Some basics about getting your band a gig
So you’re at the stage of putting together a live set and you’ve recorded some type of live honest demo to present along with a press kit of photo’s and discography. These things are usually a must to get the attention of a venue operator.
Choose venues that suit you. Make sure your contact details are on every item you put in the mail. This makes it easier for people to contact you if they only like to keep disks, instead of a4 paper without a staple or binder.
Now, some of these operators will be not too keen to help you out with your first gig, so an easier option is to present your offer to other bands who are already playing the right type of venues.
Become a support act and bring a decent rent a crowd a long so that those bands will be happy to have you a long again. You never know, you might be ready to release an EP or Album down the track, and some of these acts might be great for adding to the bill for the night, to increase audience turn out.
Do the usual flyers and posters if you wish, if it suits your style. Most venues will want to see this, as they need to know you are putting in the yards to get people to their establishment. I bet most of them do it because they love music, but at the end of the day, they need to pay their leases and staff and need to get heads through the door.
When setting up at a gig, please make sure to be best friends with the sound guy. If you get on the wrong side of him or her, you’ll get a dodgy sound, trust me. Instead make it easy for them, give them a run down of the line up on the stage, make it simple and friendly. If you act at all arrogant, you’re only hurting yourself.
Use your friends to help pass out free promo cd’s, or other promo material. Merchandise is great!
But make it good, it’s one thing to make $10 from a t shirt sale, but a much more useful thing to see people wearing the shirts. Get the design spot on, and choose a better quality t shirt.
And finally, to end this short crash course in debut gigging, get your set tight, don’t talk to much rubbish between tracks and make sure you know why your up there. Everyone is in a band these days, you need to be yourself, and you need to stand out from the rest. Have fun!
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