To book a gig you need an audience, but to get an audience, you need a gig! You have to start somewhere, and often young artists or bands find themselves going in circles.
Overcoming this vicious cycle and booking gigs requires careful planning and knowledge of the different methods used by bookers to find artists to perform at their venues. Securing the first gig can be challenging, but after you’ve played once, the rest will follow with more ease. To do this, you need to know how to approach potential venues.
If you’re an independent artist looking to play gigs and would like someone to help you find concert dates, use Groover to contact bookers/tourers directly, with a guarantee of a response within 7 days. ⬇️
Here are 5 tips to help you get gigs:
1. Before Prepared to Perform
Do you think you’re ready to perform live? Focus on crafting a set and practicing until you’re sure you can get on that stage and bring your A game. Take into consideration that people will be paying to see your performance, so you can’t take this lightly. If you were in their shoes, you’d want to be able to tell that the artist you’re watching has put countless hours into putting on a good show for you, right? Take the time to master your instruments, practice your stage presence, and know your set by heart so that it almost becomes muscle memory.
Playing live is an exhilarating experience that can significantly boost your fan base, credibility, and overall career. Put genuine thought into your outfits, stage setup, audience interaction, potential special guests, covers/medleys, and other unexpected surprises. All the attention will be focused on you, so it’s the ultimate moment to show everyone your creative vision and professionalism.
IMPORTANT: For young musicians, never pay to play. Musicians provide a service, so don’t let venues take advantage of you. Unless you are doing something like a charity performance for a cause that is important to you, make sure you are the one getting paid.
Also Read: How to Use Your Live Shows to Connect With Fans on a Deeper Level
2. Starting out: thinking local to find concert dates
You obviously won’t be able to sell out the MSG at the start of your career, so scale it back and look around you to see what’s going on. Start with small stages and venues and observe the reactions of your audience. Use it as a means of testing your stage presence, which songs get the best response, and whether your show could use some changes. With experience and organic feedback, you’ll feel more and more comfortable and will be able to compete for bigger venues. Start canvassing local bars, small concert halls, local music associations, and open mic nights around you.
Attend events, support local artists, and connect with promoters to build a strong network.
Similarly, consider approaching other bands on your local scene. There is strength in numbers, and engaging with the local community is crucial! Connecting with other artists is very important for networking opportunities; don’t hesitate to ask them for advice, or even to offer to play as an opening act for their next concert.
Consult the internet – especially Facebook and Instagram – to broaden your search. For touring bands, finding shows in various cities is essential. Reach out to other artists who are passing through your city for potential collaborations and share stages to expand your reach.
3. Build Your Social Media Presence
This is an important element to take into account. Today, in order to exist as an artist, you must already be present and generating traffic to your videos and streaming platforms on social networks. Using socials to establish and promote your brand as a solo artist is crucial, as this is typically where bookers will look to gauge your level of professionalism, whether you can attract a crowd, and what your general vibe is.
Being able to showcase that you have hardcore fans who will show up in droves to support you at live gigs will help tremendously in the booking process – promoters love bands that have fans. Use your influence on social networks as a selling point when you present yourself to venues.
Here are some steps you can take to attract more fans online:
- Create an artist page on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (or even a website)
- Share your news, upcoming concert dates, and upcoming releases
- Respond to people who interact with you. Interacting with followers as well as other artists on social media can help you gain valuable feedback.
- Get in touch with similar local artists. Share their projects and comment on their posts. Build a supportive network that will show you love in return.
4. Reach Out to Venue Owners and Bookers
You are now well established and are only waiting for one thing: to perform onstage. The music industry has evolved significantly, with a shift towards online platforms and new methods of discovering and promoting artists. First of all, find out which venues around you correspond to your musical style and are open to hosting young talent. Some venues only book emerging rappers, while others focus on highlighting singer songwriters. Pick a venue you believe to be a good fit for, use the internet and your network to find the venue contact, and reach out to the booker or venue owner.
Ideally, visit the venue in person right before opening hours and talk to staff so they can point you to the right person. That shouldn’t stop you from sending an email to ask them beforehand anyways, though!
To avoid wasting time, get organized by listing all the possible venues with their name, contact details, and the date you contacted them. This will allow you to have a clear overview of your work and better manage your progress.
Here are some key elements that will help you get a positive response:
- Be concise and professional. There’s no point in telling your life story. The point here is to sell your project. It’s up to you to find the right words and make an impression with authenticity.
- Give specific information. This includes the duration of your set, your stage setup (equipment and instruments) and your availability.
- Personalize your messages. Show that you care about performing in the venue you are approaching.
- Put together a good press kit. They need to get an idea of your image, sound, and what you’re all about before committing to having you perform with them.
- Include a promotional video (live session) of your band. If you don’t have one, show proof that listeners have been asking you to perform live so it shows incentive.
| Read also : Press Kit : Tips and Tricks for musicians
5. Use Networking Platforms for Musicians
Don’t hesitate to post an advertisement on platforms dedicated to musicians and events to book your own gigs. These allow you to create your own ad free of charge according to your location. Most of the time, there is a demand for performers to play private events. These are often well paid, so they can allow you to finance the development of your otherwise public show. Finding support acts is also crucial for gaining exposure and building your audience. Here are some networking sites to check out:
- Linkaband
- LiveTonight
- Zikri
- Oazik
To launch your career, Groover allows you to send your tracks directly to media, radios, labels and touring companies, etc. with the guarantee of being listened to, receiving feedback and gaining visibility! It also helps you find support gigs to perform as opening acts for established bands.
Similarly, the platform offers many opportunities to play live and regularly organizes free showcases around the world to highlight new talents!
– Article written by Amy Cimpaye in its original version, translated by Mackenzie Leighton –
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