Article: "Home Run Gigs"

By Kenny Love

Copyright © 2005 Kenny Love All Rights Reserved


Are you still playing your heart out to small audiences on
gigs at unappreciative dives (excuse me, I meant to say
nightclubs) that feel paying you a couple of hundred dollars
for a 3-4 hour gig is also paying you about $150 too much?

Unless you are a masochist, why do you continue to take
such beatings? Is it due to laziness, complacency,
cynicism, your now being jaded, or a combination of any
of the above?

Are you aware that you could dramatically improve your live
performance income by making simple changes in the
types of performances that you accept?

For instance, see the below list of gig types and the average
earnings possible, compared to traditional nightclub work:

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* Weddings ($1,000 *minimum* for 2-3 hours work)

Instead of working yourself to death, so to speak, by
chasing wedding performance opportunities on an individual
basis, consider approaching a number of area caterers and
offering your services to them as an add-on to their own
services as, obviously, they will have significantly more
client opportunities.

Not only will your music service now give catering
companies more value, as the client can now also
purchase the wedding entertainment through a single
source as opposed to contracting performers separately,
but this single joint venture alone will dramatically increase
your income, and on a more consistent basis.

And, the best place to seek caterers is in your local Yellow
Pages under the categories of "Caterers."

As additional potential wedding income sources, you would
also do well to leave your portfolio and/or business cards
with area bridal shops, tuxedo shops, bridal consultants,
wedding planners and wedding supplies and services.

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* Ship Cruises

Talk about getting paid to, literally, travel the world! This is
exactly what this amounts to...a paid vacation! There are a
minimum of seven major high paying cruise lines that are
actively seeking you to work with them. Truthfully, I cannot
do this any further justice, other than telling you to
immediately visit the ProShip Entertainment site below to
fall into a musician's paradise.

http://www.proship.com/

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* Corporate Functions

When I say corporate functions, I am speaking of getting
incredible gigs with such companies as; Microsoft, IBM,
and that ilk. Corporate functions are fairly regular, as they
readily lend themselves to employee motivation.

Without a better point of reference, I suggest your starting
with these types of companies' Human Resource
department, which can better direct you to an appropriate
department that coordinates their corporate events if the
Human Resource department does not. You will likely need
to send your standard media kit for consideration.

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* Private Parties

One of the best places to seek private party entertainment
opportunities, is through the Society Pages of your local
newspaper. The Society Page usually lists private events
held by the wealthy and philanthropists who host fundraisers,
charities, etc. You may also wish to consult your local library
for possible local society directories that can also provide
you with additional contacts.

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* Grand Openings

Best places to check out your opportunities for Grand
Opening performances are, again, your area newspapers,
as well as Chambers of Commerce. Practically all new
companies host grand openings in order to alert the public
to their new business venture. They also go "all out," so to
speak, in terms of media coverage through television, radio
and print media advertising, as well as interviews. Any and
all of this can serve to make far more people aware of you
when you perform at these locales.

By the way...in any of these situations, *ALWAYS* request
permission beforehand from your employers to sell your
music, as this peripheral sales income will only increase
your overall take. In some cases, you may be allowed to
do so while, in other cases, you likely will not be allowed.
However, it never hurts to ask and, by all means,
ALWAYS ASK!

Hopefully, these several income outlets can give you a
much better income base while, eventually, taking you
out of the hardworking, yet, low-paying nightclub arena.
_____________________________________________

Editor's Note: Kenny Love is president of www.MuBiz.com,
a radio promotion and media publicity firm. Additionally,
he is also producer and co-host of "Think About It!," a
radio business talk show for musicians that has over
400,000 weekly listeners.