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Questions about getting gigs...

sqrlcub	Date: June 18, 2008 @ 10:20 AM I've recently started trying to get gigs again but I haven't done it in so long so I'm not sure of the whole process. I understand that I have to record a demo that would sound accurate to the music that I will play live. So I've started recording one of those again. Is there a standard number of songs or amount of time the music should last? Should I actually just record a set list and send that to the various places that have live music? Are there any other tricks to do? It's been a long while (over 10 years) since I've done any of that, anything else change? Much appreciated.
Distilled1	Date: June 18, 2008 @ 2:09 PM we always did a 3 song demo promo and the whole press kit to clubs and booking agents... originals is harder .. if you do covers at all send a set list along as well.
sqrlcub	Date: June 19, 2008 @ 2:31 PM Damn, forgot about the press kit. I have to figure out how to do that, someone else always took care of that. It would be nice if I could find all this in one place. LOL oh well, nothing stopping this to becoming the getting gigs, one stop shop. So far it looks like the following is needed: 1. A demo (3ish songs) possibly more with originals. This should accurately reflect your sound (why I'm not using the previous album since I don't sound like that solo...ie, no extra instruments) 2. Press Kit 3. Set List 4. Knowledge on where to send it (ie, booking agents, clubs, etc) Follow up tricks? What about open mics? Proving that you can actually draw in an audience?
killoFunk	Date: June 19, 2008 @ 2:45 PM On top of all that Distilled1 suggests, we used to include a track that was a composite of snippets... fade into a song-fade out, into another-fade out... three or four of the most popular... maybe eight to ten secs each, it worked well. Just a thought. G'luck!
Distilled1	Date: June 19, 2008 @ 3:38 PM thats a great idea Kilo never thought of doing that!
GeneHilbert	Date: June 22, 2008 @ 7:56 PM This is a pretty involved subject. First off - I'll point out I do between 150 too 250 gigs a year, and have kept that schedule for about 20 years. Before that I performed semi pro since I was 14 – that was 1970. My package contains the following: Business Card: w/ Band Name, contact name. Current and stable ph.# and by stable I mean one you'll keep. I have given out well over a thousand packages through the years. Most will end up in the trash but you never know. Include an email address and web site if you have one. If you don't have dedicated web site set up your dmusic page in as a professional manner as possible and point people to it. Picture: a relatively current one. Look sharp and professional. No beer cans or ripped jeans with you ass hanging out. I have several different ones saved in a poster format as a word doc. So I can print and edit the text as needed (room name, date of appearances) Also I can email them to my gig contacts as needed. A very nice touch……. Make them print the damn things. LOL CD: with a nice printed label. Professional design but without too many colors, that can get expensive. Black & White are fine but a little color stands out. Include your contact info on the label, because CD’s will get separated from the packages. I normally have 5 tunes on it. I use whole tunes start to finish. Well recorded live recordings with crowd noise are good if you have them. I don't do edited tune snippets. Because if I was booking a room I would want to hear a whole tune so I know the band can play it throughout and maintain. Not just give me the parts before or after they fuck up a break or the guitarist produces the biggest clam known to recorded history. Even you only have 3 tunes - I think it's a better professional statement. I have a buddy that when she talks to clients she’ll ask for the specific style they prefer. Then that is what she puts on the demo, so every package is customized for the client. Very slick….. I don’t do that – I just put a variety on it. I make runs of 10 or twenty at a time so I always have them ready. However I can and have done specialized packages if the gig warrants. Song List: Complete & Alphabetized. I have 2 - the first contains rock, blues & country. And because I do dinner shows I have a separate jazz list. You can fudge here a little, but you had better be able to muddle through the song if it’s on your list. Bio: a brief synopsis of musical history and experience. Keep it to a couple of paragraphs and a single page. No long winded diatribes about your first band practicing "Knocking on Heavens Door" in your mothers basement until your fingers bled. No one but you cares about that. Include things like, the dignitaries you've played for, opening shows for national artist. Church gigs, benefits, concerts, states toured as in regional availability, club gigs. A brief description of musical styles you cover. Remember brief and to the point - this is a bio synopsis not an auto biography. That will come when you’re rich and famous. I also put all of my contact info on this page as well. You can never have that in to many places. Printed Press: Include any you have about you or the band. IMPORTANT: Double check your spelling and grammar. I can not emphasize this enough. The best clubs and restaurants are run by some pretty sharp folks. If you come across as a dolt, you’ll never get in the door. Put all of this in a presentation portfolio with a printed label on it. Keep it clean and neat. I do my own printing and CD burning. I have the cost down to about $1.50 each total - it might take a while to get this all together. But once it's done you can tweak and fine tune as you go. I promise you that if you do this as I have laid out here. You will get gigs...... I guarantee………
sqrlcub	Date: June 22, 2008 @ 8:25 PM Dang! Thanks everyone, Gene especially. I think I have most of that ready. I'm not sure if I should head back to a studio to get a more professional sounding recording than my home studio or not. My home studio just isn't set up as well as it was in the past through a variety of moves. The hard part for me is the bio page since so much of mine is out dated now. I don't think playing for the state senate 15 years ago will look as good, nor playing for all the Czech doctors when they came to visit for the Czech consulate since they were so long ago.
Rodrica	Date: June 22, 2008 @ 10:12 PM To add to what Gene said...always do some background research before submitting your pack to someone. You can only preach to the converted when it comes to marketing. So make sure you only approach those who will definitely be interested in your kind of act. That way you won't end up wasting your time (or theirs) or your money. Know your market and concentrate on them. I've worked for a lot of bands (publicity) and they often spread their net too wide or fail to understand who they will appeal to.
GeneHilbert	Date: June 23, 2008 @ 5:14 AM Kewl......! "state senate" "Czech consulate". The dates aren't necessary. It really depends on your history and how much you've done, as too whether or not to include it. You know - I performed for President Gerald Ford and Queen Elisabeth @ Monticello. I've just never put that in my bio - because it's unnecessary over kill. Also - you'll notice there is no mention of money. That is for another time, never put in writing upfront your fee. Not all gigs are the same and you never want to short change yourself or hinder the negotiation factor. And NEVER be afraid to ask for what you want...... you just might get it. Rodz is right, vet the rooms.
sqrlcub	Date: June 23, 2008 @ 1:45 PM That's what I've been doing currently. There's a pretty decent acoustic music scene that I think I could fall into; however, they tend to do more rock oriented acoustic music and as you know, I tend not not to play that way.