Where and How Do You Find Band Booking Venues?

You may well have asked yourself this question if you're not yet playing all the band bookings you want

Certainly I've been asked it by a lot by the bands I work with.

Some bands (and solo artists)think they should try and persuade local venues to start hosting Live Music nights. This is possible but will need more persuasion and effort than simply finding those venues which already feature live bands and then introducing your act to them.

 

So where do you find potential band booking venues to play? 

It's incredibly simple when you think about it, but these are the ways I've used and recommend to others and more importantly which should give you  most success.

1. Other bands websites.
Search for other bands in your area and then check out the "Gigs" section of their websites. These will often include venue phone numbers.

 

2. Search for "Live Music venues Chicago" (or wherever you're aiming for)

3. Scan music and local press for music event/night ads

4. Keep your eyes open when visiting any town you'd like to target. Ask around while you're there for venue details

5. Networking. Talk to other musicians you know. Swap details so that if they're offered a gig when they're already booked up, you can pick it up for them. (You'll probably need to offer to do the same for them in return).

You may not believe it now, but when you start to build your reputation and numbers of gig bookings, you'll be grateful for a substitute band you can offer to venues if you ever have to cancel. This can enhance your reputation as reliable and professional even when you're letting a venue down.

Remember:

* Build a long list of potential venues to target. 

Aim for 100 over time. If this sounds a lot, remember you should be sharing the finding of venues amongst ALL band members. So a total of 100 is only 25 each. Just make sure you each focus on different towns or regions to avoid any duplication. If you're as solo act try to recruit a friend or two (who ideally don't live too close to you - to widen your target area)to help you track down potential new venues
 

* Always keep adding to your list.

Times change and some venues will stop hosting live music. Others won't be interested in your act. So, to continually maximize the numbers of band bookings you can aim for you can play - keep adding to your list of venues.

More band Booking Tips

Some Band Booking Venues You May Not Have Though Of

The most obvious kind of venue to target for a band booking is usually somewhere established for live music. Bars, clubs, festivals etc.

Even most private function work comes from having been seen in one of these "traditional" venues.


There's a strong argument too that these places are the easiest to get a band booking because you don't have to convince the owner/booker about the merits of having live music in his venue.


Before I wrote Gig-Getter I remember reading about someone recommending funerals as a possibility for a band booking. Yes really. A bridge too far for me though I think.Having said that, how rock n roll would it be to arrange for a band to play at your own final "appearance"....


Now, on the subject of gigs in unusual places here's a brilliant post naming 20 non-traditional types of venues to consider. Not all these will appeal to everyone but what I like about this post are the further examples and videos they give.

Great stuff from a site well worth book-marking methinks....