Gig-Getter Band Booking Tips in Play Music Magazine

The first in a series of three Gig-Getter band booking features is in the latest edition of Play music Magazine. 

If you pick up a copy (free) at your local music store you can check-out tips about how to get that band booking. 

The next issues starts to look at the performance itself, starting with overcoming any nerves you might have and making sure you get every crowd going - whenever you play live

Here's a sneak preview of the band booking tips

You can check the Play music website (including the full digital edition of the latest magazine) here

7 Sound Band Booking Tips

Could any musician argue with the 7 tips on the post at the bottom of the page about how to secure band bookings?

The only one I've never personally tried is the 6th tip - namely  Open Mic nights. 

That said, a number of singers and other musicians I've worked with used Open Mic nights to get their confidence in front of an audience up before even thinking about playing a band booking. 

You just need to make sure you don't get stuck in the rut of playing Open Mic nights and not "graduate" into playing for real.

As the writer of the 7 Tips post says, getting band bookings does take a little work. At first, at least. the key is consistency and knowing that contacting venues is a numbers game.

Some of the other tips are:

- Make sure you have a demo ready for when you get a venue interested.

Of course. Check out this for more advice re band booking & demos

- "Buddy up" with another band (Gig-swapping)

- Take "any" kind of work at first.

Not necessarily, and certainly there's no need to EVER play for nothing)

- Let people know when you do have a gig coming up.

Certainly if you want people to get a gig crowd)Or here's more ideas to get a crowd to your band booking

- Recruit someone to act as a manager or sole Gig-Getter.

Unless he's bringing something extra special to the party, a band manager if you're part time or just starting out can be a very expensive luxury.

Howverem you do need to establish who in the band is ultimately responsible for organising gigs if not actually pitching for all the band bookings.

Here's the 7 Tips Post

More Band Booking Tips

Do You Interact with Your Band Booking Audience?

Some ideas to get your crowd going in this post below from Harmony central this week.

You can't beat getting your audience involved in the show, whether it's having them up on stage or you getting into the crowd.

Suggestions about inviting someone to play tambourine or other percussion, dance onstage and even do some backing vocals can all work well for you.  

Personally I can't wait to try the "Hoola hoop" recommendation from the Harmony Central post below...

Harmony Central Post

More Audience Interaction Tips

Got all the Band Booking Venues You Need?

If you're struggling for ideas about where you could play next, check out the latest post over at band booking hub

There are some good tips to point you in the right direction. 

The key is to build up a large number of "Target venues" to aim at.

The larger the number of venues you're pitching - the greater your odds in favour of you filling your gig diary. 

 Also, if you have plenty to go at, you'll feel far less pressure/stress when you contact any of them if they're "just another name on my list".

 Contrast that with only having a couple of places to aim at. You'll need to score them both or it'll be the TV again at the weekend....