Back to MWN
Musician's World Network
Tips for Musicians
Music and Sound Manufacturer Links
Stupid Deal of the Day
Discount
Music Gear
Musician's Discount Bookstore
Check it out!
Add this page to your favorites
The Blame Productions
Our home page
 
|
Home for the Holidays (Or Not)
Keeping the band busy during the holiday season
The holidays can be lucrative for the working musician. You can literally be as busy as you want to be. Here are some tips to make the most of this special season.
-
Determine the dates that your band members are available to perform (and hold them to it). Make an assignment for each member to check with their significant others to guarantee available dates for the coming holiday season. If there are family events that take priority, get those on the calendar now so they can be marked as unavailable.
There's no sense hustling gigs if the band isn't available to play. Not only will it make the others resentful (because they mentally count the money they could have had), but it also makes the band look bad as a whole to cancel a job after accepting it.
- Respond quickly to performance inquiries to increase bookings. If you've followed the above suggestion, this should be easy. Let prospective clients know right away, as in 24 hours or less, if the act is available. Ideally you can do this on the first call. It stands to reason that the sooner you can answer the client's questions about availability, cost, and logistics, the sooner the client can make their hiring decision.
-
If the whole band can't perform, there are still other options, such as you and the keyboard player playing a private party; or a few of you getting together to perform an acoustic set at a local bar; or going it alone and trying out some of your material as opening act for another band. Don't forget to bring a camera for these special gigs. You can add the photos to your band's web page, and also show them to prospective clients in case you need to perform "small" again in the future.
-
Start promoting early. August/September is a great time to begin booking Halloween parties. If a club has their Halloween party band booked already, perhaps they haven't booked the Christmas season, yet. September and October are good months to get a head start on soliciting those Christmas and New Year's parties.
-
Start the New Year with a bonus. Most everyone likes to attend a good party to bring in the New Year. Did you know that most bands ask for, and receive, 150% of their normal gig price for New Year's Eve? It's true. This is the last big party of the year, and one you should start planning for early on. Some bands also increase their nonrefundable booking deposit fee for this night. After all, if the client cancels two days before the gig, there's not much time left to find an alternate place to perform!
- Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. don't be afraid to ask for help from local merchants with whom you do business. For example, ask your local music store, radio station, and the catering staff at local hotels to keep your business card on hand in case they are asked to refer a local entertainer. Even if the salesperson is an entertainer herself, she may get offers on days she's already booked. Having someone to refer extra shows to is good business for all concerned.
-
Sign on with a talent and booking agency. Why take a chance on missing out on all the holiday parties? The agent's fee is usually offset by your band doing more gigs than if you booked the shows yourself. If your band is any good, you'll likely have more gigs than you'll know what to do with. Plus you'll likely have a standard performance contract that the agency uses that can provide you with something more than a handshake to go on.
-
Take a photo with Santa (or one of his helpers). This is the time of year for the low-cost photo shoots at malls and department stores. Take advantage of it by having the band pose with St. Nick. Have the leader sit on Santa's lap, with the other bandmates standing close behind and to the side of Santa. If the photo doesn't turn out, there are lots of other holiday locations that make terrific photo opportunities. Be sure to bring in a guitar or two and drum sticks for the drummer. Have a vintage mic, like the
Shure Super 55?
 Take it with you as a great prop for the singer. Nothing helps sell a band through pictures like corny and nostalgia. Remember those photo shoots of The Beatles and The Monkees?
Continued on next page >>
More Tips ...
|
