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Advice on Gig marketing
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Blondie#2
Posts: 530
Joined: Sep. 14 2010
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 RE: Advice on Gig marketing (in reply to lukeofgod)
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quote:
Things I have: business cards.
Things I think I need: A website with demo mp3's, video demos, testimonials, list of repertoire, ect. (the whole shabang)
I plan to make a website asap during spring break.
If you can think of anything else that would be beneficial, please feel free to post.
You have a good list there but if you want to get into the wedding market you could try advertising in local wedding magazines/appearing at wedding fayres (assuming they have those over there).
Busking is good for business too and i have taken many wedding bookings on the spot that way. Of course you have to do this properly - look like a beggar and you get treated like one. On the other hand, look like a pro, with pro quality sound system (not tiny crappy amp) and choose your location carefully and this can work very well indeed.
Oh, and network like crazy. get round the local tapas bars, restaurants etc with your demo CD, it takes a while to get established.
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Date Mar. 28 2013 8:29:29
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Mark2
Posts: 1871
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
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RE: Advice on Gig marketing (in reply to lukeofgod)
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It really depends how far you want to take it. Getting a restaurant gig is pretty simple:
Find a restaurant you want to play in, go between lunch and dinner hours, present yourself, and offer to play a set in exchange for dinner. If they like you , your in. You can offset the fact that you look really young by dressing really well. Remember you are an extension of the image the restaurant is trying to portray. An upscale joint requires different clothes than a brew pub.
If your trying to make a living, or trying to develop a career as a solo guitarist, then all the other stuff-web sites, cards, pictures, videos are really important.
If this is just something you want to do for a while to get some performing experience and make a few bucks, I wouldn't waste time with all the promo.
You will likely make more money at a place that doesn't currently have live music. I played at Alegrias on Lombard in the city for a while-they had flamenco guitarists a few nights a week. They paid 50. and a nice dinner.
I got a gig at Ondine in Sausalito-they had never had a musician there before and they paid me 150.
Adjust for inflation-this was 15-20 years ago.
Also consider that a dance class can pay 20.00 an hour as of ten years ago-so three hours on a sat afternoon pays as much as some restaurants. Again, it really depends on where your going with your playing.
You can get gigs just playing flamenco-alegrias, bulerias, solea, sig, etc. but if your serious about pleasing the general public, you should consider what they want to hear. When someone asks for malaguena are you going to:
1. roll your eyes and explain that it's not flamenco and you don't play that crap
2. Play an authentic malaguena after which they will conclude you don't know malaguena
3. Play a great version of the E.L. piece and collect a huge tip.
If the answer is number three, then the next step is adding recuerdos, granada, some pasa doubles, and before you know it, you'll have strayed very far from flamenco but perhaps be earning lots of money.
Having the ability to bring additional musicians or dancers and singers will increase your opportunities but as I mentioned above it really depends what your goals are.
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Date Mar. 28 2013 15:35:04
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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RE: Advice on Gig marketing (in reply to RibNibbler)
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Love it, RibNibbler!
When I was first starting this, I listened to Mark and he knows his stuff! I could add a few ideas that I have come up with:
1. dress really well, conservative pants, flashy shirt. It was already mentioned, but this does not mean wearing black dockers instead of your normal cargo pants. Something really nice like at a board meeting or church.
2. I have only played for free a few times, and it never led to anything. I think it sets up the situation with an unfavorable balance of power and a lack of respect for your services (it's "free", so it can't be any good).
3. Set up your website on as many free directories, yelp, google plus, facebook, everything, that you can find.
4. Answer phone calls, respond to emails within an hour if possible. This will make you stand out greatly from most musicians, who are typically unresponsive (I have had to up my game on this one, in the age of twitter, people become very impatient).
5. Definitely have a selection of easy-listening "spanishy" pieces that everybody knows. You can lead with them and spread them throughout your rep while playing the stuff you actually like inbetween. Unless it is a concert where people are actually listening.
6. Find out who is getting gigs and get lessons from them (pay them). You may very well happen to become friends and might do duos, or he might give you his extras. This has worked for me with two people. Be aware there is also a second effect, and that's that he might not respect your playing as much because he knows your weakness intimately! But I think that is outweighed by the benefits.
_____________________________
Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it.
https://www.facebook.com/migueldemariaZ
Arizona Wedding Music Guitar
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Mar. 29 2013 14:37:24
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Mark2
Posts: 1871
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
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RE: Advice on Gig marketing (in reply to Ricardo)
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I've told this story before, but I did exactly that at a wedding reception. As the party entered the room I played the malaguena lick-they were so happy they were literally conga lining their way into the room.
I'd about had it with the gig at that point, which is messed up because it was the first tune. Or maybe I was just in a pissy mood, so I went right into bulerias, knowing the train was going to roll right off the tracks, and it did, as they realized they could no longer feel the beat. It was like they were groovin one minute and the next it was like a room full of people dancing with no rhythm at all. It was hilarious, to me anyway. When you reach that level of cynicism, it's time to stop the bus and get off.
Thanks for the shout out Miguel-some good ideas you have as well.
Your absolutely right-take lessons from the better players in town. They will help you. I studied with almost everyone in my area at one point or another, and some of them gave me work in addition to sharing their knowledge.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ricardo
[
Or do like sabicas and just play the main part like an intro that they recognize and after they clap like monkeys that found a banana tree, just let it morph into a real flamenco solo like fandango or real malagueña or solea, what ever the HELL you want.
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Date Mar. 29 2013 15:19:31
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Mark2
Posts: 1871
Joined: Jul. 12 2004
From: San Francisco
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RE: Advice on Gig marketing (in reply to RibNibbler)
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Excellent advice. I don't regret the time I spent playing mindless background music-I usually found a way to enjoy myself, and the money helped put two kids through college, pay mortgages, vacations, stuff like that. I've seen some very good musicians, way better than me, playing gigs where people were giving no attention or respect, so whatever maestro. But ultimately, I agree, it isn't worth it. But to each his own.
quote:
ORIGINAL: RibNibbler
Or you could just work hard and focus on not becoming a purveyor of mindless background music for people eating, drinking and talking... its definitely another option one has.
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Mar. 29 2013 22:28:27
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