I live in Vancouver, I'm in a metal band, where do I start looking for shows?

[iloveespguitars]

Hey guys,

 

My band is ready to go and hit the shows but we are stuck on where do we start looking!

 

I looked around craigslists, facebook groups but there doesn't seem to be a central point to look... Our band members have an idea of maybe sharing a show with other local bands but again we don't know where to start looking.

 

How do we start? What do you guys suggests?

[beatpoet]

Go out with the band on Saturday night and travel round the city, see where and what type of bands are on, suss the scene.

[AVisme]

Look in the entertainment section of your city paper, and what I call the "hippie" paper...the liberal, independent publisher that a lot of cities have. They usually give them away free at the grocery store. There may even be a publication focused on music. See what venues host metal bands and talk to the management about booking your band.

 

In Vancouver BC, here's an example: straight.com is a music paper that lists upcoming shows. "The Roxy" is a venue that books hard rock and metal. There's also the Rickshaw Theater.

 

http://www.straight.com/timeout/search/music

http://www.straight.com/timeout/node/roxy?context=music

http://www.straight.com/timeout/listing/rickshaw-theatre?context=music

 

You could also make your own ad on CL and advertise your band as available for shows.

[iloveespguitars]

Look in the entertainment section of your city paper, and what I call the "hippie" paper...the liberal, independent publisher that a lot of cities have. They usually give them away free at the grocery store. There may even be a publication focused on music. See what venues host metal bands and talk to the management about booking your band. In Vancouver BC, here's an example: straight.com is a music paper that lists upcoming shows. "The Roxy" is a venue that books hard rock and metal. There's also the Rickshaw Theater. http://www.straight.com/timeout/search/music http://www.straight.com/timeout/node/roxy?context=music http://www.straight.com/timeout/listing/rickshaw-theatre?context=music You could also make your own ad on CL and advertise your band as available for shows.

 

Thanks a lot for the advice! I will take a look into those

[Dthraco]

You could also check Longs and McQuade (sp?) to see if they know of any shows. Also check out some venues and talk to people. There's that old saying....gotta be seen to be in the scene.

[daddymack]

there's a bit more to this...

do you have a demo to give the booking person?

Any kind of presentation package? (EPK, bios, pics)

Are you a cover band or all originals?

Genre?

Do you have enough material to play a full night?

How much do you want to get paid?

How little are you willing to accept?

[koolkat]

When I lived in Vancouver, there were so many places to the started. "The Railway" in Gastown was always looking for new bands. If it was punk or metal, then there was the Smiling Buddha or Vancouver East Cultural Centre. If you didn't mind getting ripped off, then there was Gary Taylors rock room.

 

These days, I think the live music scene is out around the Granville bridge and Yaletown area. The best way to score a gig is to show up with a demo CD and work for pretty much free for a couple of gigs places at you don't really care for. Once you have some gigs under your belt, you can use that as leverage to work better joints; gotta pay yer dues as they say.

[Ronan Murphy]

Go and start hanging out at show where local metal bands are playing. Get to know those bands and find out what venues they are playing, as the for tips and contact info. Not only can you get the most pertinent information but its also easy to call a booker and say "I got your number from band X...."