Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Keep slogging! Seriously, it ain't easy. Clubs use booking agents for the same reason landlords use real estate agents - to screen out the 'riff-raff'. Put a comprehensive press pack together - including a DVD and CD, photos of your band in action and links to your online videos and music, FB page, etc. and keep sending them to the agents. Most will look at your online link for less than a minute to make a quick judgement on whether you deserve any further attention, so make sure you've got your best stuff ready.

If your music regularly attracts large crowds, you don't need to hunt for an agent because they will hunt you. If your music does not attract crowds, they are not interested. Agents are a lot like banks. The time when they are most interested in doing business is when you don't really need them.

We had a good relationship with a few booking agents over the years and they were effective at keeping the performance fees relatively high and bringing regular bookings. Now days online virtual agencies like Gigmasters and Gig Salad are pretty effective for a monthly fee.

Cajundaddy wrote:If your music regularly attracts large crowds, you don't need to hunt for an agent because they will hunt you. If your music does not attract crowds, they are not interested. Agents are a lot like banks. The time when they are most interested in doing business is when you don't really need them.

We had a good relationship with a few booking agents over the years and they were effective at keeping the performance fees relatively high and bringing regular bookings. Now days online virtual agencies like Gigmasters and Gig Salad are pretty effective for a monthly fee.

What he said.


I don't know where in Florida you are located, but the competition for the kind of gigs you're looking for is intense, due to the large number of retired musicians that settle here. Many are from Vegas and the NYC club scene, and they are total pros.

You say you're looking for “...clubs, casinos and other upscale establishments ...”. That's a tall order. Are you on that level? Do you have a verifiable track record? Can you command the big bucks? Even if the agent is getting 15%, you have to be generating large coin before an agent will lift an eyebrow.

Is this a hobby, or do you make your living playing music? If it's a hobby, promote and book yourself. If you're any good, you don't need an agent. If you're great, you probably already have one.


Regards,

Bob

When you're dealing with a high profile establishment, they can't afford a bad night because a band was terrible, so they only use groups who are obvious entertainment professionals.

Dead giveaway that you aren't? You're only looking local.

Professional groups aren't asking "if" they can be booked. Someone is making the calls and the only question is what date works best...

They are on tour, working with professionals in the industry where their "product" is a commodity (clubs, casinos, conventions, etc) and even then it's tough for them to break into that clique.

As an entrepreneur, I've always thought that the best way is to BE the promoter. Find the venue, make the ticket rules, promote the show. Be creative.

But I've been in Florida for a few weeks now and have no problem finding local bands playing out in Orlando, San Augustine, Jacksonville, Tampa, Tallahassee, Pensacola. So it sounds like you might be shooting too high for now. Make some noise down in the trenches and the doors leading to the boardwalk will start to open