How to Book the Right Band For Your Venue

Music makes the world go ‘round, and it seems like there are new bands hitting the scene every day. If you’re a music venue owner, you are probably well aware of just how much talent is out there and how many new bands are looking for their big break. If you’re a venue owner looking at bands for hire, here are some helpful tips to take into consideration.

Having your finger on the pulse of what’s hot in your city is an important quality every venue owner should possess, especially when it comes to finding new talent, but there’s a fine line between what’s popular and what’s overdone. If you live in an area like Nashville, there’s no question that you’ll have the most success hiring country artists to perform at your venue. However, going against the grain isn’t a bad idea. With a little extra effort, your ear to the ground, and some understanding of the industry in your area, you may be able to fill a gap in the music scene by providing a style you can’t hear elsewhere locally. After all, we wouldn’t have country-rap hits like “Old Town Road” without a little genre creativity!

Survey locals, keep your eye on your competitors, and stay up-to-date with what’s popular and about to be popular using technology such as social media. If you’re in tune with what your audience wants (no pun intended), you’ll be more likely to draw large crowds at your venue every night of the week.

The best way to find live music is by actually hearing it yourself. If you’re a venue owner looking to book a fresh new band, head out to local concerts, shows, and open mic nights in your city. You can find out about these types of shows on social media, from printed flyers around town, or simply through word of mouth. Once you get to the gig, start chatting with bands and forming connections. Who knows? The next big thing could be standing right in front of you.

It may seem like a longshot, but reaching out to bands you already know and love can end up working out in your favor. Whether it’s a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee or a friend of a friend’s garage band, you have nothing to lose by forming connections with bands you are already familiar with. However, it is important to keep in mind that the bigger bands also come with bigger price tags, so be sure to assess if you can afford a more well-known band before reaching out to them. You may have the best luck with bands that made it big who are from your area, and they may agree to do a smaller gig to give back to the community that supported their journey to success.

Best of luck and keep on rockin’!