Whats the best way to go about booking gigs? We were asked to play once a month at a bar, we played at a couple months ago. I also got us a gig for $400.00 bucks at another establishment. I would like to try and book us at local pubs in downtown Boston, as I was told they pay bands anywhere from $600. - $1200. per gig. My girlfriend made a facebook page for the band, hard to find, as I'm not in the know of computors, web, etc.,. I may have messed things up by adding personal profile page(Michael Dutch Uiterwijk) to try and network band. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dutch.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Setting up a fbook page is a good way to go but having a few tracks up is the best way. Every gig you have stick the address down and just keep bombarding club owners and promoters til they give in and say yes.

Be a disease!!

CC

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Blackstar HT-5

If there are any other bands that you know, see how they go about doing it. Sometimes if you know someone who knows someone, you can get them that way. Sometimes you just need to drop off a CD. Some places want a formal press kit...It really just depends on the club, and/or who you know sometimes. As far as the varying pay scale. I am sure that bands that are established and can draw in crowds get the higher end. Newer acts, or ones that don't have as big a draw or following get on the low end.

Just be happy if you are starting out and getting paid, because I know many clubs and bars that would want you to prove yourselves by doing several freebies during the week or on a slow night for free as a tryout...Others sometime have these weird pay for play schemes where you buy 20-50 tickets from the club for $5 each, and then sell them for anywhere between $5-10, and the money you make from those sales was your payment....

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RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

Boston's clubs are kind of a clique. For instance, the same management owns the Purple Shamrock, Bill's Bar, Black Rose and places around Fanueil Hall.
Desi (forget his last name) leads another group that owns The Harp (across from Garden), Jillians, Green Briar, and some others.

If you can get into one of them, and do well, you'll probably get around that circuit with Dick's Last Resort, Johnny D's and others.

You might also consider offering to do a couple of free showcases at one or
two of the clubs and inviting other club reps and booking people.

The Shamrock and Dick's especially will pay in that range if you are good and can be consistent and versatile in shuffling your band's schedule and available for some short notice (cancellation) gigs.

Good luck!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thanks for the input. Dutch We were lucky to draw a crowd of 70 people at our last gig, with alot of good reviews. Hopefully they will follow us to our next few gigs..

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Subscribe to Thrillist|Boston and you'll know when new clubs are opening. I get the newsletter almost daily. It's a good read anyway.

Here's a link ~~>http://www.thrillist.com/list/Boston

Good luck!

Get a 3 track demo together with a bit of relevant band info and contact details.
Drop it off round all the bars you want to play.

Make yourselves available for cancellation's too. Really point it out to bar owners. When the scenes really clicky thats often the only way you can get in.

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No no and no

thanks for the tips. I'm going to record our next couple of gigs and take 3 of the best songs, to burn a CD. My H2 zoom record works well. I made a CD of a practice session, and was happy with the quality of the sound, not bad at all for a small hand held recorder.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Honestly mate, dont bother shoving that round promoters as a demo. It's never going to present you in the best light, its ok as a reference tool for the band. Maybe if you get asked at a later date for a example of live performance you could use some of it.
Its well worth spending time knocking up a cheap 3 track demo. No one expects sonic wonders on a demo, but they do want something listenable to.

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No no and no

Keep in mind that these clubs cater to the college-age kids and not crazy about SRV, Petty, Clapton, etc, but if you got any Incubus, Kings Of Leon, etc. that's what they like there.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Thanks Nik, after much thought, I think your right. I know a guy that has a recording studio. I'm going to invest in a more professional demo.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Great tips, working on band pic. Our drummer and bass player have a list of newer tunes to add to the mix. thanks, dutch.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Booked two gigs. Feb. 26th. at St. Michaels Hall, Lynn, Ma. and Mar. 13th. at The Cove Lounge, Revere, Ma. We added mustang sally , comfortably numb, taking care of business, feel like makin' love, stay with me, and evil ways to our sets. Our keyboard player has a friend that was the sound guy for " Boston" coming on Fri. THE 26TH. Hopefully he will give us some tips on sound, tone, etc.,. also 'bout the band and music in general. I guess he is in touch with alot of well known players from the Boston music scene. thanks again, for all the tips, Dutch.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

Drag him along, pay him if you have to. Just to help you get a good sound from your amps.

Soundmen are my biggest bane. Some are great and tell you exactly what they want for the room and exactly where to set your eq to get a good mix. They'll pretty much set your amp and effects up for you. When you get one of them pick his brain and take notes. Others are jaded halfwitts who expect something akin to telepathy from you. They are largely arrogant condescending pratts who spend years studying the intricacies of their job. Then expect you to know it all as soon as you look at the place.

I've had arsey soundpeople ruin a perfectly good gig. Theres nothing more frustrating and drive me to the point of fisticuffs.

If you can get a pro soundmans help then obey him like God, even if all he does is go between you and the venues soundman.

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No no and no

Go into 'Dick's Last Resort' or the 'Purple Shamrock' some night and see how wild it is. No "dead air' between songs.

Put a listing on http://www.bostonbands.com and http://www.zbands.com/

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!