Booking advice

[willyz]

Hey gang...

So, I've started to do some booking for some the groups I play with, which I've never done before. Was wondering if anyone had anything to share on the matter (good/bad experiences, what to/what not to do, etc, etc).

I'm very big on professionalism and I'm quite good at schmoozing (dare I say it), so I feel that I'm going to be able to handle this okay for now...

Open discussion, if anyone has anything to offer... GO!

[robhaerr]

Willy...
Have any specific questions? What kind of gigs are you booking? (clubs, restaurant bar, private parties/weddings, special events, concerts, etc)

Here's a few thing I think about...
It's best to under-sell and over-deliver...exceed expectations at the gig.

It's never good to over-sell and under-deliver.

That goes for any business...but especially true when booking the band.

We look for comments like this after the gig...

"Man, I didn't realize you guys were that good and would draw so many people. Everyone enjoyed themselves! Let's work out more dates/I am going to recommend you to all my friends!"

...is much better than...

"Wow, you did not perform as good as you told me...I thought you guys would bring in a crowd and make it fun. Sorry, we don't have any more dates available."

If negotiating the pay for the gig...have them tell you what their budget is first. Let them tell you a figure. They may tell you higher than you expected...or you will at least have an idea where to start. This works great for weddings, private parties, other special events. Clubs usually pay according to a set amount or how much they take-in due to your crowd...a percentage of the bar, the door, etc.

...at least, that's what works for us.

Have fun!

[Kurtis]

you have some video of the groups you are playing with. if the vid and sound are half way decent to see what the band sounds like slap it on some dvd's. in know a place where you can do that for 1 dollar per dvd no matter if it's 1 copy or thousands!!! it's all digital this place. upload the stuff via whatever and the dvd's show up at your door. if you don't want to take the dvd route give them a facebook page to check out the vids you have posted on youtube. have to have a facebook page or some band website. find some booking agents around town and see what they are doing. can't hurt to call them up and see what they have to offer and while you are at it PICK THEIR BRAIN on the scene. it's always nice to know what to do before you walk into something cold. it will get the machine working faster. if you have time to hit the pavement go into the places you want to play and hand the booking person your info. most of the time that''s not possible but you never know. and when you do follow up. then follow up by more follow ups. theres lots of ways to get your band booked. find out the vibe in the area and be somewhat aggressive. if your a new band trying to pry your way in it takes time. you will get a break somewhere. stick with it.

[deseipel]

Here's a few thing I think about...
It's best to under-sell and over-deliver...exceed expectations at the gig.

It's never good to over-sell and under-deliver.

That goes for any business...but especially true when booking the band.


Have fun!

You're obviously not in sales (or at least in the same sales dept as my work place).

This is good advice. But then again, who the hell knows what club owners expect these days. OT: I have doubts that people actively seek out bands to see them perform live anymore. Bar owners want crowds to swarm in, but don't advertise anything. After years of busting your ass, if you do things right, you'll have a following. But it takes consistent work and time.

In short, good luck.

[robhaerr]

You're obviously not in sales (or at least in the same sales dept as my work place).

Deseipel...

I don't know if you're kidding...but I have been in sales for about 35 years now. This band is lucky to have been together for 23 years, so we have built up some experience and knowledge of the gigs we play where we can under-sell and over-deliver in this local band market. The negotiation part works very well, too.

And I do the same thing in my day job, selling business-to-business supplies.

If you were kidding...cool...carry on...never mind...I'll back away from the keyboard...

Rob

[deseipel]

Yeah, I was kidding. The sales guys at my work seem be ... difficult when it comes to promising what we can or can't do. But I suppose if I was handling multi-million dollar contracts, I'd stretch things too.

[robhaerr]

Yeah, I was kidding. The sales guys at my work seem be ... difficult when it comes to promising what we can or can't do. But I suppose if I was handling multi-million dollar contracts, I'd stretch things too.

You might be surprised at how much business-to-business supply contracts can be worth. Office products, cleaning products, restroom supplies (toilet paper can be a million bucks in a large hotel/casino), furniture, other facility operating necessities...it's pretty huge...and exceeding expectations is the key to repeat business. Sometimes that just means saying the delivery will be in 5 days and having it arrive early. Amazon does this regularly....I seem to always get my stuff from them a few days earlier that they tell me on the order.

There are some sales people who always stretch the capabilities of a company ( I work with some, too)...sometimes that makes the company better over time...but most times it just pisses off their co-workers and support staff. I don't like working with a staff that is pissed off at me...tends to make the work shoddy or they screw it up on purpose to spite the over-selling sales guy. Not good for long-term business or internal job reviews.

Providing a good solid performing local band isn't much different. You are providing a product and a service on a certain day and time for X-amount of money...maybe hoping to do it again for more money. Gotta have some kind of "value added" features and benefits to get the gig over the other bands in town. It might be that you are the easiest one to deal with.

Cheers!

[YamahaPlayer]

I've never booked for a band, though in all my experiences with booking myself for bands, studio gigs, etc I'm assuming the bands you are working for already have the necessary promo materials, EPKs, Demo's, etc

Get it ALL on paper. Performance Agreements for every show. Contracts for every gig (that involves money).

Even covering your bases you'll still run into some very squirrely people out there...

[Mike Meyers]

First thing:
1. Befriend a lawyer.
2. Have him/her help you make a contract for your band(s).
3. Only whip out the contract if you've been asked for one, or you feel like your band might get screwed on pay for the gig.

The singer in my band had a lawyer help him with our contract and it's pretty damn good. But, like I said above, the key thing is that he doesn't pull that thing out unless places start trying to renegotiate the pay on the same evening we are playing because a lack of crowd or bad sales. The contract comes out before we book the next gig there, or that is the last time we play that venue.

Also, agree on a guaranteed payment for the band before you play...if possible. With this economy, everyone is having bad nights here or there. You can send boxes of posters advertising your gig at a bar, but there is no guarantee that the bar will put them up or promote your band (via the DJ if they have one, or newspaper). We played this bowling alley (yes, a bowling alley) that tried to renegotiate our deal the night of the gig before we played. They wanted us to change our set amount to getting the door. They then claimed that the band last weekend made $800. B.S. We spoke to the sound men afterwards, who said that they barely made $200 at the door the last weekend and had trouble paying them.

Last thing...Promote, promote, PROMOTE! The singer in my band controls the Facebook page. He always tries to get people to become fans, then he promotes the Hell out shows in the weeks before. Plus, he takes a lot of pictures and links the people's names. How he remembers everyone's name, I have no idea.

It takes a certain kind of person to book gigs and be successful at it, for you and the band. Hopefully you are that person! Good Luck!

Mike

[willyz]

Great stuff, as always, gents!

I don't think either of the groups I'm booking for are ready to bust out a contract/agreement. In fact, I think pulling that out trying to get booked at the venues in Austin will just get us laughed at and gigless.

At the same time, the relationship between the artist/band and the club owner, booker, etc, is really quite messed up these days, and I'd really like to bring that vibe back to this town... just gotta try a few things and figure it out first.

Again, good stuff guys! Cheers!