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January Birthdays
Getting gigs
Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK. 
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Posted on Mar 27 2015 05:50 AM
How do you gigging bands get your gigs? Specifically, sending speculative emails - does anyone have any tips about how to compose an email, or what kind of tone to adopt. Do you pretend you're a manager/agent, or let them know they are dealing with the band? Trying to get gigs sorted for the year and any tips would be welcome. — |
Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware
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Posted on Mar 27 2015 06:44 AM
Oh to have a band, yet a gig! But I digress, surf is not an easy sell in most areas. Most bands I've been in rely on working the phones calling clubs, bars and restaurants or just showing up and leaving a card or CD. Back in the day a "board tape" recorded from the mixing board at a gig or practice was o.k., now they want a DVD or something on Youtube, they want to see the band. Initially I would go for drinks and something to eat as payment, just to get in the door. Then if things go well you can talk money. The big one is don't give up, getting a gig, any gig, will not be easy. |
Joined: Oct 12, 2012 Posts: 219 Hampton Roads, Virginia 
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Posted on May 17 2015 07:31 PM
You know, it's funny, but people in bands have no business acumen. Do you think the Chem-Lawn people send emails to the building that is surrounded entirely by pavement? Firstly, you need to go out and find out what kind of bands are playing at what kinds of venues. You need to visit the sites and see how much space there is, what kind of crowd they have, etc. You need a You Tube video of your band, and you preferably need something on an iPad or a phone you can call up on the spot that has reasonably good video and reasonably good audio. More importantly, it needs to show people having a good time. If not, you need an audio demo (though many people don't even have CD players handy). You need a press kit - write up of the band, song list, 8x10 glossy, a "resume" (places played, etc. that you continually add to) and a CD and page with links. You need to have a calendar in your possession, and have talked to the bandmates about dates you can not book. Then, you go into a club, ask to talk to the manager or whoever books the bands. Let him know you have visited the club and seen some of the bands and you have a band you think would be a very good fit. If that person's not available, have a promo packet you can leave. Find out when they'll be there, call back, and ask if they've had a chance to listen to your CD. If they're busy, tell them you'd like to come down and you could pull up a video on you tube to show them what you do. Here in the states, there's one thing that motivates club owners: Money. They want bands to come in that bring in huge crowds who will spend lots of money on beer, and they won't want to pay you. So the two biggest things you can say are: Look, we're just getting started and trying to get our foot in the door. I you do us a favor and book us, we'll play the gig for free. Free entertainment? They'll probably book you right there. If they're booked solid, just let them know that if they have a cancellation, you'd appreciate being given a shot. If you can guarantee a crowd "hey, we'd love to play here, and I know we can bring in at least 100 more people than your regular bar crowd". You'll see the dollar (or pound, or Euro, etc. ) signs flash in their eyes. If you don't have a good promo video, you need to throw a party. Invite a bunch of friends over (especially hot girls) and have them dance in front of you while you play - so it looks like a "real" gig. IOW, you're going to have to do some freebies to get you in the door. HTH, |
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Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on May 18 2015 01:58 AM
stevel wrote:
I agree with most of your comments, but not this one. We're not getting started, and offering to play for free is effectively saying, "Hey, we're so bad, we know it". If someone doesn't want to book you for whatever reason, then offering free gigs just cheapens your product. Playing for free is the core of the problem. If you play for free, then the show will probably be for free. The venue will put zero effort into promoting it, and the best you can hope for is a complete indifference and an audience that is not there to see you. The venue needs to have some financial risk to motivate them into supporting the show. Here in Plymouth, the general public expects free bands in pubs. Once that happens, there is no money being generated anywhere. Also, people have a much better time if they've paid. Doesn't even have to be much, just as long as it's not free. I've played so many gigs where the management haven't advertised the gig, or done any promotion, not even a poster. The promotion of the event is a shared responsibility. We can advertise to our fans, but they are spread all over the globe. The venue can advertise to it's fans and regulars, and they are going to have more success. Regulars just have to be curious and they'll come - band fans probably have to travel some distance. Finding a venue or promoter that puts on surf music is rare. If you have to explain what the music is, it feels like you're on a losing wicket unless you can really sell it well! The Pulp Fiction thing worked quite well for a time, but Adam pointed out a while ago that most people in the audience weren't even born when that film came out! —http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: May 18, 2015 02:01:06 |
Joined: Apr 28, 2009 Posts: 460 Victoria 
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Posted on May 22 2015 06:18 PM
Don't play for free unless it's a reputable charity's event. Also keep a copy (Excel spreadsheet or similar) of the places you've visited, when, who you've talked to etc. Something else you may want to consider is just have one or two people in the band to spruik for gigs (in my experience, it's hard even finding one person willing to share the load). If it's a place that serves meals, don't try and spruik during peak meal times. — |
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