How to Get Gigs..... at Gigs

The best way to get gigs is actually by playing live.

One of the facts about gigging as a semi-pro or weekend warrior which surprises some bands when they first start is the number of gigs which can come as a result of people seeing you play.

People booking you for their own private function after they've seen you play in a bar or club. And also of course, follow-up bookings from the venue you're playing at.

All this depends of course on you being able to put on a half decent show. However, as your experience gigging grows, you'll probably learn how to maximise the art of getting gigs at gigs.

You'll get a whole lot more work once you adopt the attitude that

No gig should be an end in itself.

If your band isn't getting enough work you should start approaching every live gig as means not just to having a good night, but to generate as many further gigs as possible.

Here are two specific tips which can really help you.

1. Make sure people know the name of the band and how to contact you
This might sound too obvious to be true but you'd be surprised at the amount of acts who put on great performances with no banner up behind them on the stage or no details of who they are anywhere to be seen. I've been to a lot of gigs, thought the band were great and had to ask someone behind the bar the name of the band.

How can people contact you after the gig to book you if you don't know who you are?

For example, we had a call this week from someone who'd seen us at the Hard Rock Cafe and wanted us for a 40th birthday party. They'd taken a note of our name and number at the Hard Rock. We had the details on the crowd-facing side of our on stage monitors.

So, get your name, number and website address up on stage where people can see them. Leave fliers on tables with contact details and "email or call to discuss your party or corporate event"

2. Ask the venue management for more gigs when you come of stage
Don't leave it for them to call you when they need you again or for you to ring them in a few months when you're scratching round for another gig. Take your gig diary with you every gig night and sit down with the management for a moment or two after you've played. When you collect your fee is usually the best time.

Tell them your available dates are getting taken quite fast and ask whether they want to put a "couple more" dates in the diary together.

I've taken 5 more dates at one time from venues in the past like this so give it a try.