It’s the famous old question on every hungry band’s mind: How do you get gigs?

I can hear your pain from this computer screen: “Everyone else can get gigs left right and center, but my band is still struggling to figure out how to get gigs…”

The truth of the matter is that landing gigs and playing live isn’t really that hard, you just need to understand the sensibilities of how the live music system actually works.

Why clubs and bars host live music in the first place

From the perspective of the club and bar owner, they’re not there to make you famous and they’re certainly not there just to be nice, they’re just part of the live performance equation for one very compelling reason: to sell more alcohol, to make people play their poker machines and buy cigarettes. Nothing more and nothing less.

Creating a stage and giving bands a platform to play their music in a live setting is actually another tactic on your behalf to keep your customers in your room and get them to spend more money before going home.

Sad but true.

As a result, this notion is important to realize when trying to figure out how to land gigs and build relationships with local bars and clubs.

Proving yourself to any bar or venue booking is a bit like building a business relationship with someone. Never expect to get the top spot on Saturday night without letting the venue know what kind of crowd it might draw and what value it’s really worth. It’s not a very artistic musical way of thinking about everything, but unfortunately that’s how bar owners think: they’re there to make more money.

Once you understand and surrender to this concept, knowing how to climb the “how to get gigs” ladder becomes much easier.

Take what you can get at first

When you realize and understand the above, you’re ready to present yourself to the local reservation manager with an offer they’ve never heard of before…

You want to shock and surprise the agent by asking to take the lead on Monday or Tuesday night. 99.9% of the other bands you come across will always go for the Saturday night title and won’t settle for less, however when you start out the idea is not to play in front of hundreds of people right away, it’s It’s more about proving your “value” to the bar owner and venue booker and starting that relationship that will hopefully land you at the Saturday night venue 3 months from now.

Also, all the bar owners and booking agents talk and once they start hearing that you are doing good things in a bar, watch how quickly the other places will start calling you!

Invite your friends and go ahead and try to help your local bar make more money than ever on that Tuesday night by playing your part in this business relationship between the bar and your band. You need to fill the room with as many friends as you have and focus on putting on a great show that will make the reservation guy stupid for not wanting to invite you again.

Hand-deliver your demo to every seat reservation

This may seem a bit over the top and slow, but it is absolutely critical.

When there are twenty other bands trying to play the same five venues in your town, it’s important to have some personal connection with your local bookers when figuring out how to land gigs.

From my own experience, I used to do proper research in each place and find out who the local agents are. I would get their names and phone numbers and then request five minutes of their time to go to the venue and deliver the band’s music to them myself.

I would give them a short spiel about the band and tell them that they would be happy to take any opportunity and would keep a big smile on my face at all times.

Remember that the music industry is all about building relationships and networks, that person you just met could book another spot six months from now, or they could be running the local radio station the following year.

Taking the time to personally deliver your demos and getting to know these people, even the venue owners, is worth a lot more over time than you might think.

This approach by the bookers of the venue will almost always result in some kind of concert opportunity, just by being personal and nice. Nine times out of ten you’ll probably catch them at a time when they’re filling up the next few months’ spots and they’ll just give you a few dates for being there.

Definitely foolproof advice on how to land gigs.

Network like crazy!

The music industry is all about networking and meeting people. However, if you really want to know how to get gigs and a lot of them. Make sure you always carry a ton of your CDs in your backpack wherever you go, and make sure your band is at the forefront of almost every conversation you have with anyone remotely involved in the world of music.

This is a very basic approach to getting gigs, however it works.

The other benefit of networking like crazy is that when you get gigs, you’ve slowly built up a list of people to bring to the show, and hopefully some of them will know your songs because you gave them a CD to listen to.

Weekly Residences

Residencies usually seem like a thing of the past, but if you’re trying to figure out how to get gigs and you’re stuck, going to your local venue and offering to play for free every Tuesday or Wednesday night isn’t just a great way to build a relationship. with them, but more importantly, it’s a great way to rehearse for free!

Again, the idea is not to play in front of a large number of people, it’s a springboard to the next level. Don’t underestimate the value of playing in front of very few people. It is a humbling and soul-strengthening experience that forces you to truly shine in an adverse situation.

Get in touch with other bands you like

Again, it’s very simple, but it’s always a great way to get your band name out there. Booking agents and venues get CDs and demos all the time, but how many do other bands get?

Apart from making the band feel special and important, very few people actually try to contact the bands and ask if they can support them.

The key is to track down bands that you think your band would be a good fit with musically and gradually give them the idea of ​​giving you a support space.

Another networking opportunity and a great way to get more gigs.

Going to shows and meeting other bands

If you want a career in the music industry as an artist, going out and seeing other bands and artists isn’t really an option, it’s an imperative and part of being involved in the business.

When you go to other shows, introduce yourself to other people and other bands, meet the people who work behind the bar, go up to the bands that night if you think they’re good and give them your CD and ask to play with them next time.

Again, it’s all about networking, networking, networking, and getting inside a particular scene.

Be sure to go too and check out some of the biggest bands in your area. It is more than likely that people from the record label industry, radio stations, booking agencies, etc., will also be there to see the talent.

So there you have it, seven new ideas to consider and contemplate if you’re trying to figure out how to land gigs and fill your touring schedule.