Singer/Songwriter and local gigs - where to start?

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BJW

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Hey everybody,

I have a question, and I have really no idea what to expect, so here goes. I play acoustic style, just me and a guitar, all pretty mellow, low-key stuff. I'd love to form a band, but I don't have time or musicians around me with time, so it's kind of out of the question for now. I do have experience playing in front of people (I was in a college worship band that toured around the midwest for a summer, and I've lead worship at various churches/bible studies - that kind of thing.

I also have done several local open mic nights (I live in Oklahoma City), and I get a pretty good response/feedback from both the croud and the guys running the open mic night at the coffee house/bar kind of places. I've got about 20 originals and another 10 or 15 covers I can do, so I can play solid for at least 1.5 to up to 2 hours no problem.

My question is how do you make the jump from playing an open mic night to playing a gig. I don't really care about money (although getting a little bit would be cool). I would play for free, but I've heard to offer this kind of a deal to a manager is a bad idea. I just love the rush of performing. I have a studio and I can get decent recordings, plus I've got some fairly good recordings of a live show I did at a coffee house in college (to get that one I asked my roommate who ran the place if I could do it, haha).

Do I just keep playing the open mic night till I get a relationship with the manager who runs the place? Do I put together a little demo cd for them (assuming if I did, it would just be a guitar track and a vocal track since that's what I would play - no midi drums or anything I couldn't do on stage for them). Do I give them a sort of press kit (keeping in mind I haven't done anything except for open mic night/talent show type stuff, and I have no reviews or anything of that nature). I do have a pretty large group of friend/co-workers that would probably show (around 15 to 25).

I figure if I pursue it and get turned down, what have I lost? Nothing, but I sure won't get anything if I don't try. What do you guys who have infinitely more experience have in mind, keeping in mind my playing style, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Brian

by the way, you can hear what I've got at acidplanet.com at this link:
http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?songs=261004&T=3428

anything labeled "live" was recorded by me at the little coffee house show I did in college. (I did a bunch, just recorded one of them - it's nice when you're roommate runs the place, haha)
 
Here's what you do... You create a press kit and distribute it to bar owners.

Here's what I consider a press kit:
-a one page fact sheet describing your music
-a picture of you
-a 3 song sample cd of what you sound like
-a second smaller sheet for press clips, expected pay, expected draw and contact info.

After you've dropped these off with the venue owners, follow up and suggest times/nights to play.


Like you said, all they can do is tell you no...repeatedly.... which happens. Keep the chin up.

Good luck and have fun. Solo gigs are usually the place you improve the most.
 
Sometimes its a good idea to add a setlist if you plan to play at bars. Usually you will need to fill from about three to four hours. A picture is good but not really necessary for a small bar or gig. The best way to get a gig is to go on a night when they have entertainment and shake some hands. Your server for the night is a great place to start and most of them would love to introduce you to their boss for brownie points! If you have some friends on the inside you are more likely to get the gig. Bar managers are dealing with the "I was wondering if you were hiring for entertainment" approach. I have handed out a lot of demos this way and believe me they tend to forget about you.

Do you know anyone who is a server or bartender at a place that features music? If so then ask them if they would help you out a little. If you can get someone to tell the manager you are great then you already have a foot in the door when you drop off your demo.

Bring some friends with you when you go to check out the venue. Have them ask the head person if you ever play there. Sounds cheap, I know, but this really works. Then all of a sudden there you are, the great singer everyones talking about.

The last bit of advice I can offer is, show them you can bring in the big sales! Let them know that you have a large following that will show up! Tell them to give you a slow night and you'll play for free the first time as a trial run. They love the idea that they don't have to pay you the first time. Tell the manager that if he doesn't see some better numbers then he doesn't have to invite you back. BUUUUTTT, if he likes what you did then you can discuss a weekly entertainment position.

Bar managers are always thinking they need to improve business and that part of what they want out of you. To keep the customers there an extra hour and to keep them coming back. Just talk the talk, if you can walk with that you'll do fine. Oh and one more thing, when you are up on your first night and people are diggin you then mention to them that this is a trial run and if they want to see you again they'll need to tell the bar about it. After all it's all about keeping them coming back and you're the entertainer that can do it!

Remember your a pro at this and you can't even remember your first gig!
 
A few years back (I wasn't playing with a band at the time) I got in a slump. No one to play with but still itching to get out and play, I found a couple of restaurants and cut a deal with them to play for supper and tips. It was just me, acoustic guitar, bar stool and tip jar. (they even provided the stool and tip jar) Needless to say I didn't make a lot of money but I did make lots of new friends and gained a few pounds and had lots of fun while keeping myself active, I even got a couple if invitations to play at other places. I know it sounds simple but for a solo artist it's a good way to get out and playing for supper and tips beats staying home playing hungry without parking meter change in your pocket.
 
Hey thanks for all the responses, guys. Dani, sounds like a cool idea, playing at a restaurant for tips - that kind of thing. Maybe I'll look into it. I'm still pretty busy for a few more weeks, but after that I'll have some free time in the evenings and such to try and get out there a bit more.

Keep the info coming.

-Brian
 
You don't necessarily have to cultivate a relationship with the club's manager to get a gig, but if you've played an open mic several times at the same place, that'd be a good place to start.

I don't know how "christian" you might consider your music (you mentioned playing at church), but in Oklahoma there is no end to venues for mellow, acoustic christian music. The best way to start finding them is to start looking at the itineraries of local and regional indie artists.

From there you hit the phones and start sending press kits out. I think in some ways it's easier starting out to be a solo acoustic artist. Less overhead, and the lower volume opens up a lot of venues that don't want their patrons overpowered with a loud band (like coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants, etc).

One caveat: don't expect your friends to continue supporting your career. Your 15-25 friends and coworkers aren't going to keep coming out night after night, especially when there's a cover charge. They can help give you a boost the first gig or two, but even friends get bored after a while. It also puts a lot of pressure on you if you have the same audience showing up for every show; they're gonna expect something different every time. Better to work up one killer set and play it for a different crowd each time.
 
Hey lykwydchykyn, thanks for the reply,

My original stuff is a mix of religious themes and other stuff - actually, mostly non-religious stuff. I guess the problem is I don't really know many places that host a mellow acoustic live set, primarily due to the fact that I just haven't looked - I'm sure it's out there.

For now I'm just gonna try and hit the open-mic nights that I know of, mostly cause it's fun, but also to see if I can open a door or two. I'm also going to take your advice and checking out where local indie artists play and try and start making a contact or two.

Thanks again,

Brian
 
Sometimes you gotta play for CHEAP, but, IMHO, NEVER, EVER offer to play for FREE!! That's just crazy. And when you DO have to play for cheap, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get at least a verbal commitment for future work at HIGHER pay if all goes well.
 
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