[NewMusic] Bay Area Booking Information for Musicking Peoples

[Sarah - 21 Grand]

Matt D wrote:
Some helpful information about asking for gigs anywhere:
1) The best way to get a gig is to ...

sl: see what/whom they program, ascertain whether you "fit" with what they
program, see if they have a website, see if they have a booking page, follow
instructions. 


2) If the venue operator isn't already very familiar with your music,
it's necessary to let them hear samples before they commit. ...

sl: not having a stupid band name helps, though stupid band names often
provide the booking personage minutes of mirth. One person's stupid band
name is someone else's idea of clever or funny.


3) A bio is very helpful, and should include some description of what
instruments the musicians play, and what they sound like. Positioning
statements and lists of musicians you've played with are virtually
useless to us curators. The ideal length would be somewhere between
the size of this paragraph and twice that.

sl: lists of musicians you've played with in a "significant" capacity can be
useful. statements are useful if they are germane, interesting and
well-written. If they are trite or poorly written, they can provide more
minutes of mirth to a booking personage ... right up there with a stupid
band name!

sl