3 Questions to Unlock Band Booking Venues

Contrary to what some musicians might think you don't fill your diary with band bookings by sitting back waiting  for them to call  you.

Neither do you get fully booked with gigs by calling up  venues and telling them how great you are.

One of the biggest secrets to successful selling (or "pitching") is the importance of asking questions of the the person you're trying to sell to. NOT just talking at them...

Now, nobody want to be cross-examined by someone trying to sell them something. Especially if they've never met the "seller" before. However, we're not talking about you needing to interrogate a venue booker with a long list of probing demands.

Here though are 3 Key questions you can you to unlock even the most reluctant venue you might be targeting.

1. "Can you tell me who's the person responsible for booking bands?"

I'm always amazed by the amount of bands who attempt to plough into a pitch without establishing whether they're talking to someone who can actually give them the gig. If you're trying to sell your act to the wrong person you won't only be wasting your (and their) time. You'll run the risk of  relying on them to pitch on your behalf to the person who can actually make the decision. Can you afford to rely on anyone else to have your best interests at heart?

Make a separate call to the venue - ahead of when you're  trying to pitch your act, and establish the decision maker with the question above.

2. "Does your current supply of bands meet all your needs or do you think there may be some room for improvement?"

I remember one of the first ever  readers of the Gig-Getter band booking manual calling me up to query using this question. He told me it wasn't something he felt he could ever ask a venue. I told him that the question (and the answers I'd received to it) had played in huge part in generating 000's of band bookings for my own act and others I'd helped. he tried and called me back to apologise!

When you stop and think about it, don't we all decide whether or not to buy anything based on whether our needs are being fully met by what we already have?

What can the venue booker say when you ask him that question?

He or she may of course be perfectly satisfied with the acts they already use. In which case you add them to your newsletter mailing list (circumstances at every venue will change at some point).

Often they'll say something along the lines of:

"There's always room for improvement" (Honestly, I've lost count of the amount of times I had that answer).

At other times, you'll be told they're "actively looking for new acts".

No really. This will happen when you're pitching enough.

3. "How do we get considered to play at your venue?"

Here, you're just checking what are obstacles between you getting the gig. Some acts assume every venue wants a CD. Some prefer mp3 demos. Others want a full press kit. Actually, not all will even need to hear you. Some might prefer to check out your website or Facebook page. Others might only need to know what kind of material you play or how much they'll have to pay you before deciding whether to book you.

If you don't ask what they need how you will ever know?

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Pre-Planned or "All Natural" Audience Banter at Your Band Bookings?

Should you use pre-planned audience banter or let everything just be spontaneous when you play band bookings?"

This is a question that often divides musicians and band members.

 I was reminded of it again last week when one half of a duo from New Zealand emailed me. He told me how well some of the "one-liners" in "Rouse the crowd" band booking manual had worked for him during their latest gig. He said that even his partner in the duo was now able to "Play up to the audience".

I do understand those musicians who feel uncomfortable with the notion of using”scripted banter" during their gigs. They worry that they'll come across as false or contrived during the performance if everything isn't natural. 

For me though, not having at least some idea of what you'll say to a crowd in between songs is like turning up for a gig without a set-list worked out.
Just because you've played a song (or even the same set) before, doesn't mean it can feel, look and sound fresh to any audience..

The key really is in the way you use any pre-planned banter. Obviously you don't want to be looking down reading from a script or use one-liners which have no relevance for that particular crowd. 

Most musicians, when they've tried using some pre=planned audience chat will never go back to turning up on the night and hoping for the best. Not least of all because if you have at least some idea of what you're going to say to an audience (and when during the show), you have no chance of those awkward moments or long pregnant pauses when you "dry up".

The best one-liners are those that you can adapt to suit the particular gig or which give you further ideas for some of your own creations. Either way, many musicians find that once they do a little work on audience banter ahead of the band booking it will do two major things for you.

1. Hugely boost your stage confidence

2. Help your performance and delivery come across as much more professional.

Now unless you're going for the nervous/amateur look, who wouldn't want those benefits?

Audience Banter Tips

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Where and How Do You Find Band Booking Venues?

You may well have asked yourself this question if you're not yet playing all the band bookings you want

Certainly I've been asked it by a lot by the bands I work with.

Some bands (and solo artists)think they should try and persuade local venues to start hosting Live Music nights. This is possible but will need more persuasion and effort than simply finding those venues which already feature live bands and then introducing your act to them.

 

So where do you find potential band booking venues to play? 

It's incredibly simple when you think about it, but these are the ways I've used and recommend to others and more importantly which should give you  most success.

1. Other bands websites.
Search for other bands in your area and then check out the "Gigs" section of their websites. These will often include venue phone numbers.

 

2. Search for "Live Music venues Chicago" (or wherever you're aiming for)

3. Scan music and local press for music event/night ads

4. Keep your eyes open when visiting any town you'd like to target. Ask around while you're there for venue details

5. Networking. Talk to other musicians you know. Swap details so that if they're offered a gig when they're already booked up, you can pick it up for them. (You'll probably need to offer to do the same for them in return).

You may not believe it now, but when you start to build your reputation and numbers of gig bookings, you'll be grateful for a substitute band you can offer to venues if you ever have to cancel. This can enhance your reputation as reliable and professional even when you're letting a venue down.

Remember:

* Build a long list of potential venues to target. 

Aim for 100 over time. If this sounds a lot, remember you should be sharing the finding of venues amongst ALL band members. So a total of 100 is only 25 each. Just make sure you each focus on different towns or regions to avoid any duplication. If you're as solo act try to recruit a friend or two (who ideally don't live too close to you - to widen your target area)to help you track down potential new venues
 

* Always keep adding to your list.

Times change and some venues will stop hosting live music. Others won't be interested in your act. So, to continually maximize the numbers of band bookings you can aim for you can play - keep adding to your list of venues.

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