Advice needed on getting gigs
- Thread starter parmoboy
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Yesterdays_Jam
Active member
Venue owners, Band management and PR firms would be your best bet. Nathan at the Brudenell in Leeds have bands on every night and now and again he asks for support bands to fill in if anything goes wrong or if there is space. He's a good lad to know. Andy at Thekidsaresolidgold has ties with venues up in Newcastle as well as in Middlesbrough and Stockton. Eddie Parkinson from Vinyl Eddie Records in York puts gigs on at The Vaults and Fulford Arms.
There are record labels that put on events so if you match a label to your type of music then they are a good bet for gigs too. I know quite a few now through my podcast like Upset The Rhythm, Dipped In Gold, Alcopop Records and Alphaville that all put gigs on.
What kind of music do you play? Got anything on Bandcamp?
There are record labels that put on events so if you match a label to your type of music then they are a good bet for gigs too. I know quite a few now through my podcast like Upset The Rhythm, Dipped In Gold, Alcopop Records and Alphaville that all put gigs on.
What kind of music do you play? Got anything on Bandcamp?
parmoboy
Well-known member
Thanks a lot for the advice. We play high-energy indie rock but there's a bit of a punk influence in there as well. Main influences......Libertines, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Oasis and The Clash.
We don't have anything on bandcamp. We recorded a demo but we're looking at working towards recording a single soon and aiming for a more polished sound, which will hopefully give us the confidence to upload the track onto Spotify and some radio play.
Paintolerance
Well-known member
Agreed with YJ...go direct to venues playing your type of stuff, contact bands themselves who are touring (always good to have a local support on), get in touch with local promoters etc
Good luck
Good luck
parmoboy
Well-known member
CheersAgreed with YJ...go direct to venues playing your type of stuff, contact bands themselves who are touring (always good to have a local support on), get in touch with local promoters etc
Good luck
Yesterdays_Jam
Active member
If you ever need anything that I can help with just drop me a line at yesterdaysjampodcast@gmail.com
Hey! I was in bands back from around 2010 to about 2014 so I don't know how much has changed in terms of how to get shows.
I was in a Metalcore band and it used to be a case of finding promoters on Facebook and inboxing them expressing interest in playing their venue. I think I ended up playing every venue in Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton including Teesside Uni.
I even tried my hand at promoting a show or two but there used to be so much demand for our genre in the area.
Although I can't give to much advice on how to get gigs anymore I can give you one peice of advice.
Never, ever sell yourself short. Yes it's fine to do the odd free gig but never let these promoters take you for a ride.
Looking back I played 100's of shows with pretty big crowds causing carnage and I probably got paid 3/4 times overall.
You put the work in, you pay for the practices, you pay for the travel, you load in, you play the show and get the crowds in.
If a promoter wants you to play for free continously to get your name out there know your worth and find places that are willing to pay you.
Good luck with it all mate, I know how tough it can be! But keep going and kill it
I was in a Metalcore band and it used to be a case of finding promoters on Facebook and inboxing them expressing interest in playing their venue. I think I ended up playing every venue in Redcar, Middlesbrough and Stockton including Teesside Uni.
I even tried my hand at promoting a show or two but there used to be so much demand for our genre in the area.
Although I can't give to much advice on how to get gigs anymore I can give you one peice of advice.
Never, ever sell yourself short. Yes it's fine to do the odd free gig but never let these promoters take you for a ride.
Looking back I played 100's of shows with pretty big crowds causing carnage and I probably got paid 3/4 times overall.
You put the work in, you pay for the practices, you pay for the travel, you load in, you play the show and get the crowds in.
If a promoter wants you to play for free continously to get your name out there know your worth and find places that are willing to pay you.
Good luck with it all mate, I know how tough it can be! But keep going and kill it
parmoboy
Well-known member
Thanks a lot. We've been lucky so far as we've been paid for all of our gigs. I was particularly impressed by Kelly at Basecamp as she actually paid us cash in hand on the night. Real shame that venue is no more.
Add Mal Campbell at the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge to your list when looking for support slots. A bit of a drive but the best indie venue in the country (not just my view).
Others in this area, Michael at the Gayston Unity and also try The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge. Also, I concur about Nath at the Brudenell.
Others in this area, Michael at the Gayston Unity and also try The Puzzle Hall, Sowerby Bridge. Also, I concur about Nath at the Brudenell.
parmoboy
Well-known member
Thanks
Send a track to Shakk at BBC Introducing on Radio Tees. Send details of your band with it.
Send a demo to NARC and NEVOLUME. It all ups your profile. Make sure you include your reviews in your biog and listen for any comments on the radio. When you send your demos write a few words about your band and about each track. Your words are likely to appear in the reviews.
I always think communicate with the promoters and other bands on the bill, never, ever go home before they play and enjoy the whole experience.
Send a demo to NARC and NEVOLUME. It all ups your profile. Make sure you include your reviews in your biog and listen for any comments on the radio. When you send your demos write a few words about your band and about each track. Your words are likely to appear in the reviews.
I always think communicate with the promoters and other bands on the bill, never, ever go home before they play and enjoy the whole experience.
parmoboy
Well-known member
Thanks. Yes we're trying to get better at networking. Always a good idea to follow whichever band you're on the bill with on Instagram etc.
parmoboy
Well-known member
Thanks, we'll probably need to build our profile up a bit before we consider that but definitely something to keep in mind for the future.
Yes and do watch them. So many bands don't watch the others on a bill. I made so many friends and got so many gigs and made so many friends from watching the other bands on the bill.
goalscrounger
Well-known member
Reach out the The Kids Are Solid Gold too.
Scrug
Well-known member
To get any opportunities around here you need to suck up to the right people. There’s a host of promoters who put the same rotation of acts on. It’s hard to break into that, so it’s probably just best messaging other bands in a similar genre who are putting On their own shows.
Need any advice send me a message, we’re putting on a few of our own this year.
Need any advice send me a message, we’re putting on a few of our own this year.
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