| Different genres of music have different earnings | | | | Or how about getting bar napkins made up with your |
| potentials. If your musical goal is to work a lot and | | | | logo on it, and having the club use those napkins |
| make money, rock is your best choice. So let's | | | | instead of their own? |
| assume you've taken (or are still taking) voice | | | | Getting Gigs |
| lessons, you know music theory well enough to write | | | | I recommend starting locally, if there is a music scene |
| charts (sheet music), and you have a backup band to | | | | in your vicinity. That way you can approach the bar, |
| write or buy charts for. | | | | club, or restaurant manager personally and hand them |
| The first thing to define is your niche. Rock has | | | | your demo and business card. Call or email first, so |
| niches - or style genres - and some of those niches | | | | you don't just drop in unannounced. But if you |
| are better money-makers than others. So the first | | | | suspect your call may not be taken or your email |
| decision you must make when you decide you want | | | | trashed, then yes - go ahead and knock on the door |
| to gig, is this: | | | | cold. |
| Exactly what style of rock will be my specialty? | | | | Be prepared for rejection, and don't take it |
| What sound will I be known for? | | | | personally. That's just part of the business of booking |
| Branding | | | | gigs. You can expect that one out of ten cold calls |
| Your success is in the marketing. It's a concept called | | | | will result in an audition or a booking. |
| branding. And how you brand yourself and your band | | | | The second way to get gigs is to get yourself |
| - what niche you choose to be known in - is critical. | | | | affiliated with a talent agent. Let the agent get the |
| To assign your band, or yourself as a singer, a | | | | gigs for you. Although they take a percentage, they |
| recognizable marketing brand, you need to be able to | | | | totally deserve it. And you can concentrate on |
| answer each of these questions specifically: | | | | perfecting your music, rather than pounding the |
| 1. What is my rock niche in general? (Hard rock, | | | | pavement. Getting an agent is easier than getting a |
| easy-listening rock, classic or oldies, bluesy rock, | | | | gig. Still, you'll want to have all your branding in place |
| original songs, cover songs, or country-rock.) Punk or | | | | before approaching an agency. |
| grunge is too trendy and changeable to be a | | | | Some singers get gigs locally by offering to do the |
| constant source of income. You need to have a | | | | first night free, as an audition. This is obviously your |
| definable, dependable, consistent sound. If a wedding | | | | last choice, but it can work. Make sure you get all |
| planner hires you for a gig, you must sound like your | | | | your friends, neighbors, and relatives to come to this |
| demo. | | | | audition/gig. Pack the house. Show the club owner |
| 2. What is the age range you play to? Who makes | | | | that you are popular and can keep people in the club. |
| up your audience? Who do you sing to? | | | | Keeping Gigs |
| 3. What kind of attire will you and your band wear? | | | | The very best way to earn steady income is to be |
| This is an important part of branding. It doesn't have | | | | the house band for a particular venue. Everyone |
| to be matching outfits - but whatever you do | | | | benefits. The patrons come to hear you, they bring |
| choose, it has to be consistent. There are exceptions: | | | | their friends, they know what to expect, they feel |
| playing a corporate party gig may mean wearing suits | | | | they know you. The venue managers and owners |
| and ties or cocktail dresses and heels. If you gig | | | | know they can count on you to bring in a certain size |
| mostly at clubs, you may be known for a more | | | | crowd each time you play. You can start at a certain |
| casual style, such as jeans and t-shirts. But even with | | | | salary and work it out with the club owner (in writing, |
| a casual style, it's got to be something noteworthy. | | | | in advance), what the pay raises will be over time. |
| Perhaps the t-shirts have your band name on them. | | | | Plus, with a weekly or twice-weekly house gig, you |
| Perhaps the jeans are all colors except blue. Think up | | | | can invite booking agents and producers to come |
| something you and your band can live with, and stick | | | | hear you. That's much better than trying to get them |
| to it as much as possible. | | | | to listen to your demo or go to your website. |
| 4. What kind of website will you create? The | | | | Be a dependable employee. Set up for each gig early, |
| website design must match the mood of the rest of | | | | when fewer people are in the restaurant or club. |
| your choices. | | | | Start your first set on time, without a lot of testing |
| 5. Can you create or purchase a simple but | | | | one two threes. Be prepared in your genre with the |
| memorable logo or gimmick? One band had a small | | | | widest range of songs you can possibly have - and |
| bumper sticker made up and paid the local | | | | add to that list regularly. You want to be able to take |
| underground newspaper to put the bumper sticker in | | | | a request from an audience member if appropriate. |
| each issue for a certain period of time. It wasn't long | | | | When you take your breaks, be sure each band |
| before that bumper sticker made it to people's cars, | | | | member is back on stage when the break is over. |
| and it certainly stuck in people's minds. | | | | Don't take advantage of your employer or your |
| 6. In creating a demo, do you have enough money | | | | audience. Be there for them. |
| to make sure your logo is on the CD and the CD | | | | And finally, take good care of yourself as a singer. |
| jacket? And can you get matching business cards | | | | Get a lot of exercise, eat healthy food, and don't |
| made up? | | | | smoke. The old days of rock singers as anguished |
| 7. You might create a gimmick that you use at each | | | | drunks are over; the competition's just too keen to |
| gig. Would you be willing, for example, to bring up | | | | not have your focus be at 100 percent. |
| one audience member each night, to sing with you? | | | | |