7 Tips for Getting a Gig

I’m sure we have all seen our favorite musician’s biopic. An angsty or socially awkward teenager locked away practicing their craft and constantly failing or being taken advantage of until the big break. I’ve always been partial to The Temptations made for TV special; we watched it every year in middle school general music. As fun and truthful as those stories are, they aren’t going to give you practical routes to superstardom… unless you are holding out hope that a record exec is going to stumble upon you in an empty bar and give you a Cinderella story. So let me give you 7 authentic pieces of advice to help you find your own magic wand. (Yes, these are in order)

1. Have your own equipment

Gear is king. If you have your own sound equipment, you are already ahead of the competition. When you have the equipment to put on your own show, you don’t need to rely on club gear (which tends to come with a sound guy that takes a cut of the profits), grouping up with another band, or pay rental fees. When I started my first band Filming Ohio, somehow, we impressed my dad enough to invest in the gear needed (well over 5k) to level the playing field with the more prominent bands in the area. We could perform at private parties, restaurants, and even outdoor venues like parks with our own sound system. Whenever I could catch the attention of someone booking, I didn’t need to borrow from my high school band director or local music store. We could perform in spaces where our sound equipment could drown out our drummer (and he knew how to break sticks). If you can get a decent pair of speakers (350 watts), mixer(powered), and cables (XLR and quarter-inch) should set you up for a smaller venue. Nothing is more embarrassing than getting a gig and realizing you don’t have the gear to back up your music. If you want to perform, you need to have quality, dependable gear and know how to use it.

2. Have a social media presence

If you’re lucky enough for the promotor to show interest, you need to be sure you pop up when they google you. Making sure you have a Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube page. You shouldn’t be ashamed of not having tons of subs or likes on your posts, but you want to be sure you have something showing you at your best. Content doesn’t need heavy editing or need to be produced in a studio; you can get away with brief snippets of your music. What’s most important is that you give off an appearance that you care about what you’re posting. Just building a Facebook Page and having zero posts is not going to be helpful. Build your social media presence and take pride in it. It doesn’t make you a sellout. It makes you look like a band worth booking.

3.     Contacts

We all know someone (or know someone that knows someone). If any musician tells you they started from the bottom and never took a handout; chances are they are lying. Ask around, check with your teachers and fellow musicians. Communicating with other musical groups can feel a bit catty, and some people get nervous when a strong talent is looking to break into the scene. Positive vibes and cross-promotion are good for everybody. Ask local talent how they got their foot in the door for that regular weekday gig or how far in advance they reached out for booking at the big bar that always has music. There is no reason to start from scratch if you have a few friends and fellow musicians already working in the field.

4.     Do your research

Booking gigs can seem like a daunting task if you’ve never done it. I always start by brainstorming where to play first. Searching for events on Facebook in your area is a great way to find out who’s consistently booking entertainment. Start with a wide net, everything from the local library to the soccer club is a potential gig. Cold calling bars are great, and your best bet for getting paid but booking shows that build awareness and spread the word are always good for exposure. If they can’t give you cash, find out what they can offer. Sharing your posts on their own social media or gift cards to give away at future gigs, potential contacts for future shows. Food and drink are not an acceptable currency because they should be offered at a show regardless. These can pay off tenfold, assuming you put on a good show for their community. Does the venue expect covers, or are they ok with original music? Most bars want music that people are aware of, so unless you bring in dozens of die-hard fans singing and dancing to your originals, you need covers. Covers are also a great way to convert audience members at the venue to potential fans.

5.     Practice the pitch, not your instrument (pun intended)

So you aren’t the best public speaker. Even if you have a good stage presence, it doesn’t mean you’ll be a natural at selling your music to a venue. Giving a pitch to book your band can be nerve-racking, and it takes practice. Before you make a phone call, write an email, or speak in person, you need to prepare. Know what you’re going to say, prep yourself for possible questions, be confident, and don’t oversell yourself. Be prepared to ask questions like: should our fans expect a door cover, do you expect breaks, do you want us to handle music playing between breaks? These questions show you care about the overall experience at the venue, and you want to work as a team. Be prepared to be lowballed, and don’t be offended by it. Venues aren’t looking to give you everything you want, and that’s ok. If it’s something that you are unsure about, be prepared to say, “I’ll have to check on that and get back to you.” The essential part about pitching your music for a potential gig is conveying that you want to work with them to put on music to enhance the event. They aren’t doing you a favor by allowing you in their space so they can make money, and be sure to remember that.

6.     Call, show up, call again

You aren’t annoying; you’re persistent. Nothing is wrong with checking in multiple times. If you make contact, keep in contact, remember their name, and use it when speaking to them. Calling weekly to contact the manager who handles music or promotor that’s only there once a week can be challenging. Don’t call during dinner rushes or when entertainment is performing. Calling ahead to see if the manager is there and then stopping by to try and shake hands is always good practice. Being persistent shows an interest in starting a partnership with the venue. To do that, you need rapport. You can’t build a relationship by dropping off a press kit and never following up. Also, don’t waste your time with a press kit; you have enough things to worry about if you haven’t gotten a gig yet.

7.     Don’t come off as desperate.

You aren’t annoying, but you may look desperate. If a venue tells you no or they think you aren’t ready for their space, be polite, ask what they are looking for, and don’t return until you have what they asked for. Don’t offer to play a free show to get your foot in the door. As mentioned earlier, playing for free can have benefits, but you’re just coming off as unprofessional when dealing with venues. You’re asking to be taken advantage of and or piss off other local entertainment. Come in, make your pitch, follow up, and move onto the next potential venue.

Overall be prepared. Make sure your music and group are ready to perform and don’t be afraid of rejection. Getting the first gig at any venue takes a bit of finesse, but if you continuously look to book and perform, it snowballs, and before you know it, you’re turning down gigs and raising your rates. Remember, no one owes you a show, and until you prove yourself as a performer, people should be skeptical, prove them wrong and start working on the next gig.