Even this late in the day you can still band bookings for this year if you approach it the right way. If you have the availability and are ready to confirm a date at short notice you can keep adding bookings to your band’s diary in November and December.
Clearly now we’re mainly talking about other bands or acts cancelling pre-booked gigs and you being called on to take their place.
Here are three proven actions you need to take NOW to maximise your chances of last minute band bookings for the rest of this year.
- Make sure you have an up-to-date Gig-calendar.
All band members need to have access to this and confirm which nights they’re available on. The chance of a gig can be lost if a venue calls about your availability and you tell them you’ll have to get back to them. Often they have a list of potential replacement bands to call and the gig will go to the first to say “yes”.
Search “Online calendar” (there are numerous available) and you’ll find one something which you can all share online. This will make sure you’re ready to confirm at a moments notice – crucial when you get the frantic phone call from a venue where the band has let them down.
2. Create a Newsletter and mail to Potential Venues.
Its’ all very well being ready to take a booking if a distraught venue calls you, but how do you get them to pick up the phone and ring your number when they need a band?
You have to get your name in front of them on a regular basis as the “Go to” alternative when they have a night to fill.
The first step in doing this is creating a long list of target venues. Once you have these. You need to make sure they have something they can refer to when they need a band or act in an emergency. That something is a band newsletter. You can send them via email or post. In my personal experience I’ve found hard copies to be more effective – although many bands I’ve worked with had booking gigs via their digital newsletter.
Great. But what do you say in your newsletter?
Here are some ideas which could get you started
- Have you got a New(ish) band member you could write something about?
- What about New equipment you might have invested in?
- Details or photos of any gigs you’ve recently played
- Forthcoming gigs
- New numbers or material you’ve added or written
- Clear contact details for how you can be reached and booked via email and phone
- An idea on the genre of music you play
- Photos of any of the above
- A statement close to your contact details saying something like:
“Some dates in December still available due to late cancellation”
If you have a good demo you’re happy with, you can enclose this with the newsletter. Make sure all your contact details are printed on the CD. Don’t worry if you don’t have a demo though, a well crafted mail-out can get you band bookings even without being heard.
3. Follow-up your newsletter with a phone call
Talk to the person who makes the decisions about booking the bands. Check they received the mailing and remind them you have some availability in December should they need it.
It’s easy to give in this late in the day and believe all the 2011 band bookings are taken. Don’t be fooled. There are still gigs to be had if your band’s name is the one in front of the venue when they need one at short notice.
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