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If you’re in a local band you know how difficult it can be to get gigs in new areas, especially where nobody has ever heard of you before. Sometimes it can even be a bit of a pain to get shows at the very places we have played previously, because someone else has beaten you to the gig you wanted to play.

Nothing is worse than a jam room full of instruments that have nowhere to go! $%&$ing NOTHING. Weekends are prime-time for us musicians and if we don’t get to take advantage of that every weekend we can, things start to get pretty grim. Well don’t you worry because that’s not going to happen to you this summer if you read this blog post! So, without further adieu , here are the top 5 ways to get gigs for your band!

#1 Facebook Band Page. The #1 way bands around North America are getting gigs is probably Facebook. Generally, bands and solo artists will create a “Band Page” from their main Facebook profile, which then becomes a managed page that all band members can have access to. This is a actually quite a great tool and effective way to get gigs online and it allows bands to upload their. All you have to do is right up a post saying your band is looking for a gig and it’s time to hope for the best!

Yes, it’s a very hit and miss scenario but many times has opened the doors to new gigs for thousands upon thousands of bands. If your band doesn’t have a Facebook page, I’d get on that as soon as possible. It will help you out in spades.

#2 Band Website. Sometime band websites work, sometimes they don’t. Those that do work, work for a reason. It’s because the website is engaging, easy to use, has good visuals all around,photo galleries,free music downloads doesn’t look like it came out of 1996, has an easy mailing list sign up and a url that’s easy to remember and convenient to input. Not like: bobzcoverbandisthebestintown719.com. 

Upload blog content to your bands’ website and share it over social media. You know, write stuff about where your band is at and where you are going as much as possible. Every day if you can. That’s right, a blog!  You want Google to find you, don’t you? Do these things with your website and get gigs more often.

#3 Reverb Nation. This is kind of still a thing, right?. I know they have promised gigs in the past but I personally have never ever had a single one. Its more of a place to just upload your music and share it over Social media platforms. See how your music stacks up against the rest.

You can have listeners hear and rate your music and write a small blurb on it, (for a price). Enter contests, (some free some, for a price), The music uploading and main profile areas are free to use however, and the music players are shareable across most social media platforms. They also hold a large band battle each year. Could be worth signing up! www.reverbnation.com

#4 Sonic Bids. I can’t say enough about these guys! Enough bad, that is! This is a shining example of how you leverage every band you serve as a sucker. Charge them to apply for gigs that they will not get. Fill them full of false hope by making the gig sound so great, And there is nothing in Canada where my band plays. You can try it.....I guess.

#5 Door To Door.  Sometimes it just pays to walk into a bar and see if they are looking for bands. Good ol’ fashioned leg work! Using google maps to find a the bars.