| With the massive advance of 'computer' based | | | | place is very well known for its heavy rock |
| music, recording enthusiasts have taken the internet | | | | performances, you're Diana Ross numbers may not |
| world by storm. With the popular itunes now dishing | | | | go down a storm!Will there be space for all your gear |
| out thousands of tracks per minute coupled with the | | | | at the venue? Will you leave it there after the gig or |
| colossal amount of indie sites springing up day by | | | | take it with you? If they allow you to leave your |
| day, musicians have more opportunites to be heard | | | | equipment in the venue that evening make sure it's |
| than ever before, and hardly a need to move from | | | | placed in a secure locked up area, and that someone |
| their own seats.Living life as a 'virtual' online star can | | | | will be there the next day for you to retrieve it. You |
| have its pro's and con's, however any band or artist | | | | can guarantee they won't be replacing your stuff if it |
| will tell you that performing live to a crowd of | | | | gets stolen.Check out the area you will be performing |
| enthusiastic fans is about as good as it gets.But, if | | | | in. Does it feel right and can everyone see you well |
| you want the world to appreciate the 'real' you, how | | | | enough from outside your performance circle? Check |
| do you get the party started?Well firstly, you may | | | | that there are enough electrical extensions for you |
| want to approach venues which already take | | | | to plug in your gear, if these are on the other side of |
| unsigned acts and allow them to perform. They will | | | | the room will your cables reach them? Take a long |
| require an entertainment licence (check in your | | | | extension socket just in case. If you're singing on the |
| geographical area what licences are required), and | | | | night take two microphones and leave one as |
| make sure that they are in tune with this legal | | | | 'reserve'. The same goes for microphone cables. If |
| requirement.Find venues in your area which already | | | | your cable breaks or your microphone hits the floor |
| seem to have a decent following of customers. | | | | and you've no replacement. End of Story!Many |
| There is nothing worse than booking a gig with a | | | | establishments don't have much of an idea how much |
| venue and finding out the place is nearly empty on | | | | effort goes into the planning structure of gigging, |
| your Saturday night appearance. Find out if any | | | | they can think its just a matter of getting in and |
| major event or function is happening on same the | | | | doing it, but as touring acts can tell you, there are |
| night you want to perform. Don't arrange your gig on | | | | whole load of factors to consider in preparation for |
| the same night that another major event is going on | | | | one night. Tell the Manager you need to practice your |
| in your town/city.Ask the local general public where | | | | set on a quiet day for a few hours. This will allow |
| they go, what's the most popular venue in your | | | | you to check out the ambience of the place and |
| area? If you don't mind travelling go further afield and | | | | work out where you will place your gear and position |
| do the same. Check out suitable venues in the paper | | | | yourselves on the night. If they don't allow this, |
| and theatres.Visit the venue that you like the look of | | | | re-consider!If you've got any CD's of your own to |
| at various times during the week and check out the | | | | sell, take a box with you and sell them 'during' the |
| type of people that go there. How could you live | | | | gig, dont wait till the end when everyone ups and |
| with yourself if you turned up to play a few Van | | | | leaves. Take anything you got, t-shirts with your |
| Halen numbers to a bunch of retired war veterans. | | | | band name on, business cards.... advertise!! Get |
| Become familiar with the atmosphere and see if they | | | | someone to offer them around whilst your |
| already pull in enough people before you gig. Are the | | | | performing, also print any URL's to your online music |
| staff friendly? Service good? All this is quite | | | | on the CD or flyers you give out. If you have a |
| important as when you play in that venue for a few | | | | second gig invite them all again at the end of the |
| hours you become a part of it.Print out flyers, and | | | | night, tell everyone from the newsagent owner to |
| stick them anymore you can think of where people | | | | the postman. You can only rely on word of |
| might actually read and pay attention, i.e. public toilets. | | | | mouth.Take into consideration that if the venue fills |
| In a busy shopping mall people may be just that... too | | | | up on the night you may have to adjust your |
| busy. If you can get a small mention announcing the | | | | equipment levels, as people actually absorb some of |
| gig on radio, newspaper; brilliant.Watch out for half | | | | the frequencies in the room; which is why you often |
| empty haunts, which book a band in the hope that | | | | think you're being drowned out by the crowd when |
| the band itself will provide some custom. This is | | | | everything sounded perfect on rehearsal. Take an |
| absolute rubbish, it is not your duty to fill up their | | | | engineer, or at least someone with a good ear to |
| venue. However, it is admirable if you can do this on | | | | stand at different points in the room and listen. You |
| your own merit. If you're sure two hundred people | | | | may find you're clearly audible by the bar, but on the |
| are going to turn up at your gig, then charge the | | | | other side of the room you're just a mumble. Be |
| manager a respectable sum for your effort, after all | | | | careful where you position your speakers and if |
| thanks to you, they will be pocketing an | | | | you're singing have a monitor facing you with just |
| unmentionable amount on drinks or food from his | | | | your vocals coming out. It's quite tricky to hear |
| establishment on your behalf.Once you book the gig | | | | yourself if all the other musicians around you are |
| get it in writing, confirming everything from the | | | | blasting their instruments to high heaven.If everything |
| amount you are to be paid that night (regardless if | | | | goes perfectly well and the manager is dying to |
| the gig turns out well or not). An unsigned band were | | | | re-book you charge him slightly more. Don't go |
| once given an advance of $30 with a follow up fee | | | | excessive on this as he may be offended. But if you |
| immediately after the gig, but they never saw a dime | | | | pulled it off really well and he knows the crowd will |
| more after the gig was over. The management | | | | come back again, take the opportunity now, or try |
| mumbled that the gig did not go 'as well as expected' | | | | to get an 'extended' contract for say six months. |
| even though the band did pull in more people than | | | | Therefore you won't need to be looking around again |
| the place ordinarily would have had. Still the manager | | | | in a couple of weeks for a new haunt.So if your |
| refused to pay up. With nothing in writing the group | | | | keen on jumping on the performing bandwagon, |
| could not contest him. Time and effort wasted!Speak | | | | hopefully these tips will help you with finding the right |
| to musicians who are already performing there. They | | | | place, feel comfortable on the actual night, and also |
| will advise you on how to 'approach' the manager and | | | | ensure that you don't easily get ripped off.Carla |
| find out all things related such as, do they pay well? | | | | Acheson is a musician, and freelance writer for a |
| The amount of time a gig should lasts; what they | | | | variety of subjects, mainly the independent music |
| pay out; do they allow or prefer loud instruments | | | | industry. |
| music or do they prefer soft ambient music? If the | | | | |