Want to get more gigs? Then you definitely need to get to work on promoting your band as decisions are already being made on gigs for next summer.
Some festivals have already announced some acts for next year and if you want to be doing any gigs at that time then you really need to get on it.
Promote your band as much as you can online as well as with traditional methods. Speak to concert bookers now about dates for the summer and don’t delay!
One thing you could do right now is to register for a listing with an entertainment directory.
Promote Your Music Online
One of the first things to do if you have a low profile on the internet is to set up a Myspace page. Make sure you choose a music page when you first register.
Myspace is used by working bands all around the world, many promoters now expect to be able to listen to you and look at pictures on your myspace.
You can also set up a similar profile on LastMinuteMusicians.com. Check out our Entertainment Directory and go over and promote your band if you like what you see.
Another great way to get gigs for your band is to approach venues directly. Normally speaking to a receptionist will result in your demo materials being “passed on” which normally means putting it in the bin!
It’s much better to try and speak to the event organiser at the venue, or the person who actually deals with the organisation of the venue rather than a receptionist or bar person.
Booking Gigs for Your Band
When you are trying to put together a tour or just a one off gig, you need to be prepared when it comes to money.
Booking gigs can be a minefield, dealing with promoters and venue staff can be difficult.
Try to plan your finances as carefully as possible and if possible, try to get a guaranteed amount of money agreed with the venue promoter or manager.
Getting gigs for your band can be a long process. Some venues book months in advance so get in there early if you are going to book directly with venues.
Another option is to try and get yourselves a booking agent. Agents and managers will help you find gigs and have lots of great contacts.
A live music agent will often deal with the money side of things which is often not a strong point of band members!
An agent or representative can be a big leap forward for a band. They deal with money, bookings, record labels and all sorts of things that musicians are usual to “creative” to look after for themselves.
Start by searching the internet for managers who have good testimonials and have worked with some bands that you respect.
As always, speak to other musicians and bands and find out who they recommend.
Try to get in touch with them directly by email or telephone, its usually a waste of time sending them a big press pack as they wont read/listen to it!
Start a function band
Starting a function band in the UK can be a great way to get gigs. Function work opens you up to the corporate and wedding markets and there are lots of those type of gigs around. Function Bands in London can be especially lucrative.
Check out some other function bands and see what has worked for them. Repertoire should be well know, popular songs and you should have a clean and corporate look.
Start a covers band
Ok, so maybe a tribute act is going a bit for your group. If you mainly play original material, you might consider starting to play some cover songs and going out more as a covers band.
All you need to do is practise some new songs and you have got a set that people will pay good money to hear at wedding, parties and corporate functions, as well as different kinds of pubs and clubs.
Have a look at these Cover Bands for Hire and see if you could come up with something similar.
Another way to get more gigs is to improve your publicity materials. This can significantly improve your chances of getting the best gigs.
One of our most popular function bands “Unique” are a good example of how to present publicity.
Take a look at their photos and have a listen to their audio tracks. Everything is very professional and gives clients a lot of confidence when considering whether to book.
They have a well made YouTube video explaining what the band does and why to choose them.
They also have loads of info about the booking options (line ups), an impressive recent clients list and FAQs that deal with all the common enquiries straight away.
If you are serious about getting more gigs, work on your publicity materials today!
Create a Soundcloud
Creating a Soundcloud account can be a fantastic of way of getting more exposure for your music on the internet.
Songs that you upload to Soundcloud can be easily embedded and synced with other Social Network websites, this makes it a very useful tool for the promotion of your music and a great way of getting your music heard by a larger audience!
Click here to view the Soundcloud account for LastMinuteMusicians.com for an example of how this website can be used to great effect.
This page features wonderful music from acts on the LastMinuteMusicians.com Entertainment Agency! Bandcamp is the latest and (arguably) best website for new and unsigned bands to sell their music directly to the fans.
The website allows you to design your page to your exact specifications and collect emails whilst you go! You collect money from your songs through Paypal and only pay 15% of each track you sell to bandcamp.
Get Gigs / Tours Abroad
Playing gigs abroad, especially mainland Europe get be a great way to get extra gigs. It no longer costs a great deal of money to go and play in France or Germany so many new opportunities are opening up.
Try and find some agencies or booking agents who deal with Europe and try to get on to their list. Also, approaching small independent festivals can be another option.
This is very time consuming work but playing gigs and tours abroad can be a lot of fun!
Please subscribe to our blog using the bar on the right, or check back here regularly for more great tips on how to get gigs for your band!
Once you have registered for the LastMinuteMusicians.com Entertainment Directory, why not check out these useful external resources we’ve compiled to help you get a gig or two for your band:
- http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Gigs-for-Your-Band
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/how-to/pages/get-a-gig.shtml
Do you have any other tips for how to promote your band? Let us know in the comments below!
