you need to do:
Send media kits to booker. Hang out at club, talk to booker. Call booker back in a week. Repeat.

Lately, though, we've had a lot of success with city gigs and private parties.

[RevMike]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things... Once the first couple gigs happen, usually more start to role.

One piece of advice that I didn't see. Fight the temptation to take a freebie to get "exposure".

[Skub]

Originally Posted by RevMike

Sounds like you're doing all the right things... Once the first couple gigs happen, usually more start to role.

One piece of advice that I didn't see. Fight the temptation to take a freebie to get "exposure".

That's a certainty,if you want to play 'charity' gigs you'll never have a free day ever again,but no money either.

I can't speak for other countries,but in our fair isle original material bands have a hard time,some of the venues now charge the band for the privilege of playing. You need to have belief and staying power,it's a long haul for most.

The bands who are making money are those who have sold their soul and play all the rubbish of the day at weddings and functions. I know this because it's what I do.

The world is clean upside down and the tasteless majority call the shots.

Hope I don't sound too bitter.

Best wishes.

[Wrong-Note Rod]

Good luck in my area getting an "agent" that is anything else except a guitar player trying to book his own band. Hah. Not making this up, theres a bunch of them out there.

We do have a couple of large agencies, but they only book the giant "corporate party" bands, those mondo-productions with ten band members, 8 disco dancers, four lead singers.. they wont even touch a "bar band" thing.

[T Prior]

well two things come to mind...

Define BIG TIME and

as you drop of packages who are you dropping them with ?

[Paul in Colorado]

It's simple. Go to the club where you hope to play. Go early and put a little "sumthin'" in the scheduled band's food or drink while they're soundchecking. When they become unable to play, tell the manager that you have a great band that could be there in ten minutes. Tell him you'll play for less money and half the bar tab. Then gather up your posse and use the other band's gear to play your show. Play loud, you want to make sure they can hear you greatness. Be sure to drink a lot, it'll improve your stage presence. And hit on every attractive woman in the place even if she is the owner's wife. She'd going to dump him anyway.

That usually works, but somehow we never get asked back for a second booking.