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