Becoming a popular musician takes more than one performance with more than one other popular star and band. If you are an upcoming musician, patience, hard work, and obtaining more gigs are what will grow your fan base. Connecting and requesting a performance is one great way of familiarizing yourself with the fans. The more gigs you land, the faster you will grow your audience.
Hence, by securing gigs, you can build your fan base, gain exposure, and grow your music career. However, it is not easy for upcoming artists to get gigs as often as they would love. But this guide will highlight some of the top tips and strategies that will ensure you secure gigs for your band.
Follow these tips and take your music to the next level.
Practice to Perfect
The first thing you need to do is to be good at what you do so that audiences can always miss your performance. To secure gigs for your band, you must ensure that you deliver a polished and professional performance. Practice regularly as a band to tighten your sound, refine your stage presence, and perfect your live performance. Pay attention to song selection, pacing, and transitions to create a dynamic and engaging setlist that showcases your best performances. Consider recording live demos or videos to showcase your performance to potential venues and booking agents.
Have a Digital Press Kit
Marketing your performance to venues and promoters requires a carefully arranged press kit, preferably in digital format, for ease of sharing and retrieval. This kit ideally showcases your band’s potential, energy, and professionalism to your target venues and promoters.
The must-have sections include a professional band bio, clearly taken promotional photos, some of your best music, and any press reviews that you’ve received. Ensure the press kit design is visually creative, appealing, and easy to scan through. Additionally, customize it to address what your target venue or promoter may be interested in when looking for a band.
Never Give Up Pitching
Securing gigs for your band often requires persistence, patience and follow-up after sending press kits. Even when no gig seems to be coming, don’t give up. Continue being proactive in pursuing new opportunities. Occasionally, make a courtesy call to venues, promoters, and booking agents. The reason for your visit should only be to express your continued interest.
I remember when I needed to sell my self-storage business in North Carolina, I was introduced to an upcoming musician who needed a facility to keep band instruments. A year later, the artist became the most popular in our local entertainment venues, and all of this was based on the will to achieve what he wanted.
When pitching, focus on what you are offering rather than just asking for a show with the intent to become famous and earn money. Be humble, and don’t be afraid to follow up again and again until you get positive feedback. You can even offer to promote the gig free of charge using your channels or partner with other bands or musicians to have a good line-up of performers.
Network to Build Connections
Sometimes, getting business from high-level clients isn’t about how good you are but how in touch you are with the relevant individuals. Hence, after performing or when free, take time to link up with venue owners, booking agents, promoters, and other musicians. That will help make your band known to many influencers who may refer you to related clients.
You also don’t need to be performing in order to attend a live concert and other events organized by the industry. Your presence offers you an opportunity to meet new contacts and build relationships. However, be professional and respectful when offered the chance to share a table and interact. Later on, follow up with individual contacts to make them remember you anytime they might have an offer and to give you a shot.
Showcase Your Talent Online
Finally, after making several performances and pulling audiences, it may be time to create a strong online presence. This will let your fans comment on your performances, broaden your outreach, and attract more gig opportunities. Create an attractive personal profile on all social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Include video posts of your best performances and update your audience on upcoming gigs.
As you build your base, you can also let your fans enjoy your music on streaming platforms such as Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. At that point, you will attract even a wider following to become popular and gigs will come for you from left ring and center.
Peter Williams is a graduate of B.A Arts and Culture from the University of Technology Sydney. Peter is very much interested in cultural practices around the world including music, history, languages, literature, religion and social structures.