At some risk of oversimplification, we can explain the steps of getting to a gig onstage into a few stages.
Using terms relative to the music business:
- Preparation
- Sourcing
- Pitching (selling)
- Negotiating
- Agreement (contract)
- Performance
- Follow-up
The preparation stage involves taking inventory as described above, plus getting the music tightly arranged and well rehearsed. It might be wise to create some sharp promotional materials.
Sourcing means figuring out the places you want to play, doing your homework on them and getting in contact with the person doing the booking.
Pitching your music is talking about what you do, as previously described. You have to sell yourself, your band and your music; you do this by using words intelligently and enthusiastically. You will learn to talk about your music in such a way as to give those listening confidence in your abilities and talent.
To get to an agreement, a negotiation must first take place. Negotiating is an art form and is a necessary part of human commerce and transaction. If you have done a good job on the previous steps your work will be easier at this point. There are many books and blogs on the subject. (I recommend reading the book Getting To Yes from the Harvard Negotiation Project for a quick primer.)
Closing an agreement usually requires executing some sort of contract, whether verbal or written. Sometimes this is called an “event confirmation” or similar. The agreement exists to protect both sides through stipulating responsibilities and rights and clarifying terms.
Performing is where you deliver the goods as promised. If you do this well, you will find each gig leads to more gigs. People like what they see and hear, tell others about you, and your reputation grows. Of course, if you mess this part up, you won’t last long in the business. So it is crucial to pay attention to all the details and do your best to do a fantastic job everyone will rave about. You are only as good as your last performance.
Follow-up is the final step and is often neglected by musicians. After the gig, you should always contact the venue and booking person to thank them and make sure they were happy. Listen carefully to what they tell you. Any complaints or suggestions for improvement should be taken to heart as they are giving you a chance to better yourself. You can ask them for future gigs and for referrals.
As you begin to see, there is more work to getting gigs than meets the eye. Especially in the beginning, it can be tough to get momentum with booking gigs. It can feel a little like pushing a boulder uphill. The rewards can be tremendous, however.
There is nothing like the electricity that happens between a good band and an audience and the energizing effect it can have on a band. Playing live shows can also be frustrating, such as when an audience doesn’t respond. It is always a learning experience, in any case, and always worth doing if you want to improve the performance level of your group.
How do bands get their first gig?
Think of it like riding a bicycle uphill. The first few pushes on the pedals are tough, but at some point, momentum kicks in and it becomes easier. Bands starting out will sometimes play at a party or a backyard barbeque, or a local coffeehouse, café, or bar. They should be paid something, but sometimes they play for food and beverages. Or participating in a competition could be the ticket.
Asking around with other musicians about where they play, visiting local watering holes (if you are of legal age), coffeehouses, and following events online can give you some ideas of where to start. It shouldn’t be too hard in the beginning if you don’t have expectations of big payments or throngs of cheering fans. Once you have a track record of performing successfully, it should get a lot easier.
Word gets out that you are a great band and you will start getting requests to perform. You might even be able to find a solid booking agent to get gigs for you.
How much should a band charge for a gig?
There really is no “standard rate” for musicians and bands. The fee must be negotiated so that both sides feel they have gotten the best deal possible. There are times when a band plays for free, such as at a fundraiser for a worthy cause. However, there are costs involved with every performance, such as travel, rental of sound systems, costuming (or dry-cleaning stage performance clothing), food, and incidentals, so it’s normal for the band to get their own costs covered even when they are doing a performance gratis. I’m not in favor of playing for free when someone else is making money from your performing, like at a nightclub.
Most community organizations, schools, non-profits, corporations, and municipalities have some budget for allocation to live music at their events. It’s professional and smart to ask about the budget when you are asked to play. There are times where it might make sense to play for free to get “exposure” but this is actually really rare. Professional dance bands might make $5,000.00-10,000.00 a night (where I live). A DJ might make $1,500.00-2,500.00. The local musicians’ union posts musicians’ rates publicly, but these rates are often much lower than what bands actually can make.
How many songs do you need for a gig?
It depends on the gig, and how long you are playing for. Most bands will play about 12 songs per hour. If it’s a four-hour gig, and accounting for some break time, you will need about 35-40 songs. Most bands have a larger repertoire than what is needed for any single job, since they might not play the same songs every night.
Also, a client might ask for specific songs (like at a wedding) that the band must learn. For bands that regularly rehearse, it’s a good idea to keep adding new songs to the repertoire, if only to keep from getting bored with playing the same songs all the time. Learning new music should be fun!