Gig-Getter in the Dock

I've always asked for feedback for my gigging guides so I can't complain when I receive a negative review about like the one that appeared about Gig-Getter on Amazon recently.

The lady in question does have some valid points that are worth consideration.

She talks about the book being for "complete novices" and it's true, it's not aimed at seasoned pros who have all the work they want. But then again, in anyone in that position is unlikely to need any help with how to get gigs anyhow.

There's a comment about the amount and nature of the content. A "mere 100 pages or so." and "common sense". Actually, I'm quite proud of these facts. I don't know about you but if a "How to" guide has too many pages, and sounds too complicated to succeed with, I get overawed.

Some people do like to go into massive detail with their subjects, as if they're some complicated "black art". Getting gigs is a pretty simple process that anyone can accomplish no matter what their background.

Like I say on my website: getting gigs is all gig-getter is about. Not getting record deals, finding band mates or merchandising. Just getting gigs.

The fact that i recommend the occasional cover song as gig-getting aids for original bands has been mentioned (and commented upon) before on this blog and in plenty of other places. Not just by me but by successful pro artists as something many of them do to help get their original act established. I freely admit though, there will always be original artist who take issue with this recommendation..

Finally, (phew) the reviewer points out there's no mention of myspace in Gig-Getter. Actually, there are a few of mentions, but I do take her point. I don't talk about using myspace for getting gigs. But I figure most bands have tried (or are trying) this method for gig-getting.

I think the response to this point is probably best summed up via another Amazon reviewer who says:

"I was initially surprised that this guide contained very little information about getting gigs using online techniques.

Having seen the results now first hand; Gig-Getter works and works well. I now suspect it's because the book uses a more proactive approach than relying on website or myspace hits. If you've got an online presence what you'll learn with this guide is how to supplement it. If not, it's as good a stand alone system for getting gigs as I've found. "

Anyhow, you can't please everyone all the time and I'm genuinely grateful to the lady in question for giving me the opportunity to try and explain my thinking on these aspects.

Now where did I put that Robbie Williams bass tab....

How to Get Gigs from Venues you'd given up on

Got a nice surprise yesterday when I venue I'd all but forgotten about called me up out of the blue to offer us some gig dates.

In truth it wasn't "out of the blue" as they'd just received our latest newsletter. But this venue first went onto our mailing list almost 2 years ago!

Like I've always said, circumstances do change at venues, whether it's new management, one of the roster of existing bands breaking up or increased gig frequency meaning they need some more bands.

Of course, you can't just keep phoning a venue that's initially turned you down and asking them if things have "changed yet". You can though, keep in touch via your newsletter so your name is always in front of them when they need a new band...

One Sure Way to NOT Get band Gigs

Or,

"How one band member can sabotage your gig-getting efforts".

I was talking with a bass guitarist in an Indie band this week about his progress over the last couple of months getting gigs for his new band line-up.

He told me he had quite a lot of interest from various venues he'd contacted with several asking for a demo or web address to check the band out. Nothing confirmed though.

It turned out this bassist's band hadn't had a demo ready at the time he was calling on these prospective new venues (oops).

When I quizzed him a bit more on this, he said that his band had "started" to record 5 numbers for a demo after he made these initial contacts. They were all recording their parts separately into digital recorders which was then to be mixed on PC via Cubase.

There was a problem though. Although the bassist himself, drummer and guitarist had all recorded their parts, they were still waiting on the singer to do his bit. The rest of the band had been waiting almost 2 months for the singer to get round to it. And it wasn't the first time this band member had failed had held projects up (songwriting, rehearsing etc).

The band had been "limping along" playing the odd gig, but my bassist friend knew that lots of regular work (and then management & a deal hopefully) could only come once they got their demo out.

So what does he need to do? Certainly the rest of the band need to talk to the vocalist, find out what the bottle-neck is. Give him an ultimatum, a non-negotiable deadline.

If he doesn't hit that deadline they need a new singer. In fact, they should probably start looking for someone else before that deadline is up.

In my book, any band member who's an obstacle to getting gigs is a band member you need to replace.

Gig-Getter site

8 Publicity Ideas to Help Get Band Gigs

Publicity, whether via the press or just your own newsletter, is obviously vital if you want your band to cut through the crowd and get noticed.

Here are 8 ideas for what you can talk about in any releases you make to the press or via your own publications (including your website or Myspace/Facebook pages).

1. Hometown of the act: Pretty simple, but you'd be amazed how many bands don't include this on the info they send out. Essential if you want people to book you - even if you're "just" playing covers

2. Date and circumstances of the band's formation : Don't be afraid to spice this up a little. You can include "why" the band was formed

3. Info on any previous bands members were in : Unless of course you're ashamed of them!

4. "Stories" : Any interesting little pieces of info about any band activities (gigging, recording, writing etc) and the way they go about them, which gives "personality" to the act

5. Song Info: Why it's about, why it was written. This info will help clarify point 6 below..

6. Musical Genre/Category of the band: Sometimes this is hard to define or you may be reluctant to label yourselves - but this does need to be clarified.

7. Gig Schedule - If you don't yet have many, call this "Next Gig"

8. Info on previous gigs - A good opportunity to use a great picture of the band in action

"Nervous shows in a church hall or a room over a pub"

Check out this disturbing piece about licensing laws and band gigs here in the UK.

I have to say I haven't come across any problems from this direction yet but I'd be interested in hearing from any acts who have.

Also, whether it's an issue outside the UK now?

Sound of silence

I couldn't agree more with that final paragraph:


"All the great artists, whether stadium-filling behemoths or sensitive folk singers, began with nervous shows in a church hall or a room over a pub. Licensing them will stifle much of the music of the next generation – and sometimes carries a whiff of racism. Small venues are the seedbed in which new talent is nurtured. They must be protected from bumptious planners who heedlessly tread on these new flowers in their anxiety to hammer up notices telling us all that we must not walk on the grass".

Its an outrage but sadly, fairly typical behaviour from our powers that be

How to get Gigs: with or without cover songs?

On Tuesday this week I talked with a couple of gigging bands in the US who write their own material and who wanted to get more gigs. Two days later here in the UK I bumped into a friend who's a regular local gig-goer.

This guy doesn't play in a band but he enjoys live music and he's out every week watching local bar and pub bands.

Anyhow, he'd been out mid-week to one of his favourite haunts but had a complaint about what he saw.

There was some new Indie band on who he admitted were very good both vocally and musically. But he told me he'd only stayed around 20 minutes. He's never seen them before and didn't know any of their material. He said quite a few people had watched a little of the show and walked out. Nothing wrong with the band at all - apart from lack of familiarity anyone had with what they were playing.

Now you may think that someone really into music generally should stick around and hear something new. Sadly a lot of people won't do that. They want at least something they're familiar with.

As I said to the two bands mentioned at the top of this post, new bands who include some covers in their sets have a far greater chance of band bookings than those trying to get gigs playing just their own material.

Here's a survey I did on it:

Covers for Original Bands

More info on it here:

Covers and Getting Gigs

and Hugh Cornwell's (Stranglers) take as reported on this blog:

Original & Covers in same set

So maybe no need to look down on covers after all?

Online Tips for Getting Gigs

I've just stumbled across an old forum post below from someone who I know is a Gig-Getter reader and Internet marketer

The writer (Simon/"Old Git") did put some more basic info about building an online presence into one of my gig-getter newsletters earlier this year. On the post below though (from basschat.co.uk), he goes into a more detail of how to put up and optimise your own web site/web presence.

Two of his tips in particular I would vouch for from other marketing work I do are:

1. Your lead picture/photo is crucial (Simon gives a great example on his post)

2. Mention your location on every page of your website.

Here's the post and his details are there if you want to get up close and personal

Band Website tips