Gigs are an important part of a musician’s livelihood. They provide opportunities to share your music with new audiences, generate income and build your following. But booking gigs can be a challenge, especially if you’re just starting out.
For some musicians, the process of booking gigs feels a bit like playing the lottery. You send out a bunch of emails, make a few phone calls and hope that something comes back your way. But there are things you can do to increase your chances of booking more gigs.
A lot of it comes down to being proactive and taking the time to build relationships with venue owners, promoters and other musicians. In this blog post, we’ll share 5 tips to help you book more gigs.
Get Out There And Start Playing
This one may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. The more you play, the more opportunities you’ll have to book gigs. Playing live is also a great way to build your following and get people interested in your music.
By doing so, you’re also creating a demand for your music. If people see you playing around town and they enjoy it, they’re more likely to want to book you for their own event.
Play as often as you can, get heard by as many people as you can and start making a name for yourself. You never know who’s watching and who might be interested in booking you for their next event.
Build Relationships With Venue Owners And Promoters
If you want to book more gigs, it’s important to build relationships with the people who book shows. Get to know your local venue owners and promoters and let them know that you’re interested in playing at their venue.
Be sure to keep in touch and stay up-to-date on what’s going on at the venue. If you’re top of mind, they’re more likely to book you when they have an open spot.
And don’t forget about the other musicians you meet along the way. These relationships can be just as valuable. Some of the best gigs I’ve booked have come through recommendations from other musicians.
While it’s not always easy to make these connections, it’s important to put yourself out there and try. Attend industry events, meet-ups and networking events. Get involved in your local music scene and get to know the other musicians in your area.
You never know who you’ll meet or what opportunities will come your way.
Create A Press Kit
A press kit is a collection of materials that helps promote you and your music. It typically includes an artist bio, photos, press clippings and anything else that would be helpful for someone who’s interested in booking you.
Having a press kit readily available makes it easy for venue owners and promoters to get more information about you without having to do a lot of research.
And if you don’t have a press kit, now’s the time to create one. You can find some great tips on how to create a press kit here.
Bottom line – having a press kit is an easy way to make yourself more attractive to potential bookers.
Play More Private Events
Private events are a great way to make money and they can often lead to more opportunities down the road.
Even though most private events won’t be advertised, they’re usually easy to find if you know where to look. Check out websites like Gigsalad and Thumbtack, which list thousands of private events that need live music.
You can also reach out to event planners and businesses in your area and let them know that you’re available for private bookings.
Not only are private events a great source of income, but they can also help you get your foot in the door with new venues and promoters.
If you do a good job at a private event, there’s a good chance the client will book you again or recommend you to someone else.
Develop An Online Presence
In today’s day and age, it’s more important than ever to have an online presence. With so much competition out there, you need to find ways to stand out from the rest.
One of the best ways to do this is by developing a strong online presence. Create a website, start a blog, post your music online and make sure all of your social media profiles are updated.
The more active you are online, the easier it will be for people to find you. And if you can get people interested in your music, they’re more likely to come see you live.
Building an online following can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the long run. Not only will it help you book more gigs, but it will also help you sell more music and merchandise.
These are just a few tips to help you book more gigs as a musician. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can make it happen. Just remember to stay focused and keep working towards your goals. You’ll get there eventually.
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