Gig-Getter Band Booking Tips in Play Music Magazine

The first in a series of three Gig-Getter band booking features is in the latest edition of Play music Magazine. 

If you pick up a copy (free) at your local music store you can check-out tips about how to get that band booking. 

The next issues starts to look at the performance itself, starting with overcoming any nerves you might have and making sure you get every crowd going - whenever you play live

Here's a sneak preview of the band booking tips

You can check the Play music website (including the full digital edition of the latest magazine) here

7 Sound Band Booking Tips

Could any musician argue with the 7 tips on the post at the bottom of the page about how to secure band bookings?

The only one I've never personally tried is the 6th tip - namely  Open Mic nights. 

That said, a number of singers and other musicians I've worked with used Open Mic nights to get their confidence in front of an audience up before even thinking about playing a band booking. 

You just need to make sure you don't get stuck in the rut of playing Open Mic nights and not "graduate" into playing for real.

As the writer of the 7 Tips post says, getting band bookings does take a little work. At first, at least. the key is consistency and knowing that contacting venues is a numbers game.

Some of the other tips are:

- Make sure you have a demo ready for when you get a venue interested.

Of course. Check out this for more advice re band booking & demos

- "Buddy up" with another band (Gig-swapping)

- Take "any" kind of work at first.

Not necessarily, and certainly there's no need to EVER play for nothing)

- Let people know when you do have a gig coming up.

Certainly if you want people to get a gig crowd)Or here's more ideas to get a crowd to your band booking

- Recruit someone to act as a manager or sole Gig-Getter.

Unless he's bringing something extra special to the party, a band manager if you're part time or just starting out can be a very expensive luxury.

Howverem you do need to establish who in the band is ultimately responsible for organising gigs if not actually pitching for all the band bookings.

Here's the 7 Tips Post

More Band Booking Tips

Do You Interact with Your Band Booking Audience?

Some ideas to get your crowd going in this post below from Harmony central this week.

You can't beat getting your audience involved in the show, whether it's having them up on stage or you getting into the crowd.

Suggestions about inviting someone to play tambourine or other percussion, dance onstage and even do some backing vocals can all work well for you.  

Personally I can't wait to try the "Hoola hoop" recommendation from the Harmony Central post below...

Harmony Central Post

More Audience Interaction Tips

Got all the Band Booking Venues You Need?

If you're struggling for ideas about where you could play next, check out the latest post over at band booking hub

There are some good tips to point you in the right direction. 

The key is to build up a large number of "Target venues" to aim at.

The larger the number of venues you're pitching - the greater your odds in favour of you filling your gig diary. 

 Also, if you have plenty to go at, you'll feel far less pressure/stress when you contact any of them if they're "just another name on my list".

 Contrast that with only having a couple of places to aim at. You'll need to score them both or it'll be the TV again at the weekend....

Get Ready to Rouse the Crowd at your Band Booking

Getting the band booking is one thing as is going down well when you play. 

What happens though if your confidence doesn't match your desire to book and play the gig?

  

I found someone writing about how to overcome pre-gig nerves here:

Gig Nerves

Nervousness does happen to the best of us and will get in the way of performing to your full capability when it strikes. Here's some more help:

Develop Confidence in front of gig crowds

Who Cares about Your Band Booking?

Holiday reading over the last few weeks reminded about one crucial reason to do your own band booking. 

Why I and many others do it rather than hand over the band booking to a 3rd party (like an agent).

 The writers of the DIY Music Manual  I was reading, were talking about all aspects of being an Independent artist (i.e. one not signed to a label). 

They posed the question about who cares as much about your music as you do yourself?

The point here is that no A&R man, no band manager or agent is likely to hold your interests (and your interests alone), as close to their heart as you do.

That being the case, whether you want a career in music or you're a weekend warrior, should you rely on someone else working with other priorities (and artists)  - to put your band first? 

The facts is, if you know how to get the band booking, put on a good show and build your fan base  - you don't need to surrender a % of your income to a 3rd party do you?

Band Booking versus band agents

Can Band Booking & Band Promotion really be this simple?

When your head's a little muddy after the weekend it's nice to read of an approach to band booking and band promotion that isn't complicated.

I came across a very simple little post which reduced the "art" of band promotion (without band management) to 2 key actions.

1.Get Your Music in Front of People

No point sitting in the bedroom waiting to be discovered. You need to get started initially looking for local events where your band can play.   Do whatever you need to do to get people to know your name. This means band bookings and lots of them.  You need to make sure you hand out flyers with your contact details (website, Facebook,Myspace,Twitter page, Youtube etc). 

On these flyers you might want to state your availability for private functions and you can even offer a discount (with limited time period) for anyone mentioning the flyer and where they got it  - when they contact you to book your band.

 2. Create and Interact with your fans online   

Start with your friends and be you can be pretty sure that their friends will over time notice and  start adding you.   This can  work wonders for gig crowd numbers if you manage it in the right way. Commit to working on building your fanbase on it every day.  If you goals are loftier than than plenty of band bookings, once you go international with your fanbase members it can only help you secure band management or a deal too.

Check these other online music marketing tips