How To Get Band Gigs and Shows For Your Band

How to Get Band Gigs For Your Band, Local Band, or Garage Band? 

How to get band gigs and shows for your local band?  It's not always easy to get out of the starting gate and get a gig.  You can get a show booked for your garage band, local band, or indie band with a little hard work.  Your rock band should have a strong music set, quality song material, and should play well in a live setting.  It is now time to take the next step and book gigs for your band.  Check out our tips on getting gigs for your band below as well as our three part article if you click this link.  Get the band out of the garage and in to a gig. 

How to Get Band Gigs and Shows:

• Press Kit - The first thing your indie act or garage band should do is to get a band press kit together.  The press kit, press package, or media kit will have everything you'll need to get started.  Visit our Press Kit Page for tips on getting the press kit together.  Once you have your press kit, you'll have a vehicle to start promoting your indie band. 
  
  
• Demo CD/Tape - For most gigs, a club owner or party planner will want to hear how your music sounds.  So record your indie band Demo CD or Tape.  You may want to buy or rent a portable home recording studio at your local music store.  Make sure your songwriting is of professional quality.  Songwriting is a trial and error process and may take time.  Many rewrites may be needed when writing songs.  It's just part of the songwriting process.  Portable home recording studios or computer recording software should give you sufficient quality for most local venues.  Once your act is more established, you may want to get into a local reputable recording studio.  Many professional indie bands use a computer program called Pro Tools or Cubase software for recording.  While this is an expensive venture, it may be just as cost effective to learn the software than booking studio time.
  
  
• Open Mic Nights - Start off playing open microphone (Mic) nights at local clubs.  Not only will this give you a little experience on stage, you'll actually have a built in audience.  Many open mic nights are hosted by more established local bands or indie acts.  Make valuable contacts for the future with the hosting bands and other local bands playing at the open mic night.  Check your local music newspapers, perform an internet search for open microphone nights in your city, or search music websites to find this information.  This is a great starting point to play gigs and shows in your area.
  
  
• Offer to Open for Free -  The reality is that your not going to get paid when you first start out.  Offer to be an opening band for free for a local band you know.  Network with bands than you may have met at an open microphone night.  E-mail more established indie band in the area and offer to play an opening gig for them.  Many indie bands love opening acts.  They don't have to pay you much and they don't have to play as long of a show set.  This is the time to start promoting your garage band too.  Hand out business cards and press kits to any clubs you play.  Make sure to follow up with the venue after you have given them your press kit.  Call or e-mail to make sure they get back to you.  Be persistent.  Booking agents and club owners are always getting approached by prospective indie bands and garage bands.
  
  
• Solicit your Press Kit -  Now that you've played gigs at open mic nights, start calling clubs and soliciting your Press Kit and Demo.  It's a good idea to visit clubs that play your style of music and talk with the booker of the club.  Leave them a press kit and demo CD.  Give the club booking agent a day or two to listen to your demo.  Call back and get some feedback.  Ask for the gig or show for your band.  Again, be persistent.  Once you get a show visit our Negotiate A Gig page.   
  
  
• Approach Town Fairs, County Festivals, or City Concert Venues Another way to get exposure is to gig for a large audience at a local fair or festival.   Most of these gigs your band would play for free to get exposure. Some festivals do pay bands once they get a following or fan base.  Do some research on the internet to see what local agencies take care of bookings for festivals or town fairs.  Give out your band business cards at the show.  This is a good promotion tactic.  Someone in the audience may want to book your indie music act in the future. 
  
  
• Booking Agents - Most booking agents take a percentage of the money that you get for a gig.  Booking agents can be a valuable resource for getting some better paying gigs.  Do a lot of research and be sure they are reputable.  Do a search on your local yellow pages.  A lot of booking agents only take well known acts, so shop around and see if they will deal with your local band.  Stop by in person and take your demo and press kit.  Check out the Better Business Bureau and make sure they are a reputable company.  
  
  
• Sound Technician - As your indie rock band becomes more established, you may need the services of a sound tech for your gigs.  Many venues have their own PA system (sound systems) and will charge you for the services of the sound technitan.  Find this out ahead of time.  If the venue does not have a PA system, your band will have to bring one.  Keep in mind that someone will have to run sound as well.  Just be aware that running sound can be expensive.  Most sound technicians charge a good bit to bring the equipment and run sound.  A good sound guy can mean the difference between a good and bad gig.  Make sure your sound guys sets up efficiently and gives your band professional sound service.

• Website Promotion - Promote your local band over the internet.   If you don't have a website for your local band or garage band, get one.  They are a valuable tool for indie promotion in today's internet world.  If you can't afford a band website why not try a Myspace Music page.  This is a great resource for bands to actually post your copy written songs, show dates, band bio, contact info, and more.  Once you have your web address, start submitting your website URL to local band listing websites.  Do a search on your city and see what sites list local bands and show dates.  For Example, try searching: (Band Listings Pittsburgh, or Concert Calendar New York).  Email the site and ask to have your web link added.  Also, e-mail any concert calendars, online newspapers, online music show listings sites, and have your band gigs and shows listed.  You would be surprised how many you'll find in your area.  Also email your local clubs with your website address and see if they would like a press kit. 

• Hosting & Tools for Creating Your Band Website.  If you already have a website designed for your band or and need Affordable Server Space to host your bands website just click the Host your Web site with IPOWER! link.  I power also has website creation tools available to build your band website.  We use their service for all our sites and have been completely satisfied.  I think you'll find there prices to be some of the best around, especially for the band on a budget.  They even have simple website creation tools within the server, so give it a try and click below for more information.
  

Listed above are some tips to get your bands some local gigs or shows in your area.   With a little persistence and the right presentation your act should have success in securing some gigs.  Songwriting for your indie music act is quite important, so make sure your songs are of professional quality.  Good luck and keep networking.