Should You Reduce Your Band Booking fees?

With the economy struggling should you be reducing your gig fees to get band bookings?

I've been asked this many times over recent months and my answer is still the same. Getting all the band  bookings you want isn't about cutting your price until a venue accepts your offer.

There's one argument that says the less you charge for playing gigs the more work you'll get and to some  extent it's true. Offering to play for a temporarily or one-off reduced gig fee will often secure an untried band a gig at a new venue. If you want to be taken seriously though you don't just want to be known as a "cheap" act. 

A lot of venues will ultimately associate a band that's very cheap with one that's lacking in quality no matter how good you seem to be. 

The point to remember here is that while a one-off "trial price" can be a good place to start for a new band or an established one in an area you're unproven or unknown, you need to get your price up to your full levels for subsequent gigs or you'll be stuck at the bargain basement level with the no-hopers. 

Keep in mind that your gig fee, no matter how high, is only too expensive to the venue if they're not making enough of a profit on the night. 

You can charge more than any other band in town but if you fill the place to the rafters with the type of punters who drink the place dry (but don't trash it) and the venue still turns a decent margin on the night, no venue will care how much you cost them.....

Tips on setting band booking  gig fees

Tips to bring and keep a crowd at your band booking

What won't stop your 2012 Band Booking Success

Here's two facts about band booking that took me a long time to understand and which might surprise you.

1. Not having the best gear doesn't need to make any difference to the amount or quality of band bookings you get.

2. Not being a great musician, singer or band doesn't really matter either.

Years of working with semi-pro and amateur musicians around the world have taught me that what makes the biggest difference in terms of level of gig-getting is determination to succeed. To decide exactly what you want in terms of gigging and then keeping going until you achieve it - no matter what other people might be saying to you.

When I look back, I became a regular at the Hard Rock Cafe when I'd been a bassist for under 12 months.I was still playing a 2nd hand Musicman copy and a battered old Peavey amp bought off someone on Gumtree. 

Since then I've seen plenty of other average acts with mediocre equipment get themselves out from in front of the bedroom mirror and onto the stage (or at the very least, into the corner of a few local bars with their guitars and mics...). 

Makes you wonder what you might do with a little talent and some good gear!

Band Booking Tips and Articles

Band Booking from Your Sofa

If you've been playing in a semi-pro gigging band for any length of time, you'll know that the early days of January can be quiet in terms of band bookings.

If you don't have much lined up after this month though for 2012 there's still plenty you can be doing to get gigs. Even from the comfort of your living room and sofa.

Start by spending some time thinking about exactly how often you want to be out playing band bookings in 2012.  

 Fully commit to this, your band booking goal.

Assuming you're in a band (rather than a solo artist) agree between all band members things like:

- Maximum numbers of gigs you want to be playing every week or month

- Nights of the week you'd prefer to be out

- Geographical locations (ie Towns) you want to target (or avoid) for your band bookings

- Minimum gig fees you'll accept for any booking

- Types of gigs you want to play/avoid (are you interested in corporate work where the money will be better but you might have to smarten up? Maybe you'd actually prefer to stick to playing bars where you can turn up in jeans and a tee-shirt?)

This will all help focus your efforts when you start pitching your act for band bookings this year. Something you'll want to get into later this month.

More band booking tips here

Your 2012 Band Booking Decision

Last year I remember saying:

band booking success starts with a plan .

The bands I work with that enjoy the most (and quickest) long term success getting gigs are those that spend some time in advance working out a plan of action. 


This plan of action should include what you want to achieve gigs-wise and how you're going get the gigs.


As far as band booking in 2012 goes though, there's something that's actually more important than you having a plan. 


With band booking, what makes the difference between really successful semi-pro bands and the rest, is their desire and commitment to achieve their gig-getting goals. 


Any musician can say they "want to start gigging" or "play live more often". You can spend as much time as you like planning and then pitching your band and act to venues. Without real commitment to succeed no matter what the chances are you'll give in before you get what you want. 

Making the decision that nothing will stop you getting all the band bookings you want is what will keep you motivated through the early part of 2012 while you're finding your gig-getting feet....



Band Booking ebook