You think your band is ready.
You've found a great mix of talent; you've got all your equipment.
You've spent hours in the practice room, and your set list is looking good.
You've polished all of your songs, and your act is perfect.
You even have a plan for how you will handle band business and profits.
The only thing left to do to get your band really rocking is to book a gig.
That part isn't as easy as it seems, though.
Even though you've put in hours of preparation, no one is begging you to play their venue.
Getting your band in front of an audience takes more than just the prep work you do behind the scenes.
The music industry is incredibly competitive, so you have to find a way to get your band in front of the right people.
Networking and learning the local industry can be crucial to getting your band on the stage.
The music industry is not all about music.
Being successful in the music industry is about networking with the right people.
Once your band has polished their sound, you need to start meeting as many people in the music industry as you can.
You never know who will know someone that can get you a gig, so talk to everyone you can about what your band is all about, and what you hope to accomplish.
You should market your band just like the product of a business.
When businesses sell their product, they place it in the best location, highlighting the best features.
Your press kit should do the same thing.
Putting together a press kit is a way to let venues know what your band can do for them in a neat, organized way.
Your press kit will tell them about the genre of your music, your song list, the members of your band, and the type of equipment you would be bringing with you.
If you don't already have a demo tape or CD, you should make one.
Venues will want to hear what you sound like as well as how you look.
Keep in mind, each venue's goal is to attract the best crowd possible, so let them know how you can get people in the door.
Take your press kit to the venues you hope to play.
Speak with the booking manager and give them your press kit and demo CD.
The booking manager will probably need a couple of days to look over your material and listen to your CD, so follow up with them a couple of days after your visit.
If you are having a really hard time getting your foot in the door, you might try contacting other established local bands and offering to open for free.
If they agree, you can use that opportunity to get some live practice, as well as promoting your band during and after the show.
Work the crowd and hand out flyers, t-shirts, or any other promotional material you may have.
A website or social networking site is also a good idea to get exposure for gigs.
You can direct fans to your website, as well as booking managers who might want a convenient way to contact you.
Getting to know the people in your industry will help you find venues that are interested in your music.
The best way to get exposure is to get out and do it yourself.
Hand out flyers, introduce your band to everyone you can, and get promotional products to people who might be interested in you.
Once people start to recognize your band's name, you will start to see a demand for your band.