Indie On The Move: a great ressource for finding a booker’s contact information

There are many music venue directories on the net and it’s virtually possible to find even the smallest of live music joints if you are willing to spend hours on end searching for them. When booking a tour these repertoires can come in very handy when you’re looking for places to play, but many don’t include the most essential of elements to do so: the booker’s or the venue’s contact information.

‘Indie On The Move’ does a remarquable job at handing it out to you. This website was devised by the band members of Zelazowa who have toured around the States and Europe playing over 500 shows in the past years.

The concept of the site is pretty simple and won’t overwhelm you with useless gimmicks. You create an account comprised of a list of venues, some notes and a dedicated email system, and you browse through their numerous venues adding those you would like to contact for your tours or gigs.

Don’t expect to encounter tens of thousands of venues yet but it is a work in progress. Based on a user generated content model, their database grows as users add information. And besisdes, most venues in their  system are the ones you’ll want to play at (‘Indie On The Move’ only concentrates on US venues by the way).

Many of their venues have phone numbers, descriptions and ratings, but the common denominator is the bookers’ contact and/or the venue’s MySpace page. Every venues has an email address (well at least the dozens I checked), so you can easily start booking your gigs and know where you’re headed.

A very informative ‘Touring Tips’ section is also included on the site, so if you’re planning your first tour, it’s probably best to start there.

And one other thing, the service is entirely free.

Gigdoggy sends its warm regards to Zelazowa and encourages all touring bands to give ‘Indie On The Move’ a try.

mruff.

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The way bands gig swap and share shows (2)

How bands choose other bands to swap/share gigs:

I was in a band that threw a show at a teen community center about seven years ago. The other two bands on the bill were from the local high school. That way the kids would come to check out their friends playing. Turns out that the two bands hated each other. and their friends hated each other. I spent most the night trying to keep the peace and dealing with a bunch of brats. In the end, my band played middle (no big deal) and the other bands ended up trying to rip each other off and fist fighting (that is a big deal). The teen center didn’t allow another show after that. KNOW WHO YOU’RE PLAYING WITH! Ask the other bands if they’re cool with the other bands on the bill and the lineup. If the band you got a show doesn’t get you a show back, then don’t work with them anymore. Your good name is all you got. Don’t let others drag it through the mud. if you set up the show and it’s a winner, the glory is yours. If the show is a bust, so will you.
March into Paris http://www.myspace.com/marchintoparisband

We chose bands by going to their shows and seeing them live before we invite them to play with us.
Throw The Fight, http://www.myspace.com/throwthefight

I have done some gig swapping… it has worked out good for me… but I met the people at a show, so I know they are hard working and will make the gig I go to a good one. They know that of me as well… I am sure if it’s a hit or miss.
ID Required, http://www.myspace.com/idrequired

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Does gigswapping always work out?

Gig-swapping is always a risk. Bands often embellish their worth and/or bail out on their side of the deal. But it’s worth trying. If you win over any of their fans, they will talk about it and hopefully come out the next time your there.
Tims Myth, http://www.myspace.com/tmyth

When doing a swap with a band, always do a little bit of research on the other band. If this is a gigging band that has done its fair share of shows then they should know the deal.
We’ve swapped shows with a lot of out of town bands, and really, it’s just a matter of “you scratch my back and I scratch yours.” If a band comes from a long distance you hook them up with a place to sleep, hot meals, and show them a good time around your city. Make something special out of it. Just try to start good relationships with good bands in areas far away that you plan on going to as soon as you’ve earned a name for yourselves at home. One region at a time. When setting up a bill find some bands you have networked with, three or four, go to the venue you’re trying to play and present them with the bill; show the bills drawing power. (if you don’t know any bands, it’s because your networking game is weak. Don’t bother setting up a bill until you got the networking part of the game down). When you’re setting up a bill it’s always best to work out who’s paying for what as far as the PA goes. If you’re playing at a place without a PA. (and never play at a place without a PA unless you’re setting up a show at the teen community center or something like that. If you’re playing at a bar with no PA, it’s because they don’t do regular shows. No regular shows equals no walk in traffic there to hear bands, and the bar regulars aren’t there to hear bands.
March into Paris, http://www.myspace.com/marchintoparisband

Most of the time bands are always down and don’t fuck around with gig swapping too much, cause it gives them a chance to go play in a new area or city and get good promotion and what not.
Texas armed to the teeth, http://www.myspace.com/texasarmedtotheteeth

We’re friends with most of the bands in town, so they ask us to play out. We don’t even play remotely the same style of music, but there’s a lot of mutual respect. Once you’re in good with a few clubs, you can return the favor, or get someone to help fill the bill when you’re in a jam trying to find that third band to play with. Get in with those bands that see the scene as a community, not as a group of competitors. There’s a good chance there will be a lot of the latter, especially in the rock scene. The older guys are usually the ones to get to know. they’ve mostly gotten past that cocky phase.
Sylvan Lane, http://www.myspace.com/sylvanlane

We’ve hooked up touring bands and they return the favor. There are always bands that will get on a bill that aren’t that good, but it’s part of the game sometimes. I’ve also seen bands be not very good the first time you see them, but then 6 months later they slay!
(Anonymous)

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Mruff?

Finding bands = easy, choosing bands = not so easy. Any band should be wary of putting their reputation on the line for another band they’ve never seen before. Even if your musical styles aren’t exactly the same you should consider the outcome of the partnership. If they have a steady fan base and let you in on a tight venue in a city you want to access, in that case swap away. Good production tells a lot about a band. If the production is thorough then in most cases the live sound will be well finished. So if you like their music (or not, but they’re hot), they sound good and they are consolidated in your target location, there is one last thing to look into, and having looked into that thing in the first place might have rid you of all the other things: a simple video of the band playing live. This doesn’t answer all your questions but it’s the most direct impression your gonna get. Actually it’s not, sorry; the most direct is seeing them live. It’s worth taking your band out on the road for a short drive to see them play. Live is where a band shows its mettle. And you get a chance to meet their fans, which in turn could become your fans. It’s always all about the fans…”.
(gigDoggy, http://www.myspace.com/gigdoggy

More bands quotes on sharing shows and gig swapping here:

• The way bands gig swap and share shows (1)
• The way bands gig swap and share shows (3)

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The way bands gig swap and share shows (1)

Why swap gigs?

I actually think that “gig swapping” might be the best possible way to get shows… the problem is you have to be in a position where the venue owner or booker lets you bring another artist in to actually make the trade. The idea is if they put you on a bill, you put them on your bill. And the best shows are those that expose your audience to theirs and vice-versa, and that the two artists are close enough in appeal that the folks who would buy your music and swag and tickets would buy theirs, too. It’s tougher than it sounds to put together a good bill, especially if one or more of the artists aren’t known names… but it’s possible, and gig swapping creates friends and partners and can prove to a club owner or booker or promoter that you can be trusted to get people in attendance.
Benjy Kantor, AR manager, www.sonicbids.com

For me, a good show is one that has multiple bands (2 or 3) on the bill because that draws more people in the door. Keep in mind that for every show you do there is at least one person there that hasn’t seen you before”.
Publik Parking www.myspace.com/publikparking

I think gig-swapping with other bands could be the way to go. Over time we’ve scored some great gigs and contacts but find it hard to break into new areas. We can offer support slots to bands in venues that like us, and, in return, that band can organize support slots for us in their neck of the woods. It’s quite common practice and a good idea.
Anonymous

Of course, hooking up with a local act is best for getting gigs, so you can cross-pollinate their draw with any friends you have in the area, and try and win them over.
Tims Myth www.myspace.com/tmyth

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How bands meet other bands:

For getting gigs with other bands, I think the best way is to go to other people’s shows and check them out. Hang around after the show, buy the band member(s) a beer and have a demo of yours handy. You can say you’re looking for an opening slot for the future and to keep you in mind.
Linda M www.myspace.com/lindamsongs

Most of the bands, we meet either at shows or through myspace. Many bands are willing to do swaps. It usually works out well. I spend many hours each week organizing our show schedule. It is tough to be in communication with that many people but I know a thing that is tough is providing the same size audience that may have been provided to you. It is hard to make shows equal in value you for both bands when swapping shows.
Take One Car www.myspace.com/takeonecar

I made friends with some folks in NY and we just kind of took it from there… we trade out shows to get each other on the road as often as possible back and forth and anywhere in between… still trying to make it out to Europe one day ($$$!) and that’s about it… just networking, really. myspace is a great tool. Always people looking to get in the van… maybe I can visit you guys sometime!.
Dave Johnson www.myspace.com/davejohnsonsmusic

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Mruff?

Gig swapping is considered by many as a very important part of DIY booking and building a fan base. It’s about networking with other bands. Whether you’re looking for a gig in your home town or you want to extend your reach to out of town gigs, gig swapping is definitely something to look into, if not to depend upon. The process can also be thought in terms of fan swapping. Its important to find bands that you relate to, so the fans will relate as well. To find bands you must network, and all the social media sites out there can make it easy. You’ll find tons of bands willing to swap, share shows and basically just help out. A great way to find them is through band forums as most of them have dedicated threads for sharing gigs. Google around by typing in the search bar ‘gig swap + (city or region where you wanna swap or share a show)’ and kablamo! you’ll most likely find a local music forum hosting threads for sharing gigs. Be creative with your website: the Everyday Heroes have a gig swapping form bands can fill. Cool idea.
gigDoggy www.myspace.com/gigdoggy

More band quotes on sharing shows and gig swapping here:

• The way bands gig swap and share shows (2)
• The way bands gig swap and share shows (3)

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