How to Get Booked in Bars - How it REALLY works
Vložit
- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
- Remember to Subscribe!
Check out my artist channel / brogers01
Join my email list and much more at rogersguitar.com
The Working Musician is all about the business of playing live gigs, how to start a band or solo act, how to get your band booked, and how to make money as a musician while doing what you love! - Hudba
Finally, some good advice! I always tell every venue I contact that I can do last-minute gigs and I've scored MANY gigs this way.
That has been my experience, too. Thanks, Chris!
One of your videos appeared in my CZcams feed today. I watched it and every point you made was spot on.
Then more of your videos started appearing. I found them all to be in line with my experiences as a performing musician for 43 years.
Also, your content brought back many fond memories of so many wonderful experiences through the years and of what a wonderful, life long gift parents give their children when they foster and support an interest in live music.
On your subject in this video, here are a few of my tips based on experience regarding how to get your band established gigging in clubs. I'm listing them in order of importance.
1. Have enough songs, well rehearsed, tight, and time verified, to fill the hours the club owner needs you to fill, plus 4 or 5 more songs. Musicians usually play faster when they're nervous and when the show goes well and they're having fun. Don't learn a dozen songs and think you can wing it by dragging out solos, repeating choruses, and talking between songs. You won't get repeat gigs doing that. And a gig is a show, not a practice session at a new location.
2. Be polite and efficient when introducing yourself for the first time. Don't waste the club owners time. Be confident in yourselves, but not cocky. Be prepared upon arrival with a good 2 minute cell phone recording consisting of 20 seconds worth of your best 6 songs of varying styles. Ask if it would be ok to email this file to the business to be listened to at the owner's convenience. And 2 minutes is enough to show him what he can expect. Let the owner know you are interested in any cancellation dates and have your contact information ready to pass on. And don't show up in pajamas or sweatpants and ask for a gig. You won't get one. Respect the integrity of the establishment you want to do business with. Look and act professional.
3. Be prepared to show up early to allow time for load in, setup, and for any problems or malfunctions that occur. They will occur. Start the show on time and in tune. Don't dally between songs and bore the audience. Engage the audience, get them involved, but keep the music coming. Arrange a number of your songs so that you can go out of one directly into the other without stopping. This is very effective at the start of each set.
4. Do your utmost to never cancel a gig. A fishing trip with friends on the same date you've already accepted a gig IS NOT an acceptable excuse to cancel. Cancel your first gig at a venue, you won't get another one.
5. Don't get drunk or high during the show. You'll be getting paid for a sober, professional performance, not an embarrassing sloppy mess.
6. Scout other accomplished bands and note the good and the not so good aspects of their gigs. Apply what you learn from them to make your band better.
7. Conduct yourself in such a way that club owners, other musicians, club customers, music store owners, sound technicians, and everyone else you come into contact with in your musical journey leaves with a positive impression of you and the belief that you can be trusted and relied upon.
Do these things, and you will get bookings and repeat dates. You'll get off on a good footing.
Good luck!
Great tips, Tony! Thanks so much!
Great advice! Thank you very much!
He’s back!!!! Yay!!
Yessir!
Forgot to mention they will book you on Mondays to see how you do and then slowly move you towards busy days.
In Florida, Monday gigs are very uncommon, but your point is still valid. Thanks!
So what do you think the bar owners problem is? Why would he want to book me on mon. Actually he didn't even ask for live vid or any of my music . Just show up an play type of thing. @@theworkingmusician8842
I guess it depends on the venue and how busy they are. I've seen that done often on Wednesdays when they might have "open mic" night.
That’s crazy I did this exact thing earlier and this this pops up. I guess I came up with a g pod plan.
That's CZcams for ya. Thanks!
This was so helpful. I have a saxophone quartet and I am so glad I saw this video so I would not have just tried to sell gigs
Cool! I played alto sax in high school, and was in a quartet, too. :)
Just discovered your channel, good stuff!
Thank you! I'm glad that you are here. 😀
Its nice to get straight forward useful advice for a change...I have a 3 piece blue /rock outfit and our drummer does the bookings and is good at it.ive always had a hard time with it but hearing your advice gives me hope. Some day I may have to handle so I really enjoyed this video!
I'm glad it was helpful. Booking your band doesn't need to be difficult, if you understand it from the venue's point of view. Thanks, Danny!
Great information, straight to the point! Thanks.
Thank you, Mike!
Thank you for this video! Very helpful and informative.
I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks, April!
Awesome tutorial!!!
Thanks, Jeff!
Great Video! I like your channel and the awesome ideas you're sharing. Hey. Here's a thought. If you're new and don't have a live video, consider playing a couple of open mics. Maybe bring a buddy to shoot videos?
Yes. That's a great way to get a promo video, even if you just mount an iPhone near the stage. Thanks!
Thank you for this wonderful video. Where I live here in South Florida many of the venues now leave the booking to usually one of the musicians who plays there regularly or someone they know who knows the music community. It's difficult to get in unless you can get in contact with that person and become friendly. Been very challenging
There are a few places like that here, too, where one of the venue's regular musicians coordinates all the live music. Like you said, be friendly, and then be available when they need you. Thanks, Russell!
Great video with useful tips
Thanks, Hollie, and have a great week!
This was very helpful brother, thank you for the knowledge . BOOM !
Have a great week!
Great video, I appreciate your thoughts and experience and some of the comments from others.
Thanks for watching, John, and have a great weekend!
I love your videos!
Happy that you are here!
Great info!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks, Craig!
Not a bar back in any establishment does the booking for entertainment!
And be confident and assured ask if they have any openings in their band schedule don't ask to be filled in if someone cancels. Always put yourself first if someone cancels they will call you.
And don't under charge!
Good points. Usually, when they do call, we'll play the first time for whatever the venue offers. But, when they ask us back again, that's when we start charging OUR rate. Thanks!
Big thanks
You're welcome, and thank you!
Website looks great and I have much respect for you! I really love your original music Brian, stellar!! However, I was wondering how to promote myself and only promote my original music with licensing contracts for marketing and advertising videos, etc.? That's what I am trying to do and I haven't been able to make a dime. Playing out isn't good for me?
Welcome to the vast ocean of musicians, all of whom are trying to do exactly the same thing online. If you're trying to make real money as an independent artist, then I think there two avenues. 1) You can play live shows. 2) You can build an online following for your original music. I think it is best to pursue both because they complement each other, but both require much time and effort. I will make more videos about this. Thanks, Jeff, and best of luck!
Jeff I know there are libraries that you can upload your music too for use for advertising, film, etc., I haven't actually used any of these but they seem like the first place to start if you haven't already!
But as far as I know, it's just a matter of uploading your music, and then hoping a potential client happens to stumble across it and decide they want it.
*I don't actually know*
Please keep making videos, I have made a few myself. Good stuff! I just realized something... I have EXACTLY half as many subscribers as you do...as of this post, I have 445 and you have 890...my subscription put you at 890!
Will do, and thank you!
@@theworkingmusician8842 I'm going to ask you some questions, so if you have the time, maybe you could comment.
Sure thing.
@@theworkingmusician8842 BTW, thanks for this video. I'm going to try this and see how well it works. Also, for other ways of booking shows, which works best? Calling on the phone, going to see the bookers in person, email, getting to know people at the establishment or hanging out there? I was wondering in your experience Brian if these are good ideas, or not?
Of course I'm doing everything to make our show professional and fun.
Thanks, love the channel.
Keep in mind that the booking manager is busy running a bar or restaurant, so expecting him/her to stop and talk to you in detail about anything is unrealistic. Email is good for a first contact, as I described in the video. Phone calls are probably not so good. Hanging out in person can work, but don't pester them. Just mention that you're interested in playing there, and hand them your business card or other contact medium. Patience is key. Good luck!
We weasel our way in... its a struggle. Then we kill. We pack it. One night i counted 35 beer kegs going through the back door. Thats $6k in beer profit. We got $350. And they ghosted us and went back to the friend of the owners band that everyone is sick of. They suck and never practice
The solution: Pack the house at their competition!
@@theworkingmusician8842 ❤️
Korg Triton Crew
The LE version. 😁
My issue is not me understanding this it’s the people I work with…..
Getting everyone on the same page is one of the biggest challenges. But, if someone isn't happy with your efforts to get the band booked, they can always try it their way. Best of luck, Nate!
Come over to the United Kingdom and put your ideas to the test.
Already confirmed by other UK musicians. Thanks!