#1689645 - 11/24/06 12:26 PM
How to proceed when you want to get gigs
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EddiePlaysBass
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/24/04
Posts: 2704
Loc: Belgium
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Right so ... I have:
- a band with a minimum of live experience (3 shows)
- a two hour set
- a (dodgy) website (see my signature)
- too much open dates in the band's agenda
I need some gigs. What would be the best way to get them?
_________________________
http://www.myspace.com/thedapperdansAfter the various bands you've been in, and the headaches you've seen, you figure having TWO bands at once will be better? - Tom Capasso
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#1689646 - 11/25/06 06:04 AM
Re: How to proceed when you want to get gigs
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jay da cop
Gold Member
Registered: 01/01/01
Posts: 543
Loc: Waldoboro, Maine
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Do you have 3 hours worth of music? Stuff happens, and you will rush some songs, the crowd will be a bit different than you were planning, the muse will strike and alter things... stuff happens. Practice something outside of your comfort zone. I saw a metal band do "Louie, Louie", and it was amazing. Think outside the box.
Practice like you are at a gig. Especially beginnings and endings. You want a flow and a minimum of time between songs. This will also lend itself to more songs. Remember, the crowd wants to hear music, not 200 questions of how they are doing or if they want to rock. But, you want to keep them engaged. It's a balancing act.
Take lesser gigs, openers, benefits, promos, whatever comes your way. Crappy exposure is better than no exposure. Unless, of course, your showing is crappy, then don't expect too many calls. Above all, in all of these, be professional. They don't have to know that you only have 3 gigs under your belt.
Thoughts from 30ish years on the road.
Above all, have fun!! That's why we play. If it's not fun, make a change.
Jay
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#1689647 - 11/25/06 06:10 AM
Re: How to proceed when you want to get gigs
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jay da cop
Gold Member
Registered: 01/01/01
Posts: 543
Loc: Waldoboro, Maine
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I did it again. As soon as I hit the "Add Reply" button I remembered more.
Visit other bands' gigs. Network. Make "friends" with club owners. Get to know the bouncers and bartenders (they are an amazing source of info). Call clubs, and have a promo packet ready to send them (but don't just send them out randomly, they get too expensive to throw away). Make friends in other bands. This is not a competition (ok, maybe sometimes it is, but that should serve to make us work harder to please the crowd), we are trying to keep the live music scene alive and thriving, and to do that we need to work together.
Again, have FUN!!
Good luck.
Jay
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Moderator: Jeff Klopmeyer
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)
Need work on that ... And yeah we need about another hours worth of music (I'd prefer to have 2 full 2 hour sets but the guys are getting hungry for some live action 
)
