Getting Gigs

So you have got the band, the CD, t-shirt...  Now you just need people to know about you and fall in love with your music

Unfortunately getting gigs is not always as easy as 123. Or 456 for that matter.  The culture of live music is not as it was 10 years ago.  The reasons behind that are numerous and discussed elsewhere on this site.  For now all you need to know is it takes work and not a little bit of luck.

If you know pubs, clubs or venues then that is the place to start.  Persuade them to pay you if you can but to begin with that is not why you are getting the gigs.  Play for free if it is the only way to get a gig at that place.  If people like you, they will buy your CDs anyway so your profit will come from that.  Send CDs to venues with a bio and remember to put your phone number on the CD.  It is amazing how many people don't.  Venues get a sackful of CDs so they will not waste time trying to match up a CD with a bio just to find contact details.  Try and get a slot at local charity events, community events, free festivals etc.
Once you get the gig, then the work begins....

Your audience will not just come to you. You need to find them and encourage them to come.  Some of the normal promotion skills are effective for getting gigs.  Basically make people, as many people as possible, aware of you and aware of when and where you are playing.  Articles in the local press, announcements on the local radio are all obviously good.  Give flyers out on the streets, outside other gigs, leave them where you can.  It goes without saying, or should do, that you get all your friends to come. And their friends. And people they hardly know. You get the picture.  If it is a free gig, you may think what is the point as it does not mean more money for you.  But think about it.  If the venue is full, the management is highly likely to ask you back.  
Try and support bands with a bigger following from the local area and, if you can, other bands from out of town.  You may well not go down a storm as the vast majority will be there to see the main band but if even 10 per cent like you, they will come and see you.  Word of mouth is a great marketing tool so 1 new fan can lead to 10.
Once people have been to your gigs, then you need to keep them informed of future ones.  Run a mailing list, keep your web site up to date. It is a snowball effect - the more people come to see you, the more gigs venues will give you.

Just a word of warning - whilst playing live is a good thing and a gig is a gig, it is pointless trying to play a venue where the audience is keyed into a different genre.  And as for pay to play as happens far too much these days, try and avoid at all costs. Play a free gig by all means but unless absolutely necessary pay to play is normally a bad idea.

Some final ideas - nearly everywhere you can think of has, at one time or another, live music - corporates, carnivals, galleries, shopping centres, council buildings....  The list is endless, well almost.  Don't limit your search for gigs, especially when you start off, to the more traditional music venues.