Gigging covers everything that any band or solo artist needs to know about booking gigs, getting paid for those gigs, and how to get along with the sound engineer.
Wondering about whether or not to enter that Battle of the Bands?
Or how to win that competitive showcase?
Gigging has the answers.
Wondering what that music venue really wants from you?
What happens if you piss off the bartender?
Why didn’t you get a sound check?
Need some press?
Want to take your band to the next level?
Read this book and get the answers.
Topics covered include :
- Booking
- Battles of the bands
- Showcases
- Basic promotion
- Sound check
- Getting Paid
- Many more!
2nd Edition
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Now Also available for the KINDLE:
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2nd Edition includes 20 pages of new material!
Now Student-Friendly! (Clean language)
Read an Excerpt Here:
“Sooner or later every band will be invited to enter a Battle of the Bands. Each band struggles with the decision of whether or not they should enter.
We have been there and done that as everything from a spectator rooting for our favorites to being a judge and deciding who the winner will be. So we’re going to lay it all out there so you can make the best possible decision.
First off, our opinion, based on real life observations, is that there is usually only one band that walks away from any battle happy. That’s the winner. All the other bands walk away pissed off, angry and/or certain that the whole thing was unfair or even fixed. The only one who always comes out ahead is the venue and/or promoter who put the whole thing together. It doesn’t matter if it’s a local best blues band in the city battle or if it’s a National or even International competition, the people who put it together or sell beer to the fans are the only ones likely to make significant money. Sometimes even the winner walks away disappointed. The venue makes money because the bands are always encouraged to bring in as many people as possible to the event and the promoter makes money off the entrance fees or ticket sales.
Here are the things that any band should seriously consider before deciding to enter a Battle of the Bands.
How will the winner be judged?
This should be the first question any band asks before making a decision. Will you be judged on the quality of the music? Stage Presence? Crowd Response? Tickets sold? Originality? Skill? Songwriting? Performance? And don’t forget to follow up with “Who will be the judge(s)?” If the promoter can’t tell you exactly how the band will be judged at the time they book you, that’s a Big Red Flag that means you should probably sit this one out unless you can talk to some other bands that did the same battle last year and can tell you how it went.
Almost every battle uses some formula that is based on…”
Read the rest, buy the book here now!
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What they’re saying about Gigging:
“David Barber’s new book, “Gigging: The Book” is an informative, well written and helpful guide to new musicians and experienced ones alike. He gives lots of great ways for artists to improve their visibility, get fans to shows and great tips on how to create authentic, lasting relationships with talent buyers and venue owners. Plus, it’s got a great sense of humor to it as well!”
Nina Storey, Professional touring artist
“This book should undoubtedly be put in the hands of every musician aspiring to not only play great gigs, but to be viewed professionally in the whirlwind of an industry.”
Tim Wenger, Colorado Music Buzz
“Barber…does a good job at letting total newbies know what to expect when setting up or playing their first gig…”
Brian F. Johnson, Marquee Magazine
“The book is written with a direct voice, as if Barber is speaking directly to you
and your musical issues, and his years if experience come across clearly…”
– Westword
Dave Barber is a true-blue veteran of the Denver music scene. He has absorbed the realities of the music business from the ground up, being out there in the clubs night after night, observing bands, club owners, soundmen, waitresses and groupies act the hero and the fool-sometimes on the same night. His book, Gigging, is a nuts and bolts ABC of what to do, and even more importantly, what NOT to do as a beginning musician trying to break onto the local scene. His wisdom applies to any local scene, because it is simple and universal. This ain’t rocket-science, but if you don’t know how to call a booking agent, talk to the soundman or collect your dough at the end of the night it might as well be. I would suggest any inexperienced musician check out Dave’s book. If every young musician did, there would be a lot more successful bands and a lot fewer bored audiences. – Paul Epstein, Owner, Twist and Shout
Buy Gigging the book here now!
Get the answers you need to the following questions:
How do you book a gig?
What does the booking person really want to hear?
Why aren’t you getting repeat bookings?
Should you hire a booking agent?
How do you promote your gig?
Do you need a website?
Should you use Twitter? or Facebook? or any of the others?
How do you get publicity?
What is a press release?
What should you do to prepare for your upcoming gig?
Where do you load in?
What should you bring to the gig?
What does the sound guy do?
What is sound check?
What is a line check?
Should you sell merchandise?
How do you get paid?
What should you do if they try to rip you off?
What is your genre?
Should you enter a battle of the bands?
Who always wins battles of the bands?
What are showcases?
How can you get into a showcase?
Will there be a built-in crowd?
What is the Green room?
What is the green room for?
Should you get high in the green room?
What should you wear on stage?
All these questions and many more are answered in this book!