Networking In The Music Business Is King!
Yes, I know… it’s a bold and perhaps cliché statement but I really do believe it’s true. Let’s face it, getting a gig isn’t much different than trying to get a 9 to 5 job. You’ve got to do your research, find out who’s in charge (so you can speak to the appropriate person) and once you get in the door, you’ve got to impress them enough to give you a shot. 9 times out of 10 if you know someone who knows someone in the club you’re trying to play in… you can get your foot in the door 10 times faster.
Sometimes in this music business it’s not really what you know or even how good you are (you didn’t hear that from me) but who you know. Yes I know, another cliché but let’s face it, it does carry some truth.
So armed with this information what do you think you should be doing to improve your odds of getting into those elusive clubs. Hmmm? Networking a little more perhaps? Get busy… start reading the local music magazines, the national music magazines and get your but down to as many music festivals as you can. No… you don’t have to pay the sometimes astronomical fees to get in. You can even just hang out where festival attendees go to pickup their badges and goody bags and believe me you’ll meet at least 10 people each day of the festival if you really work at it.
You don’t have to be Einstein or Prince Charming to get to know the music people in your neck of the woods. You can even link up with other bands who’ve been playing at the venues you want into. Most musicians are willing to help up and coming bands if they like them (I don’t mean the music but the musicians in the band – heck if you’re trying to get into the club your music should be likable anyway… and it better be good). We musicians are a bunch of have fun and get along types so making friends and contacts with musicians in your town shouldn’t be too hard. I’m certain that with a little work on your part you’ll eventually meet the right person that will help get you into that club we were talking about earlier, and maybe many more to boot.
Remember this one thing though… it’s really important. Don’t be a schmuck and use your contact relations only to get into the good gigging spots. Be sure to nurture the friendships you make along the way. This is about friendship and integrity and if you’re neither one of these, then your good graces in peoples minds will be short lived. You never know when you’ll meet the right person that is willing to help you and you should always treat everyone you meet with the dignity and respect they deserve. An attitude like this will take you a long way in the world of networking.
One more thing, once you’ve made it into that ever elusive club and after all your hard work has paid off, remember to share your good graces when other up and coming bands approach you. Don’t forget that you all start off in the same boat and you’re all trying to get to the same success finish line. Helping other bands shows your maturity in the game and heck that’s how the big bands play the music business game. That’s why there are opening acts for the big acts.
Today you may only be opening for the biggest local band in town but who knows, in a month or two you might just be offering them a spot to open for you. It happens but it’s up to you to make it happen. Success isn’t going to just fall into your lap. Get out there make those contacts. One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is that you’ve got to create yourself some kind of system to maintain your list of contacts. You’re going to want to know how you met them, their interests, birthdays and all the goodies that can keep you in their good graces. This type of contact from you will make you memorable. Be memorable and succeed.
Spread the love and watch it come back to you. To your success.
