How often to reach out to a venue

[StringCanvas]

Hey all,
I was wondering your thoughts on how often/how many times to reach out to particular venues or people doing the booking. There's obviously a limit (you can't bother someone every five minutes). But like, let's say you've reached out to a place before and haven't heard back. OR, let's say you've talked to the promoter at a particular venue and they tell you to contact them, but then things fall off, OR you've played somewhere a few times before and are trying to get back in, but don't hear back as much as you'd expect from them?

At what point is it "persistence/reminding" and at what point is it "stop bothering me?"

 

[pepj]

I've found that many venue bookers only really reply to a new band if they really need them..last minute canceljation cover, for example.
So forget SM messages for the most part.
Best to call or pop in and talk to them.

I'd follow up every 3 months and try to get a feel for when they start next years booking.
Some do it in November, some start around now, and some book in blocks far closer to the dates.
This is why you need a talking relationship with these people. Randoms get treatedly randomly.

 

[BaltBass5]

I use a reputable booking agent whom has relationships with the venues and let them deal with that stuff.

 

[brianrost]

As BaltBass5 mentioned, having a good booking agent is worth every penny of thier commission.

A surprising number of venues actually book a year at a time! If you miss their window (which is probably opening soon if not already), you’re locked out unless they get cancellations. This happened in one band where we did a show in December, packed the place and the owners were excited to get us back again. The BL called back in January and after a bit of phone tag was told the room was already booked for the year

I just heard from one BL about our 2025 gigs at one venue. At that same venue, another BL got one gig last year and one this year. Since they are booking now and our gig is around Thanksgiving, I expect we'll get just one for 2025, too, even if we pack the place in November

 

[Parzival]

Do a drop in to hang out at the venue, then have an, oh yeah, have you thought more about booking us? What’s a good day for us to play?
You’re being a squeaky wheel, but under the guise of being a normal bar patron.

 

[Pocket Dave]

If casting a wide net, I generally, start out with 3 touches on a 4-day rotation. If no response, I back off to 2 more with a full week between each, then down to monthly just to keep front-of-mind in case there are any cancellations or changes in management.

Keep the touches short and to the point - Be real; Don't waste people's time with hyperbole - Say what you mean and mean what you say. Lead with your question - May we discuss getting into your rotation?; What steps do we need to take for performance consideration at XYZ Venue?; etc.

If sending an email, add a short value-proposition after your lead-in question, mentioning your experience and how you hope to help drive revenue for the venue. Keep it to one or two short sentences and DON'T bullet-point or format the email in any way that looks canned; Make it conversational and show respect for the booker's time.

Be humble, be respectful.

Most people recommend emailing, then calling - I've found the opposite to work better, leaving a short voice mail ending with, "I'll send you an email shortly if you'd prefer that. Would you please check your spam folder if you don't see it?" Then I reference the voicemail and venue in the email's subject line - "Band Inquiry for XYZ Venue - I just left you a voice mail".

Understand these guys get hundreds of band inquiries a month; They've had to build some pretty solid defensive filters just to focus on the business of running the venue. Contact attempts that go on and on, are full of marketing-lingo and don't show some humility and respect for the booker's time are likely to get deleted and blocked.

If casting a narrow net for a specific high-value target venue, as has been mentioned, start hanging out there; If there's a weekly jam, become a regular supporter. Network and get to know everyone there, jam host, bar staff, management. Often it's the jam host who helps management with booking recommendations. Worst case? You might get some separate pickup, sub and full time offers by networking at a popular jam. Show up at first just to hang and chill. Steady, chill perseverance is a powerful tool in the toolbox.

Good luck.

 

[StringCanvas]

This is great advice! Thanks guys! I've always really kinda sucked at the booking part of bands I've been in.

 

[klokker]

This is great advice! Thanks guys! I've always really kinda sucked at the booking part of bands I've been in.

I'm probably the worst. That's why it's good we have someone who does that work for us. They take a cut of course, but we all come out ahead. All I have to do is play and sing reasonably well, and mingle with everyone on break. That I can do.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

How my bandleader got us 67 gigs a year: She went to open mics and sang. More than a few times. Made friends with the owners. Then, and only then, she came back with her iPad calendar and asked for a gig--asking now as a friend, not as a bandleader. It was a lot of work on her part, but it really paid off. We had a circuit of about 8-10 venues, and we were welcomed at every one of them for 9 years.

 

[51PRI]

This is great advice! Thanks guys! I've always really kinda sucked at the booking part of bands I've been in.

The booking part is no fun, except for those folks who really like it. Hopefully someone in the band will really like booing the band.

 

[KenSmithFan]

Once a month. I once had to contact a club manager eight or nine times before they booked me. Now, I contact him every three months and get a gig. Just a short note, “Hey, just checking in to see if you would be interested in booking [band name]. Look forward to hearing from you. Please keep us in mind if you get a cancellation.”

I’ve gotten three gigs this year from other bands cancelling and had to turn down two others.

 

[Wyrdlow]

How my bandleader got us 67 gigs a year: She went to open mics and sang. More than a few times. Made friends with the owners. Then, and only then, she came back with her iPad calendar and asked for a gig--asking now as a friend, not as a bandleader. It was a lot of work on her part, but it really paid off. We had a circuit of about 8-10 venues, and we were welcomed at every one of them for 9 years.

Another vote for this. ^ When we go to open mic nights we go as a band, and have always been approached about a gig the same night.

 

[pepj]

Do not think bands on open mics are part of the ethos
If the band is polished enough to get a gig that might intimidate the more casual person being tempted up on stage..ie the beginner.
Its not actually banned around here but not regarded well.

Even guys turning up in pairs expecting to play together is not really welcomed. IME.

 

[Wyrdlow]

Do not think bands on open mics are part of the ethos
If the band is polished enough to get a gig that might intimidate the more casual person being tempted up on stage..ie the beginner.
Its not actually banned around here but not regarded well.

Even guys turning up in pairs expecting to play together is not really welcomed. IME.

The ones we attend are set up with 3 or 4 mics, bass amp, 1 or 2 guitar amps, and - in one pub - a drum kit, so I think it's bands they're expecting. They're all weekday evenings, usually once a month, and work like a social/networking/try new material night for local bands. No shortage of beginners and solo performers too though!
There are others where it's just the one mic and a tall stool, but we don't go to those - not as players, anyway.

 

[pepj]

Ok, sounds like a band audition for the venue.
We don't have those.
Whilst I understand venues wanting to see the band before booking, a live video will do that. Or an intro price but personally I'm against those too.
However, I do think bands and venues should understand each others purpose but again, we just talk it out and if the venue does decent research its not hard to spot the better bands.
Having said that, the venue might just understand popular Band A is a good bet to make money on..and thats the bottom line.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Do not think bands on open mics are part of the ethos
If the band is polished enough to get a gig that might intimidate the more casual person being tempted up on stage..ie the beginner.
Its not actually banned around here but not regarded well.

Even guys turning up in pairs expecting to play together is not really welcomed. IME.

Yep. As someone who's run jams for more than a minute - currently running a weekly - I agree.

While there are exceptions - usually for close friend's bands who might get a 3-song set in - I don't make a habit of it.

The jams I run are an opportunity for players to get together and push their boundaries by keeping their ears open. Sometimes the players are advanced, sometimes they're still early on in their journey, sometimes they're even stuck in their journey, which is ok too. Key is taking people out of their comfort zone and forcing a hyper-awareness on what's going on right here, right now - The results can be magical, which ultimately helps build a better draw for the venue.

Full rehearsed bands take away from the time available for this,

 

[DCErik]

Yep. As someone who's run jams for more than a minute - currently running a weekly - I agree.

For jams, absolutely, but open mics are a little different around here, and plenty of 2-5 piece bands sign up for a slot.

 

[pepj]

If I want to put my profile about, I might do jams or open mics but i get up when called.
This means the make up of the band is random or the hosts rotation as they see fit.
It is not solo or look at me time... and mostly it can be trying to hold the drummer together.
Its mostly about trying to get communication and ears up, particularly with inexperienced players.
Its also about giving something back...support a mate who is involved etc.
It might also make a new contact which might be a bonus. It all depends on who turns up on the night.

Funnily enough...the guys who go all out grandstanding are not usually guys you see gigging on the circuit.

 

[Wyrdlow]

For jams, absolutely, but open mics are a little different around here, and plenty of 2-5 piece bands sign up for a slot.

Same around here.