Fairly new to gigging would appreciate any tips or tricks

[oachs83]

He guys first want to say this forum has always been really great to me and my young music journey. I never picked up a guitar in my life until 3 years ago this January and my only regret is why did I not do it 20 years earlier (I am currently 31). I am having so much fun playing and this site has been a big part of all my trials and errors. So I come to you guys again just for some more advice or tips to help me further my music.

To keep it very short I was having a beer about two and a half years ago and a guy overheard me talking about how I am just beginning and trying to tackle learning my new guitar. He invited me over to jam one day but being so embarrassed about my skill level I kept putting him off for a few months. One day I finally took him up on it. He also introduced me to a friend of his who is now our lead singer and they really took me under their wing. We would get together and jam a bit from time to time. I then ran into an old buddy that happens to play bass and he had a good friend that was a drummer. So we all just kind of got together by accident and started jamming together. There is 5 of us a singer, 2 guitars, bass, and the drummer. Eventually someone's buddy asked us to play a few songs at a garage party. We would do it for free beer then a couple more would ask and we found ourselves rocking garages here and there around town. Until one day a bar asked us to play and that was 13 months ago. We played for free drinks all night. Next a few more bars would ask and we have been getting paying gigs about once or twice a month now. but all in town. By the way we are a all cover band that does mainly classic rock.

None of us ever expected it would go this far but it has and we are all having a great time doing it. Now we find ourselves wanting to branch out of town more and maybe play a little more gigs as well. We are not looking to make a living off of this we are just having a lot of fun and figure instead of sitting in a bar spending money why not have fun rocking in a bar and getting paid.

So I come to you guys again for help on if there is any tips or tricks on getting more gigs from people that have never heard of us. We are on Facebook and I also started a website The Whiskey Richard Band

I had business cards made as well to hand out. I try to contact different clubs and bars on Facebook but have not had much luck with anyoe responding back. We are willing to drive a good 100 miles or so away from home to a gig. I just don't know a good way or approach and ask these places over the phone or internet because I don't want to drive all that way just to ask face to face. We are all fairly new to this and me being the one that handles the website, Facebook, most the booking, and all advertisement (I had shirts and koozies made up) I would really appreciate any advice or tips some of you guys use when approaching a bar owner for the first time. Thanks again guys.

 

[Brazilnut]

They all want the same thing. You are there to help them sell liquor. Period. If you can get chicks to follow you in the bar, that's all it takes. The chicks will attract the guys, the guys will buy the booze, the owner will pay the band. Tell the bar owner you have friends, a following. [If you don't, that may not work.] You may have to play for low pay or no pay, just tips, to get your foot in the door.

And get a decent PA and learn how to run it right.

Good luck!

 

[oachs83]

And get a decent PA and learn how to run it right.

Good luck!

The chicks I know would send me over the top but getting them in the door is the hard part. Where we have played the owners are happy and do ask us back. We have played every place in town more than once at least.

The PA system is something I do believe is a weakness for us. I have a good mixer, subs, and monitors. Our mains are in desperate need of an upgrade and am hoping to take care of that with my tax returns. Also some new vocal mics would not hurt. I did buy the drummer a quality kick drum mic and myself a good mic for my amp. Thanks for the info Brazilnut

 

[Donal]

And get a decent PA and learn how to run it right.

Preferably get someone to mix during the gig from in front of the stage. Irelevant of how small the location is.

Just having a good PA wont make it sound great!

Don

 

[mudfinger]

For bar gigs, the most effective method to get the first gig is to visit the venue, speak with the booking agent, and hand them a 3-song demo. Then follow up once per week with a phone call until you get scheduled.

Then show up on time, and kick ass.

The online stuff helps credibility, but a handshake is how shit gets done in your market.

 

[12watt]

I just don't know a good way or approach and ask these places over the phone or internet because I don't want to drive all that way just to ask face to face.

If you don't want to drive all that way to meet them, why should they book you? They might think that come the night you won't be bothered to drive all that way to play.

Plus, they will have lots of their own local bands like yours pestering them for gigs - a road trip would demonstrate commitment.

 

[oachs83]

If you don't want to drive all that way to meet them, why should they book you? They might think that come the night you won't be bothered to drive all that way to play.

Plus, they will have lots of their own local bands like yours pestering them for gigs - a road trip would demonstrate commitment.

I can not argue with that at all and agree it is the best way. Where I live is a town in Southern Minnesota population about 60k. Some of these places an hour a way or so are very small as in around 5k or less. They seem to have the same 3 or so bands over and over. I was just riding on the fact a new band wants to play there would be enough in some cases? Again I am new to this and make these mistakes, this is why I reach out for help. Thanks again.

 

[12watt]

I see now that Mudfinger got in before me. He is extremely well versed in this stuff. Despite his being a monster player and having a great band, he has described the grind of getting gigs. Sadly they just won't come to you - no matter how worthy you are.

 

[GitFiddle]

I play in a weekend band that has a pretty loyal following around the east side of Cincinnati. I am the odd man out, that lives about 30-40 miles north of where most of our gigs are booked. The rest of the guys all live much closer.

I tried booking our band at a popular club much closer to where I live, trying to get the band to branch out into further territories. I gave him our portfolio, bio, DVD of recorded music and live videos. This club had a pretty solid rotation of local bands with loyal followings. Before he even looked at our portfolio, he asked where we were from. He said, "in his experience", very few, if any, of our loyal following would make the trip that far north to see us play.

His only interest was in how many new faces we would draw into the club. Even though, compared to the group in his usual rotation, we could have blown the roof off the joint.

On the other hand, I went down the road to another big club and they gave us a chance and really like us. We are now in regular rotation at that club. Its very nice when we are booked there, because I have a short drive, but the other guys have to make a bigger journey than usual.

Maybe not much help, but you just have to keep plugging at it, no matter what it takes.

Good luck and rock on....

 

[Neffco]

Get a buddy to run your sound. Nothing worse than blowing the back wall off the bar because your too loud. Watch people, can they order a drink without climbing over the bar, are they gathered in the back away from the stage? Is it too loud for the lady's to dance? Took me a while to learn these lessons coming from a punk background but paid off when booking gigs. You get invited back more if the bartender can hear the customers orders. fwiw.

 

[oachs83]

This is all great help, with the "digital" age I did not know if places are gravitating towards that way or not. I see the most popular suggestion is good old footwork and talking to these places face to face. Thanks for info guys, keep em coming if you have anything to add.

 

[Joeydego]

He guys first want to say this forum has always been really great to me and my young music journey. I never picked up a guitar in my life until 3 years ago this January and my only regret is why did I not do it 20 years earlier (I am currently 31). I am having so much fun playing and this site has been a big part of all my trials and errors. So I come to you guys again just for some more advice or tips to help me further my music.

To keep it very short I was having a beer about two and a half years ago and a guy overheard me talking about how I am just beginning and trying to tackle learning my new guitar. He invited me over to jam one day but being so embarrassed about my skill level I kept putting him off for a few months. One day I finally took him up on it. He also introduced me to a friend of his who is now our lead singer and they really took me under their wing. We would get together and jam a bit from time to time. I then ran into an old buddy that happens to play bass and he had a good friend that was a drummer. So we all just kind of got together by accident and started jamming together. There is 5 of us a singer, 2 guitars, bass, and the drummer. Eventually someone's buddy asked us to play a few songs at a garage party. We would do it for free beer then a couple more would ask and we found ourselves rocking garages here and there around town. Until one day a bar asked us to play and that was 13 months ago. We played for free drinks all night. Next a few more bars would ask and we have been getting paying gigs about once or twice a month now. but all in town. By the way we are a all cover band that does mainly classic rock.

None of us ever expected it would go this far but it has and we are all having a great time doing it. Now we find ourselves wanting to branch out of town more and maybe play a little more gigs as well. We are not looking to make a living off of this we are just having a lot of fun and figure instead of sitting in a bar spending money why not have fun rocking in a bar and getting paid.

So I come to you guys again for help on if there is any tips or tricks on getting more gigs from people that have never heard of us. We are on Facebook and I also started a website The Whiskey Richard Band

I had business cards made as well to hand out. I try to contact different clubs and bars on Facebook but have not had much luck with anyoe responding back. We are willing to drive a good 100 miles or so away from home to a gig. I just don't know a good way or approach and ask these places over the phone or internet because I don't want to drive all that way just to ask face to face. We are all fairly new to this and me being the one that handles the website, Facebook, most the booking, and all advertisement (I had shirts and koozies made up) I would really appreciate any advice or tips some of you guys use when approaching a bar owner for the first time. Thanks again guys.

how "big" do you want this thing to get? The bigger and better gigs, you have to spend some money. For 100-150 a night(per man, STOP playing for beer money), you're doing enough. If you want casinos, festivals etc on a regular, invest in a video and consider your look. Classic rock is tough, there are a million bands playing the same 30 songs. Good luck.

 

[WholeLottaIzzy]

I don't have any advice, but speaking as someone who has been (unsuccessfully) looking for a band for seven years, you are very lucky to have a band just fall into place like that.

 

[Spurholder]

Hey, I happen to like your website - and the lady with the big rack in your video's a great sell!

Isn't she a former "Real World" chick?

 

[Joeydego]

Just checked out your webpage and liked your band on FB. My suggestion (being you asked): get rid of that audio on the site. Its sub par and has a lot of mistakes. If I were a bar owner, just based on that, I wouldn't even consider booking your band. I can suggest recording some decent audio, if audio is going to be what you use to promote. I recently opened my browser and in utter horror, saw a soundcloud link to a rehearsal I had the day before complete with noodling, mistakes etc. A phone convo ensued and it was taken down. That band will be spending some money and we are recording end of this month.

 

[oachs83]

Just checked out your webpage and liked your band on FB. My suggestion (being you asked): get rid of that audio on the site. Its sub par and has a lot of mistakes. If I were a bar owner, just based on that, I wouldn't even consider booking your band. I can suggest recording some decent audio, if audio is going to be what you use to promote. I recently opened my browser and in utter horror, saw a soundcloud link to a rehearsal I had the day before complete with noodling, mistakes etc. A phone convo ensued and it was taken down. That band will be spending some money and we are recording end of this month.

Yeah the audio sucks real bad as it's all recorded from a cell phone and basically from our 2nd or third paying gig a good 8 months or so ago. We were still learning to play together as a band. We are a better band now but still very rough. We give all we can to try and make up for it. Thanks for the advice and a big thanks for the LIKE!!.

 

[oachs83]

how "big" do you want this thing to get? The bigger and better gigs, you have to spend some money. For 100-150 a night(per man, STOP playing for beer money), you're doing enough.

Sorry for the confusion as I meant to say we started playing for beer money but the last 7 or 8 gigs we are getting $80 a man but do run our own sound.

 

[WaywerdSon]

Make friends with the bouncers and waitresses. If the bouncers like you, you can hit on any chick in the bar without fearing getting your ass-kicked, because if any shit happens, the bouncer will have your back. The waitresses can give you the low-down on every chick in the bar, and you can strategize your plan of attack that way. Cuz really, that's the payoff for the gig.

 

[Maynar]

Have

a

good

time

all

the

time.