Home Run Gigs
Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences on gigs
at unappreciative dives (excuse me, I meant to say nightclubs)
that feel paying you a couple of hundred dollars for a 3-4 hour
gig is also paying you about $150 too much?
Unless you are a masochist, why do you continue to take such
beatings? Is it due to laziness, complacency, cynicism, your now
being jaded, or a combination of any of the above?
Are you aware that you could dramatically improve your live
performance income by making simple changes in the types of
performances that you accept?
For instance, see the below list of gig types and the average
earnings possible, compared to traditional nightclub work:
=====
* Weddings ($1,000 *minimum* for 2-3 hours work)
Instead of working yourself to death, so to speak, by chasing
wedding performance opportunities on an individual basis,
consider approaching a number of area caterers and offering your
services to them as an add-on to their own services as,
obviously, they will have significantly more client
opportunities.
Not only will your music service now give catering companies
more value, as the client can now also purchase the wedding
entertainment through a single source as opposed to contracting
performers separately, but this single joint venture alone will
dramatically increase your income, and on a more consistent
basis.
And, the best place to seek caterers is in your local Yellow
Pages under the categories of "Caterers."
As additional potential wedding income sources, you would also
do well to leave your portfolio and/or business cards with area
bridal shops, tuxedo shops, bridal consultants, wedding planners
and wedding supplies and services.
=====
* Ship Cruises
Talk about getting paid to, literally, travel the world! This is
exactly what this amounts to...a paid vacation! There are a
minimum of seven major high paying cruise lines that are
actively seeking you to work with them. Truthfully, I cannot do
this any further justice, other than telling you to immediately
visit the ProShip Entertainment site below to fall into a
musician's paradise.
http://www.proship.com/
=====
* Corporate Functions
When I say corporate functions, I am speaking of getting
incredible gigs with such companies as; Microsoft, IBM, and that
ilk. Corporate functions are fairly regular, as they readily
lend themselves to employee motivation.
Without a better point of reference, I suggest your starting
with these types of companies' Human Resource department, which
can better direct you to an appropriate department that
coordinates their corporate events if the Human Resource
department does not. You will likely need to send your standard
media kit for consideration.
=====
* Private Parties
One of the best places to seek private party entertainment
opportunities, is through the Society Pages of your local
newspaper. The Society Page usually lists private events held by
the wealthy and philanthropists who host fundraisers, charities,
etc. You may also wish to consult your local library for
possible local society directories that can also provide you
with additional contacts.
=====
* Grand Openings
Best places to check out your opportunities for Grand Opening
performances are, again, your area newspapers, as well as
Chambers of Commerce. Practically all new companies host grand
openings in order to alert the public to their new business
venture. They also go "all out," so to speak, in terms of media
coverage through television, radio and print media advertising,
as well as interviews. Any and all of this can serve to make far
more people aware of you when you perform at these locales.
By the way...in any of these situations, *ALWAYS* request
permission beforehand from your employers to sell your music, as
this peripheral sales income will only increase your overall
take. In some cases, you may be allowed to do so while, in other
cases, you likely will not be allowed. However, it never hurts
to ask and, by all means, ALWAYS ASK!
Hopefully, these several income outlets can give you a much
better income base while, eventually, taking you out of the
hardworking, yet, low-paying nightclub arena.