The Best way to Get Gigs playing private functions

If your goal is to avoid paying a cut of your gig fees to an agent or any third party, there are a few proven ways you can get your share of the more lucrative private function and corporate event gigs.

1. You can do a search for all the businesses based in the area you want to play gigs.

Call these businesses and ask the name of the person responsible for booking any corporate hospitality or events. When you've got that, write to them with details of your act and include a demo CD or website address to access mp3s of your band in action.

You can take the same approach with hotels where their "event planners" can be canvassed. This can (among other benefits),help to open up the possibility of you playing wedding receptions when couples book the hotel for their function. Follow your intitial approach up with a phone call to check they recieved the items and ask whether/when they are planning any events. Follow up regularly after this with your band or act's newsletter.


2. A les speculative approach is to target just those businesses or companies where you have some connection. Someone in the band is related to someone who works in the business/hotel etc. This way, you can get the name of the event planner from your contact, mention the connection when you get in touch and of course, get your friend/contact to help by "pushing" your act on your behalf. Obviously this approach will generally give you less target businesses in the first place.


The best and by far the most reliable way method for getting gigs at private functions will come as a result of playing "everyday" gigs.

As long as you're giving people a good time when you play (check here if not) you'll get approaches from people who see you play live. These people who see you will also recommend you to friends/contacts who are thinking about what to do for any upcoming event.

The bulk of the "private" gigs I, (and most other bands I know) play, come via this route. For this reason, the more times you can get out and and be seen gigging , the more private work you'll get.

You can even invite event planners, businesses execs/owners and couples-to-be to your "public" gigs to check you out for themselves if needed.

Finally, a couple of factors which can increase your chances of getting private work.

1. A wide song repertoire (catering for various age groups)
2. Lights to enhance the show

and most importantly:

3. The ability to offer music/DJ in between your sets.
This last one isn't as difficult as it sounds. I know plenty of bands who hook up an mp3 player or lap-top up and use that when they're offstage.