Music Career: How To Get More Gigs

Last Updated on February 6, 2023 by Josh McKenzie

Getting gigs is hard. We know that. But it doesn’t have to be. We’ve compiled a guide of the best tips and tricks to offer your band the best chance possible at getting a steady stream of gigs!

In this article, you’ll find out how to

shortlist music venues
how to promote to play more live music
how to get a gig whether you’re a pro or just starting out

When trying to get more gigs for your band, there are an almost infinite number of ways others have secured a place on a venue’s line up. And to help maximise your band’s chances of upping your number of gigs, we thought we would list as many as we could!

But remember, the most important tactic behind all of these plans is hustle. You have to work hard to make your dream come true!

Find a location

Find a location – if you are being turned down by bars/events/popular venues, be creative. Take your career into your own hands, play at house parties, play at friends’ birthdays, create your own gig, play an open mic night, play at music festivals – try your upmost to never turn down an opportunity to play!

Find out what promoters want

Find out what promoters want – speak to venue managers and promoters, ask why they have booked another band over yours. Really listen to what they have to say – they are the gatekeepers you need to get on your side – and speak to the bands they are booking ahead of you for advice too.

Make a list of potential venues

Make a list of potential venues – and that means all of them. When starting out, your band needs to play together as much as possible. That means contacting any, and all, local venues to help establish your act in the area. Once established, you will find it easier to book more popular, larger venues

Have a contact book

Have a contact book – each time you meet a new promoter/manager/venue owner, add their details to your contact book. Aside from never knowing when you may need them, if you focus on building working relationships with these people, it will become easier for you to book things in the future (because of your prior relationship with the booker). If you don’t like the idea of carrying around a contact book everywhere you go, follow all your contacts on social media. This will also help increase your follower numbers

Networking – now that you have your exhaustive list of everyone and everything, put it to use. You can send these contacts new promotional material, information about the band, or just an entire digital press pack (which we’ll explain in a second). The large majority of these communications will not lead to much, but don’t get disheartened – even if you get one back, its time well spent!
Press kit – these kits help to encourage media interest in your band as the kits have everything a music writer will need to know, sent directly to them. To find out more about them, check out an explanation here
Demo – something which is so obvious, I feel silly even writing it down, but you need a demo to help promote your band. In fact, in 2021, this demo can be entirely digital and easily accessible through your social media. Nevertheless – always have a hard copy on you for handing directly to someone!
Set up your own event – as we have said, when starting out as a band, you won’t get to top of the bill right away. But you will do at your own event? Turn the rejection from other venues into inspiration to start your own and promote other local bands. You never know what performance will be the one that gets you noticed – so ensure you have that performance opportunity!
Get PR company involved

Networking

Networking – now that you have your exhaustive list of everyone and everything, put it to use. You can send these contacts new promotional material, information about the band, or just an entire digital press pack (which we’ll explain in a second). The large majority of these communications will not lead to much, but don’t get disheartened – even if you get one back, its time well spent!

Press kit

Press kit – these kits help to encourage media interest in your band as the kits have everything a music writer will need to know, sent directly to them.

Demo

Demo – something which is so obvious, I feel silly even writing it down, but you need a demo to help promote your band. In fact, in 2021, this demo can be entirely digital and easily accessible through your social media. Nevertheless – always have a hard copy on you for handing directly to someone!

Set up your own event

Set up your own event – as we have said, when starting out as a band, you won’t get to top of the bill right away. But you will do at your own event? Turn the rejection from other venues into inspiration to start your own and promote other local bands. You never know what performance will be the one that gets you noticed – so ensure you have that performance opportunity!

What are some tips for promoting my band?

Let’s be honest here, there is no sure-fire way of taking your band from relative obscurity to world-touring megastars. But there are some essential tips (as recommended by other contemporary stars) that can boost your band’s chances of getting more gigs.

Promote yourself online – As social media has involved, so has music’s interaction with it. Now, it is the go-to for up-and-coming bands who want targeted, free advertising. But don’t just throw up a basic website because you have to. Try and create a social media campaign that you would engage with. Remember, treat your fans well and they will come back time and time again!
Get out there and perform – to be a successful band, you first have to be a successful live band. That means you have to get out there and perform. Of course, at the beginning of your careers it may be difficult to get venues booked. But take what you can; the only way to get better as a musical performance act is to practice that performance. And any performance is another chance for you to interact with potential fans – even if it is just an open mic night!
Develop your musicality – to be a famous musical act, or part of a famous musical act, you need to improve your musicality. To begin with, consider what are your musical strengths and weaknesses. From here, you can then adapt your style of performance to showcase your strengths and give you time to improve your weaknesses off-stage. On top of this, your musical theory will improve and make it easier for you to collaborate with other artists.
Keep on top of what’s popular – as a musician trying to get ‘into’ the industry, you have to understand what the current trend throughout the industry is. You need to understand why it so popular, why people engage with it, and decide whether your band will embrace this trend, or go against it. The awareness of contemporary styles will come from immersing yourself in the industry more: playing gigs, speaking to other artists, interacting with fans, and seeing how other artists promote themselves online.

How many songs do you need for a gig?

Planning a music set for a gig can be a tricky task. The number of songs you’ll need will vary greatly depending on both the length and type of performance.

Generally speaking, if you are performing at a music festival or concert, your set could be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or more long.

For a thirty minute slot, five to ten good quality songs can easily be performed; for sets lasting an hour and over, entertainers might play twelve to fifteen songs or more!

However, it is important to take into account the length of your individual songs as well as the tempo — these two factors may determine how many numbers span your entire set list.

When planning a gig, it’s important to consider the kind of performance you’re doing and the audience that will be attending.

If you are playing a festival, make sure you pick enough songs for your set list;

You’ll want the performance to feel full and lively for those crowding around—so choose songs that will keep them engaged.

On the other hand, when playing a smaller venue, a thoughtful, intimate set with fewer songs would probably suit better.

No matter which stage you’re performing on or how much time you have to showcase your music, the goal should always be to create a setlist that reflects your skills as an artist and leaves everyone feeling satisfied.

When creating this setlist it’s important to consider three key elements: Your own goals, the atmosphere of this particular performance and the expected length of set.

Keep these in mind and create the perfect playbill – one that strikes a captivating balance between musical enjoyment and audible inspiration!

How to get music gigs at restaurants?

Networking your way up the music industry ladder is essential if you are hoping to upscale and strive for bigger and better opportunities.

When it comes to live gigs in restaurants, developing relationships with others including fellow musicians, experienced professionals, and even restaurant owners could be an optimal way to make your presence known.

Hope that was helpful!

Thanks,

Rory