Here are some tips on getting some last minute holiday gigs. This is where referrals from friends, family and business associates can come in handy. We so often forget to return to those we know for helpful new opportunities. You'll be surprised at the potential for new gigs opening up new audiences. For now, concentrate on contacting people you know and whom you do business with, such as friends and family and their places of business or their organizations where they work. Ask them if their office intends on having any holiday events or parties where they might need some…

This is the perfect time for making great things from leftovers. I cook so I can have leftovers. In fact I plan my meals with the intention of creating leftovers. Holidays offer a perfect opportunity for leftovers. I think about the holiday season as the leftovers of the prime time for touring. You have about a month and a half of time when booking personnel are either scrambling to finish their bookings or they are done and not taking any calls. You have returned from most of your intentional tours and are either playing holiday gigs or laying low, trying…

Have a Happy Thanksgiving this week to all those celebrating in the U.S. Enjoy your friends and family. Hopefully you've got some gigs lined up for Friday or Saturday. If you don't, then use some of your down time to check the community in which you are celebrating to see what sort of performance opportunities might be possible for future visits. As a reminder, here are some ideas: Regular mainstream clubs, coffeehouses, concert halls House concerts Businesses and Organizations for private parties and fundraisers Elementary Schools, Colleges and Universities, (departments, clubs, organizations) Catering Halls, Civic Centers, Hotels, Conference Centers Ski…

Did you know that Thanksgiving weekend is the best weekend of the year to gig? It's just a few weeks before Thanksgiving here in the US. I’ve harped about this topic every year, but it deserves repeating and reminding you. Meanwhile, I hope that where ever your holiday travels take you, you end up enjoying the friends and family that surround you. Now, speaking of being surrounded by friends and family, did you know that Thanksgiving weekend, Friday and Saturday are probably the best days of the entire year to do concerts? Think about it. Everyone travels during the week…

House concerts have gotten a ton of recognition in the last few years, but can house concerts work for you? I've been a long-time proponent of finding your own niche and stepping out of the competition of mainstream venues when there are opportunities to do so. House concerts have been one of the main touring models for so many of my musician friends since before it became chic or popular. They have maintained a viable career, made money, built a family of supporters world-wide and used their house concert community to help launch them into area festivals and other more…

Here is one word to boost bookings that you may not have thought of before. I don't know about you, but most artists I've worked with were in it for the long haul. And if there is one word that will help you build great, long-lasting relationships with presenters, staff people, tech people, other artists and any team members you may take on in the future, that word is, "Flexibility." Yes, flexibility is one of those traits that could keep you working in this business for a long time. Being flexible and easy to work with makes you a more…

Did you know that niche markets offer great gigs? I've got three questions for you. Do you want a continuous stream of new gig opportunities? Do you want to have an easier time booking your gigs & tours? Would you like to increase your gig fees? Okay, I cannot imagine the answer being anything but "yes." And if that is the case, then it's time to start finding your own unique niche market. Let's be clear about what a niche market is. As some might have you believe, playing clubs or colleges or grade schools or even churches is not…

Does your performance sell you once you are doing your show? There you are, on stage, finally, doing your show. All those months making calls, sending promo, returning emails, pitching your act. Then you get the gig, you issue contracts, promo kits, stage plots and advance your gig so everything will be just right for the performance. And now you are on stage, finally, doing your show. The selling is over, you can relax into your art. Wrong. Now you've got the audience's attention, the staff and management of the venue are all watching. Perhaps some media have shown up…

Here's an interesting way to get some great gigs around home. There are artists who love hitting the road and touring far and wide. And then there are artists who want to sleep at home every night. There are gigs a plenty no matter which type of touring artist you are—you simply have to know where to look. If you live in a one venue town or even a multi-venue town, reality is, that you can't fill your calendar with gigs in that venue every night. You've got to get creative and you've got to do some exploring to find…