RTP-area local music and culture

[skilletx AT nc.rr.com (skillet)]

"Pepe, King Prawn" <pepe_king_prawnTAKETHISBITOUT AT yahoANDTHISTOOo.co.uk> 
wrote in message news:<c6cd11$k1r$1 AT newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> "skillet" <skilletx AT nc.rr.com> wrote in message
> 5afedea4.0404231108.79ca2e1 AT posting.google.com">news:5afedea4.0404231108.79ca2e1 AT posting.google.com...
> > blewis_13 AT hotmail.com (Brandon) wrote in message
>  news:<14882fb2.0404230656.482accfd AT posting.google.com>...
> > > There are many mysterious aspects of operating an independent band
> > > that are open to a wide variety of solutions - so many that it really
> > > makes it interesting.  A lot of these seem to be of the "chicken and
> > > egg" type of problem.
> > >
> > > The mystery at hand for my band right now is booking a small tour - 1
> > > or 2 weeks.  I was wondering if anyone on the list might share some of
> > > their experiences in setting up short tours.  I'd be interested in
> > > hearing about what works and what doesn't:
> > >
> > > - trading gigs with bands
> > > - getting a booking agent
> > > - lying your ass off (just kidding)
> > > - begging
> > > - working your ass off
> > > - showing up at random clubs with your gear
> > >
> > > If you check around some local band's websites, there are quite a few
> > > that have figured out something. I'm sure there's no secret, but it
> > > might make for a good topic.
> > >
> > > Brandon
> >
> >
> > Lying works like a champ. Hell, it's the music industry we're talking
> > about. When in Rome....
> > Trading gigs--this can work well or bite you in the ass. You help
> > someone get a decent gig in your hometown and they pay you back with a
> > show at a chinese buffet. It happens.
> > Booking agent -- unless you've really got something to offer the clubs
> > (decent fanbase, a new release available in that town etc.)they're not
> > going to pay a guarantee and there's nothing for the agent to take
> > his/her 10% out of and therefore no real reason for them to work for
> > you. Unless you've found someone to help out of the goodness of their
> > heart, I'd say just do it yourself. It sucks but you gain a lot of
> > valuable experience.
> > Begging -- just another term for booking
> > Working your ass off -- that's it in a nutshell.
> >
> > It's really a matter of a lot of phone calls(generally not returned) a
> > lot of email (ditto) and a lot of postage. I like the "buckshot" style
> > of booking. Try every club in town for the same night and you'll
> > probably hit one of 'em. Clubs tend to book anywhere from 1 month to 4
> > months in advance depending on their reputation so keep that in mind.
> > Tell the club you'll be able to get press (see "lying" above) in town
> > and that the local station is playing your stuff (lying again, unless
> > of course they really are). You're selling yourself so don't be afraid
> > to pump it up a little.
> > There are a 1000 ways to book shows and everybody will tell you
> > something different. Regardless, you gotta work your ass off and it
> > generally sucks. Good luck.
> > Skillet
> 
> Ditto to all the above.  You will work hard and you will lose a lot of money
> learning a lot of lessons the hard way.  Have fun.
> 
> Extra:  network and check referrences.  Ask bands you know in other towns
> you want to play where to play/who to play with/who to play for.  Don't know
> any bands in these other towns?  Ask your friends.  Or track them down
> online.  Local musicians will probably jump at the chance to tell you that
> the owner of Club-X makes a living cheating small touring bands, or that the
> owner of Club-Y is the guy to contact, or place-Z has nice staff and a good
> PA but no one ever goes there because it's out of the way and looks stupid.
> Go bug the owner/booker/soundman of whatever place you play locally (Cradle?
> Cave?) and ask them.  They might not have real solid information, but
> they've probably overheard enough touring bands complaining or raving about
> the last place they played that they have a general idea what's what in
> Richmond/Greensboro/Atlanta/DC/etc.
> On your first outting you will probably have to take what you can get, but
> after you're booked in to play a place, look for what bands played there
> then track them down and ask them for feedback.  Bad things will happen, but
> they're less bad when they're not surprises.
> 
> Ask for an hour more of soundcheck than you think you need.  your scheduled
> soundcheck is going to start half an hour later anyhow.
> 
> There are a number of good "how to book your own/first tour" websites (and
> books you can read for free at Borders).  Sorry I don't have them
> bookmarked.  find them and read them.
> The one thing I haven't seen mentioned in any is that you should mark all
> your gear as yours.  Every pedal and every guitar cable and every tuner,
> even the roll of ducttape and the screwdrivers in your survival kit.  You
> will inevitably be loaning little things to the other bands you're playing
> with (and borrowing something from them).  And in the beery haze after
> you're all done suddenly the owner will tell you that you've got 15 minutes
> to pack up and get out.  It's in this drunken rush that the other band ends
> up with half your anonymous black looks-like-everyone-else's guitar cables
> and you wind up with some stupid effect pedal.



Money is probably going to be tight. If it's your 1st time out you're
definitell not going to get paid well, if at all, in some cases. Most
clubs have a deal with a local hotel for bands. Ask about that as you
can normally get a room for $25 or so. Better yet, ask the crowd if
anybody has extra room at their place. For some reason, people love to
have bands stay at their house and they'll probably get you drunk,
too. Buy gas in SC. It's always cheaper there. Take strings,
batteries, drum heads etc. with you. If you need to buy them in
another town it may get pricy, plus it can be a real pain trying to
find the local drumshop. When booking the show, see if the club offers
a meal or a buy-out(they don't have food but will give the band
$30-$40 for a meal). The 10-High in Atlanta (nicole is the booker)is
connected to a rest. upstairs. All the bands eat free. Sell Sell Sell
your merch. It's the best way for you to get paid. Always be super
nice to the soundman (he can ruin your life in a flash), the bartender
and the door guy. Give 'em shirts or something. The booking agent will
probably not be at the show. They are going to want to know how the
band was and they're gonna ask the bartender and the soundman. They
may not really like your band but the review is going to be way better
if they thought you were a swell bunch. Give them free merch. Do
whatever the soundman says - on stage on time, off the stage on time,
keep your shit out of everybody's way. It's the little things that
will get you asked back or your phone calls ignored.