BANDALOGY 101: How To Get (Grab/Steal) Gigs

by Dr. Van Houten

We get it often these days. "Asa naay tukar?" "Paapila mi beh?" "Sila sila ra ba." "Mga tiguwang na mo mao naa moy tukar. Kami bata pa...blah-blah-blah" "Mga sikat ray pwede motukar. Salig mo, sikat mo sa pagka way byu!" "Amigohay ra ang pwede motukar."

Blah.

Whiners and pussies come by the dozen. In the local band scene, they come in droves. Thus, I've come up with a list/guide to help these little wusses land/grab/steal gigs on their own.

1. Join contests. Once in a while, band contests are held. BQ Mall just recently finished one. A couple months back, Tip2x fiesta did one also. You may also join national contests with local elimination rounds. Nescafe Soundskool, Red Horse Muziklaban and Globe Kantabataan do theirs regularly each year.

2. Freshen Up Your Network. Not a single gig lately? Make friends with promoters, managers and event organizers. Makoi (Mark Hubac Productions, hehe kapatid!), Maw2x (Central Sense), Dadskidoo (PlugOut/GaraheEvents), Milo (Kalma Sounds) and Arvin (101 Productions) - approach them with a couple chilled bottles of Red Horse in hand and you'll be friends with them easy. These guys do regular gigs. They might just slip you in if you're nice enough (meaning: give more beers).

3. Martin's Bar. Ahhhhh..our favorite hang out. They serve the best chilled Red Horse in town. Also, they support bands both old and new. Go ask Ate Amor or Ate Heidz if you can play in one of the slow nights. I'm sure they'll comply. Just ask nice. Or you could hang out with Bic2x (meaning: give more beers, again) and he'll give you a gig easy.

4. Record Your Songs. With SoundGarage Recording Studio just around the corner, recording you own music is quick and painless these days. If you are serious about your band making music, this is the single most efficient thing to do. With your recorded song you can: share to friends, submit to FM stations, submit to Disco Mobiles, make a music video or upload to Imeem and be included in the BoholBand playlist. The BangBang concert series is also held for bands included in the compilation album of songs recorded at SoundGarage. If interested, just hang out with the iconic Mr. Roy Tutor. (Current rate: P2,000 per song, unlimited time, 1 bottle Tanduay)

5. Online Gigs. Who said you have to be at an actual physical stage to do a gig? You can be at the comforts of you own dusty, chlorine-smelling, insect-infested rooms and still play for the world to see. Live online streaming may be the way to go, baby (if you are one shy/unsocial bitch that is). Or just record your acoustic sessions and put them up on Youtube, Vimeo or Facebook. You get way more coverage this way.

Bottomline is, be more pro-active. Gigs won't come to you. Hell no! Find ways you lousy whining dipshit. Make things happen for your band. Play for the world and the world will listen.

P.S.
Of course, you have to practice harder. And more frequently, too. Don't just practice when there is a contest coming. Don't you ever come to me asking for a gig only to play your lame-ass music with your lame-ass skills, brader.

P.S.S.
Maybe nobody wants you to play 'coz you suck? Ponder on that.

---

BANDALOGY 101 will try to help new underground/indie bands think differently about the music industry and look at it as a part of the whole. Contributors wanted.