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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Request Sheets

If you'd like to see your average tips rise by 20-40%, put out a request sheet.

Make a list of all of the songs that you play. List the song and the artist. Put 20-copies in plastic protective sleeves. Distribute the sheets on the tables and at the bar.

Make a game out of it...

Tell everyone that they must pick a song off of the list. You'll be choosing people at random, so they better be ready with their pick!

This gets the crowd buzzing and it will make for a more enjoyable/profitable gig for you.

Get FREE gig leads at PartyBand.US

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Finding The Right Venue

In my years of talking with venue management regarding live-music, I've learned that not every 'music venue' is right for every musician/band. Here are some tips on how to find the right venue for your music.

  1. Genre - Ask what type of music the venue usually features. What's the average age of the venue's target market? Make sure you fit with the program.

  2. Draw - There are two basic types of music venues. The first type has an embedded base of music-loving customers that show up to hear quality acts. The second, and more prevelant type, needs the performers to bring their fan base with them. If you've got a good following, great, you can pick and choose where to play. If you don't, just tell the truth. Misleading managers will end badly for you and it reflects poorly on all musicians trying to earn a buck.

  3. Pay Scale - It may seem abrupt, but discussing the pay scale with management up front will save you a lot of time. Why go into great detail about how great your band is if you need $900 and they only pay $300?
Like it or not, selling yourself is an important part of getting gigs.

Craver runs the OpenMic.US Network, providing local, reliable open mic info. for musicians.

Get FREE gig leads at PartyBand.US

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

3 Secrets to Selling Venues

Getting into a venue to perform solo, or with a band, is a daunting task.

I've been selling to bars/restaurants for years with quite a bit of success. Here are three secrets to successful venue selling.

1. Respect Their Time - Venue owners/managers are very busy people. They must manage every aspect of their operation. From finding a replacement for the dishwasher that didn't show up this morning to overseeing the delivery of beer and burgers, they do it all.

Call during their 'down time,' afternoons, 2 - 5, is the best time to call venues. You'll have the most success if you adhere to this time frame and venue operators will appreciate it.

2. Stand Out - Is there something about you act that sets you apart from the rest? If so, great. If not, develop something that makes you stand out. Once you've got it, push it! Venue operators typically want to know two things, 1. how much you charge, and 2. how many people can you bring.

Your 'stand out' item will help convince a manager/owner that you're worth the risk.

3. Audition - Way too many musicians rely on press kits as their only sales tool. In many cases, the press kit is only the start.

Many music venues have open mics. Lookup the open mics in the town where you want to play (OpenMic.US is a great place to start.). Pick the places that you most want to play and go to their open mic. Talk to the manager in advance of your performance and tell him you're auditioning. After you play, get with the manager and ask for a date.

Employ these three tactics with venue operators and you'll be getting booked on a regular basis.

Craver runs the OpenMic.US Network, providing local, reliable open mic info. for musicians.

Get FREE gig leads at PartyBand.US