How to Get Booked in Bars - How it REALLY works 

Finally, some good advice! I always tell every venue I contact that I can do last-minute gigs and I've scored MANY gigs this way.

One of your videos appeared in my RU-vid feed today. I watched it and every point you made was spot on. Then more of your videos started appearing. I found them all to be in line with my experiences as a performing musician for 43 years. Also, your content brought back many fond memories of so many wonderful experiences through the years and of what a wonderful, life long gift parents give their children when they foster and support an interest in live music. On your subject in this video, here are a few of my tips based on experience regarding how to get your band established gigging in clubs. I'm listing them in order of importance. 1. Have enough songs, well rehearsed, tight, and time verified, to fill the hours the club owner needs you to fill, plus 4 or 5 more songs. Musicians usually play faster when they're nervous and when the show goes well and they're having fun. Don't learn a dozen songs and think you can wing it by dragging out solos, repeating choruses, and talking between songs. You won't get repeat gigs doing that. And a gig is a show, not a practice session at a new location. 2. Be polite and efficient when introducing yourself for the first time. Don't waste the club owners time. Be confident in yourselves, but not cocky. Be prepared upon arrival with a good 2 minute cell phone recording consisting of 20 seconds worth of your best 6 songs of varying styles. Ask if it would be ok to email this file to the business to be listened to at the owner's convenience. And 2 minutes is enough to show him what he can expect. Let the owner know you are interested in any cancellation dates and have your contact information ready to pass on. And don't show up in pajamas or sweatpants and ask for a gig. You won't get one. Respect the integrity of the establishment you want to do business with. Look and act professional. 3. Be prepared to show up early to allow time for load in, setup, and for any problems or malfunctions that occur. They will occur. Start the show on time and in tune. Don't dally between songs and bore the audience. Engage the audience, get them involved, but keep the music coming. Arrange a number of your songs so that you can go out of one directly into the other without stopping. This is very effective at the start of each set. 4. Do your utmost to never cancel a gig. A fishing trip with friends on the same date you've already accepted a gig IS NOT an acceptable excuse to cancel. Cancel your first gig at a venue, you won't get another one. 5. Don't get drunk or high during the show. You'll be getting paid for a sober, professional performance, not an embarrassing sloppy mess. 6. Scout other accomplished bands and note the good and the not so good aspects of their gigs. Apply what you learn from them to make your band better. 7. Conduct yourself in such a way that club owners, other musicians, club customers, music store owners, sound technicians, and everyone else you come into contact with in your musical journey leaves with a positive impression of you and the belief that you can be trusted and relied upon. Do these things, and you will get bookings and repeat dates. You'll get off on a good footing. Good luck!

He’s back!!!! Yay!!

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you for the advice.

Great information, straight to the point! Thanks.

Thank you for this video! Very helpful and informative.

Its nice to get straight forward useful advice for a change...I have a 3 piece blue /rock outfit and our drummer does the bookings and is good at it.ive always had a hard time with it but hearing your advice gives me hope. Some day I may have to handle so I really enjoyed this video!

Just discovered your channel, good stuff!

This was very helpful brother, thank you for the knowledge . BOOM !

Awesome tutorial!!!

This was so helpful. I have a saxophone quartet and I am so glad I saw this video so I would not have just tried to sell gigs

Great video, I appreciate your thoughts and experience and some of the comments from others.

New sub appreciating your insight. Saving ti to come back and watch in more detail. Have you on notification so will be back often, Keep posting.🤠😎👋👋👍🎸Always listening to the end.

Great video with useful tips

I love your videos!

Forgot to mention they will book you on Mondays to see how you do and then slowly move you towards busy days.

That’s crazy I did this exact thing earlier and this this pops up. I guess I came up with a g pod plan.

Great info!

Thank you for this wonderful video. Where I live here in South Florida many of the venues now leave the booking to usually one of the musicians who plays there regularly or someone they know who knows the music community. It's difficult to get in unless you can get in contact with that person and become friendly. Been very challenging

Great Video! I like your channel and the awesome ideas you're sharing. Hey. Here's a thought. If you're new and don't have a live video, consider playing a couple of open mics. Maybe bring a buddy to shoot videos?

Big thanks

Website looks great and I have much respect for you! I really love your original music Brian, stellar!! However, I was wondering how to promote myself and only promote my original music with licensing contracts for marketing and advertising videos, etc.? That's what I am trying to do and I haven't been able to make a dime. Playing out isn't good for me?

Please keep making videos, I have made a few myself. Good stuff! I just realized something... I have EXACTLY half as many subscribers as you do...as of this post, I have 445 and you have 890...my subscription put you at 890!

Not a bar back in any establishment does the booking for entertainment! And be confident and assured ask if they have any openings in their band schedule don't ask to be filled in if someone cancels. Always put yourself first if someone cancels they will call you. And don't under charge!

We weasel our way in... its a struggle. Then we kill. We pack it. One night i counted 35 beer kegs going through the back door. Thats $6k in beer profit. We got $350. And they ghosted us and went back to the friend of the owners band that everyone is sick of. They suck and never practice

My issue is not me understanding this it’s the people I work with…..

Korg Triton Crew

Come over to the United Kingdom and put your ideas to the test.