[NewMusic] Booking / 'Usual Suspects'

[Damon Smith]

When you drag out musicians just for the sake of the variety, you are  
going to end up with people who are not so excited to play and who  
won't do any promotion.
Unfortunately it is a total waste of time 9 times out of 10.

Musicians not doing promotion is probably the lamest part about the  
scene right now. (Other than that I am pretty excited about it now).
If you ask one of the spaces for a gig you should promote it. Self- 
deprecation is not cute - if you are not excited about your music  
then neither am I, you can just as well stay home.
It gets down to whether you think your music is worthwhile or not.
When I have a gig I booked I put up a few hundred posters, make small  
flyers to hand out send it out to several list serves, my own email  
list, do a myspace bulletin, post it on, transbaycalendar, craigslist  
and other forums.
Not only is it good for you, it is the least you can do for the  
selfless volunteers who make the spaces available.
I am not saying you need to follow my exact routine, but do  
something. Also, Scott R. Looney is one of best friends, but if you  
ask for a gig at 1510, he is not going to do anything at to promote  
it, so you need to do all of it including enter it on to the transbay  
calendar, or don't bother.

Damon Smith

http://www.balancepointacoustics.com
http://myspace.com/smithdamon
New solo project:
http://www.myspace.com/damonsmithsolo