Finding Atypical Venues To Play Your Music

The DIY ethic involves the idea of booking all your own shows (at least until you can pay someone to do it for you).

But, keep in mind that not all of your live shows need to be played in rock venues, bars and dives.The potential for a gig can come from almost anywhere.

You just need to open your eyes to the alternatives.

Festivals:

Every country and major city has a plethora of festivals going on throughout the year. Besides the ability to expose yourself to an audience of hundreds or thousands of people, festival gigs also have the benefit of paying extremely well.

Get to know the people putting on these festivals for better chances of getting selected.

Don’t make the mistake of only going after the large well-known festivals either. Check your city or local area. There are usually plenty of small festivals from tiny street-party shindigs to non-music festivals like ribfests, wingfests, soupfests and more. All of these need live music to complement their event and there will be less competition for these smaller festivals than the larger music-oriented ones.

Bookstores:

In North America, big bookstore chains like Borders or Indigo are everywhere–there are usually several in a city. Use this to your advantage. Contact the manager and inquire about in-store performances. People are in the mood to spend at these stores, so have your merch on hand. Beware some stores may want to take a cut of cd sales, but weigh the pros and cons.

I’ve been able to sell anywhere from 30-40 CD’s on a good night playing two 30 minute sets of music.

Keep in mind that the layout and location of these stores will have a direct impact on the number of people watching your set at any given time. Try to set up on a raised platform, if possible, and it would be wise to pick from the locations near a movie theatre because of the audience spill back.

It doesn’t have to be only a big box store. If you live in a smaller town try approaching a local mom and pop shop and pitch the music idea to them.

People are always looking for new ways to bring in customers.

Coffee Houses:

While many corporate spaces like these will not pay you, they will most likely lead to other payment opportunities. The benefit of exposure, selling merch and the possible connection of further gigs could outweigh the factor of playing for free. If this is the case, be sure to have an eye-catching merch display and have business cards ready for anyone inquiring about gigs.

By the way, the running theme here is anywhere that people gather could be an alternative venue to showcase your music.

Restaurants:

Depending on your style of music, restaurants can be a great option for a weekly or monthly gig. A steady income from a certain gig is always a good thing. Make sure to get permission to sell your CD’s, and merch. Most restaurant managers should be happy to let you do so (after all most people will already have ordered their dinner).

Corporate Gigs:

Businesses are always having christmas parties and other events during the year. Ask around to your circle of friends, you might know someone on a planning commitee. These gigs may not be very fulfilling, but they can help you out in tough times by paying extremely well.

College Shows:

Getting into the college circuit can take some hard lobbying. But the pay is usually good. You can read about some great tips here from Derek Sivers (founder of CD Baby) who spent extensive time on the college circuit.

Cruse Ship:

Consider playing for a few weeks on a cruise ship. Not all stints have to last for a period of months. Some companies are willing to hire performers as special entertainment for only 2 or 3 weeks. It provides a way for you to get a change of scenery while making some decent cash.

Be prepared to play…a lot.

House Shows:

These shows provide a more intimate venue to showcase your music. They usually can pay fairly well and you may be able to arrange free accommodations if the show is out of town. House gigs can be a great opportunity to sell merch because of the intimate atmosphere. Get the host to guarantee a certain number of people, to make it worth your while to travel there.

Web Shows:

Rent the appropriate equipment and try one out. Invite your hardcore fans for a low price. It gives fans an intimate experience of seeing you in your home or around friends. Make a greater connection by inviting a select few super-fans to see the performance live.

Some things to keep in mind.

Make your set adaptable. Be able to play the huge stadium concert all the way down to the intimate living room experience. This doesn’t necessarily mean acoustic only. A full band can play in a living room with a PA (I’ve done it many times), just make sure to adjust your show and sound levels accordingly. Be aware that this may mean retooling songs for a more laid back vibe.

Take a look around your town for venue options. Forget the traditional places to play and think outside of the box. Where do people gather? What businesses get a lot of foot traffic that could be enhanced by live music?

There are endless possibilities.

What atypical venues have you played at? Feel free to share in the comments.

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Image by: IceNineJon