Booking your own gigs will be a LOT easier if you have a demo disk. Most venue managers don't want to take the time to meet with you, they just want to know what you sound like. Does your music fit the style they're looking for? Are you any good?

Making a demo disk of 3-5 songs, cut to 30-45 seconds of each, (they're not going to listen to a whole song so if you pre-cut them they appreciate it,) will give the venue manager a good idea of what you're about.

Gigs can come from anywhere, so pounding the pavement isn't a bad idea either. Check the local bars. Make yourselves known. Above all, when you do get the gig, don't screw it up! BE PROFESSIONAL! Don't for one minute think that these people don't talk between themselves. If you're good and bring in a good crowd you will be sought after. If your a pain in the ass at one venue, the next may hesitate to give you a shot.

Good luck!

"and all he did was go to Guitar Center and get a promoter"

lol...

Definitely get a demo together with your strongest three to four songs. Start with smaller venues, maybe even open mics. Meet some other bands and musicians, and find out if there are promoters working your town. In LA, this can be an easy, if not costly, way to simply go to a club and have them let you play there.

Most clubs book through an in house person most of the time. Promotors generally rent the club for certain night they promote (or work out whatever deal, it all depends) and then charge bands for the first 35 or so heads. If you draw 35 paying people to see your band, great you don't owe them anything, if you don't bring in the numbers, expect to pay the promoter at the end of the night. A lot of times, you pay the promotor in advance. They sell you your spot by selling you tickets to your show, which you then in turn are supposed to turn around and sell. Are you catching on yet?

So you want to play clubs, thats great, you need a fan base. How am I supposed to have a fan base if I don't play clubs? Well...promote!

To be honest, doing more "house shows" more home grown events that turn out to be big drunken house parties are the best when your just getting started...just playing some of those. Key repeat here, meet other bands.!!!! We used to do house shows as bennefits to raise funds for our freinds bands recording sessions, and CD packaging. If your OVER 21, get some kegs, charge a 5 dollar donation, and you and your freinds bands play a show, and keep/split/spread the wealth as arranged. This is also how scenes tend to be created as well....at least this is how it worked for a lot of successful bands. When you meet all these people doing more informal shows, either house parties or coffee shops, or open mics, and you begin to create a base, then you have something you can bring out to a good club. People are all any club, record industry person, or etc related entity is interested in. Assume that no one cares about your music, values, morals, or world view...except those that really like, you, your music, and your band. The club, promotor, only see how many people you are good for. If you can make a name for bringing in heads, you will get better slots, and prime nights. If you did your work, and MADE A LOT of good freinds who are supportive, and actually make music they like, you can get some momentum going and you have a run. Who knows, maybe guitar center is a good place for you to start where you are at. Your networking tools should be at the very least a business card, then a demo, then a full promo package.


Good luck, and have fun with it. It's a lot of work, but its amazing where music can take you.

sallan