GARAGE BANDS
Band Promotion - Book Your Garage Band Some Shows
or Gigs
by Dennis Damp Jr.
So you have you press kit and demo CD and want to know what
to do next to get your band a gig. Why not try an open mic night
at a local club. Most clubs advertise these open mic nights
in your local music papers or entertainment magazines. Open
mic nights will give your band experience on stage, and the
club will most likely have a built in audience to perform for.
Most of the time all you have to do is show up with your instruments.
The PA system and drums are usually supplied. Call ahead just
to make sure this is the case. Many of these events are hosted
by local established bands and produce great networking opportunities.
Make contacts with the bands playing the open mic night, and
leave a press kit for the club owner. Maybe the hosting band
likes your music and needs an opening act in the future. Sometimes
people in the audience may be interested in your band, so have
some business cards ready with all your contact information.
The reality of starting out as a band is that your most likely
not going to get paid at first. Your not in it at first for
the money anyway right, your there because you want to get your
music heard. Offer to be an opening act for a band you know
or met at an open mic night. Email some bands in your area and
see if they accept opening acts. Offer to open for free to get
some much needed exposure. Many established bands love opening
acts because they don’t have to pay them much, and they
won’t have to play as long so this makes their job easier.
Promote your band any time you get an opportunity. Hand out
business cards at open mic nights, and send fliers to clubs
that you will be performing at in the future. Call or email
clubs or venues that handle your genre of music. Once you get
some shows, contact your local music newspapers with your band’s
name, venue name, phone number, show time, and any other information
you feel necessary. Many entertainment newspapers offer this
service free of charge. Solicit your press kit to local venues.
Start visiting local clubs in person with your band mates and
talk with the booker or entertainment director. Leave a copy
of your press kit and get them to listen to your demo while
your there if possible. Call a day or two after your visit,
and be persistent. You may have to call a few times, because
it can be difficult to get a hold of the band booker. Most work
late hours at their venue.
Now that your have emailed or called your local newspapers with
any show dates to be published in their entertainment section.
Contact any music newspapers or magazines in your area to see
if they would write an article on your band or visit one of
your shows. If your successful in getting an article or review
of your band, make sure to have the article writer include your
website address and booking information in the piece. There
are many opportunities to promote your band, so don’t miss
a chance to have your contact information added to a newspaper
article or review of your band.
Send your demo CD and press kit to any local battle of the bands
competitions or song writing contests. Battle of the bands locate
up and coming talent for their shows. They need acts so this
can be a great opportunity for your band. Battle of the bands
gives the opportunity to network with local promoters, other
established bands, and to be heard by an audience searching
for new talent. Many times these events are promoted through
radio, newspaper ads, and internet marketing. The winner of
the battle of the bands typically receives some nice perks like
studio time, equipment, or free advertising. I know a band in
my area who won a competition and actually got a chance to play
live on the radio. Next thing you know they were playing some
of the best venues in the area. Check out these events whenever
possible.
Approach town fairs, county festivals, or city concert venues
to get gigs and exposure for your band. Most of these types
of shows are performed for free by bands, but there is an opportunity
to play for a built in audience. Do some research on the internet
and see what local agencies or websites book bands for these
types of events.
Now that your band promotion is off to a great start it’s
time to get your band on the internet, and possibly look for
a band manager, booking agent, or sound technician. See part
III of our article Get your band out of the garage and into
a gig at www.mediawebsource.com/press.htm . For more information
on press kit and demo tips, band resources, and band promotion
visit the Media Web Source website at http://www.mediawebsource.com.
This site is a valuable resource for start up and established
bands everywhere.
About the Author
Dennis Damp
Please Visit Media Web Source at
http://www.mediawebsource.com - We provide band and songwriter
resources, press kit and demo tips, music industry books, recording
studio finder, CD Duplication listings, and much more. |
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