Schmoozing For Gigs

I f you want to get gigs,          Hopefully you will get the gig     then you are going to have      and it will end right there but    to do some schmoozing with      you may not get hired right away.  club owners, bar owners and           If this is you then you need to    people of that nature. This means     have a little persistence. Stop    you are going to have to appear       in every week or so and see if     as professional and convincing as     they have anything for you. Ask    possible. You are going to have       them if anyone has canceled and    to come prepared with all the         if there is a spot that needs to   gear you need to successfully         be filled. But beware, there is a  market yourself so you can book       fine line between persistence and  gigs and get paid.                    stalking so be careful you are                                           not doing the latter. Remember,    First impressions are the most        the squeaky wheel gets the         important thing in this biz. If       grease.                            you want to book gigs then you                                           need to bring the following           There are other places to play     things with you to a meeting: a       besides bars and clubs. Get        resume, a demo, a business card       creative! What about coffee        (with a link to your site), a         shops, music stores, high school   poster or flyer, price and a          dances, book stores, restaurants,  confidant attitude. And most          parks, festivals, fairs, or        importantly, dress for success.       private parties? The same rules    You don’t have to wear a tux,         apply when meeting with the        just look presentable. You might      people that are related to these   even want to bring your               events and places. If you can’t    instruments in case they want a       find gigs at these places, ask     short live audition, you never        them to refer you to someplace     know.                                 you can book gigs. If you present                                        yourself professionally then they  will respect you, even if they        will show up as well.              don’t have a spot for you.                                                                                     All of these tips will help you    One thing you can try to do is        get gigs. Market yourself because  convince the owners or whoever        no one else is going to do it.     you are meeting with that you can     Remember, you can be your best     draw a crowd. Don’t promise this      asset or your worst enemy. Don’t   if you can’t make it happen. And      go to a meeting unprepared and     if you promise this, then you         don’t stalk the people you have    need to make it happen. I am sure     meeting with. If you want to get   you have friends, family,             gigs then presenting yourself as   acquaintances and co-workers that     a professional, top quality        you can convince to come see you.     musician the eventually people     It is even better if you have a       will be knocking at your door for  solid group of fans going that        a change.                          About the Author: Ty Cohen, online music industry's most recognizable voice, the former owner of a successful independent record label & current owner of Platinum Millennium publishing. Visit http://www.GiggingforDollars.com for more information on How to find gigs, get gigs and book gigs. Published At: www.Isnare.com