Music Business Lessons (Courtesy
Berklee Press)
Booking Club Gigs: Getting Your Foot in the Door
By Peter Spellman
As mentioned in chapter 7, the current club scene is experiencing a bit of a
slump owing to a smaller club-going population and some anti-drinking
legislation (see previous chapter). Despite these woes, however, the clubs
still provide a crucial outlet for bands to hone their performance skills
and catalyze local, regional and national followings. So how does one go
about getting club gigs?
Selling your band on the hone is a tough proposition. Try to realize the
volume of calls clubs receive, then imagine the booker's frame of mind. You
want exactly what 100 bands a day want. What makes you worthy of the coveted
slot?
Before you call, do some market research. Make sure your music is compatible
with the club's entertainment focus. Check the local entertainment guides
for info on who's booked where. If possible make a personal contact first.
The music business, like most businesses, is relationship-driven. If you can
meet someone eye-to-eye, you'll have a head start.
When you call, keep your tone friendly and relaxed. Get right to the point.
Bookers are busy. They need to know exactly what you want right away. Get a
feel for each person's style. Be very clear about the date you want, thank
them for their time, and leave a number. It's important to specify a
particular night. That way, if your date won't work, there's a chance to ask
what date will.
Instead of too-frequent callbacks that can irritate the booker, tell him or
her you'll call them back in a couple of weeks. Then use that promise to
launch the next conversation. Don't vent your anger on the booking agent.
Remember, they're in control and you're not. You're in a buyer's market. The
only control you have is your following. If you're trying to develop a club
following, incurring the wrath of a booker could be a terminal setback.
Even in music meccas like L.A. the club circuit is small. Bookers and
managers know when a band can draw a crowd. When you get to that point, a
club that turned you down six months ago might call you.
But, nine times out of ten, clubs won't call you back. Accept this as the
way it is. Be persistent, however. Give them a few weeks to hear your
material, then call at least once a week, depending on the response. If they
say they haven't received the tape by then, send another. Even when a booker
is curt and abrupt, make a point of ending on a polite, friendly note.
Cultivate a calm, hang-tough approach.
Excerpt from
The Self-Promoting Musician Strategies for Independent Music Success
©2000
Berklee Press Used by Permission
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