BandstandHUB · Blogs
Notes from the local live scene
Guides, venue spotlights and how-tos for artists, venues and the people who book them.
A gig-day checklist for the whole band
The difference between a calm gig day and a frantic one is usually a list made the night before. Here is what to run through, from load-in to load-out.
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Turning an enquiry into a booking
An enquiry is interest, not a booking. What you do in the first reply decides whether it becomes one. Here is how to handle it wel...
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Finding live music near you
The best night out is often a band you have never heard of, ten minutes away. Here is how to find live music near you — and tell a...
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Pricing your first residency
A residency is a different deal from a one-off booking, and pricing it like a single night is the usual mistake. Here is how to re...
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What belongs in a stage plot
A stage plot is a diagram of where everyone stands and what they need plugged in. Getting it right turns a stressful soundcheck in...
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Questions to ask a venue before you play
Most difficult gig nights trace back to something nobody asked about beforehand. Here is the short list worth sending before you c...
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How a venue's booking year actually runs
Venues do not book evenly across the year. Understanding the rhythm — and when a booker is actually looking — makes an approach la...
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What makes a good entertainment listing
A booker deciding whether to contact you often spends less than a minute on your page. Here is what needs to be on it, and what ca...
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Getting your gig discovered locally
Most people who might come to your show live nearby and do not follow you yet. Reaching them is mostly about being findable, not a...
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