How to get a Gig - Help!

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gmak

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Hi all,

My buddy and I have recently formed an ukulele duo, and we're at the point where we would like to perform publicly.

What steps need to be taken?

Do we need to provide references or a promo CD?

Any general tips on this subject?

Thanks!
 
I tend to mooch off of others as far as gigs. I play in a bluegrass/folk band and one of our singers does the work. But, basically, you can see if any libraries or coffee houses would let you gig. Most of the time, if they have an open slot, they will. May not get paid for it, but it's a good start. I know others gig, so you will get plenty of better answers than this one.

Dan
 
Open mics.

Hit as many of them as you can and go consistently, week after week or month after month.
Busk, if you can. Go play in the park if you can't.
Video yourselves, both at the open mics and elsewhere, and chuck them up on youtube.
Get a CD together, if you can, or a MySpace page or one of the other band launching site... let me rephrase that... do a CD AND MySpace AND all of the launching sites. Put a site together for yourselves if you can. Make a blog and put up a video or MP3 every week.
Get a logo or graphic done for yourselves and go to [Edit: was asked to remove link. -seeso] and get stickers made and give them out at the open mics.
Get buttons made and hand them out.
If you can find some place to get tshirts done for REALLY cheap, do that, too.

And, loathe as I am to say it, get to know other musicians in your area and, most importantly, be REALLY cool to them. Not sycophantic or sucking up, but... just... be nice. Be supportive.

A ukulele is a VERY specific instrument that only works in certain places with a certain audience for a two hour set or a three hour night.
Make sure that YOU are very specific with what you do so that, if a gig comes up that you'd work for, people go "You know who'd be perfect for that? GMak."
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A few thoughts.

  • Contact organisers of local charity events and offer to play for free. A good way to get yourselves some exposure while being helpful at the same time.
  • CDs are defintely helpful, as are YouTube videos.
  • Be careful offering to play too many free gigs outside of charity contexts. I'm not saying don't do it, but local pro and semi-pro entertainers can get pretty heated up about losing gigs to amateurs who play for free. I have been a target of their disapproval with a just-for-fun band I used to play in.
  • If you're playing uke, an eminently convenient and portable instrument, then why not just take one along to a venue and offer to play a couple of songs there and then as a free sample. If you can get nods from a couple of punters it might win over the management.
  • The more gigs you play, the easier they are to get. Venues like to book people who can list other places they have played with success.
  • List yourself on your local equivalent of http://lemonrock.com/
 
You didn't say what type of material you are doing.

When it comes to open mics and coffee houses, some have an "all originals only" policy due to performing rights licenses or the lack thereof.

You can't play cover tunes of copyrighted material in a venue that doesn't have the appropriate licensing. At least that's how it works in the U.S. If you don't live in the states, YMMV.
 
Thanks so much guys! Really awesome input!

I've personally never played a gig that involved ukulele. I've performed in 5 piece local/reggae bands before, but nothing too solo-ish.

We've got 4 original songs down so far, but we're thinking of doing some covers too.
 
I kind of get the feeling neither of you has performed publicly before (if I'm wrong, ignore this post). When you perform publicly you're really hanging it out there, and some venues can be really painful if you're not confident and "on your game." I once witnessed a very talented guy who was so much "on top of it" in informal jam sessions that he was actually annoying crumble completely and very embarrasingly at an open mic! This guy was talented, knew the songs, and played and sang very well. The annoying part was that he did all this so well that he would "take over" songs that other people started at informal jam sessions. The first time he got on stage with a mic in his face he pretty much fell apart! It was really tempting to be cruel but those of us who knew him rose above it. :)

Better to get your feet wet in supportive venues - try to find a local uke club that has periodic open mic nights - failing that open mic nights in other venues can be a good start. If you're looking for an appreciative audience and to "pay it forward" to your community, contact local nursing homes - especially if you guys are doing "tradional" uke music from the last ukulele popularity wave!

Be advised that if you've never played (and sung, presumably one or both of you is singing) through a PA then hearing your voice coming back through the monitors can be incredibly distracting the first couple of times. It took me several tries before I learned (mostly ;) ) not to chase my voice in the monitor.

John
 
gmak said:
... I've performed in 5 piece local/reggae bands before, but nothing too solo-ish.
Click to expand...

Ooookkay - looks like we were posting at the same time. Ignore everything I said 'cause it sounds like you've probably already discovered those things. :)

John
 
OldePhart said:
If you're looking for an appreciative audience and to "pay it forward" to your community, contact local nursing homes - especially if you guys are doing "tradional" uke music from the last ukulele popularity wave!
Click to expand...
This is so true! You won't find a more appreciative audience anywhere. It's a wonderful way to gain confidence in front of a crowd and work on your stage fright.

Oh, and the smiles and personal satisfaction you get from such unpaid gigs are absolutely priceless. :)
 
when i wanted audience to gain self confidence i started playing for my family. it was 10-12 people, not many but enough to make you stress on a solo perfomance.
next i moved to b-days or wherever people gathered.
i next moved to the subway station near my house.

my guitar teacher used to take us to church, spaniards nursing home, clubs, like medium venues

final step, before flying alone, accompain him in larger venues. i'd do 1 solo, 1 in duo, he completed the show alone.


since you have played in public before, it's just more of the same.
what i'd suggest, be very kind and happy in front of audience... HAVE FUN

PD: end the show with something very simple and very easy listening.... that last picture is what almost everybody keeps in the mind after you have finished the show. the best would be something easy to remember or whistle.

good luck
 
It was said before, but open mics are great. My previous band did a bunch of them and got a few gigs out of it. The first open mic I performed solo on uke, the bartender came up to me after and gave me the name of the booking guy. He said I need to call him and set up a show. Unfortunately I only knew about 30 minutes worth of material so I didn't follow up on that.

I do have a show coming up early next month but that's through a connection I have. I'm friends with a local studio owner and he will often book nights at different venues around town. The bands he books are usually bands that he has recorded in his studio. He's doing a more mellow, folk inspired night next month and asked if I'd do a 30 minute set to open up.
 
OldePhart said:
I kind of get the feeling neither of you has performed publicly before (if I'm wrong, ignore this post). When you perform publicly you're really hanging it out there, and some venues can be really painful if you're not confident and "on your game." I once witnessed a very talented guy who was so much "on top of it" in informal jam sessions that he was actually annoying crumble completely and very embarrasingly at an open mic! This guy was talented, knew the songs, and played and sang very well. The annoying part was that he did all this so well that he would "take over" songs that other people started at informal jam sessions. The first time he got on stage with a mic in his face he pretty much fell apart! It was really tempting to be cruel but those of us who knew him rose above it. :)

Better to get your feet wet in supportive venues - try to find a local uke club that has periodic open mic nights - failing that open mic nights in other venues can be a good start. If you're looking for an appreciative audience and to "pay it forward" to your community, contact local nursing homes - especially if you guys are doing "tradional" uke music from the last ukulele popularity wave!

Be advised that if you've never played (and sung, presumably one or both of you is singing) through a PA then hearing your voice coming back through the monitors can be incredibly distracting the first couple of times. It took me several tries before I learned (mostly ;) ) not to chase my voice in the monitor.

John
Click to expand...

Still very good advice for some of us (me). Thanks, John.
 
Actually, yeah. I'd forgotten how weird that is at first. A bit like hearing your recorded voice when you're not used to it.

For most of my gigs I've been a player in a band, not a singer beyond a few backup "ooh"s and "aah"s. Actual singing is a pretty recent thing for me. Since I started singing more up-front I've been rehearsing with a mic and with instruments plugged in. It certainly was odd at first.

I don't set up the whole PA for practice. I have an acoustic combo with mic and instrument inputs, which is great for practice and getting accustomed to working with a mic.
 
I would definitely support the idea of open mic nights to start with..ukulele music needs an appreciative audience who aren't just going to chatter loudly over what you do, so these are a good place to find attentive audiences.

Another good place to start is as a support act, and then the pressure is off a little; do you know any bands or performers you could ask to open for? Again you have a nice supportive audience who also aren't really expecting too much from you..they're there to see the main action, so anything you do is an extra bonus. This is how I started and definitely found it less scary to be the supporting act at first, just while you're still getting used to performing / playing in public. The audience are usually in a good frame of mind, there to see someone specific and looking forward to it..and oh look here's some extra added fun I wasn't expecting..wow!

Oh my god, I'd forgotten about how scary it is using a vocal mic, at first I hated it, but now love it..it's just something that only practise will sort out really. Also..saying things down the mic between songs..banter..chatter..thanking the audience..it's tempting to just mumble and maybe even aim your comments only at your musical partner, but just say things loudly and confidently and address the audience. Hope none of this sounds too patronising, and GOOD LUCK!! I hope you have some enjoyable gigs, you'll be amazed by how many nice positive people you'll meet!
 
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