| I have been playing in rock bands since the late | | | | venues were not what I wanted, nor was I what |
| 70's. I started young, and like many teenagers, | | | | they wanted, but that is part of the process. |
| had aspirations of being famous. My bands would | | | | Once you get a core group of venues, you ask |
| play original music in the Boston night club circuit | | | | to be put on regular rotation. This can be once a |
| for little or no money, and the competition was | | | | week, once a month, or every two months. The |
| so fierce, that you generally played for free just | | | | important thing is that you ask for another show |
| to get the booking. | | | | after the completion of a successful performance. |
| This went on for years, until I moved to | | | | It shouldn't take any longer than 6 months or so |
| Southeastern Massachusetts. The whole music | | | | to develop a good schedule. |
| scene was different there. Very few bands | | | | Keep in mind that not every place will pay the |
| played original music, but played cover songs of | | | | same. The $250 jobs are really nice, but you'll do |
| other peoples music. The best part? They actually | | | | quite a few $100 and $150 jobs for a while, |
| got paid to play! Now any self respecting Boston | | | | depending on the size of the venue, and your |
| band scene person will tell you that this is about | | | | popularity. But it is still quite easy to earn $500 for |
| as sacrilegious as one can get, but I figured that I | | | | 3 or 4 nights when starting out. |
| would rather play music for a living than work a | | | | Building a fan base at every show is so important. |
| day job and play for free. Besides, I could always | | | | I have mailing list sign-up sheets that I place at |
| do the cover thing, and still form my own original | | | | every table, and walk around between sets to |
| band. Easier said than done. | | | | say hello and ask people to sign up. This is a great |
| To make any kind of living wage, we worked 5-6 | | | | way to get people to come back to see you the |
| nights every week. The overhead was huge. We | | | | next time you perform. |
| owned trucks, professional equipment, road crew, | | | | You'll need a website, period. Web sites are cheap |
| had sound and lighting engineers to pay, then 5-6 | | | | and easy to make with a little practice, or you |
| band members. You had to have all of that | | | | can always have a friend do it for you. There are |
| because everyone else did. We all tried to outdo | | | | many articles and books on music marketing, so |
| one another with a big light show, big equipment, | | | | we won't get into too much of that here. |
| flashy stage shows, and it got more and more | | | | You need to be ultra professional. Drink |
| expensive. | | | | moderately, if at all. Dress appropriately to the |
| After several years of doing this, I got bored and | | | | venue, set up quietly and as unnoticeably as |
| tired. I decided to start a business and have a | | | | possible, and always start off much softer than |
| family. I could play music on the side for fun, and | | | | you would like. I have blown quite a few places |
| make a little extra money. I was at a restaurant | | | | because I was just too loud. Unfortunately, in |
| one evening, and there was a guy playing guitar | | | | most places, you are just background music. I try |
| and singing. He had a really small set-up, he | | | | to keep the level down so that people can have a |
| sounded good, and everyone seemed to enjoy | | | | conversation without shouting. In certain rooms, |
| him. I approached the manager of the restaurant | | | | you can always turn up later if the audience |
| and told him that I played guitar and sang, and | | | | starts getting loud. |
| would he consider me for a booking. He told me | | | | Get small equipment. There are many |
| to come back on an off night and play for a half | | | | manufacturers of great sounding gear that is |
| hour or so for $ 50, so he could hear what I | | | | very portable. You don't always need to spend a |
| sounded like. | | | | lot either. I use pro quality, but moderately priced |
| Great. Now I actually had to get this thing going in | | | | instruments and PA gear, as it will eventually |
| a hurry. I borrowed a small PA from a friend and | | | | become trashed. My first small PA was a little 4 |
| learned a set of material that I thought would go | | | | channel head with two 10" cabinets with stands. |
| over well. This was the mid nineties, and | | | | The entire rig cost less than $ 300, and I still use |
| 'unplugged' music was very popular. I put together | | | | it today for most small to medium sized rooms. |
| 12 songs or so that I liked, and showed up on the | | | | For larger rooms, you'll need something a little |
| specified night. It was great that all my equipment | | | | bigger, and it is always nice to have one of the |
| fit in the trunk, and I could actually lift it all without | | | | self-contained guitar/PA amps they are making |
| another person or two. | | | | these days for small coffeehouse and restaurant |
| I set up, and in about 15 minutes, I was ready to | | | | jobs. A friend of mine insisted on always bringing |
| go. Being an experienced guitar player and singer, | | | | his $2000 Taylor guitar to shows. When one night |
| I wasn't too worried about sounding bad, it just | | | | a drunk patron fell into him and caused |
| felt so odd without any other band members with | | | | unmeasurable damage, he learned very fast. |
| me. I finished my set and packed up my gear. | | | | After you've played around successfully for a |
| The manager came over and said that he had a | | | | year or so, built a fan base and proven yourself, |
| cancellation 2 weeks from now, and would I be | | | | you can start asking for more money. You'll still |
| interested in playing. Of course I said yes, and | | | | want the $ 100-150 jobs, especially if they helped |
| asked what his budget was. Whenever he told | | | | you get started, but there are other ways to |
| me $250 for the night, I couldn't believe it! I had | | | | make money too. Doubles are a great way to |
| never made more than $150-175 a night with the | | | | make really good money in a day. Since most |
| most popular bands, and it was mentally and | | | | restaurants have their busy hours between 5 and |
| physically draining to do those shows. Here was | | | | 8:00 for example, it is totally possible for you to |
| an opportunity to play music, make twice the | | | | do a few of these each week, then pack up and |
| money, and virtually eliminate all of the stress and | | | | do a club or bar show in the evening. |
| ridiculous situations that come with band life. | | | | Specialty music for holidays and special events |
| Okay, now I had to really get to work. I figured | | | | can also make you a lot of money. St. Patrick's |
| 12-14 songs per set, 4 sets...wow. Could I really | | | | Day, New Years, Weddings, Cinco De Mayo and |
| learn 48 songs in 2 weeks? I already knew the | | | | other popular events will usually pay you twice |
| set I had just played, and I was always able to | | | | what you normally make. |
| pick up songs very quickly, so all I needed to do | | | | Then there are coffeehouses. These are more |
| was to find the songs I wanted, get the lyrics, | | | | difficult to get into, but if you persevere, go to |
| recordings and/or music and get to it. Well, it was | | | | other artists shows and open mics, you will get to |
| a lot if work, but I pulled it off. The same place | | | | know the folks that run these. You'll also need to |
| gave me a regular Sunday night and I was ready | | | | play mostly original music, so make sure you're up |
| to go out and get more shows. | | | | to that task. There are many successful |
| As a side note: If you are a musician, you may | | | | coffeehouse artists that regularly make $1,000 or |
| have noticed that I have not used the words 'gig' | | | | more for a performance. |
| or 'axe' or any other music speak. I have stricken | | | | Festivals are another good source of income. I do |
| those words from my vocabulary many years | | | | internet searches to see what is coming up, and |
| ago... | | | | get all the contact info. Keep in mind that many |
| So... I went to work making up posters, pictures, | | | | festivals are planned many months in advance, so |
| a biography, a song list and a CD sampler with | | | | if you don't make it in time for this year, make a |
| songs I did, and assembled them into press kits. I | | | | note as to when to start contacting the |
| started calling similar restaurants, as well as bars | | | | organizers next time around. |
| and clubs that offered similar entertainment. I | | | | I will leave you here, and will follow up with future |
| dropped off the press kits, and sometimes would | | | | articles that may help you. I've listed some very |
| come in on an off night or attend an open mic so | | | | good resources below to help you get started, do |
| that the owner or manager could hear me. I | | | | get to it and good luck! |
| started booking shows right away. Some of the | | | | |