Session ace and recording artist RAVI shows you how to get headlining gigs in the hottest venues, get opening gigs for the biggest signed bands, and get exciting session/studio/touring gigs with up-and-coming & established musical acts.

Hello!
 
Welcome to my new Getsigned.com column: "Getting the Gigs of Your Dreams." My name is Ravi and each month I will, um, show you how to do just that! I will share real-world strategies I have learned over the years as the touring guitarist for Hanson as well as my own indie music career and I will give you the no-nonsense scoop on how you can realize your gigging and touring dreams. Each article will be packed full of useful ideas on how you and your band can get headlining gigs in the hottest venues, get opening gigs for the biggest signed bands, and get exciting session/studio/touring gigs with up-and-coming & established musical acts.
 
This month, I'd like to show you how you can get the the ULTIMATE local club gig....
 
Are you trying to book your band in the hottest club in town? Chances are you are not the only one vying for that highly desirable slot. To beat out the competition, you may have to sacrifice a thing or two, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you.
 
What separates you from the rest? Is it your music? Maybe a killer stage show? For the club owner or talent buyer, the bottom line is the "bottom line", and you have to convince him or her that you will raise that bottom line higher than the competition will. All that matters is that you pack the club. Unless you are a household name, you will have to do more than just show up in order to flood the gates. You need a winning marketing and promotion plan.
 
Before contacting the club, establish relationships with local press, compile a mailing and/or emailing list, and educate yourself on the various avenues of promotion that are available to you. Find the coffee shops in town that have bulletin boards. Research local colleges and schools for bulletin boards and community radio stations. If telephone poles are common ground for advertising, be prepared to paper them. Gather a list of all websites that allow bands to post their shows such as jambase.com, digitalcity.com, and other music listing services or newspaper websites that feature local events.
 
Build a database of radio stations that broadcast to the local listening area, even if they are actually based out of town. No station is too large or too small. Contact the programmers and ask if they will have you on the air to talk about an upcoming gig, and maybe even play a song or two. If they comply, find out how much lead-time they require and tell them that you will contact them again in that time frame. In most cases, community and college radio may be the only stations available to you, but it never hurts to ask the majors.
 
Find out if a friend or acquaintance is already scheduled to perform in the “chosen” club and ask to sit in with the band for a song or two. If it is not appropriate, go to the show anyway so you can promote your upcoming appearance. Perhaps you will be invited spontaneously to get up and perform.
 
Once you have established your marketing opportunities, put together a one page proposal including the following information:
 
* Proposed performance dates: Plan at least two months ahead and list three to four preferred dates
* Show specifications: Billing (opener and headliner), style of music, band fee, ticket price, number and length of sets, special guest appearances, artist hospitality, all ages show or 21 and over, etc.
* Incentives (what you will offer the audience to make the show more attractive): Examples include CD Giveaways to the first fifty people, discounted merchandise, meet & greet the artist(s) following the show, etc.
* Media hook: Explain what angles you will use to entice the media to give you great coverage
* Targeted publicity: List the newspapers, radio/TV shows, magazines, record stores, coffee shops, and other promotional venues that you plan to contact. Categorize them under headings such as TV Stations, Radio, Print Media, Internet, In Store Appearances, Street Publicity (posters and flyers), Promotional Appearances, etc.
 
Once your proposal is prepared, contact the talent buyer and request a meeting. The all-important first impression is usually best when made in person, so push for a meeting. If he or she is unreachable, go to the venue and perhaps you can catch the talent buyer’s attention for a few minutes.