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advice for getting cover gigs?

  • 16-02-2014 8:23pm
    #1
    maeves22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭


    Hi all, I am looking for some advice from all you wise folk out there....I have been in bands for a number of years but never on the business side. Now I have started my own band and have to get out and try to get some gigs. I have some recordings done but thats as far as I have gotten so far? Should I go through agents? If so what should I be saying to them? What's the going rate?


Comments

  • #2
    feargtown 72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44 ✭feargtown 72


    maeves22 wrote: »
    Hi all, I am looking for some advice from all you wise folk out there....I have been in bands for a number of years but never on the business side. Now I have started my own band and have to get out and try to get some gigs. I have some recordings done but thats as far as I have gotten so far? Should I go through agents? If so what should I be saying to them? What's the going rate?

    It's the hardest job in the world getting gigs you could contact Gerry Browne promotions, ceb.ie but your best bet is to spend a day going around 15or so venues drop in your cd & call them back the next week bit of a pain but it the only way to get started....


  • #3
    maeves22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭maeves22


    thanks is he based in dublin or elsewhere?


  • #4
    feargtown 72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 44 ✭feargtown 72


    maeves22 wrote: »
    thanks is he based in dublin or elsewhere?

    Dublin yeh but deals with pubs country wide he does take a10% change which you don't pay if you get the gig yourself where you based?


  • #5
    maeves22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭maeves22


    Carlow......


  • #6
    karlocooney123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20 ✭karlocooney123


    Contacting venues initially by phone or email just doesn't cut it. You have to meet the right people face on, and believe in what your selling. That's my pennies worth! Good Luck!


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  • #7
    maeves22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4 ✭maeves22


    thanks for the replies everyone


  • #8
    Kettleson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,047 ✭✭✭Kettleson


    maeves22 wrote: »
    Hi all, I am looking for some advice from all you wise folk out there....I have been in bands for a number of years but never on the business side. Now I have started my own band and have to get out and try to get some gigs. I have some recordings done but thats as far as I have gotten so far? Should I go through agents? If so what should I be saying to them? What's the going rate?

    I might be wrong but it sounds like its a bit early in the day for agents.

    What sort of set are you playing? Covers, originals? Mix? Who will your intended audience be?

    Get a residency in a local pub and get the act tight. See what reaction you are getting. If you build up a following you're looking good.

    Have a look at the venues you want to play locally. Check out the bands. See what's going down well. Ask other bands what they are getting paid. But that will vary as a pub will pay much more for a band on a Saturday night that pulls a good crowd, as opposed to a band on a Friday who are just there for the sake of providing live music.

    Post up live performances of the band playing on you tube or your own website. If promoters or pubs are any way interested in booking you after a cold call on the phone, the first thing they will be likely to do is check your live performance out on the web.

    Studio or home recordings are no good, and will just go to show you haven't got any good live performance footage.
    If you have a good tight band with a good singer you'll get pub gigs. It's a different conversation if you want festivals and the like. Much different. Go for it and good luck.

    PS: Just reread your post and seen you are playing covers. Same applies, but the set of covers you choose to play will have an influence on some pubs you might be able to get bookings in. Have a think about the venues you want to play and select your covers based on that.


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