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How do you book gigs these days?


BluesCam

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It depends on the gig, really. Bob's line [^] works [i am looking into getting on that circuit here]. Restaurants/wineries/bistros/coffeehouses: you need a 'package', a performance video [at minimum, and not shot in your livingroom]...a Facebook page [as abhorrent as they are] has become de riguer, and a 'thumb drive' works well; CDs [at least here in LA] have become passe [one local coffee house has a large 'curtain' made up of CD submissions by hopefuls].

Private parties: very similar, but references are very important, as are 'testimonials'.

It is tricky getting started [i was lucky to tag solo work off band gigs].

That said, getting the first ones are the hardest. Good luck!

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Mostly by referrals and repeat business. Plus an agency feeds us a little work, and I have a website I direct people to. I've even gotten about 2 gigs per year via Craigslist and Gig Salad.

 

I'm not very good at cold calls, and if I was, I would probably get more work. But we've been in the area since 1985 and have a great reputation and lots of repeat biz.

 

Notes

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It depends on the gig' date=' really. Bob's line [^'] works [i am looking into getting on that circuit here]. Restaurants/wineries/bistros/coffeehouses: you need a 'package', a performance video [at minimum, and not shot in your livingroom]...a Facebook page [as abhorrent as they are] has become de riguer, and a 'thumb drive' works well; CDs [at least here in LA] have become passe [one local coffee house has a large 'curtain' made up of CD submissions by hopefuls].

Private parties: very similar, but references are very important, as are 'testimonials'.

It is tricky getting started [i was lucky to tag solo work off band gigs].

That said, getting the first ones are the hardest. Good luck!

 

I agree but to me the video is optional if you have pics and I mean professional photos, not something your buddy took on his phone. You should have a "look" in your images, meaning you clothes and equipment should be what the customer sees in your package. Your "package" should have continuity through out meaning an image(s), fonts, background colors should be the same through out to present a consistent presentation. If you enclose a CD it should be recorded at a studio and not on somebodies cell phone at a gig. Think pro. JMHO YMMV

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Think 'pro' indeed.

Photos? so 1990...really. An actual performance video, even shot on a phone [although I certainly wouldn't] is better than even great pics, because it 'shows the show'. Around here, the 'tech' expectations are very high, and as I said, CDs are considered passe.

The neat part of using a thumb drive is you can put your name/logo on it, and even if they wipe your data, they see your name every time they re-use it. And you can put together a tailored presentation from your files pretty easily...so rather than spending $500+ on a 1,000 CD run, you can have thumb drives logoed for about $10 each, and get 50 'blanks' for the same money.

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I don't know how to do it by myself anymore up here at least. I have a bunch of agents but they don't book pub work. Mostly corporate, private/hotel and resort stuff. I wanted to get into more pubs again so I emailed A BUNCH. I have killer videos epk everything you need more than most. Got ZERO responses. Followed up. Still zero. So I have to go to these places and hunt down managers who are even more unavailable than they used to be 20 years ago before the internet was ubiquitous like today. It's astounding really.

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And when/if they do book you, they will do nothing -- *nothing* -- to help promote you. Often not even a mention on their facebook page or a sign outside. Not even keeping an up-to-date blackboard inside the pub. Nada. Which is because music, to them, is simply a commodity, differentiated only by whether it might sell enough beer to be worth the trouble and expense of having.

 

That's not all of them, but too many.

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It was easier 20+ years ago to get bar/restaurant gigs. I used to go into a bar with my demo tape and a walkman. That way, I could get the manager to listen on the spot. Meeting the person that does the hiring can help. They may book you partly based on your personality. Now days sending links to vids via email or social media sites like facebook is common. It's possible that the right person will see your video and like it. A more professionally done video should help in getting into country clubs, casinos etc.

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Thanks guys. Yes, things are different these days. I agree that some of the venues do nothing to self promote and then hold you responsible for low turnout. That happened to me on my first gig after 20 yr. I'm trying to restart. Thanks and please keep the info coming!

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I agree but to me the video is optional if you have pics and I mean professional photos, not something your buddy took on his phone. You should have a "look" in your images, meaning you clothes and equipment should be what the customer sees in your package. Your "package" should have continuity through out meaning an image(s), fonts, background colors should be the same through out to present a consistent presentation. If you enclose a CD it should be recorded at a studio and not on somebodies cell phone at a gig. Think pro. JMHO YMMV

 

Negative negative negative negative. Everyone wants a video nowadays everyone everyone everyone. I have nine agents I work with and every single one of them will not even consider you unless you have a video. Even clubs directly wanna see a video and I don’t blame them because they are ubiquitous now as everyone has a smart phone.

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so far, festival promoters have not required a video from me. not once have i even been asked except by people wanting to purchase. it might be different if it was a full time gig but i only play once or twice a week, outside of playing the festivals... but for the time being my jobs come from promoters calling me or e-mailing me. ive already had one call this morning... on my flip phone... my world is a bit different.

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