I know there are a a few Clutchfans who are musicians so I'm looking for advice getting gigs. My band has been playing a few gigs at one bar out in the suburbs and we've generally been getting good turnouts and the owner wants us back. I like this place but its a bit of a trip from where I and the others members of the band live. So far we haven't had much success getting other gigs and was wondering if any musicians have some advice on gettting gigs.
Guess I'll reply since none of our currently gigging members have - Sounds like your band is just getting started; so you have to accept 'any gig is a good gig' till the word get's out. From there take the confidence gained from your current gig and make a reasonable list of clubs that you'd like/expect to play at. Frequent those clubs and get to know the players... Hook up with the bands that are playing there and seek out an opening slot from them if need be. It goes without saying that drawing power trumps musical prowress where the booking agents are concerned, so you and the guys will need to pimp. One of you (I assume there is no manager yet) will need to find out who books the clubs you want to play at and pursue them with enthusiasm - you might be pleasantly surprised. Good Luck!
Sounds like good advice but some of the clubs we would like to play at we've pissed off some of the bands that play there. We're essentially a punk Irish band (yeah I know a Chinese guy in a punk Irish band) so we've annoyed a lot of the more traditional or poppy Irish bands who play at the local Irish bars. We're not quite punk enough to get a following at punk bars. Anyway we've been publically performing since last Feb. and while we don't want to be an every week band at a bar it would be nice to get some more gigs.
We're more influenced by The Flogging Mollys and Pogues but like the Dropkick Murphys and do Dirty Glass by the Dropkick Murphys.
1. Put together a demo 2. Find out who books the clubs you want to play 3. Get the demo in the hands of the booker(s) 4. Wait 3-4 days 5. Pimp the hell out of yourself and your band
We have an agent (or several actually) that book 99% of our gigs. We play at Sullivans every other Friday and we got that gig on our own. Just get in good with the person at the club you want to play at who books bands. Sell your band to him. Treat him like you've known him for 20 years. Give him your demo if you have one and keep calling him until he gets tired of you and books you just so you'll leave him alone. Once you get the gig, play your asses off and make sure you fill the place up with as many of your friends/fans as you can. Tell them to constantly ask the bartender when you're playing there again. And make sure they buy lots of drinks. Another fun thing to do is have as many people as you can call the club on the day of the gig and ask "is (insert your band name here) playing tonight?? SWEET!!! What time do they start? Great!!!!"
irish punks...the pogues? i assume you are in houston - have you tried rudyards yet? thats right up their alley. as has been said, borderline harrassment works pretty well. put together a nice little cd package - make it look cool/presentation - bring it to the club and physically put it in the hands of the booking guy - talk him up/tell him how handsome and manly he looks so he wont forget you. call call call. alot of clubs dont even want cds anymore - just email and link to mp3's (website/myspace page). do you have a myspace page for your band? - its really a must these days. email email email. dont be afraid to call back or email back and bug them. oh yeah - no matter how bad you are, if you bring in people who drink they will ask you back. and on the flipside, no matter how good you are, if you DONT bring in people who drink they might not book you again. thats why the first time you play at a club, make sure to get as many people as possible out - first impressions last.
Nope, in Minneapolis but would certainly enjoy playing Houston. Got one but haven't been pushing it as much or doing that much with it. See my sig. That is not a problem. Unfortunately at our last gig the bar owner had to call the cops on 4 guys to came to see us. A little too much Guiness.
