5 Things That Will Help You Book Gigs.

Lets be honest it’s tough to make some cash from being a musician. They biggest thing that brings in the bread is playing out. Here are some key pieces to help you get a little bit more organized and to help you book more gigs.

1. Make a schedule - If you don’t have a calendar system to keep track of when you have gigs and when you are looking for gigs you will end up one not filling the gig that you possibly could. Which is lost revenue, or you will book over something that band or your self will have conflict with later. And If you are amazing and gave lots of gigs lined up , you won’t double book yourself, leaving you with a hard choice between venues possibly during bridges with a venue, which again could mean lost revenue in the future. 
2. Have a website - I mean a real website, not a facebook page (this is still great for fan interaction) or Bandcamp (this is still good for showcasing your music). I mean a real website where you can setup a page for venues to book you. or for venues to contact you. Look at it as a place to demo your look feel and most importantly your songs. 
3. Make a list of venues - mainly in your area and start making calls, The best way to get to the person or people that book shows at that venue is to reach them by phone. Then start making a list with names and numbers for those venues. The more your invest in those relationships the better your chances are to get on a bill at that venue. Having a list to go back to and to update it critical to keeping in touch with that venue. 
4. Have a quality demo - Make sure that the songs that your going to preform you have a quality demo of them available to give to the venue or to place on your site to show venues. Again I can’t stress the fact that it should be almost full production quality. One thing you could do is Have someone listen to this or at least professionally master it. This will get a professional ear on it. 
5. Befriend other Bands / Artists - Try and find bands in your area that you have a similar style. If they like your music you could see if you could put on a show together, or better yet they might get you on a show that they have already lined up.

I’m going to throw this out there as well. Unofficially Number 6 on this list, but probably the most important. PLAY HOUSE SHOWS or find small places that are underground venues that your and get other band together to play a show. Ask for a small donation or grow your fans by playing for free (sometimes you got to start somewhere). If there are no places like this around, Make one, Tell other bands, get people to come.

If you are looking for help with this contact me at Kevin@twenty20audio.com . I can help with anything from resources for booking, promotion, branding and production.