The Secret To Higher Paying Gigs For Your Band

Hey Everybody, that includes you musicians. I thought it was funny. Guess not,eh?

Okay musicians, The answer to getting high paying gigs is not being the most talented cats on the stage. Unless your band is so talented it over rides everything else and that was the day all Booking Agents said, "This is the greatest band in the world". If you believe that than you're more gullible than the best players who are always lay-downs for the next best effects pedal, amp, pickups--etc.

But I'll give you one little tidbit before I tell you more. You've got to work your ass off. You're probably thinking, aren't you a friggin' genius. That's just one little part of the big secret guys."Whew! Yeah, I know not a relevation to any veterans of the club wars. There's no big secret guys. Just non-sexy shit you have to  do succeed as a high paying band. You have to be willing to do the right things all the time. The boring stuff business and promo wise, most bands will never do.

Okay Guys?

If your band plays regularly, or even once a bloody month start talking to bands who play the kind of music you play, and actually start a relationship with them. Not being weird here, I'm just saying you have to go out of your way to accomodate other bands. Don't ask if they're looking for an opening band. That's the kiss of death guys. Don't ask for anything your band will benefit from. Interview them and ask them about their gear which most players love to do. It's the same as Harley-Davidson lovers love to talk about, their bikes.

Instant camraderie.

Talk about shit that interests them, not you. Ask them about their songs you like and how they came up with certain aspects of it from the music to lyrics and how they come up with ideas from certain songs. Offer to tell local media about the band if they let you interview them regularly. Right there is pure gold, and you're not asking for anything in return to benefit you. Think about it this way. When you talk to a woman who caught your eye and you'd like to talk to her. Do you automatically ask her to go to bed with you and have children with her. I know, an exception for the most part. But just an observation guys.

I thought it was good, but what do I know. What you do is ask her questions about herself, and listen, really listen intently. If she sees you are really listening well and are interested in what she has to say, that goes over like gang-busters man. Don't think so? Try it some time.

But don't ask for the sale right there so to speak. The same thing applies to wanting to getting higher paying gigs. And talking to musicians who make more money than you is the first step. Baby steps guys. Working with other bands is one of the keys to making more cash as a successful local, regional or national act.

The key is not Jimi Hendrix like talent. That's way beyond one in a million. Yeah, using the best promoter or songwriter won't get you to where you need to go either. If you don't play regularly, practice your ass off, write songs and promote your band--and help other bands you will not ever succeed, period.

Just start talking to one or teo local bands and offer to help them for free the way I outlined in this article.You can have great success for your band. I'll have the next tip by Monday. Until then keep playing because that's all that counts to real musicians like you.

Keep Your Music Alive Players.

Mark G

Important Post Guys on How To Create Your Band's Own Media and Prosper

By Mark Grove

This is a repost that I decided to bring back for no apparent reason other than too many musicians just won't take the time or have the guts to write their own media kits for their band, or use free sources of media publicity to help promote their band. No it's not sexy, and doesn't make you a bunch of money just because you're publicizing  your band.


This is an important post, so please musicians,take notes so your band can benefit by it,and you can help other musicians and gain leverage and position as an in demand band that makes a good living.Musicians, want to have your own media for your band,here's a few tips Hey guys,here's a little tip so your band doesn't waste time waiting for conventional media to interview you.Start by doing it yourself.Write articles on your own band,have other members interview you and at your gigs as well.Write bios and artist profiles on each band member as well.

Along with that take videos of your interviews to put on your band website.Then when you have regular articles on your band,keep writing articles so you always have something fresh to use.Don't start using conventional media yet,use like I said College media.Chances are they can give your band the sort of hip cache your band needs.Whether it's College radio,print or TV.

After you have all that in place and you're playing at least once a week,start writing for a band you would like to open for.This shows you want to help other players.Write articles on them,interview them at their gigs,and offer to open for for free.By helping other bands could end being lucrative joint ventures where you go on the road together. And if the band you open for wants someone to handle selling CDS for them at their gigs,do it,for a cut of the profits.

But keep writing your own media packages and use unconventional media like college and doing it your self.Think for your self players and just do it!

How Bands Can Create Your Own Media--Create Value For Other Bands And Prosper

I keep on harping about playing for free and giving away your best material. Literally giving away the kitchen sink. Well, at least giving away your Mother -in-Law who hates you being a Musician. Read down to the bottom of this golden-nugget filled report to find out how your band can start it's own media.

The Realization:
The realization is no one knows who your band is--at least not yet.If your lead guitarist isn't the greatest thing since the Shred Master's Like Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert,or Blues Guru Derek Trucks. Chances are you'll have to play for free for a while.Mean while, play those Jam Sessions weekly even though you hate it like a passion sometimes. Open for other bands for free, and come out with a 3 or 5 song EP and give away a number of them for free.

For free? what in the hell are you talkin' bout Mark?

Yes, free.Just a small portion of them.

If you structure your band as a business when you first start out, you can actually write off the free CD's as a promotional business item expense. You may live in Canada, United States, South America, Asia or Europe. If you have a Liberal government that encourages indie music business, you'll be able to write off those expenses.Work on writing more songs for your bands and other bands,and practice you ass off and give away songs on your bands website.

Giving Value interviewing Band's:
Offer to interview other band's in your genre and set up audio and video podcasts of those interviews on your website.This creates MASSIVE VALUE for other bands. Keep playing regularly opening up for other bands. Then start asking for money.Because, if a club booker only offers 50 to 100 bucks for opening or even head lining because of low attendance,work out a deal with the club booker and put that money in a bank account. Preferably, in a high interest ING Direct account. If you have a 3 piece band that money is useless to each member, other than a little spending money. Hardly worth it.But you could take the money and use it in the business online or paying for gas to gigs, and writing that off as well.


Besides giving value to other bands think about how to create value for your band. Creating even more Massive Value for other bands:Set up videos and podcasts of other bands interviewing them on different aspects of the music business such as guitar and gear tips, music business, getting booked,recording-- what ever.These can be free to musicians and eventually used as how to material in E-books for even more value to musicians.Going back to opening up for musicians. Offer to start round table discussions at clubs with the headlining acts and interview them, and have fans turn out as well.This can be done before or after gigs. Keep on playing gigs and asking to open for other bands. This also gives you leverage with high paying gigs by creating value for clubs,bands and your fans.

You have created so much value with your free stuff, musicians will wonder, if their free stuff is this good the stuff like interviews, CD's, and how to stuff.The CDs and shows I have to pay for, for musicians must be incredible!

This little tip will help your band insurmountably when you become a headliner and start touring.But keep on creating value for other bands by continuing to give away so much value that you create fans of musicians, music industry people and your fans most of all.


Okay,How To Start Your Band's Own Media:

I'll keep it simple.Start by writing your own articles,bios and press kit material.Or get help from me.Tell other band members we're going to create our own media.Huh? Yeah,you're probably saying,I don't want to do that shit! If you're not getting any media interviews,do it yourself.

Yep.If you play even just one gig a week or a month for that matter, have a band member interview you before and after the gig with the audience present.Just a short interview.Now,to get a little leverage since you're bringing people out to a local club,ask the owner to bring out the media to watch the interview and your gig. Make sure you have someone from the band video tape the interview so you can put it on your band website.Another way to create your band's own media is to hook up a computer at the gig and have the video stream live on the internet. http://ustream.tv is a great way to stream band interviews,shows and interviewing other bands,for free.


Start doing this interview process for every gig.Have other band members interview each other,and interview other band's as well.Create a service like I have and write articles for bands.Be their go to guys. If you play mainly metal,target bands in that genre.Don't stray far from your genre. But stick to making money for your band.What I said about wanting to open for other band's by interviewing them regularly.Do it.Don't ask for anything in return.

This is part of creating a music media empire.At some point make inroads with this band and open up for them.If it's for just 100 bucks,take it and bank the money for important band business.If they can't pay you,play it anyway.By constantly doing interviews with this band and other bands,you'll create so much value they'll want to pay you a cut of the profits.Continue to do regular interviews with your bands and other ones you want to open for. If you provide a writing and media service like this for musicians,they'll love you for it,while you work on your own band material,jam and open for local and regional bands in bigger cities. Eventually,you'll open for bands that play 2,000 seat theaters and big hockey arenas.

If you work it right,you'll continue to create media for your band,other bands and get paid for it.And,you'll go on the road making at least 3 or 4 grand opening for bands you went out of your way to interview and create media for,not asking for anything in return. It's simpler than you think guys.


Email me:mdgrove@rock.com

The Musicians Instant Press Kit--How Your Band Can Write It's Own Press Kit And Basically Have Your Own Media

Musicians,want to have your own media for your band,here's a few tips

By Mark Grove

Hey guys,here's a little tip so your band doesn't waste time waiting for conventional media to interview you.Start by doing it yourself.Write articles on your own band,have other members interview you and at your gigs as well.Write bios and artist profiles on each band member as well.

Along with that take videos of your interviews to put on your band website.Then when you have regular articles on your band,keep writing articles so you always have something fresh to use.Don't start using conventional media yet,use like I said College media.Chances are they can give your band the sort of hip cache your band needs.Whether it's College radio,print or TV.

After you have all that in place and you're playing at least once a week,start writing for a band you would like to open for.This shows you want to help other players.Write articles on them,interview them at their gigs,and offer to open for for free.

By helping other bands could end being lucrative joint ventures where you go on the road together.And if the band you open for wants someone to handle selling CDS for them at their gigs,do it,for a cut of the profits.

But keep writing your own media packages and use unconventional media like college and doing it your self.Think for your self players and just do it!

How to Promote Other Bands,Create Value For Them--And A Cut Of The Profits!

By Mark Grove

Some players asked for this article again as well as more audios and even a video of me talking about how to make a Press Kit for their band. Or doing the same for other bands and creating Joint Ventures with them that work. But for now this article will do. But later in the new year I'm actually going to do more audios and some videos so you can learn and implement these strategies more efficiently for your band.

I know you guys need this type of "How To" info for your band and other ones who I know have it in them to succeed wildly! Start off with this article and get creating a solid press pack and helping local bands. Then make some cash you deserve.

Really smart bands out there are going the DIY way. With the advent of the Internet it’s been even easier to get your “stuff” online. But most can’t drive the traffic they need to generate any sales or interest. Going the major label route or even using an independent label is more risky than doing it yourself.

You’re probably thinking, that’s bullshit Mark! Why should I take all the risk when someone else can do it  for me.Yeah, that may well be. But they usually end up taking half the profits and ask that you give their producers points on projects. Does that make logical sense guys and gals?

Any bands with a lot of drive and determination will do it the DIY way. That’s the only way your band should be going. I talk about doing it yourself and you should be. You can set up a Myspace or Word press blog and start plugging your band’s Mp3’s for free at first with questions for fans to answer.

Have band interviews done by other band members. Have a lot of how to stuff for other musicians and even get some rabid fans with a lot of drive to interview your band. Even set up a press conference at your gigs. Forget mainstream media. Remember what I said about mainstream media. Basically, Fuck them!


Look at college Radio and college papers and magazines. Part of that can be creating value for other bands by doing interviews with them and putting them on your blog. Going back to College Media. They can create the real fans of music that really understand your music, and chances are they'll be rabid fans who buy your CDS and go to your gigs.

But the concentration should be helping your band and helping other bands as well. In two other articles that can really help your band help others is starting an A& R consultancy service for bands, and your own online label. If you don’t know what A& R is,it's called Artist and Repetoire and  it's bands send you their CD’s for a critique and what they need to do to tighten up the work or edit certain areas of their recordings. These bands are hoping to get a deal as well. Interview the bands who are good enough  and put their MP3’s on your blog.

One thing I always tell bands to do as well is record a 4 song EP on Analog Cassette. An old Tascam off Ebay if you can find one. The reason I say to do this is it will force your band to be creative in recording
without using digital technology. Then when you do record with digital technology you can infuse some
warm, natural sounding Analog feel to your recordings. A lot more fans love analog, not just us oldtimers.

Ask your fans what they want in that regard. Now going back to working with other bands. You can write promo articles for them, record them and making extra cash selling their material. This can lead to producing and selling that band’s CD’s at their gigs. Once other bands see what you're doing they'll want your help as well. Even making 10 percent off bookings as well as CD sales.

Always create value for bands, don't just be all business. it's a relationship guys.
If your band and other bands sell enough CD’s, start online affiliate programs where you get a cut of their sales. This helps both bands. Forget trying to sell CDs online. That doesn't work in a lot of cases. Focus on
playing gigs, joint ventures with other bands and selling CDs at gigs as well.

Think about it, besides making extra cash with your own band you can help out local and regional bands
and make a lot of extra cash in off the beaten path ways.

Forget selling rock band merch as well. Keep your money in your pocket. But if you want to still get in on the independent label deals, offer to work with them selling their CD's. Offer to write articles for their musicians and do promotions for their bands. But ask for a cut of the profits of the bands you work with. At least 5 to 10 percent. This way your hand is in their cookie jar without having to do a deal with them in a way that has your band lose 50% of their income. They might have a modern studio with Pro tools or top of the line recording equipment and that could help your band and others you work with.

By offering them free services writing and promo of their bands can get you more than you think, and eventually a cut of other band’s profits, not your band. Like I said do it your way. This is the only way a band should go.

Email me with your questions on this subject, or want your band interviewed in a DIY way.



email me for more info at: mdgrove@rock.com