by Scott Curtis & Janet Johnson
©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

In last month’s column we discussed the advantages and
disadvantages of performing cover tunes. One major
advantage that a cover band holds over an all-original act
is the abundance of solid paying gigs available. Booking a
band that plays primarily original material is more
challenging and normally much less lucrative. Although each
situation is different, here are some basic concepts that
should make the process less painful.

Press Kit
Attempting to book a gig is basically a sales pitch. Before
you begin looking for gigs, you should prepare your
presentation, usually in the form of a press kit. The press
kit, similar to a personal resume, is often the first
impression of your band (or product). It is imperative that
a band with professional aspirations invest adequate time
and money into making the best presentation possible. Each
band’s press kit will be different, and kits can be
modified to fit an individual situation. Here are a few
items which will likely be included in any press kit.

–Recorded material, live or studio recordings
–A concise biography or history of the band
–Any positive press, include the date/publication
–Photograph, A good live photo will work in a pinch
–A listing or reference from venues already played

The best advice we can give is to keep your kits efficient
and as inexpensive as possible. Check out these books on
how to build killer press kits.

With good press kits built you are ready to attack the
challenges of booking original music. As you have probably
already learned, this is where it gets tough. DO NOT get
discouraged! This is a tough business and club managers and
bookers are some of the toughest people to impress. Many
times the rejections or unresponsiveness you will
undoubtedly encounter have nothing to do with your
presentation, music or salesmanship. You must keep yourself
focused and excited about each new prospect. Proper
follow-up can sometimes turn a ‘dead’ prospect into an
opportunity.

Finding a venue
The most obvious choice for a venue is a local bar or
nightclub which hosts live original music. But, you should
always be on the lookout for alternative venues that will
provide you with a different audience. Keep up-to-date on
all regional events like festivals, benefits, and large
parties that feature live music. These can be great venues
if the events are well organized because you will have the
opportunity to perform in front of an audience that doesn’t
necessarily frequent nightclubs. Also, consider creating
your own venues. If you have full production capabilities
and a good promotions network, you can produce your own
shows. The goal of performing live is to showcase your
music to as many different people as possible, so keep that
in mind when considering potential venues.

Approaching the venue
As you begin looking for gigs, you’ll find that its not
always easy to get to the right person. The key to success
is to be professional and persistent. Whenever possible,
try to personally deliver your press kit to the venue
during off hours or weekdays. Write down the name and phone
number of the person you met with. Be sure to ask what time
and day is most convenient to follow up. Then, follow up
exactly when you are supposed to. Always be respectful of
the booker’s time, and be persistent, never pesky.

Some venues like to handle booking on only one or two days
a week. Make notes of those days and respect the venues
wishes. For example, we have dubbed Tuesday as “Universal
Booking Day” because so many regional venues only book on
Tuesdays.

Confirming the gig
Once you have made the sale, confirm all the gig details
immediately. Make sure you understand the venue’s
expectations on issues such as load-in time, sound check,
performance time, set length, number of sets, pay, and
promotion. Then, make sure that everyone in your band has
all of the pertinent information. We find it very helpful
to have a written ‘Gig Sheet’ with the who/what/when/where
and any helpful information like important people to look
for and greet, directions or hotel information.

Club owners and bookers greatly appreciate a band that is
professional. Failing to arrive on time for sound check or
take the stage on time are the two most common complaints
about bands from the venues. Being prompt is critical to
good first impression and will only help your chances of
being invited back. Understanding the venue’s expectations
and respecting them will eliminate some of the tension that
inevitably surrounds live performances.