Getting Your First Gig: Part 2, Band Edition
In part one of getting your first gig I discussed the topic from the standpoint of an individual. But what if you already have a band? How do bands get gigs and what are some things to look out for? Lets dive.
Step 1: Be on the Scene
This step is the same as an individual. Whatever genre band you have, find local clubs that serve that type of music and start going to see shows at that club as a band. Not every single person in the group needs to attend every show, but you want to have a presence as a band. Get to know the wait staff, hostesses, sound person, and other bands. These contacts will be invaluable over time.
Step 2: Have a solid demo
People will need to know what your band sounds like. Anyone who is willing to book you without hearing you should be looked at very suspiciously. You DO NOT need a professional studio demo that costs thousands, or even hundreds of dollars, but you should have something more than just a cell phone recording of the band. Even simple programs like audacity or garage band are enough these days to get decent enough quality for a demo. Think of your demo like a resume, it’s meant to get you an interview, not a job. The interview, and real test, is your first performance at the club. Pick 3-5 of the songs that you think exemplifies your band's style and sound and aim to record those. Get a simple interface and maybe a few mics to record drums and post the songs somewhere easily accessible like soundcloud, bandcamp, or your bands website. You can make these pages unsearchable so only people with the link can listen to them.
Step 3: The cold call/email.
This step is the worst. I completely understand the anxiety that comes with reaching out to new people at new venues. But you have to. Hopefully you have made enough contacts at venues you are already familiar with that you don’t have to do this much but, when you want to branch out, having a simple email, complete with the link to your demos will serve you well. The general tactic is to reach out to the club, preferably by going there, and asking who is the person that books the bands. Some people will prefer email, some text, some a call, some a DM on IG. Ask about that as well and then reach out. Again, it should be a short, concise email. Just a few sentences with links to the demos/photos and any promo material.
These three steps have served me well my entire career. I can’t express enough how important it is to be on the scene, as an individual or a band. YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE MORE SUCCESS GOING TO PLACES IN PERSON. Emails/dm’s/calls all serve their purpose but meeting people face to face is where it’s really at. Choosing the correct target venue is also a big factor but hopefully it makes sense that if you’re a loud punk rock band, maybe the quiet italian restaurant is not the right place for your music. You can also use negotiation tactics like playing for a reduced fee (or potentially for free) once just to get your foot in the door with the understanding that if you book more shows, you’ll be paid more in the future.
I would avoid any situation where you have to pay to play or sell tickets to make any money. Unless you 100% know you’ll sell all the tickets or draw a large crowd, these types of events are never worth it.
To recap, be on the scene, have a solid demo, make the cold contacts at the venues fit for your music. Do this and you are bound to start getting gigs.
Until next time,
Heard
