Starting a band? Gigging (LINK)
October 28th 2007 05:12
So, you've got your band together and you've rehearsed enough to warrant a try for live gigs.
Lots of things come in equation when you are looking at branching from your local rehearsal room and out to the public scrutiny.
Are you a covers band or originals? Many venues will not cater for originals bands and only want covers bands as they believe it draws a larger audience.
Many independant venues cater for Original artists but at the beginning of your career as an original musician will expect you to play for free or a pitance of what yuou should get, so be prepared for some uninspiring venue deals.
The smartest move any band can do, even if you are aspiring to original material is to start by doing covers. It will get you into a lot more venues. Don't worry about it affecting your band name, it is your band name that will ultimately draw your fans for when you start doing original live material. That is something you really should consider. Its a hard slog starting from scratch as an originals band.
The first thing is to contact venue owners or bookers, find out who runs what and keep their details saved. Many venues do not even reply let alone give you the benefit of the doubt. Keep ringing. You will eventually get through. Other ideas like organising a do at a local school or hall is a nice idea. Something to put on your resume, thats what yoiu need. Thats also another good reason for doing covers, you stand more of a chance to get a residency, whick looks really good on your resume also.
Look at the different venues and their sound capabilities. Check what extras they offer like microphones, stands etc. Ive seen many a time bands not arrive with microphones as they did not read the itinerary sheet properly and took for granted the venue would house these items. Also to expect for the unexpected, some carpet for under the drum kit, gafa tape, crc, spare strings, sticks, drum head skins, spare cords. Also check what power set up the venue has, although most have 3 phase, which is the type that you need.
Make sure the venue has an in house system and mixer. Some venues provide their own sound person, although if you have someone that knows your sound and does a great job, that would be best. And, of course without in house set up, you'd be doing a mellow acoustic set for the night.
Tips for gig. Venue owners and bookers hate, and I mean hate excessive drinking on stage, them days are gone, well and truly. Turn up early. If your gig is to start at 8.30pm. Be there by 7.30 at the absolute latest. Nothing worse than looking like nutters on your debut gig in a venue caused by your own disrespect for time or professionalism. You need to leave heaps of time for set up and sound check and also time for the unexpected moments, like faulty cords, feedback issues etc.
Dress nice, look the part but dress nicely....from a patrons perspective, slacks hanging halfway down your crack hole looks more like a comedy show than stage attire. Respect venues equipment, feet all over their foldback speakers will be frowned on. Don,t be argumentative or smart with owners or bookers either. Therws no brownie points doing that crap.
You are not there to look like clowns and show the patrons who can jump the highest or stomp the heaviest...you are there as a front face of the band, a front face of the venue and respect from all angles should be shown. And yes, excessive alcohol drinking during your gig is a sign of disrespect to the venue. Go nuts after your gig, not during it.
Also, if you get a gig where you are on a bill, when your set fifnishes, finish and pack up, dont keep playing, lots of bands don't finish up or deliberately keep playing, ultimately you will have your sound cut if you over to much and you are placing all the bands behind you in a position where they have to start late, which in turn could hamper with the venues closing time restrictions.
Sorry guys, but there are lots of clowns in the music industry and they are the ones that cannot get gigs.
You can alos look at festivals as source of gigging as well. They are tough to get into and the insurance issues change from festival to festival, but if you can get a few of these under your belt, well then you'll do ok for yourselves.
Lots of things come in equation when you are looking at branching from your local rehearsal room and out to the public scrutiny.
Are you a covers band or originals? Many venues will not cater for originals bands and only want covers bands as they believe it draws a larger audience.
Many independant venues cater for Original artists but at the beginning of your career as an original musician will expect you to play for free or a pitance of what yuou should get, so be prepared for some uninspiring venue deals.
The smartest move any band can do, even if you are aspiring to original material is to start by doing covers. It will get you into a lot more venues. Don't worry about it affecting your band name, it is your band name that will ultimately draw your fans for when you start doing original live material. That is something you really should consider. Its a hard slog starting from scratch as an originals band.
The first thing is to contact venue owners or bookers, find out who runs what and keep their details saved. Many venues do not even reply let alone give you the benefit of the doubt. Keep ringing. You will eventually get through. Other ideas like organising a do at a local school or hall is a nice idea. Something to put on your resume, thats what yoiu need. Thats also another good reason for doing covers, you stand more of a chance to get a residency, whick looks really good on your resume also.
Look at the different venues and their sound capabilities. Check what extras they offer like microphones, stands etc. Ive seen many a time bands not arrive with microphones as they did not read the itinerary sheet properly and took for granted the venue would house these items. Also to expect for the unexpected, some carpet for under the drum kit, gafa tape, crc, spare strings, sticks, drum head skins, spare cords. Also check what power set up the venue has, although most have 3 phase, which is the type that you need.
Make sure the venue has an in house system and mixer. Some venues provide their own sound person, although if you have someone that knows your sound and does a great job, that would be best. And, of course without in house set up, you'd be doing a mellow acoustic set for the night.
Tips for gig. Venue owners and bookers hate, and I mean hate excessive drinking on stage, them days are gone, well and truly. Turn up early. If your gig is to start at 8.30pm. Be there by 7.30 at the absolute latest. Nothing worse than looking like nutters on your debut gig in a venue caused by your own disrespect for time or professionalism. You need to leave heaps of time for set up and sound check and also time for the unexpected moments, like faulty cords, feedback issues etc.
Dress nice, look the part but dress nicely....from a patrons perspective, slacks hanging halfway down your crack hole looks more like a comedy show than stage attire. Respect venues equipment, feet all over their foldback speakers will be frowned on. Don,t be argumentative or smart with owners or bookers either. Therws no brownie points doing that crap.
You are not there to look like clowns and show the patrons who can jump the highest or stomp the heaviest...you are there as a front face of the band, a front face of the venue and respect from all angles should be shown. And yes, excessive alcohol drinking during your gig is a sign of disrespect to the venue. Go nuts after your gig, not during it.
Also, if you get a gig where you are on a bill, when your set fifnishes, finish and pack up, dont keep playing, lots of bands don't finish up or deliberately keep playing, ultimately you will have your sound cut if you over to much and you are placing all the bands behind you in a position where they have to start late, which in turn could hamper with the venues closing time restrictions.
Sorry guys, but there are lots of clowns in the music industry and they are the ones that cannot get gigs.
You can alos look at festivals as source of gigging as well. They are tough to get into and the insurance issues change from festival to festival, but if you can get a few of these under your belt, well then you'll do ok for yourselves.
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