how to do i go about getting gigs?

Big_Ryan

Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
1 News Pin

Posted on May 25 2013 02:23 PM

my new band is finally ready to start playing regular gigs but this is my first surf rock band so im not sure how to go about it. my old bands were punk/ alt rock deals and we would just take any gig we could get, but im getting the feeling that booking for surf rock is a more specific thing. Anyone have any tips or surf friendly venue suggestions? we are in the san diego CA area

—

http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com

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bigtikidude

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25674
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
United States

Posted on May 25 2013 07:59 PM

Ryan,
Ryan from Secret Samurai has mentioned to me it's really
Hard getting gigs in SD now.
As they are booking lots of Hipster bands.
Just ask every club and or restaurant that has bands.

Good luck

—

Jeff(bigtikidude)

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OzReverb

Joined: Apr 28, 2009
Posts: 460
Victoria
Australia

Posted on May 26 2013 06:10 AM

Advice that was given to me a while back was find other bands to play with - use some of your punk-type band contacts and do a double-bill with them or another genre. Rockabilly, rock and roll and some punk work well with surf and you may pick up a following from sharing a bill. I don't live in your area so can't answer that part of your question.

—

https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/

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bamboozer

Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
1 Security Pin

Posted on May 26 2013 07:36 AM

An eternal question, as noted ask every bar, restaurant and club you can think of to start. "Piggybacking" on another bands gig is also a good start, if you can find a band that will let you do it.

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on May 26 2013 01:51 PM

Call the organizers of events such as car shows, street fairs and other events. Probably too late for this summer as these events are usually booked months in advance, but give it a try.

Check with local surf shops to see if they are having a store event (parking lot sale, swap, etc.) and offer to play.

Call your local service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kawanis, VFW) to see if they need a live band for a fund raiser. As an example the VFW in Newport Beach is a cool venue and hires surf music bands for private parties.

Check in with "Run/Walk for...." organizations which usually need bands along the route or at the finish line.

Call the yacht clubs in San Diego, which often need a band for membership drives or parties.

Call the City Parks and Rec Depts and ask how they book bands.

Since you are just getting started be prepaired for little to no pay. These types of gigs get you started, provide you with a list of places we've played. Once in a while at these events someone will walk up to you and ask the question we all want to here...."Do you play private parties?"

If you check here you'll see announcements by other bands playing places in LA and Orange County. If you are willing to make the drive you could play there as well.

I'v just scratched the surface here and hope it is helpful.

Selling the band is like selling a product...lots of rejection...and every now an then a little success is mixed in.

Hope this helps.

—

Happy Sunsets!

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Big_Ryan

Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
1 News Pin

Posted on May 28 2013 12:32 PM

thanks for the tips everyone!, ive been writing alot of venues asking to jump on shows

we went and did an open mic/ jam session at the kraken in cardiff last night and it actually turned out really really good

—

http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com

Top

killbabykill34

Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
United States

Posted on May 28 2013 12:49 PM

Befriend other bands. That is the easiest way in.

—

THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary.

www.thekbk.com
http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/
www.reverbnation.com/thekbk
www.facebook.com/thekbkal

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on May 28 2013 03:24 PM

bigtikidude wrote:

Ryan,
Ryan from Secret Samurai has mentioned to me it's really
Hard getting gigs in SD now.
As they are booking lots of Hipster bands....

...are you suggesting that surf music isn't hip?

Top

OzReverb

Joined: Apr 28, 2009
Posts: 460
Victoria
Australia

Posted on May 28 2013 03:35 PM

Another one that's worked for us is to approach venues face-to-face - not during meal service, Fri or Sat night or Sun afternoon when they're busiest. Only use email as a follow up or better yet not at all if you can avoid it - you'd be amazed how many emails venues get from bands asking for gigs and the venues rarely have time to properly read them or listen to any clips/CD sent.

—

https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/

Top

EJ

Joined: May 05, 2012
Posts: 351
Virginia Beach
United States

Posted on May 28 2013 11:43 PM

Have any of you West coast guys checked the National Woodie Club? They do lots of shows all around California and have many chapters . Wavecrest in Encinitas is a 2 day event on the beach. It's really a great car club and obviously heavily rooted in surf culture . It's worth a google if you are not familiar of it.

Top

Big_Ryan

Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
1 News Pin

Posted on Jun 10 2013 08:33 PM

so ive been having some success getting some shows booked, heres what's been working

list the types of bands that we would work well with (rockabilly, garage, punk, etc.)
say how much of a crowd you expect to draw, (i've been saying 15-30)
imply that your fans are alcoholics that will buy lots of booze

so far its seem to work out pretty good

—

http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com

Top

Big_Ryan Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego	Posted on May 25 2013 02:23 PM my new band is finally ready to start playing regular gigs but this is my first surf rock band so im not sure how to go about it. my old bands were punk/ alt rock deals and we would just take any gig we could get, but im getting the feeling that booking for surf rock is a more specific thing. Anyone have any tips or surf friendly venue suggestions? we are in the san diego CA area — http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com Top
bigtikidude Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25674 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.	Posted on May 25 2013 07:59 PM Ryan, Ryan from Secret Samurai has mentioned to me it's really Hard getting gigs in SD now. As they are booking lots of Hipster bands. Just ask every club and or restaurant that has bands. Good luck — Jeff(bigtikidude) Top
OzReverb Joined: Apr 28, 2009 Posts: 460 Victoria	Posted on May 26 2013 06:10 AM Advice that was given to me a while back was find other bands to play with - use some of your punk-type band contacts and do a double-bill with them or another genre. Rockabilly, rock and roll and some punk work well with surf and you may pick up a following from sharing a bill. I don't live in your area so can't answer that part of your question. — https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/ Top
bamboozer Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware	Posted on May 26 2013 07:36 AM An eternal question, as noted ask every bar, restaurant and club you can think of to start. "Piggybacking" on another bands gig is also a good start, if you can find a band that will let you do it. Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on May 26 2013 01:51 PM Call the organizers of events such as car shows, street fairs and other events. Probably too late for this summer as these events are usually booked months in advance, but give it a try. Check with local surf shops to see if they are having a store event (parking lot sale, swap, etc.) and offer to play. Call your local service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Kawanis, VFW) to see if they need a live band for a fund raiser. As an example the VFW in Newport Beach is a cool venue and hires surf music bands for private parties. Check in with "Run/Walk for...." organizations which usually need bands along the route or at the finish line. Call the yacht clubs in San Diego, which often need a band for membership drives or parties. Call the City Parks and Rec Depts and ask how they book bands. Since you are just getting started be prepaired for little to no pay. These types of gigs get you started, provide you with a list of places we've played. Once in a while at these events someone will walk up to you and ask the question we all want to here...."Do you play private parties?" If you check here you'll see announcements by other bands playing places in LA and Orange County. If you are willing to make the drive you could play there as well. I'v just scratched the surface here and hope it is helpful. Selling the band is like selling a product...lots of rejection...and every now an then a little success is mixed in. Hope this helps. — Happy Sunsets! Top
Big_Ryan Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego	Posted on May 28 2013 12:32 PM thanks for the tips everyone!, ive been writing alot of venues asking to jump on shows we went and did an open mic/ jam session at the kraken in cardiff last night and it actually turned out really really good — http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com Top
killbabykill34 Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL	Posted on May 28 2013 12:49 PM Befriend other bands. That is the easiest way in. — THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com http://www.deepeddy.net/artists/thekbk/ www.reverbnation.com/thekbk www.facebook.com/thekbkal Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on May 28 2013 03:24 PM bigtikidude wrote: Ryan, Ryan from Secret Samurai has mentioned to me it's really Hard getting gigs in SD now. As they are booking lots of Hipster bands.... ...are you suggesting that surf music isn't hip? Top
OzReverb Joined: Apr 28, 2009 Posts: 460 Victoria	Posted on May 28 2013 03:35 PM Another one that's worked for us is to approach venues face-to-face - not during meal service, Fri or Sat night or Sun afternoon when they're busiest. Only use email as a follow up or better yet not at all if you can avoid it - you'd be amazed how many emails venues get from bands asking for gigs and the venues rarely have time to properly read them or listen to any clips/CD sent. — https://www.facebook.com/lostremoleros/ Top
EJ Joined: May 05, 2012 Posts: 351 Virginia Beach	Posted on May 28 2013 11:43 PM Have any of you West coast guys checked the National Woodie Club? They do lots of shows all around California and have many chapters . Wavecrest in Encinitas is a 2 day event on the beach. It's really a great car club and obviously heavily rooted in surf culture . It's worth a google if you are not familiar of it. Top
Big_Ryan Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego	Posted on Jun 10 2013 08:33 PM so ive been having some success getting some shows booked, heres what's been working list the types of bands that we would work well with (rockabilly, garage, punk, etc.) say how much of a crowd you expect to draw, (i've been saying 15-30) imply that your fans are alcoholics that will buy lots of booze so far its seem to work out pretty good — http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com Top

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how to do i go about getting gigs?