Want to get a gig...

[fraggle]

I feel that I am ready to start doing some solo gigs. How should I go about doing it? I am really quite good with recording, but I have no original songs yet...Should I record some covers? Or just go up to them with NOTHING?

I am 24 and need to start playing out! I got a late start with the guitar (started when I was 21).

[Trippin Hillbilly]

Go to some open mic nights, when you feel you're comfortable performing for a crowd then I would consider looking for a regular gig..

Alot of times you'll meet someone who knows someone else that is looking for someone to gig at their venue... open mic nights rock..

If you're gonna go round looking for a regular gig i think you'll need some originals though.. so get cracking..

good luck

[fraggle]

Go to some open mic nights, when you feel you're comfortable performing for a crowd then I would consider looking for a regular gig..

Alot of times you'll meet someone who knows someone else that is looking for someone to gig at their venue... open mic nights rock..

If you're gonna go round looking for a regular gig i think you'll need some originals though.. so get cracking..

good luck

No open mics around here :/

[Dancing Ants]

play on the sidewalk and hope someone sees you.

[fraggle]

play on the sidewalk and hope someone sees you.

[NoNotThat]

Go to some open mic nights, when you feel you're comfortable performing for a crowd then I would consider looking for a regular gig..

Alot of times you'll meet someone who knows someone else that is looking for someone to gig at their venue... open mic nights rock..

If you're gonna go round looking for a regular gig i think you'll need some originals though.. so get cracking..

good luck

I love open mics.
I don't have a chance to go to many cause most around here are at bars... and I'm usually not allowed...
But thats why I also love coffeehouses.

[Appfro]

Go to some open mic nights, when you feel you're comfortable performing for a crowd then I would consider looking for a regular gig..

Alot of times you'll meet someone who knows someone else that is looking for someone to gig at their venue... open mic nights rock..

If you're gonna go round looking for a regular gig i think you'll need some originals though.. so get cracking..

good luck

I love open mics.
I don't have a chance to go to many cause most around here are at bars... and I'm usually not allowed...
But thats why I also love coffeehouses.

open mic nights here are cool but EVERYONE does dave covers. so it gets old. so im forced to do mediocre (i know i didn't spell that right) originals. along w/ a couple other covers from other bands like pink floyd and johnny cash.

[NoNotThat]

hehe nobody does dave covers around here. most people do originals, and a lot of them are very good. i hear ya on the mediocre originals stuff...I don't like what I write, but I feel obligated to play it anyway.
johnny cash is cool

[Ranting Thespian]

Go in with a list of songs (you can do recordings too, if you want), a tiny bio, and a little of what you do during a performance. If you got equpiment, definately list that Then you have your name and number and such on it. Then, see if you can talk to the owner or such, and if you can't just give it someone who can get it to her/him. If they want to set up an interview

Do dmb covers, I do, but you need to mix it up. Also, since you have no originals, I wouldn't go past 2 sets, I recommend to stay under 2 sets.

Also, if they want to set up an interview or anything, take your guitar with you, and say, if you want to hear something, you can do it.


That's what I would say.

[skilly]

ya know i go and watch people play all the time, and the key to performing at bars and stuff is to play stuff that everyone can sing to, i mean as awesome as DMB is you cant go play a set of them. when i first performed i did, mayer and DMB, and no one seemed into it, so asked advice from guys who killed every night, and he said to play a mix of well know classics, that people who are drunk can sing to.

Even if it means to play *gulp* country, people always know the dance by garth brooks, or one of my most liked songs the joker by steve miller band.

just play around to see what they like.

hope i was a help

[grock]

and he said to play a mix of well know classics, that people who are drunk can sing to.

Even if it means to play *gulp* country, people always know the dance by garth brooks, or one of my most liked songs the joker by steve miller band.

just play around to see what they like.

sell out!! HAHAHA i am just joking. that is actually good advice. you gotta warm people up and then when they are having a good time you can slide in some other stuff. classic "bait and switch" technique.

[DreaminBassMunky]

I just was reading this thread and I realized that next to me I have a book entitled "The Gigs Handbook" which is all advice about getting gigs and stuff. If the advice of all the wonderful people on these boards is not enough you could try reading up on getting gigs and stuff. I haven't actually read through this book (my dad took it out of the library to share with his students), so I don't know how reliable it is.

[skilly]

yeah, if you play stuff they like at first, they will love what ever you play later.

and dont be afraid to chord, especially if you are playing dmb stuff, i see so many dmb covers that suck because they concentrate on the guitar, and that is exactly the opposite of what you need to do.

but i cant stress what i said before enough, mix it up play to what they like, if they love a country song you play, play country, if they like the dmb stuff, play that. its not selling out, its playing what people want to hear because that is what you are getting paid for.