Why Aren't You Getting Gigs? The TRUTH Revealed!

[@RayPerkins01]

Spot on. I am in a pub band and I get the gigs for the band. I take the trouble to get around and speak to potential venues and ask for gigs. My success rate is around 50% and we get all the gigs we want. Musically, we are OK, but not brilliant - there are many bands on our circuit who are better than us. You have to be prepared to sell yourself. Also, don’t underprice yourself, if you don’t lose a few gigs on price, you are selling yourself too cheaply.

[@instrumentenfreak]

You don't have to be perfect. Be prepared and be a nice person. This is what gets you the gigs.

[@DevinShoulders]

Yes once I realized I didn’t have to be perfect I actually played better live. Odds are the mistakes aren’t picked up tbh

[@jeanramirez6441]

I have seen professional musicians make mistakes when they play. They just keep on going.

[@DevinShoulders]

@@jeanramirez6441 like what you gonna do walk off mid gig? Odds are it’s harder to reteach a new musician the music lol

[@jeanramirez6441]

@@DevinShoulders lol as a church leader in music when I messed up everybody is like you suck lol

[@DevinShoulders]

@@jeanramirez6441 I’m a band leader at my church too have been for 10 years. At this point if they say I suck they just sound crazy 🤣 church has this limitless high standard. At some point I was like I got a life outside of this, I’m not obsessing over every performance being perfect 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Santaheckler]

Two things I’ve observed here in my areas: 1. Communicate promptly. Nobody wants to call you several times or wait a week for a text regarding availability etc. They just move on. And good luck getting a second chance. Sure, you may not need the opportunity at the moment so you didn’t care. But you eventually will if your opportunity well runs dry…and the phone won’t ring. 2. Reciprocate. If someone gets you a gig or into a valuable relationship etc. keep them on your list to return the favor when you can. Always support those who support you. They will (hopefully) see this and more opportunities will come your way over time. But too many musicians just take and expect more to be given to them.

[@MarkSomosoMusic]

been following you since first 5 videos you made. great

[@everychordever4339]

Add "pick" to your list - Pick a style (or 2) that no one else is playing in your small city. There might be dozens of rock bands - how many reggae bands? How many country? Blues? Swing? How many are playing Halloween novelty hits around Halloween? Your city might not be big enough to have a full-time reggae fan base, but everyone loves it every once-in-a-while, and venues and touring reggae bands will make sure they have your info if you are 'it' in your area. You can still focus on rock, but having a country-blues set you can polish up when needed, can get more attention and gigs than a killer guitar solo - it's not either-or - it's this-but-also-that, and you can be the only band with a solid 'that' in your city.

[@Larrymh07]

Well stated! I'm not really an aficionado of Country music, but I love pedal steel guitar. That's on my list.

[@ChunterInfo]

*cough* The Blues Brothers doing Rawhide

[@everychordever4339]

@@ChunterInfo Exactly.

[@g.e.miller4335]

I've been told by a Broadway director that I have a "world class voice". When I auditioned for him and finished he said, "nobody in the world could have sung that better than you." The show closed in Chicago after 3 days. But a very funny thing happened to me - or with me. During the summer, I wanted to audition for a church choir, specifically a GOSPEL choir. They wanted me to audition. So I said sure, what song do you want me to sing? They said PARTY by Beyonce. Which is beyond ridiculous in itself. But the best part is that they sent me a guide track of a male tenor singing the part they wanted to hear from me, because they said "we sing harmony." So I listen to the track, and the male tenor sings virtually every note out of tune. I emailed them and asked "are you SURE you want me to sing it like that?" And they replied, "Yes, exactly like the voice on the tape." So I practised it over and over again until I could sing every note out of tune - in exactly the same way the guide track tenor sang it, with exactly the same notes flat, sharp, or just plainly the wrong note. So I go to the church to audition, and I say OK, who's singing with me? They said nobody. I said you wanted me to sing it in harmony. They said, for the audition they just wanted to hear my part. I asked if I could have the backing track playing so I knew when to sing each word, since the harmony is only sung at certain points in the song. They said no. So I said OK. And I sang the whole song completely out of tune, exactly the same way it was sung on the track they sent me. There were 9 people judging the quality of my singing, sitting there like it was the Inquisition, with the statue of the Virgin Mary towering over them. They said thank you we'll let you know. And I left. A few days latter I got an email from them that said I was lacking in musicality and there was no place for me in the choir. At the audition I recognized his voice - it was the choir master and lead tenor who was singing everything out of tune on the recording. Every time I think of any of this, I laugh. It was SO absurd. Some gigs YOU DON'T WANT TO GET.

[@JerBearJamz1]

Fifth! I am just starting out and have been carefully watching these videos, to make sure I try to do things right. Thanks!

[@CalvinLimSH-ld5le]

Thanks for sharing musicians by nature are very territory in their place where they gather and play together as a band. Breaking into their inner circle is sometime not easy and you need to have the right connections to join them. You got to be ready when opportunity comes when asked to show your musical skills and having the right equipment to play for the band. You must be punctual on time for practices and demonstrates that you can play well together with the rest of the band members. Having a social media on You tube does helps as people can see your musician skill set levels and what you know to get the job done. They don't have the time to teach you how to play and expects that you fit in immediately. That's the reason why you are called or not called for playing in the music circles.

[@rickgrebenikpuggles56]

My personality has a thorn in it people say, that's why I don't get gigs, I cut through the B.S!! People don't like that, I can play and sing with the best

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

Story of my entire career … there were hot times , but not many. Then I had a band that was getting national recognition , and Covid hit. We had 63 cancelled shows the first year. Band ended. And along with it my 45 year career.

[@lukehinkle9614]

Great advice!

[@elder826]

Musician just moved to a new state. Musicians here are a little "clickis..." Pretty good advice; I'm optimistic now!!

[@olanrewajuadagba955]

Thanks so much.

[@tomforsythe7024]

Here's my current situation: the music scene in my city sucks. The people who are getting gigs are lazy, addicted, and sloppy. They are late, play too much, too loud, and can't follow an arrangement. They don't even know what a tacet is. As a result, there are few venues that even hire bands, and the pay is lousy. And they don't even know that they're bad. I've done the corporate/casino/festival circuit, in the past, as a music director. I'm a solid arranger. Is there a way to help a band get up to professional standard, without making them hate me? I am much more diplomatic in person, than I am being here.

[@everychordever4339]

Get them gigs. Pay them well.

[@GuyMichelMusic]

Facts

[@TedTalksBass]

GAME

[@appleborn]

7:27 is this istanbul? The city that i live as a musician.

[@demetriccauthen-no1jy]

Peoples repetition to

[@mrserious55]

you dont have to be good to get gigs....I'm a pro and i see soo many incompetent players get gigs