Help with paid gigs

GuitarGuy305 · Unread post by **GuitarGuy305** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:55 pm

c_tietze wrote:make some sort of demo and literature with your name and contact info.

Peace,

CJT

That was going to be my advice.

Adam

kcw · Unread post by **kcw** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:31 pm

Well once i make my demo who do i send it to. I mean one of my biggest problems is even finding a place that has people play.

HCHaikuWarrior · Unread post by **HCHaikuWarrior** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:54 pm

kcw wrote:Well once i make my demo who do i send it to. I mean one of my biggest problems is even finding a place that has people play.

earth day shows, a town green, coffee houses, school dances, younger kids birthday parties but not to the point where they are so young all they want to hear is "I love you, you love me" by barney.

c_tietze · Unread post by **c_tietze** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:32 am

kcw wrote:Well once i make my demo who do i send it to. I mean one of my biggest problems is even finding a place that has people play.

Find a place that features live bands and go there, make friends with the folks there and eventually let them know you've got talent and a demo and would love to play there.

I more or less did the same thing, and I am STILL doing the same thing, I'm continually carving out my niche in the same way that Dave did long ago at Millers. I'm fairly timid when it comes to my guitar playing and songwriting so I wasn't ready to just do open mics at a strange place.

There's a great bar and club where I live that features the best live music scene in the city. I started out as a patron and a fan of the music, now I work there and I am still a fan of the local music scene except now I have made some friends, many of which are amazing musicians.

From these friends I have learned many things and still continue to. Now I am at the point where I can easily grab a little stage time and work out some songs in front of people and it's great. I get nothing but positive responses and really great advice, tips and feedback from talented musicians (since I am a hack, I emphasize "musician" - lol !)

Give it a shot. Find people, or a bar, or a club, or somewhere that fosters the live music enviornment and immerse yourself, make friends and ask questions, get your name out. The rest will be easy and things should fall into place. From my experience, I've learned a lot about the workings of a music club, how acts get booked, etc.

Good luck!

GuitarGuy305 · Unread post by **GuitarGuy305** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:04 pm

c_tietze wrote:From my experience, I've learned a lot about the workings of a music club, how acts get booked, etc.

Good luck!

Care to share?

Adam

c_tietze · Unread post by **c_tietze** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:23 pm

GuitarGuy305 wrote:
c_tietze wrote:From my experience, I've learned a lot about the workings of a music club, how acts get booked, etc.

Good luck!

Care to share?

Adam

I'm not an authority, but usually the best way to get booked without having a following or some sort of "reputation" is to:

1. Record some songs, hopefully your best (CD is preferred, but tape works) and make some sort of package about your band or act.

Most bands utilize a standard 8x11 B&W photo with information about the band on a piece of paper stapled to the back. Think of it as a promo package for yourself.

On that piece of paper you should list:

Your act's name
bio info
instruments played
patrial song list
days available
any other info you think may be interesting
you can be as creative as you want, but sometimes the most basic works, as with resumes

You could pay someone to do all of this or use your home computer. If you don't have a professional photo you could use a digital color print out, or omit the photo altogther. The most important things to have are demo of some sort and your contact information.

2. Call ahead. Ask for the person who handles booking for bands and say something like "My name is ___________and I play in a band called __________ and would really like to play in your club. Any chance I could meet with you for a couple of minutes and give you a copy of a demo and some other promotional materials as I'd love any consideration you could offer for an opportunity to play at your club? Now, the person may say sure, fine, come on down and meet with me - or they may say to drop of your promo materials with someone else. If their reply is the latter then make sure you get the name of the person you leave your materials with.

Always be polite, get names and be courteous. If you are told "no" then thank them and follow up in a couple of weeks. If the answer is still "no" then wait at least a month.

Another great way of meeting the right people is to play open mics and make friends, you never know who you may impress or whom you might meet. That's a good way to get your foot in the door too.

Good luck.

SpoonInSpoon · Unread post by **SpoonInSpoon** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 3:28 pm

try a starbucks near you. thats where i do most of my gigs.

kcw · Unread post by **kcw** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:10 pm

Well the closest starbucks is 45 minutes. I know of one place I could try to play at. Thats the only one though. The rest are bars and I'm too young to do that. I dont know of any open mics near me at all. But thats good advice thanks guys.

c_tietze · Unread post by **c_tietze** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:20 am

kcw wrote:Well the closest starbucks is 45 minutes. I know of one place I could try to play at. Thats the only one though. The rest are bars and I'm too young to do that. I dont know of any open mics near me at all. But thats good advice thanks guys.

Sounds like a good place to start, it's not a bar so there is no age requirement, right?

Second, Starbucks is a lot cleaner and I bet just an all around "nicer" place to play than a dirty ole' bar.

bryanwie · Unread post by **bryanwie** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:31 pm

starbucks has live music? (i've never seen it....?)

kcw · Unread post by **kcw** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 7:57 pm

I cant get to starbucks because its 45 minutes away.

Beauford33 · Unread post by **Beauford33** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:04 pm

As many gigs as I have done, Ive never gotten paid for them. Well, except maybe the occasional free beer at parties. Being in High School doesnt help

kcw · Unread post by **kcw** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:12 pm

Yea man im in high school too and i have the same problem. Thats why i posted this. Gotta pay the car insurance and stuff and playing music is a fun way to do it.

i am sam2 · Unread post by **i am sam2** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 9:46 pm

kcw wrote:I cant get to starbucks because its 45 minutes away.

ok im sorry this has nothing to do with this thread, but how can starbucks be 45 minutes away from you? starbucks is everwhere. where do you live? i find it hard to believe starbucks hasnt found you yet

kcw · Unread post by **kcw** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 7:48 am

Ok I live in Hagerstown Maryland. Its about 10 minutes from the Pennsylvania State line, in western maryland. The nearest starbucks is in Frederick Maryland. And it takes from 30-45 minutes to get there depeneding on traffic.

DMBTabs.com

Help with paid gigs

Who is online