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If you're just starting out you might not believe you'll ever be good enough to play live, or that no-one would want to pay you for effectively having a night out every weekend.
Well, I remember before I got invited to join my brothers band a few years ago. I was amazed that people were actually paying him and his mates to bash out a couple of sets worth of covers on a Friday or Saturday night.
Eventually, out of curiosity, I went out to watch them one night.
They were "O.K" as they (a little self-consciously) served up a mix of rock and indie material to a handful of very vaguely interested drinkers. Their gear was bog-standard, their stage presence less than zero.
I still couldn't work out why a bar or club would want to hire this kind of "entertainment".
So now, working with other bands and solo artists I can understand musicians who "rehearse" just for pleasure and never even consider playing in public or who doubt they could ever command a fee.
The fact is though, there's very much a market up and down most countries in the world for "weekend warriors" playing songs the crowds know and love. It doesn't matter how mediocre you feel you are when you start. It's all about gaining experience playing gigs and being committed to get better.
That includes improving your technique, tightness, choice of material, ability to get gigs, your stage show and your gear over time too.
That same band of my brother's (which includes me now) has since gone on to appear regularly at the Hard Rock Cafe for the last 6 years.
Believe me, if you'd been to watch that first 3/4 empty gig I saw them at you wouldn't have believed it possible either....How to Get Gigs
You might like some of the ideas in the link below about How to get Gigs. Although it's aimed I think mainly at Original/Indie bands most of the tips will apply to covers acts too.
"Getting to know" the venue promoters by regularly visiting the venues will work - but you can obviously only do this if you have the time. Watching other bands play the venues you're aiming for though is always a good investment of your time. You can learn how good you need to be, how you can improve on what these other bands do and also network for gig-swapping or even to host your own gigs as the writer Henry Carden (himself a promoter), says in point 4 of the link below.
Hosting your own gigs with another band (or two) is often a great way to break into gigging before you have the experience you'll need to get work in more prestigious venues. With a little work at self-promoting your events it can also guarantee good crowds and some income to help with new gear.
Here's the link - the tips will work if you're not on Teesside btw!
BBC - How to Get Gigs
Having been asked by Georgia from an all-female band for my tips for a successful first gig night - here's the essentials on my list assuming you've taken steps to get some "supporters" along to watch you:
1. Think through your set-list and your look in relation to the venue and likely audience.
2. Talk to the audience at least a little in between a few numbers. This will normally help them relax with you and open up to enjoy the gig more
3. Get the audience involved. Consider getting someone up on stage or having the singer or other band member wander out as far as he can into the crowd mid-number
4. Have a plan ready for if "disaster" strikes when you're on stage ( Broken guitar string, power cut, heckling, playing mistakes etc. What will you say/do in each case?)
5. Advertise the band name and contact number somewhere where it can be seen while you're playing onstage
6. Arrange to get pictures (or video) of the gig taken and try to include some audience members in shot where you can
7. Make note of any positive feedback you get on the night. This can and should be used in your future marketing for other gigs there and elsewhere.
8. ALWAYS ask for further future gigs on the night itself (unless you don't want to play there again of course)
9. Ask for your money!More tips here
If you're just starting out you might not believe you'll ever be good enough to play live, or that no-one would want to pay you for effectively having a night out every weekend.
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