If you want tour more and perform at international jazz festivals, working with an agent, manager, publicist and/or record label can be a big advantage.
For these people to get involved though, they first need to see that you are building some interest and momentum yourself.
One area where you can really take control of this is your home city.
Local gigs are a chance to build a buzz, create some press and to show both yourself and people within the industry what stage you are at.
- Why this gig?
Quite possibly, the actual reason is that you just want to play and to create some press.
But from the audience’s point of view, there should be a more creative motivation for why they should come to this gig. A new record is an obvious reason but outside of an album cycle, you could consider…
- a new video
- a single/EP (maybe an unreleased track from an old studio session)
- a new expanded line-up
- a warm-up for your next album
- a showcase for new repertoire
- Prepare a short piece of press text about the project and the gig.
Not only will it help clarify the idea before you speak to promoters, you can use it to promote the show once it has been booked.
- List the venues
Note down all the possible venues in town that would work well for your project.
- Contact the promoters
Explain the concept and ask for a date between 2-6 months in the future, preferably on a Thursday-Saturday.
Note: it helps to explain the ‘reason’ to a promoter so they also have the feeling they need to book you now, rather than just ‘sometime in the future…’
- Promoter 1-Sheet
As soon as it’s confirmed, send a 1-page PDF to the promoter with exactly the information you want them to use. If you don’t have this ready, there is a free download template here.
- Get it on the website
Add the gig to your website, ideally via a (free) service like Songkick which will also post it onto Spotify and various other places across the internet.
- Announce on social media
Post about the gig on your Facebook Artist Page & Twitter with a link to buy tickets and, ideally, an embedded video or streaming track. If it’s the main upcoming gig, pin it so it stays at the top of your profile.
- Press release
If you don’t have one already, put together a list of local publications and journalists who write about jazz and send them your text in the form of a press release.
- Mailout to fans
If you have a fan mailing list, send them a slightly different version of the press text (more familiar & personal than a press release) with a link to buy tickets.
If possible, segment your list so you are only contacting people in the same city or country as the gig.
- Invite promoters
Make a list of other promoters in the city and prepare a tweaked version of this email to them, individually, inviting them to come and catch the gig.
Keep this email as a draft until a month before the gig (if you contact too far in the future they might not put it in the diary)
- Plan your social media campaign
Schedule a series of Facebook posts (directly on Facebook) and tweets (via the free version of Hootsuite) to be released intermittently between announcement and the gig.
@tag the venue and other musicians so that they are reminded to share it with their followers.
Note: you can generally post more often on Twitter than Facebook without annoying followers – and activity on both can become more frequent in the 2 weeks before the show.
- Help the promoter promote…
Give the venue a piece of content (new track/video/photo) and ask them to post directly onto their social media feeds.
This can be particularly effective if they have lots more followers than you as it puts you in front of confirmed music fans who might not already know you.
- Don’t double up!
Don’t book multiple local gigs within the same half-of-year!
This just splits the audience and splits the impact.
Pick one good one and squeeze as much as you can out of it.
Hi Matt:) Thanks for the cool info!:) I have a new Jazz CD: Grace Garland-LADY G! available on CDBaby, iTunes, &
amazon
GRACE GARLAND DUO Performs an eclectic blend of #Jazz Standards, Originals & Fun in New York City, THURSDAYS, November 10th 17th AND 24th (THANKSGIVING) at ANYWAY CAFE 34 East 2nd Street (Off 2nd Avenue) 9pm-12am NO cover! #gracegarland #LiveMusic
Cool – thanks for sharing Grace!
Hi Matt, excellent article as always and good to know I’ve ticked a few of those boxes already and therefore should be on the right path! Our LJF gig is next Friday, so quite soon, but if you could promote it via Jazzfuel, any help would be much appreciated! Here is the gig listing link :
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/events/info/isq
Thanks
Sure thing, will post about it from my personal Twitter as there are plenty of London jazz people connected there!
Hey Matt, great article! My trio is making our Nyack, NY debut (just outside NYC) next week. I just set up a FB event and will soon write a press release, design a flier, etc. Here’s the event lInk: https://www.facebook.com/events/1249112248444244/
Any promo you could add would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers Mike – posted it on FB now and scheduled for Twitter, have a great one!
Thanks for this great opportunity, Matt! Here’s a link to a solo feature I’m doing on Wednesday, Nov 23rd (Thanksgiving Eve), 6-7:30 pm, at Vieux Carre, a New Orleans themed club in St. Paul, MN. For those looking to entertain family and friends the night before Thanksgiving, this is the place to be. Soul-inspiring jazz, creole plates, craft cocktails, and no cover!
REVIEWS for PIANIST MARY LOUISE KNUTSON
“….right up there with Bill Evans and Bill Charlap.” – Pamela Espeland, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune
“…an elegant touch that recalls McPartland, Arriale, and Jarrett.” – Andrea Canter, JazzINK.com
“…lyrical jazz piano brilliance…” – Vieux Carre
https://vieux-carre.com/event/mary-louise-knutson-19/
Nice one – have scheduled a tweet for the day before to share the news! THANKS!
Hi Matt, I just recently learned about you work, and find it helpful and interesting.
I have this concert coming up as composer and director for the big band for this project: https://www.kulturenshus.com/evenemang/norrbotten-big-band-moter-anne-mette-iversen/
They are doing local promotion up there and the Swedish Radio is invited and will record the show also.
All the best,
Nice one – wish I could be there! Met the Norbotten guys at Jazzahead last year; great projects.
Very good Matt. As usual, succinct music biz thoughts and advice. Here is a link to a super cool show I am pretty excited about doing in Toronto. A sort of Tzadik Records double band bill. https://calendar.lula.ca/lulalounge/detail/186/1479945600000
Best,
Bret
Hey Bret,
Nice, looks interesting!
I’ll post a little plug a week before the gig with a link to tickets and music.
Cheers!
Matt
Great article Matt. Thanks. Here’s a link to an upcoming gig I have at Trumpet’s Jazz in Montclair NJ
https://www.trumpetsjazz.com/event/julie-lyon/?instance_id=4603
Thanks for helping me promote.
Good one Julie – I’ve scheduled a post to go out a few days before.
All the best,
Matt
Hi Matt, nice article.
I am almost of to Japan for a album tour, maybe you can promote my first show? Wil be in Pit In Tokyo on the 3d of November 2016
More info about the tour can be found on my website,
https://www.jorisposthumus.com/gigs/
Have a great sunday!
Hey Joris – nice one!
Will post on Monday with a link to the tickets.
All the best,
Matt