How Often Should You Play a Band Booking at the Same Venue?

 "Do not play the same area more than once every 6 weeks".

These aren't my words. They come from the mouth of someone responsible for booking all the bands for a major venue in Pennsylvania, US. 

However, I'd say the advice is just about right for recommended gigging frequency at any one venue no matter where you're band's based.

The venue booker in question here goes on the say that:

 "I know you think that people will always come to see you – and they will, if you give them enough time between your gigs. But there’s no place more lonely than an empty club and eventually your reputation will quickly suffer if that happens at your gigs."

If you think about it, with a small town, you can probably apply the advice above to playing anywhere in the town itself too frequently.

It can be tempting once you have a venue which is keen to give you a band booking on a regular basis, to rely on them for too many of your gigs. Its far easier than getting out there and pitching your act to new venues. 

The fact is though, that whatever sort of areas you're gigging leaving space in between your appearances gives your audiences time to build up their appetites for your next visit. This applies equally to cover bands, original or Indie acts and solo artists alike.

You can find this  especially useful if you're not changing their sets very often. 

The more time that's passed between your appearances (and so the larger number of other bands that bands that have played there before you come back there), the less chance the crowd (or bar staff) will remember the order of your band's every move or note.

Remember this: playing somewhere every 6 weeks will still

allow you to appear there 8 times a year. 

You only need a few of those regular venues (about 6 actually), to be out at least virtually every week in any year.... 

 

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