So you’ve got a band together. You think you’re kicking arse, and it’s time to take it to the next level. So why can’t you get a gig? Here are 5 reasons you may be having trouble.
1 – Your photos suck
As the old saying goes, “a picture speaks a thousand words”. If your picture sucks, no one is going to click on your links, watch your videos or listen to your demo… It’s really that simple.
TIP: Don’t get your mum to take your band photo with her Fujifilm digital she purchased at the turn of the century. If you can’t afford a professional photographer, try to enlist the services of some photography students from the various learning institutions around our region.
2 – Your promo video was shot on an iPhone
If a picture speaks a thousand words about your band, then a video must speak a million. Gone are the days when promoters and venue managers would be happy with a CD demo and a bio printed on an A4 sheet of paper. In the digital age, people want to see a video of you playing, and if that video doesn’t live up to expectations, chances are no one is going to book your band.
TIP: If you don’t have a lot of money to spend making a professional video for your band, than get inventive. Beg, borrow, and steal as many cameras as you can, set them up around the room to grab different shots of the same performance. A video featuring a number of different shots edited together to make one clip is a lot more interesting and gives people a better idea of what your band looks like than a ‘one-shot’ taken from the mixing desk. You’ll want to get the audio right too, so either record it live with a decent mic or grab a live feed straight out of the mixing desk.
3 – You’ve got a bad attitude
So many bands think that 6 months in the shed playing with their mates means they’re rock stars. That simply isn’t the case, and it never has been. The bands that have that sort of attitude tend to extend it to their interactions with promoters and venue managers. They complain about the size of the stage, they complain that the lights are too hot and quite often complain that the pub hasn’t given them free beer all night. They same guys who insult the sound guy over the mic and treat the PA like shit. All these things will go against you when you try to get your band back on the stage again.
TIP: Egos are good, every muso needs one, but leave the attitude at the door. Respect the venue, introduce yourself to the manager and ask them what they require from the bands they book. As for the sound guy, he’s mixed far bigger bands than yours, and his gear is like his family… respect it
4 – You wear shorts on stage
You’re not a Red Hot Chilli Pepper, and you’re definitely not Angus Young. By all means, if you’re playing at a backyard party or an outdoor festival on a boiling hot day, wear your shorts. If you’re playing a venue or on a stage after dark, then long pants are a must. At a pinch, drummers can get away with it, but let’s be honest… Who wants to look at that?
TIP: Your mates won’t care if you wear shorts on stage, but I guarantee venue owners and managers will. If you’re not pulling 1000 people plus to your shows, don’t wear shorts. Simple.
5 – You’re just not any good yet
Although it might hurt to admit, there’s a good possibility your band just isn’t any good. Well, not yet anyway. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as there are tonnes of room for improvement, but try to be honest with yourself, or you’ll run into the bad attitude problem.
TIP: Keep at it. Keep jamming and extending yourself and your playing. One of the best things about being in a new band is that every song you write or learn will be better than the last. Keep it up, and rock on
