A
azraelswings
New member
Has anyone played any? How does an independent artist land them?
Hard2Hear said:Colleges always have student activities directors. They plan all the events that happen through the year. You can usually figure out who these people are pretty easily through the website or by knowing anyone who goes there. You can ask them if you can send them demos for future events. This actualy doesn't work all that well. Primarily because there are LOTS of bands AT colleges who usually get things first. That and the following...
Hard2Hear said:Booking agents are really close with college activity directors. They work closely because colleges want music that targets their demographic and agents want the college exposure for their artists. I don't know how old you are, but becoming friends with booking agents is a really good thing.
Hard2Hear said:They have the contacts, and they get paid by hooking people up. Its always worth it because you individually do not have the contacts you need to spread your music and your band. Find out other bands that are more active than you in your area and find out who they work with. Or do the opposite, look up entertainment and music booking people in your area and find out which bands they work for. Never bother people who can't give you solid answers and solid proof of the people they represent. There are scammers who are nobodies, and they can't help you out.
Now...You can always schedule at venues near college campuses, and thats just a little research and networking in the areas that you are targeting. You get the same audience group, generally, and can make contacts for future refrences.
Either way takes alot of work and money. nobody said it was easy.
H2H
artCROSS said:i'll hafta agree on the charity gigs, that's how we got our foot in the door. If you go to a lot of the open mics, there are usually people/activities directors there looking for people to play @ benefits. If you play @ an open mic and they like you, they'll approach you. At least that's what happened for us. Now we play some annual benefits, which eventually leads to paying gigs. best of luck!
azraelswings said:To be entirely honest, I'm not quite sure your "bands at colleges" premise rings true, at least in my experience.
How can I meet me some booking agents?
azraelswings said:How large was the school?
Hard2Hear said:Youre failing to consider nothing.
Colleges are #1 for most bands playing rock music. From the smallest to the highest level. And thats what makes them tough to get sometimes. Even the guys making tons of money want their audience base to grow.
H2H