AlaskanPipeline
Member
I have a jazz group and I was wondering what are some of the best ways to find gigs? Have a demo CD? go to the actual place? Who to talk to? Any advice would be helpful.
Not trying to hijack the thread or anything, but a good friend of mine posted this on facebook today, and it's relevant... Over here in Asia, it's ridiculously hard to find paying gigs... The going rate is a few beer tickets, and maybe a burger and fries if you're lucky... The few guys I know that are actually pro's (ie. trying to make a living making music), are definitely not making it... Tough business over here!
As a musician in a band looking for gigs you have to market yourself like any other business. You need to find your market and saturate it to the best of your abilities. In your case you need to find the jazz clubs and make yourself known to the players, owners, booking agents, whoever is involved in that performance.
Remember its not who you know, its who knows you.
Bermuda, do the side bands you play with have agents or any representation that helps with getting gigs or are they like most of us that do it all ourselves?
While this is all helpful information, I still need to know who to talk to and what to say and the best way to promote the band. Also what types of places should we hit up for this type of music? Wine bars? Italian restaurants? Also, we are not just playing straight ahead jazz. We extend out to some Glasper type stuff or BADBADNOTGOOD and even J Dilla, so we actually have some variety in there