Finding
Gigs Out of Town and Getting Booked
by Chris Standring
An excerpt from "STREET TEAM" a new music marketing
strategy for indie artists
"One
of the advantages of performing with another act is that you
can steal their audience!"
If
your street team is not yet in place in cities other than
the one you live, you will need to research some of the venues
if you want to play out of town. Check out the The Indie Venue Bible. Firstly, I think it is important
to mention that you must develop a good local following first.
If you can become a big fish in a little pond you will be
positioned well to start venturing elsewhere. It is a good
idea to venture into other towns not too far away from where
you live, and develop new fans there. You want to kind of
test the water, but don't forget you have new challenges the
minute you head out of town. Your local following will not
be with you and it is important to make sure you still fill
your new club!
Decide
on a venue out of town and approach them with a plan. When
you speak to the booker, convince him that you are big on
your home turf and you are sure you can bring him some business.
Try to get a night where you are opening for another band
(a situation you will probably be offered anyway) so the whole
world is not on your shoulders. If the venue is not too far
away, either you or your street team members need to take
a visit to the club on a busy night and pass out sampler CDs.
If you know people who live in that city, you should approach
them and ask to help you gather up some folks for the gig.
You could put them on the guest list and give them a CD to
return the favor.
When
you play your first gig in this new city, you must capitalize
on everyone who is at that show. Furthermore, you must capitalize
on the headliner's fan base. One of the advantages of performing
with another act is that you can steal their audience! Have
a street teamer walk around with a clipboard handing out sampler
CDs in exchange for people's contact info. Collect their names
and e-mail addresses and before you know it you have 30 new
people on your subscriber list. If you did a good show and
everyone enjoyed it you can expect another booking. Don't
be in any hurry to headline as you can still take advantage
of the next two performances, collecting data from another
band's fans. Before you know it, you have a fanbase in your
new city.
One
thing to mention here. This all takes time. Unless you are
19 years old and need a big fat record deal before you're
too old to compete, there really is no hurry. This is the
wonderful thing about being an independent artist. You can
be touring in your 40's and 50's if the band is slamming.
Providing you are taking care of business and packing in the
houses, you might as well just enjoy the ride. So don't be
in a hurry to gather a huge fanbase in a new city. It might
take five years before you are turning fans away at club doors.
Providing you are working hard in lots of venues, in five
years time you might have a very profitable business.
About
Street Team
"System X" is a street marketing strategy for independent
artists designed by Chris Standring. It is an amalgamation
of online and offline techniques, both of which Chris discusses
in depth in his e-book "STREET TEAM". It's a step-by-step
"blueprint" that shows you everything from start
to finish on how to set up your own community of volunteers
and have them literally pack your venues for you!
For more info and to order "Street Team" By Chris
Standring go to:
http://www.aandronline.com/street-team/index.html
 Chris
Standring is the CEO and founder of A&R Online (www.aandronline.com).
He is also a contemporary jazz guitarist presently signed
to Mesa/Bluemoon Records. The music is marketed at NAC and
Urban AC radio. For more info on Chris' recording career go
to his personal website at www.chrisstandring.com
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