One of my favorite gig memories was making friends with the sound guy during set up....playing first and then having the sound guy list off all of his complaints about how the other bands took too long to set up, how they were all unprofessional assholes, how they didn't know how their own gear worked....and how bad we made them look by being none of those things.
I used to rehearse everything I’d say on stage; every little bit of banter and segway for merch plugs. But no matter how well I nailed what I rehearsed it always came across as rehearsed. It wasn’t until I started just talking off the cuff, showing my awkwardness, and being authentic that crowds started resonating with me. Moral of the story: don’t overly rehearse and plan out every little thing you’re gonna say on stage. Be authentic, be real, be yourself.
I have played open mics in front of 150 people partying their ass off and got great videos of the band and the drunk audience. It works ! Open mics are a great way to get to club gigs and meet other musicians
One tip: Go to the venue and just have a beer. Talk to the bartender and try to meet people there. Be friendly. On the second time you go, hit em with the pitch :)
@@officialWWM Ah man. Sorry to hear that brother. Watching so many friends who are already fighting for survival, getting wrecked over night was awful. We are working behind the scenes and will come out even stronger
This is all incredibly great information and advice. I think that even above and beyond all of these very detrimental tactics is for the musicians to have a great image, to stay in great physical shape, to have a hairstyle that is not "normal". To fit in is to not be interesting enough to look at on a stage, and having people/clients who actually want to watch you and your show because you look good is unequivocally vital.
pre gigs: 1. marketing, based on fact, gigs come from gigs, someone to catch awesomeness, instagram story 2. contacable, responsiveness during gigs: better performance, song, rehearse after gigs:
Not that I’m anyone to give tips but Damo asked so here we go! The main thing I would say to acoustic or folky musicians like myself is be as visible as possible. Any gig, any show play it no matter the price. My mate and I have been popping over 150 gigs a year as our duo for the last 3 years (we won’t this year this Corona shit-show will see to that). For the first 2 years we played anything we could get our hands on whilst running our day jobs. Beer festivals for £20 each or for nothing, open mic nights, we just wanted to be seen. At about 1.5 years worth of work bookings started properly coming in and we snow balled from there and I went full time. We did so with very little online presence or advertising. It was all word of mouth and kind of just happened organically. We’re only a small time duo based in North Devon but until the pubs shut we had/have a great little gig circuit and because there are only two of us we could play all of the tiny local pubs and bars full bands don’t fit in as well as weddings and bigger venues. Also because there is only 2 of us finically more viable than a full band. Lastly, do not underestimate the power of busking. You can go from no one knowing a thing about you to fully booked quickly if you’ve got cards for them to take etc. It’s like a shop window for what you do. Don’t think about what’s in the hat at the end of the session, think of it as free advertising.
BE FUN WITH THE STAFF/CREW!!! If you play somewhere that is only half filled but you were fun with the crew, so the booker/manager/owner will ask THEM out it went. And they’ll say « It wasn’t full, but they are really good. Soon enough, they’ll be big and it will be full in here. If you were full but a bunch of assholes that left a mess behind and had diva requests, they’ll be like « Yeah it was full, but it was hard working with them and artists that can be fun AND can fill this place are legion. We can’t continue without having them back. » Help them. From the box office to the lighting technician. And they’ll become fans also.
Haha, we are just starting our social media pages but still watch this video! (In fact, I even watched your videos before joining any band 😄) Every video is a gem!
Another cool tip is to link any music you've released on any streaming platform when emailing a venue. If you don't have any music out yet, you could record a good demo or a pre-production of one of your own songs, or a cover if you haven't written any songs yet. My point is, if you have a really good recording at the ready, you can easily send a copy to a venue and they can give it a listen and see if they like it. The better the recording sounds, the more likely the venue will hire you.
As soo as this pandemic inconvenience is over (hope you're all OK) we are going to put american-frat style house party all our friends and have a gig there. Lots of great content.
I’ve had a similar plan for myself and group. I want to have “block parties” that are free to enter and for other artists to perform at while also playing actual gigs.
Being chill and patient with the sound guy and stage-staff, even if it takes too long for your liking to hook up a DI or finding a broken connector or making your 65 fender twin to sound like it sounds in the basement of your grandmas house. Give them clear directions if something is bothering you, but please be polite give them time, and give them room and don't be a dic*. They are the ones who controll literally the sound of your band. If you are a complete a**hole, they can just make your show sound tiny, underpowered or plain painful by a press of a button. But having good relations can give you some boost. Be as close and as chill with the bar crew as possible. Those guys can really hype up your show and those are the ones that will remember and mention your name if a venue needs a band. Besides that, if the bar crew is on your side, you don't run out of drinks at least ;)
Gig Sharing is the best way to get gigs outside of your home town. If you do a bit of research, find a band that would be a good genre fit, approach them with the prospect of swapping a show with them. Hire a venue and put on a show with a couple of great bands. It's a win win situation.
Excellent information. Even inspirational. One nitpick, I have to say that the video is gorgeous in stark contrast to really echoey audio. Even a lavalier mic is vastly better than what is on that video.
to get as many gigs as possible: the only way i have seen it happen is to play amazingly, every time you go on stage, and every song builds the crowd to where you take them into a place where anything you play will be danced and enjoyed.....very little mistakes by band members and carefully selected set list.....i love it when we can make this happen....then someone from the crowd will recommend we talk to someone else that has a bar...etc...word of mouth....
1000th like on this one! :-) More great advice, and certainly something that some bands need reminding of from time to time. Rockstar dickhead bullshit can absolutely do one, and people / promoters / venues / other bands talk to each other, and if someone was a knobhead, especially if it's a headliner, you can be sure that knowledge will be spread around.
i only have one problem with staying with the crowd after the show....since i am the singer, i kill my voice if i drink and talk in the bar before or after the gig....the drummer and guitar player can do this...but not me.....not because i am this rock star, but because i want to be able to sing the next night and be great....if i destroy my voice, it will take about a week for me to be able to sing again........just my two cents....cheers!
I do all of this stuff, as a solo musician, but still nothing. I don’t know what to do anymore. Im somehow doing better with art than music, despite being A LOT better at music than art.
Can't say I have any particular tricks at point, because I haven't got booked for much other than festivals and open mic nights. Before the 'Rona hit, I was really pushing to get a support slot for another act. Part of it's because I don't have much live experience and am trying to get more. But I think part of the problem for me may also be genre. I'm a dance/electronic artist in a local scene largely dominated by rappers, acoustic acts or rock bands. Throw in the fact my image is very androgynous and it seems people don't know quite where to place me: I perform with dancers to tracks (I'd love a backing band, but that costs $) so i'm not a band or a hip hop act. I also wear makeup and nails onstage, but am not a drag act (gowns, lip synching etc). So I'm struggling to find my own lane. I have done the highlight reel though, and it's gotten a positive response
I love the show reel idea, that's really cool! My question is what camera would you suggest? I know iPhone have decent cameras, but would they give you the kind of quality you would want for a show reel?
The only problem is that no artist is gonna be able to book gigs for a long, long time. I work in the live music and sports business (arena/stadium management) and I can honestly tell you that I think all of 2020 is out of the question for concerts or sporting events. Hate to sound so pessimistic but it’s my gut feeling that we need to look towards 2021 and not simply later this year.
The multiverse theory of Gigs, I love it. Also, during the COVID lockdown, how would I convince a friend for a jam session? I know I should probably practice in my room, but damn, I've been doing that for 3 years and haven't gotten very far alone.
Jamming in person isn't a good idea right now. you coukd do something like record one instrument, send them the recording and get them to play over it and send it back to you. just keep adding stuff to it until something that can be turned into a song emerges.
This day and age ( 2020 pandemic) no one emails you back, let alone calls you one the phone and says HEY, we need a band. :( especially being the new kid on the block.and just because you had 50 + people at one venues doesn't mean that you will have that again? great vid though and great tips.
I know it doesn’t exactly have audience going wild anyway but I thought of asking some to film/photo me playing at open mics. For footage/pics for Instagram and other socials etc. but I haven’t had the gaul to do it. I just thought it would look narcissistic and arrogant and my street cred would be in tatters! If only you could film your set secretly. :-)
All my friends have had there gigs cancelled. Looks like corona is the death nail for live music and probably your channel. Maybe you should do a video on how sometimes bad luck plays it’s part in whatever you do
Jim Laslett hi Jim, what’s the point in me doing that video if you are right and not only is this the death of live music but also my channel?! Have you had all your gigs cancelled as well?
Damian Keyes I just watched rick beato and Marie spender chatting about there TH-cam careers and I thought how sad that people are more interested in watching brilliant musicians talk instead of listening to there music. So I decided to listen to Miles Davis ( the real deal) Hope your channel survives 👍
If anyone survives, I imagine it will be the ones who have a good attitude and are proactively working on their brands in quarantine. This virus is an amazing opportunity for musicians to hunker down, master their craft and create some magic in the studio and on social media, and I really imagine when this is all over you're going to hear some amazing music coming out.
Don't have a band ? want to get that cool footage of you jamming? = i suggest open mic nights , some of the best musicians around show up and back you. for free! you must be willing to put up with a long solo in the song as every one wants to be a star ! lol They usually let you play 3 songs . dress for success, film it , say your name 3 times ,play your best songs, work the crowd . get the crowd excited . post it on socials ! network with other musicians, and don't be a wanker ! support other bands , P.S keep it in your paints.. lol
Cool vid but a sad truth. Ask money on the first gig. The truth is that no one would hire you to entertain their costumers if you are not worth your paycheck. I mean just imagine that you manage a venue with 600 people, and you need to take a band in. Are you willing to make those 600 costumers have a bad experience just to save 600 dollars? BS
One of my favorite gig memories was making friends with the sound guy during set up....playing first and then having the sound guy list off all of his complaints about how the other bands took too long to set up, how they were all unprofessional assholes, how they didn't know how their own gear worked....and how bad we made them look by being none of those things.
Being extra nice, helpful and flexible to bar staff. That comes back to the owner who will then ask us back.
I used to rehearse everything I’d say on stage; every little bit of banter and segway for merch plugs. But no matter how well I nailed what I rehearsed it always came across as rehearsed. It wasn’t until I started just talking off the cuff, showing my awkwardness, and being authentic that crowds started resonating with me. Moral of the story: don’t overly rehearse and plan out every little thing you’re gonna say on stage. Be authentic, be real, be yourself.
I have played open mics in front of 150 people partying their ass off and got great videos of the band and the drunk audience. It works ! Open mics are a great way to get to club gigs and meet other musicians
Open mics go a long way as far as networking/getting gigs goes.
Agreed
I've done hundreds of open mics and never even seen a booker at any of them
@@keithstewartcruden yikes
@@keithstewartcruden really?
One tip: Go to the venue and just have a beer. Talk to the bartender and try to meet people there. Be friendly. On the second time you go, hit em with the pitch :)
I'll bookmark this for a year or so if venues reopen by then. Cheers!
Yikes. Let's hope that it doesn;t take that long haha
Apollo Suns it will probably be longer...
@@officialWWM Yup. Just trying to stay positive and hopeful as 30+ USA/CAN dates got destroyed and we need to remain positive
Apollo Suns I feel you mate. As a live music promoter, my business died overnight :/
@@officialWWM Ah man. Sorry to hear that brother. Watching so many friends who are already fighting for survival, getting wrecked over night was awful.
We are working behind the scenes and will come out even stronger
This is all incredibly great information and advice. I think that even above and beyond all of these very detrimental tactics is for the musicians to have a great image, to stay in great physical shape, to have a hairstyle that is not "normal". To fit in is to not be interesting enough to look at on a stage, and having people/clients who actually want to watch you and your show because you look good is unequivocally vital.
Thanks so much, it definitely helps to be an interesting artist as its a fashion based industry and people get drawn to the remarkable 🙂🙂
pre gigs:
1. marketing, based on fact, gigs come from gigs, someone to catch awesomeness, instagram story
2. contacable, responsiveness
during gigs:
better performance, song, rehearse
after gigs:
connect with audience
Not that I’m anyone to give tips but Damo asked so here we go! The main thing I would say to acoustic or folky musicians like myself is be as visible as possible. Any gig, any show play it no matter the price. My mate and I have been popping over 150 gigs a year as our duo for the last 3 years (we won’t this year this Corona shit-show will see to that). For the first 2 years we played anything we could get our hands on whilst running our day jobs. Beer festivals for £20 each or for nothing, open mic nights, we just wanted to be seen. At about 1.5 years worth of work bookings started properly coming in and we snow balled from there and I went full time. We did so with very little online presence or advertising. It was all word of mouth and kind of just happened organically. We’re only a small time duo based in North Devon but until the pubs shut we had/have a great little gig circuit and because there are only two of us we could play all of the tiny local pubs and bars full bands don’t fit in as well as weddings and bigger venues. Also because there is only 2 of us finically more viable than a full band.
Lastly, do not underestimate the power of busking. You can go from no one knowing a thing about you to fully booked quickly if you’ve got cards for them to take etc. It’s like a shop window for what you do. Don’t think about what’s in the hat at the end of the session, think of it as free advertising.
great advice
A "how to do the perfect press release in 2020" video is where? Seriously tho damo, keep this up. You have no idea how much it benefits everyone!!
BE FUN WITH THE STAFF/CREW!!!
If you play somewhere that is only half filled but you were fun with the crew, so the booker/manager/owner will ask THEM out it went. And they’ll say « It wasn’t full, but they are really good. Soon enough, they’ll be big and it will be full in here.
If you were full but a bunch of assholes that left a mess behind and had diva requests, they’ll be like « Yeah it was full, but it was hard working with them and artists that can be fun AND can fill this place are legion. We can’t continue without having them back. »
Help them. From the box office to the lighting technician. And they’ll become fans also.
Just coming across this video. And I'm proud to know that I do all of these things already, Naturally.
Haha, we are just starting our social media pages but still watch this video! (In fact, I even watched your videos before joining any band 😄) Every video is a gem!
This is incredible advice, thank you so much
your story has me LOL🤣..great message btw
I go online and go to Facebook and other online sources for Open Mic Events in the cities I’m in, make a list and go from there.
The 60 second highlight reel is a brilliant idea - Thank you for the tip man! Keep it up Damian!!
Elon musk of the music industry right here.... hahaha \m/
Another cool tip is to link any music you've released on any streaming platform when emailing a venue. If you don't have any music out yet, you could record a good demo or a pre-production of one of your own songs, or a cover if you haven't written any songs yet. My point is, if you have a really good recording at the ready, you can easily send a copy to a venue and they can give it a listen and see if they like it. The better the recording sounds, the more likely the venue will hire you.
Amazing advice, definitely using these tips when venues are open again! hopefully will take my band to the next level!
We have used all of these and they work really well. It takes time but works so well!
Your videos are keeping me sane during all this buddy! 😂
What a great guideline and check list to be prepared thank you
This is excellent!.. I haven't even got half way and its dead on..thanks!
As soo as this pandemic inconvenience is over (hope you're all OK) we are going to put american-frat style house party all our friends and have a gig there. Lots of great content.
I’ve had a similar plan for myself and group. I want to have “block parties” that are free to enter and for other artists to perform at while also playing actual gigs.
Thanks a lot for powerful info‼️
Does mean if you go backstage for 10 min. And then go into the crowd they'll forget who you are? Instead of going into the crowd right after the show?
Thank you so much! As an artist in a brand new band with only a few gigs under our belt this will help us so much going forward!
Were you and the band able to get more gigs? Please share your experience
Being chill and patient with the sound guy and stage-staff, even if it takes too long for your liking to hook up a DI or finding a broken connector or making your 65 fender twin to sound like it sounds in the basement of your grandmas house. Give them clear directions if something is bothering you, but please be polite give them time, and give them room and don't be a dic*. They are the ones who controll literally the sound of your band. If you are a complete a**hole, they can just make your show sound tiny, underpowered or plain painful by a press of a button. But having good relations can give you some boost.
Be as close and as chill with the bar crew as possible. Those guys can really hype up your show and those are the ones that will remember and mention your name if a venue needs a band.
Besides that, if the bar crew is on your side, you don't run out of drinks at least ;)
Great advice! Thanks for this 🙂🙂
Thank you!!
A wealth of experience and knowledge. Great tips!
the content keeping us all going during this lockdown x
Gig Sharing is the best way to get gigs outside of your home town. If you do a bit of research, find a band that would be a good genre fit, approach them with the prospect of swapping a show with them. Hire a venue and put on a show with a couple of great bands. It's a win win situation.
yes we can sound amazing....yes we can practice more....would love to tour and play live....tbanks for the ideas!
Wow. Very eye-opening. Thank you for sharing
you are good in this sir,you know your story
Thank you for sharing!
I learnt so much from this bideo
yeah, lyrically...
Great content Damian.
Excellent information. Even inspirational. One nitpick, I have to say that the video is gorgeous in stark contrast to really echoey audio. Even a lavalier mic is vastly better than what is on that video.
to get as many gigs as possible: the only way i have seen it happen is to play amazingly, every time you go on stage, and every song builds the crowd to where you take them into a place where anything you play will be danced and enjoyed.....very little mistakes by band members and carefully selected set list.....i love it when we can make this happen....then someone from the crowd will recommend we talk to someone else that has a bar...etc...word of mouth....
straight up
1000th like on this one! :-) More great advice, and certainly something that some bands need reminding of from time to time. Rockstar dickhead bullshit can absolutely do one, and people / promoters / venues / other bands talk to each other, and if someone was a knobhead, especially if it's a headliner, you can be sure that knowledge will be spread around.
All good points!
that was awesome
Thanks man! If you need a singer for the season, just jokin😂
i only have one problem with staying with the crowd after the show....since i am the singer, i kill my voice if i drink and talk in the bar before or after the gig....the drummer and guitar player can do this...but not me.....not because i am this rock star, but because i want to be able to sing the next night and be great....if i destroy my voice, it will take about a week for me to be able to sing again........just my two cents....cheers!
THANKS SO MUCH
I do all of this stuff, as a solo musician, but still nothing. I don’t know what to do anymore. Im somehow doing better with art than music, despite being A LOT better at music than art.
Can't say I have any particular tricks at point, because I haven't got booked for much other than festivals and open mic nights. Before the 'Rona hit, I was really pushing to get a support slot for another act. Part of it's because I don't have much live experience and am trying to get more. But I think part of the problem for me may also be genre. I'm a dance/electronic artist in a local scene largely dominated by rappers, acoustic acts or rock bands. Throw in the fact my image is very androgynous and it seems people don't know quite where to place me: I perform with dancers to tracks (I'd love a backing band, but that costs $) so i'm not a band or a hip hop act. I also wear makeup and nails onstage, but am not a drag act (gowns, lip synching etc). So I'm struggling to find my own lane. I have done the highlight reel though, and it's gotten a positive response
I love your program boss this nice yes
I love the show reel idea, that's really cool! My question is what camera would you suggest? I know iPhone have decent cameras, but would they give you the kind of quality you would want for a show reel?
Planning my own live shows for a socially distanced crowd because nobody is booking locally right now. Cheers Damo! 🐒
can you do a video where you find a person a gig that is not using your name as a promotion, just using your tips
The only problem is that no artist is gonna be able to book gigs for a long, long time. I work in the live music and sports business (arena/stadium management) and I can honestly tell you that I think all of 2020 is out of the question for concerts or sporting events. Hate to sound so pessimistic but it’s my gut feeling that we need to look towards 2021 and not simply later this year.
Good call but turns out the wait was even longer! Fingers crossed for this year 🙏
Vlog ur show and edith it like a pro .....send it to clubs LET'S GOOO 🕺
The multiverse theory of Gigs, I love it.
Also, during the COVID lockdown, how would I convince a friend for a jam session? I know I should probably practice in my room, but damn, I've been doing that for 3 years and haven't gotten very far alone.
Just stay home. If we all do so, this shit will end sooner and you'll be able to jam sooner
Jamming in person isn't a good idea right now. you coukd do something like record one instrument, send them the recording and get them to play over it and send it back to you. just keep adding stuff to it until something that can be turned into a song emerges.
This video was made on the day I knew two years of gigs were in jeopardy of getting cancelled...
if I have no gigs and I make a show reel can I used singing from instagram reels?
Damian, what platform do you recommand to host/sell a pre-recorded concert where fans pay and get access to the show for a limited time to watch it?
Where the hell are we going to get gigs in 2020? The whole world has shut down!
Which is the perfect time to promote your band, practice your craft, grow on social media. Since the whole world is on their devices now
This day and age ( 2020 pandemic) no one emails you back, let alone calls you one the phone and says HEY, we need a band. :( especially being the new kid on the block.and just because you had 50 + people at one venues doesn't mean that you will have that again? great vid though and great tips.
Is this for Original bands or Cover bands?
Ow WOW you good👍
CORONA VIRUS: who talking bout gigs here ??😂😂😂
How can you get people at your gig if you are new?
Friends and family
tips:
1:45
❤❤❤❤
1500 gigs a year? 🧐
Great video. I can underline every single sentence. Wanna team up?
I know it doesn’t exactly have audience going wild anyway but I thought of asking some to film/photo me playing at open mics. For footage/pics for Instagram and other socials etc. but I haven’t had the gaul to do it. I just thought it would look narcissistic and arrogant and my street cred would be in tatters! If only you could film your set secretly. :-)
"Roadhot"
All my friends have had there gigs cancelled. Looks like corona is the death nail for live music and probably your channel. Maybe you should do a video on how sometimes bad luck plays it’s part in whatever you do
Jim Laslett hi Jim, what’s the point in me doing that video if you are right and not only is this the death of live music but also my channel?!
Have you had all your gigs cancelled as well?
Damian Keyes I just watched rick beato and Marie spender chatting about there TH-cam careers and I thought how sad that people are more interested in watching brilliant musicians talk instead of listening to there music. So I decided to listen to Miles Davis ( the real deal)
Hope your channel survives 👍
Jim Laslett awesome! Thanks so much Jim I really appreciate that
If anyone survives, I imagine it will be the ones who have a good attitude and are proactively working on their brands in quarantine. This virus is an amazing opportunity for musicians to hunker down, master their craft and create some magic in the studio and on social media, and I really imagine when this is all over you're going to hear some amazing music coming out.
@blackwaterthreat what are you doing watching music marketing videos if you really believe that?
Don't have a band ? want to get that cool footage of you jamming? = i suggest open mic nights , some of the best musicians around show up and back you. for free! you must be willing to put up with a long solo in the song as every one wants to be a star ! lol They usually let you play 3 songs . dress for success, film it , say your name 3 times ,play your best songs, work the crowd . get the crowd excited . post it on socials ! network with other musicians, and don't be a wanker ! support other bands , P.S keep it in your paints.. lol
Primero :v
First
Simply does not apply to pub venues! Lets see how fast this gets removed!
Cool vid but a sad truth. Ask money on the first gig. The truth is that no one would hire you to entertain their costumers if you are not worth your paycheck. I mean just imagine that you manage a venue with 600 people, and you need to take a band in. Are you willing to make those 600 costumers have a bad experience just to save 600 dollars? BS
lol, bad timing
Thanks for sharing so much knowledge!!!
Awesome tips Damian!