Getting And Performing Gigs

We’ve all seen artists on TV and stages wearing earpieces while performing. You’ve probably seen artists and musicians fiddle with them or take out an earpiece, and you may have wondered to yourself: what the heck are they doing? We’re going to go over what those earpieces are, what they do, and why artists wear…

I remember what it felt like to be a musician in a band and constantly ask myself, “how do I get better gigs?” It seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn’t get an opening slot for a big national tour. Or, every weekend at the best venues in town were booked for the…

You’re playing a set. The crowd is into it – you know your songs forwards and backwards, the sound is great, you glance at your band mates and flash a satisfied smile. People start clapping as soon as the song ends, you let them finish, and… Oh god. The room goes quiet. Now what? Banter?…

Talent shows are a dime a dozen. But I would be lying if I said they haven’t had a massive impact on my music career. The reason I decided to get into music in the first place was because the rush I felt performing live. And, the first time I ever performed in front of…

You know you’re starting to get a different quality of gig when venues and event organizers start asking for stage plots. This is the moment bands and artists tend to get excited and overwhelmed by at the same time. “Stage plot? What’s that? Why do we need it? Do we even have time to put…

Playing shows is fun, but they are much more fun when you have someone to play to. When you start playing shows, there’s a good chance you’ll play at least a few with low attendance. It’s good to get used to this. As you build a local following, and decide to play in other cities,…

Playing shows is rewarding and fun no matter where you are in your career. The moment you have 40 minutes of material, you can play a set. If this is something that interests you, you need to go and book a show. So many artists get stuck here – they don’t know how to go…

For many musically inclined people, promoting events and shows is a natural introduction to the music industry. There are lots of great reasons to promote shows. You’ll make great connections with artists and the teams they work with (agents, managers, labels, publicists, etc.). You’ll become an “industry person”, and will start to get approached by…

Booking gigs is one of most time-consuming non-musical activities artists engage in. It takes a long time to craft set lists that are ready to play, it takes a long time to develop promotional materials, and then the process of booking gigs can require a lot of time too. Between researching and seeking out opportunities,…

Playing gigs at restaurants is yet another way musicians and artists can make extra money with their musical abilities. I started playing lounge piano type gigs when I was 17, and still do it today. It supplemented my income while I was in university, and it supplemented my diet as well – I always work…

Gigging is the most common way musicians make money, and it’s been this way since the dawn of time. People love hearing live music, and musicians love playing it. It’s a match made in heaven! That said, in today’s economy, it’s getting harder and harder to make money gigging. The simple fact is: musicians aren’t…

Booking gigs without putting any effort into it? How absurd! And yet, I’ve had to book very few of my own gigs in the last seven years (if any), and I’ve still had more than my fair share of well-paying and creatively fulfilling gigs. So, I’m here to tell you that it is possible. I’m…