|
Getting Gigs
How to get work for your band
Written by Aubrey Parsons
The following article appeared in the August 2008
edition of Performing musician:
So, you've got the band, you've got the music
and you're raring to go. But just how do you go about booking a gig? Well,
with a bit of promotional know-how and some good organisational skills, you
could soon be filling up that calendar. Aubrey Parsons
 The
first band I joined spent over two years rehearsing two nights per week
before we had our first gig. It wasn't through want of trying, but initially
we didn't have a clue how to get gigs. Like many bands, our first gig was
for a mate who needed some live entertainment at his birthday party. Since
that gig over 20 years ago, we're still together and performing regularly
for decent money. During that time I've learned how to get gigs and I now
perform at over 260 every year. Most bands can be split into two categories:
original bands and covers bands. And whilst the venues and audiences may
differ, the way to get gigs is more or less the same. Unfortunately, there
is no way of magically filling your bookings diary; getting gigs involves a
combination of legwork, phone work, studio work and negotiation. Here are a
few pointers to help you along the way to becoming a gigging musician.
The promo package
 Sending
a promo pack is essential. It should contain a brief outline of the band and
the type of music you perform, along with a demo CD or DVD. Sending a promo
pack is essential. It should contain a brief outline of the band and the
type of music you perform, along with a demo CD or DVD. There is no point in
trying to get bookings unless you have something that the booker can see and
hear. You can talk about how great your band is until you are blue in the
face, but unless the booker can actually hear what your band sounds like
they won't even entertain the thought of booking you, unless your name is
Bono and your band is U2. A promotional package in the form of a folder
containing a brief outline of the band and the type of music you perform,
along with a demo CD, or even better a demo DVD, is essential. These days,
it's possible to put a decent package together with the help of a PC, a
colour printer and, of course, a bit of musical talent. Your promo pack
should contain a brief information sheet showing a picture of the band, a
description of the type of music you perform, and a small sample set list. A
separate CV is also a good idea; it should have a brief description of each
band member and details of any bands they have been in, along with a list of
any previous venues the band has performed at. An A4 band photo and poster
will give the booker an idea of any advertising you can supply them with to
help advertise your gigs. Let the venue know that you will happily supply
any additional material they might need, like posters or fliers. Include a
copy of any press cuttings and testimonials from previous clients and
venues. Of course, the most important item of your promotional pack is a
demo CD/DVD. Don't even bother sending a pack without one, as no one in
their right minds will book a band they haven't seen or heard. The CD should
contain between three and six tracks, preferably recorded live. Studio
recordings are OK, but a live demo shows that you can cut the mustard and
that no cheating has gone on in the studio to make the band sound better
than they actually are. The first track needs to be punchy and should grab
the attention of the listener. The CD needs to be concise, like an
employment CV. If it rambles on, the likelihood is that it will end up filed
under 'B' for bin before the booker gets to the end of the second track. If
you get the chance, a demo DVD is your best bet. It's possible to knock up a
demo D VD
for under £100 these days if you have a half-decent camera and the
capability to record a gig live, but we will come back to this in a later
issue. In addition to all this, make sure you include a date sheet of
existing bookings and available dates. Finally, don't forget
to include your contact details on each piece of paper, and make sure that
the name of the band and contact details are printed clearly on the outside
of the folder or presentation case, on any CD cases, and on the body of the
CD. A word of warning: do not be tempted to give a web address instead of
sending a CD and expect the booker to go to your web site and listen to
tracks — 'B' is for bin, remember! Nearly
everyone has access to the Internet these days and it doesn't take much
effort to set up a band web site or MySpace
page to
complement your pack. In fact, 90 percent of our new bookings come from
people who have been directed to the band's web site via word of mouth and
from people who have received our promotional pack. The great thing about
web sites is that you can add samples of your music, pictures, videos and
even a diary of the bands availability. If you have a web site, try to make
the web address as concise as possible. A band web site with the address
http://www.freewebpages.co.uk/bands/wales/thewatchmenband doesn't have the
same ring as www.thewatchmen.co.uk.
Getting noticed
 Once
you've put the package together, it's a case of getting your promo material
to the right venues and, more importantly, the right people at those venues.
Whenever you present yourself to a venue, promoter or private client, you
should always come across as a highly organised professional. Making a call
or sending an email and just asking for a gig will get you nowhere. If
you're not good on the phone or you're not a decent people person, then find
someone who is to make the initial contact. Coming across as moody or
disorganised will reflect on the image of the band. Find out what
information they require from you; there's no harm tailoring your promo pack
for each specific venue. Some venues will ask for a three-track CD, some
will ask for four tracks, and so on. Forewarned is forearmed.
Cover bands
Setting up a band web site or MySpace page
such as this is a great way to promote your band, and can include music
samples, pictures, videos and an availability calendar. Setting up a band
web site or MySpace page such as this is a great way to promote your band,
and can include music samples, pictures, videos and an availability
calendar. If you are a cover band then your prospective clients will be
pubs, clubs, hotels, private and corporate events, and a quick search on the
Internet will give you a list of live music venues across your region. Make
a list of the appropriate venues and call them to find out the name of the
person responsible for live music. If they are available, try and speak with
them. They are more often than not very busy people, so try to keep your
initial call brief. Ask what type of music they have, how often, and if they
are looking for acts. Once you have established this you can follow up the
call by sending out a promotional pack. Make a follow-up call a week or so
later to check if they've had a chance to go through the information you
sent. If you get the opportunity to hand-deliver a pack and meet the booker
face to face, you will stand a better chance of them remembering you the
next time you speak and therefore increase your chances of a booking. When
you send your pack, a little trick that bands do when sending unsolicited
promo packs to record companies is to include a 'gift' with the pack — not a
bribe, but something to make your package stand out, like a chocolate bar or
a branded key ring. I've heard of a band who sent a shoe along with their
pack — one shoe stuck to the envelope! Mad, I know, but it made the pack
stand out against all the others and they were eventually signed! Don't
expect the venue to call you. In many cases they are inundated with bands
wanting to play, so be persistent, but don't be annoying. Calling every day
to see if you can have a gig will more than likely get you blacklisted.
However, try to call the venue every couple of weeks until you get an
answer. Always be polite and always mention the name of the band; that way
the name will sink into the bookers psyche!
Weddings and functions
The web site for the Luminaire in Kilburn has
a s ection
on what information you need to include when contacting them. The web site
for the Luminaire in Kilburn has a section on what information you need to
include when contacting them. If you think your music is appropriate for
weddings and functions (remember, you will have to have a varied set to cope
with a wide age group and music tastes), then it's worth contacting all the
hotels in your area and speaking with the events organiser. Many venues have
a 'preferred supplier' list for their events. Wherever possible, set up a
meeting and talk through the services you can offer. Developing a good
relationship with an events organiser can be a goldmine for gigs. There are
countless wedding web sites on the Internet and for a few pounds a month you
can advertise your band to thousands of prospective wedding couples. There
are also many wedding forums on the web, so if you do perform at a wedding
ask the bride and groom if they will recommend you to other couples, and
don't forget to get a testimonial for your promo pack. Good recommendations
are worth their weight in gold.
Gig promoters
 Most
venue web sites will have information on how you can get to play there, so
make a list and Google them. Most venue web sites will have information on
how you can get to play there, so make a list and Google them. If you are a
band performing your own music, you might want to consider contacting an
independent promoter. These are usually people with a passion for live music
who work part-time putting on gigs at various venues. They will often have a
weekly or monthly slot at a venue, and they are always on the lookout for
decent acts. Search Google for promoters across the UK — there are literally
hundreds. Just remember that they are inundated with demos and MySpace links
on a daily basis, so preparation and presentation is everything. Most
promoters working with original music are happy to receive both physical
promo packs and emailed packs. Don't be afraid to enter any 'battle of the
bands' competitions you might come across. They're a great way of performing
to a prospective fan base. They're also a great way of meeting agents and
promoters and seeing what your competition has to offer. Getting an agent
Both cover bands and original bands can make use of agents, although
primarily they will be looking for cover bands. Approach an agent in the
same way that you would approach a venue. Not all agents are actively
looking for new acts, so your initial contact should be to find out if their
books are open. A list of agents can be found at http://www.agents-uk.com/.
This is the web site for the Agents Association of Great Britain, and all
their members are vetted and monitored by the association to make sure they
perform to high business standards. Alternatively, a quick flick through the
Yellow Pages will get you a list of local and national entertainment
agencies. You can make initial contact via telephone or email, but this
should always be followed up with a promotional pack. Beware of any agent
who offers to take you onto their books without seeing the band perform.
Some so-called 'agents' will literally sign up any band and then proceed to
try and place them in the most inappropriate venues (see the movie Spinal
Tap for examples!). Owing to past bad experiences, I will not work for any
agent who has not seen me perform. If they are interested and you don't have
any gigs lined up, then offer to perform at a showcase. Some agents put on
their own showcases where they invite new talent along to perform. You won't
get paid and you will be performing with a number of other acts, but if the
agent likes you they will keep you in mind for further bookings. Contracts
Whether you are working through an agent or directly with a venue or client,
it is recommended that you draw up a contract between both parties. It gives
piece of mind, and lays out in black and white exactly what each party is
expecting. This includes the fee, start and end times, length of
performance, and location and contact details of the band, the booker and
the venue. An agent will always supply you with a contract, and they will
expect you to complete it and return a copy to them. Most pub venues don't
expect bands to have contracts, but it doesn't hurt to have one — that way a
venue can't cancel a gig unless they have a very good reason. For private
bookings such as weddings and corporate events it is essential to have a
contract. Ask the client to complete the booking form and return it to
confirm the booking, along with a 10 percent non-refundable deposit. I
always attach a copy of our terms and conditions with my contracts, and ask
the client to sign both the contract and terms and conditions to make sure
they have read the small print. The green stuff Money isn't a dirty word and
you should expect to be paid for all the hard work behind the scenes as well
as the performance on the night, but some people are still drastically
undercutting themselves because they think it will get them more work.
Wrong! In this day and age, most people know that you get what you pay for.
Back in the bad old days, my band could expect to get around £80 per gig,
but we now offer a professional package and command around £4000 for
corporate events, £2500 for private performances, and £450 to £900 for pubs
and clubs. Obviously, this depends on distance, and for any gig over 50
miles we now charge mileage and sometimes an overnight fee to cover hotels.
Original bands will be lucky to get a cut of the door money, but they are
performing with a different goal compared to cover bands. Most venues will
have a set fee that they pay to cover bands, and more often than not if it's
your first time at a venue they will pay you as little as possible, so make
sure the venue knows that if your first gig at their venue is successful
then you will be asking for more money on your return. It's also worth
inflating your prices a little at the initial inquiry; you then have room
for manoeuvre if you get a sharp intake of breath when you mention your
fees! Putting it all together Once you have designed your presentation pack,
decided on your fees and made a few calls, looking for gigs becomes second
nature. Keep your ear to the ground for new venues and always follow up any
line of inquiry as quickly as possible, especially if someone is looking to
book your band. Failure to respond quickly to a prospective client or venue
will result in them thinking you are not interested and they will look for
someone else. There are thousands of bands out there and they are all after
the same work, so the more professional your attitude, the more work you
will get. Tomorrow the Dog & Duck, this time next year the world! Now go get
'em!
The promoter speaks
Aaron Kirkhouse from Mint Gigs says, "We get
literally hundreds of bands contacting us on a weekly basis. Owing to the
large number we are happy to look at web links and MySpace pages. MySpace is
great because we can instantly see how serious a band is about their music
and their product. A band with a large number of friends warrants
examination, since they might be able to bring good numbers of people to
their gigs. On the other hand, if a band has a poor MySpace site then we
just won't bother looking at it. If we get a good vibe about a band then we
will take the next step to see them perform live, and if they've got a good
sound and good vocals then we will work with them." www.myspace.com/mintgigs
|
