If you are one of those musicians that just doesn't think about 'manners' when it comes to venues, it's time to start and here are 10 easy to manage tips on how to mind your manners when gigging in a new venue, or returning to an old one.
1. Always make sure to confirm your gig prior to leaving town if you are traveling. Mistakes happen and schedule changes are possible. Even at the last minute, venues have and will toss a new person coming in when given the opportunity to book a returning favorite that is guaranteeing a crowd. They may have dropped the ball on calling to cancel, or even double billed the gig without letting you know your time slot has changed to open for someone when you thought the night was all yours. It's not nice or thoughtful to do so, but it happens. So best protect yourself and make sure you are still scheduled. If a cancellation does happen. Ask for a new date right away, maybe 2 while you have the venue in a potentially generous state, but never appear rude or inconvenienced in an attempt to make the venue feel bad. It'll haunt you later, and you'll just irritate them and make it hard for them to want to work with you again. Be pleasant and kind even when you may be gritting your teeth because it's screwed up your entire weekend, or even tour. If nothing else, you've shown you are a professional and tactful business person. Scheduling conflicts are relatively few most of the time, in 8 out of 10 venues I asked, and interestingly enough - 6 out of 10 musicians I asked, admit to getting caught in the awkward trap because they failed to confirm. Avoid it altogether when you can. Just call. Don't even depend on email. Call.
2. Ask when the load in time frame is and follow it. If you find out you are going to be late for load-in. Especially for a show at a restaurant, you'll want to call the venue as soon as you know you will be late, to find out if it's ok to load-in late. I have witnessed musicians being turned away for their gig because they arrived late at a restaurant that specifically required load-in and set-up be complete two hours prior to peak dinner hour. And even though the musician would have been able to start the gig on time, the musician being late was inconvenient for the restaurant. It's real easy to just ask the venue booking manager what the preferred times are, and stick to them as if you were clocking into a plant.
3. Ask the venue if there are any particular drink specials or event announcements they would like announced on the PA between sets. It shows you care about their business and want to help increase the register for the evening. Also, you can fertilize this tip by going out of your way to ask who the artists are that are playing the next few nights after you and announce them and the date they are appearing to your audience. It'll come back around :) And the better you do it, the better it will come back around. If you have the time, research the next few performers prior to playing so you'll have something personal to add, and write them telling them you intend to promote them and ask if there is something special they'd like for you to announce. That's just good, friendly networking and taking care of each other. Next thing you know, they'll call you and want some details to announce on stage at a gig with 3000 people :) Just cuz you rocked!
4. Do not forget to announce reminders for tipping for the wait staff and bartenders. They really do appreciate acts that do that. At the end of the evening, tip the wait staff yourself. Even if they didn't bring you anything to the stage. Nothing says you shouldn't just because you are playing there. Waiters talk amongst themselves. And impressing them is a big part of the game. They will ask venue owners when you are coming back, and they will tell their friends when you play. Little things matter. And you'll be the last, maybe the only, good thing of the night to happen to them. Wait staff hangs out in other bars too when they are off. Who wouldn't want to be that kind of thought? :)
5. Clean your stage area of drink bottles, put chairs back that you used and leave things as you found it, or better, when you exit the venue. You'll stand out - believe me.
6. Assuming you liked the venue, add the venue to your holiday card list - and send them a thank you card after your first gig and let them know you appreciated being there and look forward to coming back. But, do so even if you don't want to gig there again. It's easy enough to 'not be available', but it's not easy to recover from being unappreciative. Again...you'll stand out.
7. Give the venue a CD for their overhead player. Many venues will play them. Especially for the ones that have made the best impression. On return visits, introduce one new artist you think would fit in the venue, by giving them a CD of the artist. The venue will think you are wonderful and in a profession where most people are only looking out for themselves, it's rewarding personally to be supportive of your colleagues. But make sure your recommendations are really worthy. You need to develop the venue's respect. Everyone has a little bit of promoter in them :) That's why they say it's the best thing you can do for yourself, to do for other people.
8. Offer their customers some raffle prizes through the night. Play some games like "First one to buy the newest drink on the menu, gets a free t-shirt" Always come prepared to give away things at your gigs. It really does make a difference and it's easy to do. But do promote safe driving and designated drivers as often as you feel necessary, at least once per show and at the end if you are really selling some bev's. It's a community responsibility we all have. To remind intoxicated music lovers they shouldn't drive. :) Simple.
9. Make an effort to remember names of the staff so you can name them on stage. "Billy behind the bar makes a fabulous Margarita guys - go grab one!" or "Lisa is a fabulous waiter everyone, remember to tip her good.", sounds so personal and warm. You just can't help but like someone who calls your name from a stage :)
10. BE ON TIME starting, and stopping your gig. Leave it up to the venue to ask you to play later if it's an option. Or if the crowd is going strong, think to ask them if they want you to play longer. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and don't hesitate to barter if you've done a fabulous job at maintaining the crowd. Offer to stay another hour for a certain sum of money. (Whatever applies, but be fair) Most would be happy to let you play all night as long as they are making money, but don't assume, and don't stop cold and empty the place without showing you care enough to ask what they would like for you to do. And whatever you do....avoid taking breaks when it's starting to pick up, and when you do - keep them short. You are being paid to play, not drink and sit around.
Annette Warner
Founder/Editor-in-Chick/Web-Publishing Goddess
http://www.coffeehousetour.com/
In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, www.GoGirlsMusic.com. and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization.
Labels: Artist.Toolbox
Ask yourself, "What bands' fans out there would also dig MY music"
Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She founded IndieMusicCoach and has spent over 12 years working with a wide range of independent musicians all over the world. Her goal is to help indie artists achieve greater success in the music business by working smarter not harder. She is also the founder of GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest and largest online community of indie women musicians, with a vision of bringing together and empowering musicians from around the world.
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