Worcester Music Forum

stevemaitlanddotcom · Active Member

RE: Getting Gigs

stevemaitlanddotcom · Active Member

PS Always a good idea to phone a couple of days before you're playing a venue, even if you know them and the landlords have been there for ages,
I turned up at The Swan @ Barbourne on Saturday 8 o'clock to play as booked earlier this year, to find out Kath had left 2 weeks ago due to a family illness.

Normally I do phone up but on this occasion didn't and payed the price as 'Black Velvet' had been booked by the new landlord.

Harsh lesson learned, Scouts honour won't do it again.

Steve yawn

LordAvon · Comes Here Often

I guess people could post details about gigs they get.

ie. start a new thread, and include the following ;-

- Venue Name
- Address
- Contact name
- Contact details (email/phone/however)
- Type of music played by you and other bands
- Amount of notice required
- Rating of venue (1 to 10)

How's that sound?
We've not had any gigs for a while (new drummer and singer so we're working on our set again) so I can't start a thread.

Paul

Lee · Active Member

I've had an idea.
some one should put together a directry of the venues in worcestershire, where they are, what sort of music they have, who to speak to get a gig and other infomation. It may help!!!!

any body fancy the job?

L

Aceldama · Active Member

We played our first gig in july and we've had a pretty steady run since then, but we're starting to find the gigs drying up. The majority places oustide of Birmingham are reluctant to give gigs to 'foreign' bands.

One thing I hate most is when you email/message promoters/venues and they just totally ignore you. I'm not proclaiming we're the greatest band in the world, far from it, but our CD IS good and I think we're worth the 30 seconds it takes to send a mail back saying "Sorry, you're not really our thing".

Many promoters I've come across (not all) seem to be confused as to what the word promotion actually means. I am totally for the bands bringing fans with them, but surely it's the promoters job to PROMOTE the gig, not just hire a few bands and get them to bring their mates. That helps nobody. As discussed in the other thread, bands bring their mates then go home. So essentially you end up playing a gig to your mates and few others. We've played many gigs when we've arrived to a venue and there isn't even a poster up advertising it. Surely it's in their best interests to bring as many people in as possible.

hmm

Rant over...as you can see I'm just a little fed up with the situation at the moment. It won't last long, I'm not that pessimistic really!

stevemaitlanddotcom · Active Member

All really good tips guys,

NO 1 TIP *) I had recorded a demo CD, went round where I thought the style of music I sang would go down the best, With a CD it's a lot easier than just telling somebody 'you are good, honest'
1) Don't be afraid of a knock back, you won't suit everyones taste.
2) Follow up your enquiries later in the week, landlords / landladies have a lot to think about, so help them out by reminding them you haven't forgotten.
3) If you need to do the first one a little bit cheaper than you would normally, as a way to get in the door.
4) Ask about repeat gigs if you go down well, you'll start to build up a following.
5) If you are serious get a agent / manager, they will get you gigs further a field that you wouldn't normally get.

Hope they have been some use.

Steve Maitland
www.stevemaitland.com biggrin

Adam The Chance · Active Member

Paul
Superb, i will try and round up the lads again for a trip to worcester. we have now sorted out our differences and everything is looking back on track.

yeah i have seen that Hannah's myspace. wouldn't have hurt them to let the bands that were cancled know though!!! ah well ill get on to this new promotions manager and see what happens.

cheers buddie

LordAvon · Comes Here Often

Adam,

Thanks for the kind words.

Hannah had some issues, it's best if you mail her through her website to find out the story. It's not something I'm happy to publish on line.

as for Bossa-nova? who knows, we turned up got told there was no gig, said we'd come back later, came back and got on that evening (just after smoke stack).

Now we're headlining on the 31st! if you can make it, it'd be good to catch up with you guys. Bring a tape/cd and give it to the Jenny (The promotions manager) and see what she can do!

Paul

Adam The Chance · Active Member

Cheers man, we were supose to play there on the 17th of november but we were let down by that Hannah bird. we would love to play there again though. a contact would be great.

Highway 5 · Active Member

The Bossa Nova have got someone different doing the bookings now. We played on their "reopening night" with Mars Bonfire - great gig but very few people attended. If you want to try and get a gig I'll give you Jenny's number -probably best if I send it via message on MySpace as I'm sure she won't want her moby number on the internet!

Adam The Chance · Active Member

we are deffinatly going to get the 1050 guys along to play at one of our gigs but we are a little low on the Gig front right now . when we get something decent we will let you know

good luck and let us know where ya playing if you get something so we can lend some support! after all you did for us.

ps whats the crack with Bossa Nova now?

LordAvon · Comes Here Often

Chris wrote:

you could try the folowimg (it may not work but who knows?)

(1) get down to the Marrs Bar for their Jam nights (every wednesday). If you can get up and do a few numbers then you might get a gig out of it. It is run by Steve from music city now I think....I could be wrong though.

I thought they didn't allow 'bands' on a wednesday night Jam? We'd certainly be up for doing a tune or two of our own.

Chris wrote:

(2) check out the venues section on our site (www.notjustsauce.co.uk/venues) . there are quite a few addresses of venues and promoters on there. Its worth a try

Will do, thanks.

Chris wrote:

(3) Organise your own gigs. Find a local pub with a function room/large bar etc, and offer to put in a gig. Add another local band (or two) and bobs your mothers brother, you have a gig.

We talked about this amongst ourselves, it's just a case of waiting for some 'event', be it a birthday, anniversary, etc.

Thanks for the help
Paul

Chris · Admin

you could try the folowimg (it may not work but who knows?)

(1) get down to the Marrs Bar for their Jam nights (every wednesday). If you can get up and do a few numbers then you might get a gig out of it. It is run by Steve from music city now I think....I could be wrong though.

(2) check out the venues section on our site (www.notjustsauce.co.uk/venues) . there are quite a few addresses of venues and promoters on there. Its worth a try

(3) Organise your own gigs. Find a local pub with a function room/large bar etc, and offer to put in a gig. Add another local band (or two) and bobs your mothers brother, you have a gig.

any other thoughts/ideas anybody?

-- Edited by Chris at 10:34, 2007-10-20

LordAvon · Comes Here Often

Hi,

How do you guys go about getting gigs? We're on our second gig, and we want to do more, but getting people to listen to new bands with no reputation is hard work.
Any advice would be very greatfully received.

Cheers
Paul M