ROCK n’ Roll dreams – where are they these days? The reality is a rocky road of graft for some cash in the bank and a long shift of forever chasing the golden ticket but we can take it – we’re musicians. So what’s the next useful and practical step to surviving?
How are we all going to get paid gigs if we’re not famous already?
let’s be honest
First of all it’s going to really help you if you learn a shed load of popular covers. As that songwriter and singer who wanted to be the next red headed acoustic Sheeran superstar playing on your own at Glastonbury, well you’re going to have to suck it up, swallow it, eat it and like it.
I mean you might be brilliant but it’s highly likely that you’re going to have to play other people’s songs to get any paid gigs. If you’re not careful you may even end up playing the same songs as every other working musician out there designed to please the popular tastes of the day and win that gig. No matter how bored you are of hearing them yourself.
Even then it won’t guarantee that anyone will be the slightest bit interested in who you are in bars in Chorley or Wigan or wherever. They might not even look at you never mind applaud or smile. They might even shout so loudly over the top of you, you can’t even hear yourself think. They might even take the mic off you and walk of with it.
But don’t despair
Sometimes people are so decent and friendly that you end up having those warm, special fuzzy experiences you’ll never wish to forget. You’ll end up being invited into people’s houses, playing at important events in their lives and bringing up a those close emotional attachments people have to their favourite hits and even some cheers, respect and adoration – if you like that kind of thing. Certainly appreciation.
I’ve had more than enough free drinks to last a lifetime, met everyone through music including all my girlfriends and so many of my great friends. The best feeling in the world can be that moment when you come together with other great musicans and play with true soul and emotion. It can all pay off.
The solo covers gigs tighten up your performances, toughen you up emotionally and help you to read audiences, give you some cash to keep going and help you gain real confidence in your own ability to sing and play through masses of live practice of everything you can ever think of playing ever.
The best trick for you, is to find audiences that like your original music and covers that truly mean something to you – when that happens it’s bliss. But unfortunately you can’t rely on it. So if you despise Oasis, shudder inside at the touching of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline or convulse at John Denver singalong moments – maybe think twice about hoping for too many paid gigs. Unless you truly are exceptional.
Otherwise don your protective thick skin suit, be prepared for people who maybe don’t want to like you or maybe they love you. They might want you to thank them for the opportunity to play for nothing. The audience might make you feel emotionally used up. Then again they might make you think that all that practice was worth while after all.
Join a music agency – well yeah I can tell you from experience that works. You want cash for playing your thing you can get it but I’d be lying if I said it was an easy choice.
It can work. It can be fun. It does pay from £50 to occasionally £200 even for an individual. It is constantly exhausting, unreliable, random and will it cover your mobile phone, guitar gear, monthly netflix subscription, petrol and the odd coffee never mind your rent and bills?
The people who manage it are amazing and resilient though I’ve only ever met a chosen few who can do it and hang onto their long term morale with a mix of weddings, guitar teaching, function gigs, paid gigs and ususally a job on the side – whatever cover up fronts they allow you to believe in. It’s a tough club to belong to and it deserves the respect that it doesn’t often get.
Lastminutemusicians has paid for itself – just about for me and I can recommend it as a straightforward way of getting gigs as long as you pitch yourself effectively on the site. Check out their well intentioned advice.
https://www.lastminutemusicians.com/how_to_get_gigs/
“Agencies often get bad press from musicians that don’t understand the benefits a good agent can offer. As well as offering great customer service and preparing paperwork, good agencies also provide a great promotional platform for bands to get noticed and enable them to maximise their workload, getting bigger and better paid gigs.” (lastminutemusicians)
You have to present yourself as you truly are not as you want to be. Having been at this since 2005 I now have some profile pics, a paid for pro showreel video and some 170 songs at the ready. Like I said at the start – it wasn’t easy.
https://www.lastminutemusicians.com/how_to_get_gigs/joining-a-live-music-agency/
https://www.lastminutemusicians.com/members/mikekneafsey.html
We’re talking around £50 to join for 6 months and once you’ve got that gig for £160 you’ve paid it off – kind of. The pro video and profile pics, transport, time, equipment, practice means that it’s not really a bread winner for me – but check it out just the same.
Compared to most random gigs in north west pubs though I’ve found these gigs to be friendly and pleasant. Perhaps because they are through a well established online agency.
Next up is Encore for Musicans. https://encoremusicians.com/Mike-Kneafsey
Personally I’m looking for feedback with this site. It’s different from lastminute musicians in that you don’t pay a fee but Encore take commission from every gig. The dificulty I found with this is how time consuming it might be to get the hang of it if you’re not certain of being able to pitch yourself to the audience looking for gigs.
You need a bunch of testimonials and you need to pitch for each function gig individually which I haven’t even tried yet. I feel as if you commit to online sites and it can be a constant sensation of doing long term unpaid work. We have to choose where to focus our attention to get the best results without being over worked for no pay.
I’ve not got round to this one yet. So all feedback is welcome?
Finally for today. I have to say a couple of years ago I joined forces with an agency set up by other musicians in Lancashire called It’s Live https://www.facebook.com/UKItsLive/
Basically the idea is other musicians take commission for finding you gigs and setting them up for you faster than you could find them for yourself. Along with teaching guitar, finding your own gigs and running nights – it has proved to be a reasonably consistent form of income and opportunity to gain experience and contacts and get out there.
I guess that’s the main thing – to get out there.
(next up – 2. Networking, word of mouth)
check out my songs, set lists, press pack and videos as examples
https://sweeneyastraymusic.com/home
The Music Workers Diary 