Conquer your phone phobia and book better gigs
Building relationships, knowing what a booking agent is looking for, and being prepared when you call can help you master booking your act. Read the post.
getting gigs
How to generate music marketing, promotion, and publicity opportunities
By identifying and researching artists who are similar to you but have gotten more coverage and promotion, you’ll learn exactly where to focus your own music marketing efforts. Read the post.
Should you play gigs for free?
“Should my band play gigs for free?” has been asked a million times. Is any gig worth playing for free? Is it better not to play at all? Read More.
How to get the attention of a talent buyer or booking agent
You’ve put together a great set of music and you’re ready to perform. How do you make a connection and impress a talent buyer to book you for a high-profile gig? Read More.
How to book high exposure music gigs as an independent artist
Here’s the strategy I used to book high exposure music gigs opening for Rick Derringer, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joan Jett, Fuel, and many others. This same method will work for booking gigs at local venues as well. Read More.
Build your music career while your band is on the road
Touring is such a valuable learning and career opportunity. See the sights, play great shows, connect with industry, and make your fans feel special. Having a genuine attitude and hard-working ethos on the road can only lead to bigger, better opportunities. Read More.
The Indie Artist’s Guide to Gigging: Booking Strategies
Excerpted from our updated Indie Artist’s Guide To Gigging, this section focuses on booking strategies for acts trying to gain momentum and widen their base. Read More.
Develop a home base before moving to regional music venues
There’s an advantage to concentrating your live performance development in local music venues as you plan for future tours in new and wider territories. Read the post.
Have you outgrown your favorite music venue?
Growth is good, but grow with awareness as you move to the next level. The truth is, most acts move too quickly. They think they’ve reached a level of success that they simply have not. Carefully assess every step of your success before charging ahead thinking you’re ready to move on. Read more.
Are you building a music career or just filling the calendar?
Have you ever felt frantic about getting more gigs on your schedule? Depending on your goals and where you are in your music career, that may be exactly the thing to do. If you are in this to create a lasting career in music, one that builds momentum and progresses from one level to the next, you need a plan when booking music gigs. Read more.
Got an unconventional gig? Use unconventional promotion.
Unconventional venues require additional promo on your end and you should see it more as an active partnership with the venue. Rather than expecting the venue to promote you to their followers or patrons and pack the house for you, you generally will need to anticipate some involvement when it comes to spreading the word. Read more.
How to find and play unconventional music venues
When jazz pianist Vijay Iyer scheduled the New York City release show for his 2015 album Break Stuff, he didn’t choose a standard venue. Iyer’s concert was staged in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Iyer isn’t the first artist to eschew traditional clubs and concert halls in favor of more unique performing grounds. Read more.
Tips for Surviving and Thriving on Tour
Taking your music on the road is a great way to reach new audiences, see the world, and hopefully have a grand adventure — but any touring veteran will tell you that it’s not as easy as it looks. From maintaining peace amongst band members and staying healthy, to dealing with substandard accommodations and endless hours in transit, spending time on the road can present unique and unforeseen challenges.
How to Land a Music Festival Gig
From Bonaroo to High Sierra and the Warped Tour, it seems that more and more music festivals are popping up all over the world. But for emerging artists, landing a slot at a festival, even as an opening band, may seem out of reach – a goal for “later” in your career.
To find out just how feasible it is to try to land a spot on a festival stage, we spoke with a talent booker from San Francisco’s 18-year-old Noise Pop festival… Read more…
Indie Touring Strategy: Getting Out on the Road
What are the realities of touring for an independent artist today? How do you set up your gigs? Does touring make financial sense? What should you hope to gain from going on any tour? These are just some of the questions you might – and should – be asking yourself if you plan to take your show on the road.
Megan Slankard is traveling through rural Wisconsin, where cell coverage can be spotty, as a part of a three-month, 75-date tour to promote her latest album, A Token of the Wreckage. Read more…