i finally got a full 3-piece band together (took a few years) and ive been contacting places to try to get gigs. for those of you that are experienced giggers please give me some ideas or tactics on getting gigs and getting my music heard. thanks

-pat

Hell... Just starting out? Try to get on with other bands and play cheap, free, or even for beer... better yet... take a picture of a cardboard sign with the words "New Band... Will play for beer" and make that the cover for your promo pack... of course you will have to change it later, but it would make an impact...
You do have a promo pack right? if not make one...

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So. If you throw a cat out of a car window, is it considered "kitty litter"?

yeah, we're almost done making a promo pack we just need to take pictures. we've actually been playin for a while but just got serious about it a couple of months ago when face with the question of "what are we doing with our lives"

Find a promoter who will freely help you and if your any good one will because I am a Manager/promoter and I have help a few bands to get started.You will need a promo and a portfolio (a few color and a few black and whites).My first thought would be to get one to listen and give you an idea if you can make it after being together for such a short while.I helped the bands I have only because I believed they had their act together and thier music was of entertainment quality and saleable.The only fee I have ever charged was an agreement that they help out a new struggling band when asked. And as posted earlier be willing to start on the bottom and play freebees until you have paid your dues.

Yeah the manager dude is right.

Try to makes friends with other bands that have been around for a while and are familiar with the people that book shows at bars, I think thats the quickest way to do it. I've heard that from several people who are locally successful. So i'm not just talking

Also to add... When you get your promo pack together, and are passing it out to the local clubs, remember the guy who listens to them (usually the club owner or manager) is only going to give you about a 15 second listen, so put your best stuff first.. also don't think you are going to instantly pack in the clubs and get booked on a weekend date... for a VERY long time, you will be playing on like Wednesday night and be the opening slot for the Karaoke Contest. Make sure to be friendly to everyone that has anything to you being there to play... Definitely be friends with the guy running your lights and sound, you know like buy him a sandwich or shoot him a tip to show your appreciation on top of what you are probably having to pay him... This is the guy who can make you sound STELLAR, or make you sound like $hit... I have a buddy who is in a pretty popular band who one night insisted on pissing off the soundman when he asked him to turn his amp down a little... that whole night all the bands sounded awesome then when they "The Headlining Band" came on... well let's just say you could have farted into the mic and it would have sounded better... all the levels were f*cked, eq? Flat as a board... Hell you could barely hear the singer... Very quickly a fully packed house dwindled down to about 1/4 capacity... So in closing, the club pecking order is:

Club Owner
Sound man
Cute Bartender Chick
Cute Bartender Chick
Fans
Oh did I forget to mention the Cute Bartender Chick?

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So. If you throw a cat out of a car window, is it considered "kitty litter"?

My 3 piece started on our road to fame and fortune by hitting every open mike nite in any bar, bowling alley, BBQ joint, casino or beer joint. Dont get to hammered, be nice to the patrons, don't cop an attitude, have fun and dont take yourself to seriously. Sometimes the PA and sound will suck but don't whine and just do your best. We now have to turn down gigs. I really feel that even if the music isn't great but you have fun playing; you will be more sucessful than a band that is great sounding but has no stage presence. Laugh, joke with the audience and dont let the acasional jerk ruin an experience that in the long run is just for fun anway.