Gigs and Touring
Seven Things To Do When Your Band Plays Live
You have a great set planned for your show - excellent. But making the night a real success is about much more than wowing them with your sounds (though that counts, too). To make your next gig really work for you, do these seven things and wring every little bit of fan love out of your live event.
Five Things To Do When a Music Show Gets Canceled
Despite the best laid plans, sometimes a music concert just has to be called off. It's never a fun thing - musicians, fans, promoters and venues are all inconvenienced - but the way you handle the cancelation makes all the difference in the world. Do these five things and preserve your working relationships and your fan base.
Talent Buyer
What is a talent buyer? Find out what role a talent buyer plays in your music career in this glossary definition.
How to Fly with Musical Instruments
Are your musical instruments cleared for takeoff? Learn how to fly with your musical instruments so your tour doesn't get grounded.
Five Ways to Deal with Stage Fright - Coping with On Stage Fright
Does stage fright tend to sneak up on you once you're already on stage? If stage fright is a problem for you, you're not alone. Many - most - musicians experience some degree of stage fright, from pre-show butterflies to on-stage freezes. Some cases of pre-show or mid-show jitters are mild, but for other musicians, they can be enough to make...
How to Deal with Stage Fright
For musicians, stage fright comes with the territory. Rare is the performer who doesn't experience ANY pre-show butterflies, no matter how old hat performing has become. For some musicians, though, stage fright can be career ending. Playing live is part of the job description in the music industry, and being too scared to take to the stage could...
How Do You Deal with Stage Fright - Musicians Discuss Stage Fright Coping
If your knees start knocking when the lights go up, how do you deal with stage fright. Here, musicians discuss stage fright and how they deal with nervousness before a concert. See what other musicians have to say about coping with stage fright and share your own experiences with fear before a show.
How to Find Concert Tour Sponsorship
Touring is expensive business, so musicians and labels frequently turn to tour sponsors and concert sponsorship opportunities to help them foot the bill. Of course, competition for these kinds of sponsorships is intense, and there are other things to consider, not least of which is what your sponsor wants in return for their cash. Find out how...
What to Do After a Good Music Show
When you leave the stage after playing a great set, you might think your work is over. Alas, it's not. Although playing a stellar gig will definitely help you win fans, a few simple follow-up steps in the wake of a good concert can make a big difference in keeping those new fans on board - not to mention getting booked again. After you're done...
Music Industry Quick Tip: Play a House Concert
It might not be the bright lights of the local arena, but when you get a chance to play a house concert, you should almost always grab it and run. In addition to being a lot of fun for almost any musician, for a touring indie musician, a house concert offers a chance to bond with fans and make a little extra cash. Find out why house concerts are a winning proposition in this music industr…
Concert Tour Itinerary Template
A concert tour itinerary will help you make sure life on the road goes smoothly. The tour itinerary is the tour manager's best friend, and if there is no tour manager, an itinerary is even more important. How do you write a concert tour itinerary? This tour itinerary template for a music tour will show you how to create a tour itinerary.
Before You Book a Tour
Thinking of booking a concert tour? Touring is a great way to gain new fans, but there are many things to consider before you hit the road. Before you start booking the dates, here are some things you need to keep in mind.
Music Venue and Club Night List
Are you looking for a list of music venues, or do you run a music venue you want to share? Add your music venue to the About.com music venue list or check out the music venues listed here to get music venue contacts.
Find New Audiences
Is the audience at your music show looking a little familiar? To get the most of out playing live, you want to look out at a room full of strangers. Learn more.
Do You Get Stage Fright - Stage Fright and Music
Do you get stage fright? Playing live is an important part of your music career, but it can be overwhelming if you struggle with stage fright. Is stage fright a problem for you? How do you deal with stage fright?
Got a show coming up? Whether your handling gig promotion duties for yourself or you are a promoter putting on a show, this gig checklist will help you make sure everything falls into place.
Do You Book Music Shows
Do you book your own music shows, or do you have an agent or manager do it for you? Share your stories about booking gigs, including tips for self booking and self promoting gigs.
Best Music Venues To Play
Choosing the right music venue has so much impact on how your gig goes. Not only is playing the right size venue important, but things like a helpful staff and good acoustics can make or break your set. Here, share your favorite venues with other musicians and check out the clubs that other musicians like to play.
Book a Tour
Find out how to book a concert tour for your band. Taking your show on the road is easier than you think - find out more about booking a concert tour.
Build an Audience in a Small Town
Many people look at small towns as a drawback for their music career, but living in a small town can be an advantage when it comes to building an audience on the live music circuit. Learn more.
How to Book a Venue
Your first step in promoting a gig, whether you're a musician or a promoter, is to book the venue. Find out more about how to book a club or book a venue for a music show, including how to negotiate a good price and other ins and outs of club bookings.
Get a Gig
Playing live is the best way to build a loyal fan base for your band, but getting a gig can be hard work. With all of the competition out there for stage time, find out how to make sure your band makes it to the top of the heap. Also find out to get in front of the right audience for your music.
Advance your Gig
Want to make sure show night goes smoothly? Then you need to advance your gig. Find out how to make sure everything is set to go off without a hitch.
Becoming the Opening Band
Playing as the opening band at a big show is a fast way to get your music to a larger audience. Find out how to get that coveted support band slot.
Booking a Gig - Gig Booking Step by Step for Bands
Get over your gig booking phobia with this step by step guide that takes your from getting a promo package together to taking the stage.
How To Work With Your Promoter
How can you help your concert promoter help you? Even the best concert promoter in the world need their acts fully on board to pull off the best music show. Learn how to work with a music promotor most effectively, so your gig has the best chance at success.
What To Do After You Play a Bad Gig
Your promoted and practiced and got all excited about your gig, but when the concert rolled around, it didn't quite go the way you had hoped. What now? Find out what to do the morning after the night before.
Sonicbids User Reviews
Browse some Sonicbids reviews from actual Sonicbids users to decide if you should create your Sonicbids EPK. Do you use Sonicbids? Chime in and add your Sonicbids review. Tell us if it was easy to set up your Sonicbids EPK, if booking shows has been smooth and easy and anything else you think people should know about Sonicbids. See submissions
Music Industry Quick Tip: Leave Them Wanting More
As a general rule of thumb in the music industry, less is more. That is - less of you often means more fans. In this music industry tip, find out why you should always leave them wanting more, and why this is especially important if you are a local musician trying to figure out how many local shows are too many.
Being chosen as the opening band for a more established act can mean great things in your music career. You will get to play for larger audience than you might draw at your own show - an audience who might then get excited about turning out for your next headlining set. An added bonus is that peppered in amongst those potential new fans might be members of the press and industry who may become contacts for future opportunities.
All of those good things could evaporate pretty quickly if you violate some of the unwritten rules of being the opening act, though. Some of these rules might a touch frustrating, but take the long term view - making a good impression now is money in the bank for your future music career.
How to Plan an Album Launch Party
Album launch parties are a great way to get your fans excited about your new music, but how do you plan a CD release party? Planning an album release party or a listening party isn't so different from planning another kind of show - just a few tweaks in the promotion and set-up will get people through the door in anticipation of your new music....
Concert Promoters, Bookers and Agents: What is the Difference?
Music promoters, bookers, agents - what is the difference? When you're just dipping your toes into the live music waters, it can be confusing trying to figure out who is a concert promoter, who is just booking your shows, and who is just trying to get your cash. Learn the difference between the different people involved in booking gigs and who...
Five Things Not To Do When Your Band Plays Live
Playing a great show is only half the battle. If you want to be invited back to a venue, what happens off stage is as important as what happens on. Avoid these five bad gig behaviors and make sure you can get booked again.
Tips For Getting The Most Out of Your Music Show
You've got the gig and the perfect set - but to get the most out of your show, you still have work to do. Put these tips into action for making sure your audience comes out of the show as new fans for your band.
First Tour Survival Guide
Your first tour is definitely going to be fun - and it's going to be a lot harder than you think. Make your first foray into life on the road easier with this first tour survival guide.