Getting Booked: 10 Basic Tips for Getting Live Electronic Music Gigs

Here’s a set of guidelines I wrote to follow if you’re an electronic musician who’s wondering how to get booked to play live in clubs or other venues.

It’s geared towards people who are just starting out, but it’s a good read for people who have already been performing live as there are some interesting tips you might not have thought of (for instance, point #: get a mini-presskit together).

There is also a bit of contention on point #3, “Avoid dead air.” Some performers would rather have a break between songs, similar to a live band. However, it’s my recommendation that you aim for a cohesive set from the beginning. If you do choose later to pause between tracks and converse with the audience or something similar, you can just turn the sound down to do so.

Briefly:

1. Get a mini-press kit together specifically for getting booked
2. Let them know what you sound like live
3. Make sure that you will avoid dead air
4. Do some research on venues, and start small
5. Find your contact person, and respond quickly
6. Agree on details before the gig
7. Invite everyone you know
8. Bring some light
9. Bring audio adapters
10. Bring CDs

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