Becoming a full-time professional musician is not an easy task. It requires you to establish regular (and usually diverse) sources of income in order to make enough money, not just to live, but to be able to live comfortably.
For most professional musicians, performing live will often be their main source of income and so, in this blog, we look at how to go about getting high-end gigs that pay well.
There are many factors that dictate how much paid work is out there – some economic, geographical or seasonal, but the fact remains that as long as people are still seeking live music for events (in any capacity!) there will always be shows available.
If you’re looking to become a full-time musician (or already are, but are looking to increase your income) then it’s worth thinking about how to budget your time effectively and what sort of marketing is going to be best for picking up the better paid work. As such, here are our top tips for maximising your live performance revenue…
Diversify your act and repertoire
Many bands are able to increase the amount of work they pick up by utilising their existing line up in a different way and going out in several guises/different names.
For instance, a typical 4-piece wedding band would (given the right instrumentation) would also be able to provide an acoustic “festival” band, utilising much of the same material, all be it arranged differently.
Many generational tribute bands may have several different acts and set lists for different decades, using the same band members.
It’s also not unheard of for swing singers to provide a Sinatra or Buble-specific tribute act, as well as more general big band repertoire.
By diversifying your act, you’re not only maximising your potential for bookings, but you’re also maximising your ability to offer additional packages for existing bookings, getting the best payday possible.
If you’re looking to make the most of a particular show, you can even offer these additional acts as part of a package deal. IE Acoustic sets over dinner.
Tony Bowen, guitarist for function band KingTastic suggests that bands should keep learning new material to broaden and expand their repertoire.
He says that bands should learn ‘not just new new songs but new old songs too. Bands should also play their favourite songs and not just those that they think people want to hear. Bands should endeavour to sound as close to the original or finding their own unique sound.
Top tips on diversifying your act:
- Offer different acts, utilising the same line up
- List each act separately with entertainment directories
- Offer additional packages to existing bookings
Get booked for corporate shows
Corporate shows come in many forms – they might be product launches, summer or Christmas parties, networking events or conference/team building days.
However, with a company picking up the bill rather than an individual, they usually have a much bigger budget behind them – making them extremely lucrative for musicians!
Corporate events planners will usually go through an entertainment agency to source their live music, so getting on the books of as many agencies (or entertainment directories) as possible is key to picking up these kinds of shows.
You could also try offering a “corporate package” specifically tailored for larger events. You could include acoustic sets, a “late night” DJ playlist or even offer to compere the event!
Guitarist Howard Nash recommends that bands get to know their local tourism bureau so bands will be offered to perform at upcoming events.
He suggests that bands should offer to play for free or at a reduced fee to be able to get their foot in the door.
Howard says his band, Live Lounge perform at several corporate events throughout the year at a reduced fee explaining that they gain a lot of business in spin offs from the events.
Top tips for getting corporate bookings:
- List with an entertainment agency or directory
- Tailor your online marketing around key times of the year (I.E. Christmas office parties, summer parties)
- Offer corporate event packages on your website
- Take physical advertising (like business cards) to any award show gigs
Get booked for celebrity events
While the recent spate of royal weddings may seem out of reach for many musicians, the simple reality is that celebrity events are usually just like any other celebration (all be it more lavish!) and will have to source their entertainment accordingly.
Celebrities often engage high-end event or wedding planners, and so networking with these people is key. If you play at any wedding fairs, seek them out and start a conversation.
It may even be worth sending out a few emails to the websites of events planners, just to let them know about your act. Try reading our blog on networking for musicians for helpful tips.
Top tips for getting booked for celebrity events:
- Network with event/wedding planners
- Display any previous celebrity testimonials
- List with an entertainment agent/directory
Evaluate some opportunities in the long term
This may seem slightly counter-intuitive for an article entitled “Getting well paid gigs” but running promotions or reducing your prices slightly can be appropriate if an opportunity has a genuine lifespan.
For example, if you are offered a residency somewhere, you might have to be prepared to take a slightly reduced fee in the knowledge that the work will be regular, and bring in money every month.
Looking at some opportunities in the long-term can be very beneficial, but be careful of some shady people peddling “exposure” or “future work” who are actually just looking for a discount without any serious prospect of other shows.
While some shows might not appear particularly lucrative initially, if they have a large potential for repeat bookings, you can still earn a lot of money over the course of a year.
Create an act suitable for theatres
If you are playing in a tribute band, there is huge scope for performing in venues that might not usually book bands, like theatres. Acts like The Australian Pink Floyd tribute regularly perform in large theatres, concert halls and even bigger venues, like arenas.
Establishing a following for your band is essential for this, as you’ll have to be able to draw quite a crowd. That said, a sold-out ticketed performance will often bring in an enormous return… just remember to keep an eye on your production costs!
Top tips to book in large venues:
- Find a niche or USP for your act that’s popular
- Build a following with smaller shows
- Engage a tour booker
Get a roster of Deps
Getting well-paid gigs (or any gigs at all, in fact) requires your band to have the maximum amount of availability. As such, it seems a shame to miss out on some shows just because one band member may be unavailable.
Having a good network of stand ins or “Deps” will come in handy here, in case of illness or simply covering holiday time, meaning the band can spend a maximum amount of time on the road and reap the maximum return!
Drummer Colin Lovatt encourages bands to ensure all members want to go in the same direction.
It’s important that all members are involved equally as any flaky members will need to be replaced by last minute deps and, in worst case scenarios events can be cancelled giving the band a band name.
Colin Lovatt
Remember, if your band is looking for more gigs you should consider joining the Last Minute Musicians Directory.
Do you have any other tips for getting well paid gigs? Share them in the comments below!
