Tag: gigging
Secrets to NOT Getting Booked for a Gig.
by claybutlermusic on Feb.08, 2010, under Band Management, Career Building, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
You’ve seen the tips on how to get booked for a gig. But I bet you haven’t seen the secrets of how to NOT get booked (or booked again) by a club or venue. Here are seven sure-fire ways to ensure that you won’t get a call to perform:
1.) Don’t give them a complete press kit. Venues and club owners want to know what they’re getting when they book you. While CDs are a given, most venues would like to see a bio, press clips, or fact sheet.
2.) Don’t put your contact info on everything. Press kits get misplaced and separated from CDs. If the venue loves your music and wants to book you, but your contact info isn’t on your demo, then you can bet you won’t get the call back.
3.) Don’t follow up. Club owners get busy. After all, they do have a business to run. If you don’t get called back after a reasonable time, it may not always be because they don’t like you. They may not have gotten around to listening to the demo, or they may have forgotten to get in touch with you. Out of sight, sometimes really is out of mind. So not following up with leads may just make you lose that gig.
4.) Don’t start on time. Fashionably late doesn’t exist when it comes to gigs. Similarly, taking breaks that are too frequent or too long are deal-breakers. Crowds get antsy. Owners get antsy. Keep them waiting, and you likely won’t get hired back.
5.) Don’t fill the venue. Club owners really don’t care about your music. They care about filling their establishment with PAYING patrons. They want to sell enough food and drinks to cover your band and make a profit for the night. Playing to an empty club definitely won’t get you hired again.
6.) Don’t cater to the audience. Even though your adoring fans show up to support you, not everyone in the audience is there to see your band. Some people just like the establishment. Make that crowd react negatively with your music, volume, or antics, and you won’t play there again.
7.) Advertise other gigs on nights that compete with the current venue. You’ve got a gig tomorrow night at a competing club across town? Great! Your fans need to know it, but do it discretely. Announcing that gig on the microphone tells a club that you’re stealing their crowd. That’s bad business. Do it and you won’t be asked back.
What other tactics can you think of that ruin your chances of getting booked?
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Are You Leaving Money on the Table by Not Having a Table?
by claybutlermusic on Aug.19, 2009, under Band Management, Career Building, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
An odd question, right? But as a band, you may be missing out on money-making opportunities from your live show by not having a table–a merchandise table.
There’s more to the music industry than just music. Much of the music industry is also in your image as a band, and, perhaps more importantly, how marketable that image is. Extending beyond CD sales, a band has other lucrative avenues to explore. Here are a few examples:
- CD’s
- Glossy photos for autographs
- Posters
- Stickers and decals
- Buttons and pins
- T-Shirts
- Hats
Taking the merch booth one step further, it’s also a hub of post-show activity. It’s a place to meet and greet your adoring fans, sign autographs, take pictures, etc. It can also act as in information kiosk, where you include a sign-up sheet for your mailing list, order forms for other merch, registrations for contests and drawings, flyers, bios, and so on. The ideas and opportunities to solidify fans and make more money with a merch booth are virtually limitless.
As a general rule of thumb, always negotiate with a venue to have a merchandise table or booth on-site when you play. This rule is particularly significant if you are playing for free. Most venues, clubs, or events won’t mind if you have a table, but beware of the ones that won’t allow you to have one. They’re making money off of you for virtually nothing in return, and that’s always a shady deal.
So, in closing, don’t forget to set up your merchandise booth at your gigs. They can be a real income booster for your gigs. In fact, there were times when my old band would make as much (or more) from merchandise than our performance fee. Double your money is always a great deal!
Business IS Personal: Building a Loyal Fanbase
by claybutlermusic on Jun.26, 2009, under Band Management, Career Building, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
Whoever said “it’s not personal, it’s business,” didn’t live in the Web 2.0 generation. Web 2.0 is changing the face of the internet. It’s also changing the face of the way we do business–the way we ALL do business–from big corporations to the independent musician. It has expanded the fishbowl society to include not only celebrities, but to also include you and me. Now, people are taking an interest in the personal lives of others, and many people embrace that concern and garnered attention.
How does the fishbowl society affect you as an independent musician or band? Quite simply, the more you let fans into your personal life, then the more those fans feel intimately connected with you. That “intimacy” serves to increase the loyalty of your fan base. Fans want to know that they are more than just a CD or a concert ticket; they want to feel like you care about them as much as they care about you. After all, as cliche as it sounds, if it wasn’t for the fans, musicians would be out of a job. Not to say that CD sales and concert tickets aren’t how we as musicians make a living; however, the more you can connect with them on a personal level, the more likely they are to want to buy your albums or attend your shows. Now, let’s explore some ways to build fan loyalty:
Blogging
Fans what to know what you’re up to. They want to know that you’re real people with real lives. One way to let them into your world is with blogging. Given the number of bands on MySpace, I’m surprised by how few of them use the blog feaure. If you’re on tour, consider a “road journal” where you tell about your shows or interesting things that you do or see on your tour. If you’re recording a new album, blog about your the recording process or about the songs. Understandably, we all lead busy lives, so microblogging is a great choice. These allow you to post short status updates and links. Facebook has taken a turn toward microblogging its status updates. Sites like Twitter allow you to post updates from your cell phone via text message. Above all, encourage your fans to participate with their comments.
Meet & Greet
Fans also want to know you’re approachable. After each show, be sure to hang out at your merchandise table for a meet and greet session with the fans. Take time to sign CDs and pose for pictures. At least shake hands and treat them like real people. There’s nothing more tragic than seeing a loyal, adoring fan get snubbed by an artist or band.
Giveaways
Fans want to know you care. Don’t be afraid to give something away for nothing. In truth, you are getting something in return: you’re building loyalty. Offer a free CD or concert ticket to people to sign up for your mailing list. Post it on your blog or website as well as on your mailing list. This will encourage more fans to visit and participate.
These are just a few ideas. Feel free to drop a comment with your own!
Facing the Facts: Hard Lessons for a Young Cover Band
by claybutlermusic on Jun.23, 2009, under Band Management, Career Building, Uncategorized
Length of the Gig
First of all, playing a clug gig requires knowing a lot of material. They were under the assumption that going to a club gig was like going to a typical concert-type gig, where the headliner plays a 90-minute set (at most). Jaws hit the floor when I explained that they would have to perform four hour-long sets, or about 40 songs total.
It’s Not About You
Finally, and perhaps the hardest reality they had to face, is that the gig isn’t at all about the band. It’s not about how cool the band is. It’s not about the band’s cool music. It’s about one thing to a club owner: can they make the club money? I had to inform them that the owner’s main concern is that you fill their club and sell a lot of drinks in order to make them a profit for the night. If you can’t do that, rest assured you won’t be playing there again. The same holds true, especially when the band “plays for the door”. If the band makes money solely off of the cover charge, it would greatly behoove them to bring in a couple hundred people!
I remember when I had to face these realities in my younger days, so I could empathize with them on the thrill of being approached by a club, immediately crushed by having to turn down the gig. But, in the long run, it’s far better to be prepared for a gig than to have the wrong expectation going in, thus blowing the gig, and ruining your reputation as a band. I’ve been there too.
Can You Answer this Essential Question About Your Music?
by claybutlermusic on Jun.19, 2009, under Band Management, Marketing & Promotion, Uncategorized
Part of what I do at Butler Productions is to help fledgling bands get started, whether it’s with demos, albums, or management, or just to give some advice. When bands approach me looking for a producer, for management, or for consultation services, there’s one question that I always ask when we get started: “Can you define your sound?” While that sounds like an easy enough question, I bet you’d be surprised at many groups’ inability to tell me effectively what they sound like. I’ll get responses like, “we’re a rock band.” Worse yet, I’ll get, “it’s hard to describe.” Or, worst of all, the ever-dreaded, “we’re versatile.” The answer to this question often holds the key to a band’s future.
Why Define Your Sound
I’ve learned (the hard way), when I was in a touring band that was shopping for a record deal, that labels look for bands that fit a narrowly-defined niche or sound. When you’re asked the question, “what do you sound like,” they want to know how easily you can be marketed. Say “We’re versatile,” and you’ll quickly get shown the door. I can hear you saying, “Isn’t versatile good?” Very simply, no. Labels aren’t looking for acts to fit into multiple genres. They’re looking for acts that fit into one primary category–easy to define, easy to market.
The same rule applies for bands who are trying to get gigs. Club owners want to know specifically what style you perform. Most of all, they want to know if you will appeal to their crowd. Narrowly focusing your sound also helps you as a band know which clubs to try and, more importantly, which ones will be a waste of your time. You wouldn’t play death metal in a honky-tonk country bar. The outcome could get ugly.
Your Pitch
Marketers tell small business owners to develop a 30-second elevator speech. These are concise descriptions of your business and products. Simply, it tells who you are and what you do. This tactic is a vital one for musicians and bands as well. Your music is your business, right? Use the speech to describe your style, sound, and similar bands. Also tell them how strong your fan base is, or how many of your loyal fans you can (realistically) put into their club. Labels and clubs are far less concerned with your artistry than with how much money you can make for them. When you begin describing yourself in these terms, you begin speaking their language. That’s when doors start to open.
Where to begin
If you don’t know where to start in identifying your sound, try asking your friends or fans. Then reflect on which artists or bands you closely resemble. Having a comparison to a popular or easily identifiable group is a good thing. For example, I’m currently working with a hard rock/metal band that describes themselves as thus: “Iron Maiden with the vocals of Disturbed”. Now that paints a vivid mental picture for any club or an A&R person.
Here are a few of helpful books about marketing yourself as a musician:
For more information, consultation, or other production services, contact Butler Productions. We’ll be glad to help.
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