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pogo97

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I haven't listed online, but it might not be a bad idea. Recently, I was doing some of the music for a film project, and the director found the recording studio he used, on Craigslist. I was also doing a gig with a piano player, who mentioned that she found a five day gig at a hotel ,on Craigslist.

 

I imagine it would be good to have all the bases covered - might look into Craigslist myself. Thanks for the kick in the pants!

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Speaking of selling out, last week I was in a band playing songs by The Weeknd, OMI, Rhianna and so on. I already felt slightly sick and depressed by the lack of substance in the material, when in the middle of Cheerleader this fellow comes up to me and says 'this music is a load of crap". I couldn't disagree with him, I just kept wishing I was somewhere else.

 

Nothing against guys like The Weeknd. He's a Canadian lad from Scarborough, one of my old stomping grounds many decades ago - but Michael Jackson and Prince aren't new to me. Granted they are to the iPod generation. Regurgitation is key I guess.

 

I think I would rather wear a Santa hat then play most of the neo soul that is out there. It's like the difference between working as an escort and standing on the street corner - however, neither is a good thing.

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escorts are at least well dressed, well fed and warm... ;)

 

I had to learn and perform [and lead the band] on two Amy Winehouse tunes last week [Rehab & Back to Black], and frankly, the music is mundane, lyrics are uber depressing and when we finished, I went right into an uptempo jump blues to get the neo-pseudo-angst patina off of me...

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I splurged $20 to keep my ad on top for 30 days. It's had 83 visits over 20 days and, as of this morning, one response. If the response pans out it will have been worth it. I'll likely renew it anyway and see what comes toward Christmas.

 

Hi There, I just came across your video on Kijiji. I love your voice and musical era! While I don't have a particular event in mind right now, my fiance and I may be having an engagement party come December. Could you please pass along your contact details and pricing information? Thanks so much!
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daddymack commented

09-10-2015, 10:06 PM

 

 

 

I had to learn and perform [and lead the band] on two Amy Winehouse tunes last week [Rehab & Back to Black], and frankly, the music is mundane, lyrics are uber depressing and when we finished, I went right into an uptempo jump blues to get the neo-pseudo-angst patina off of me...

 

 

Yep. It's like if Sibelius met Patricia Barber, and then used a Roland 808 drum machine, they still might not be as depressing as some of the neo-soul out there. I like both Sibelius and Patricia Barber BTW and also don't mind neo-soul if it's truly new, and truly Soul, but hoo boy, some of it is just posturing.

 

Here's Patricia doing an "uplifting" version of Light My Fire :)

 

[video=youtube;_ENjmUag9Fw]

 

 

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I got 2 gigs from Craigslist Events Service this month for later in the season. I also offer booking commissions in the Musicians category and got a call and an e-mail interested in booking us. I have no problem paying a 'finders fee' to a non-licensed agent who wants to help us out, and I do deal with a couple of real agents (one of them got me a gig this week).

 

I'm a lousy salesman, and hate to go out knocking on doors. I know you have to knock on a few dozen before you get results, but in the time I take driving, knocking and repeating, I can write a few styles or a fake disk for Band-in-a-Box. And that's doing music, not being rejected. The things I wrote in 1992 still sell today, as does the newer stuff. To me that's a better use of time.

 

Fortunately, the bulk of our business is referral and repeat so we've been gigging since 1985 on mostly that plus what I can scare up with agents, Craigslist and the free Gig Salad (if they would get me more tan one gig per year, I'd go with the upgrade).

 

Notes

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Anywhere that is free only costs you your time. I see ads for bands looking for work in the "musicians" section of Craigslist and scratch my head wondering why anyone would go there looking for bands for an event, but who knows---just because it's not what I would think of to do doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. And the band with the ad there might be the one to get the gig.

 

Gig Salad has never worked well for me. I've booked maybe one or two gigs from there including during the time period I paid for a listing. Gigmasters is much more worth the time and money. But, like with all of those sorts of sites, takes a while to build up to where you can get much work from it. Having a lot of reviews from prior gigs helps get more gigs. But, of course, that's a built-in Catch-22.

 

For anybody going after wedding work, Wedding Wire gets a lot of action. ​​

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I've had the most enquiries from Google Adwords, although the cost per click has risen considerably in the past couple of years. You could try Bing/Yahoo advertising. Less search volume, but cheaper than Adwords. One free strategy that has worked for me is to contact event organisers on LinkedIn. Offer to link to their website from yours as an incentive to recommend you for weddings, parties and functions.

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one that said she loved my music but didn't have anything in mind at the moment

one that said "we don't call it Christmas anymore -- it's "the holiday season." (too much time on their hands, I guess)

one that just wanted to jam

one that asked a bunch of questions, one email at a time, and then signed off with "we can't afford you" (I quoted them a price of $150, which I thought was probably too cheap)

one, from "Annette," that suggested I phone a certain retirement home and ask for Joan

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not yet

I already knew they're there and I should get going on the retirement home thing --- I play monthly at one in Brockville and we love each other. But Brockville pays $100 and better and these guys, I'm told, pay $75, which is less than I'll work for.

 

I'm terrible at picking up the phone and cold calling. Just can't do it. It's probably my only fault, really, but it keeps me humble. ; )

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Finally followed up on a couple of "call some retirement home" leads last week. One called back today and I'm for January at $100 (should have asked for more, damn!). The other said they'd call back this week -- we'll see.

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