Thread: Venues

That's all.

Restaurant gigs are really nice, but they're not always the be-all, end-all.

Have you tried going after private parties, corporate events, weddings and bachelorette parties? They can be equally rewarding!

Some fusion people around here were doing art gallery openings and things like that a while back. They sounded like fun gigs in interesting places.

No, I am pursuing those. Would rather do parties, actually. But, I've got a venue that asked to hire me & specified a date, I said okay I'm available. But they've yet to give me some simple details I've asked for (like, start time?) & I also suspect they're about to cancel on me. I've sent an email to my contact person politely asking what's going on. And no, no contract - silly me. If I do get cancelled I will let them know I'd like to work with them, but for future reference no signed contract, no booking.

It's just annoying. I mean do venues really think we put no thought into what we're doing & don't need to plan anything like music or costuming?

I'd love to do a gig like that. As for me, one of my best paying recent gigs was at an upscale Italian restaurant. I've done lots of nightclub appearances, as well.

While ME restaurants are an easy sell and a relative no-brainer, some of the most rewarding gigs are actually the less obvious ones. They might not take you on for a weekly basis if it's not a perfect fit (a BDer performing every week at a Mexican restaurant wouldn't necessarily make sense to the restaurant owners). But plenty of non-ME restaurants love to shake up their live entertainment repetoire with new, exciting offerings. Take advantage of it!

Originally Posted by DancingRuya

I mean do venues really think we put no thought into what we're doing & don't need to plan anything like music or costuming?

They have no IDEA how much time and thought we put into things. When I was doing the restaurant thing it would take me at least an hour to put together one of the sets, and that's with songs that I already know. Then I would put it on my ipod, try it out with costume and props (when do I discard veils, zills, does this costume work this veil, etc., and how does the set flow), then make the necessary tweaks before I burned it onto CD. That's why as soon as I started getting crap from them, I let the gig go. I put too much time and effort into it for what I was making and how I was being treated.

Best part is, I don't miss it either! :zillgallop: Private parties are the way to go, at least in my area. I just gotta find some event planners to get connected with and figure out this whole press package thingie.

p.s. I'm an official bhuzzer now. w000t!!!

I've never known anyone to have any luck getting a restaurant venue to sign a contract. Private engagements don't typically have a problem with it, because entertainment agencies use them, but restaurants, especially ME ones? I'd like to know if folks in the US or outside of the Middle East have ever had any luck with them.

No ME venues here, it's mostly Western/American.

It's just annoying. I mean do venues really think we put no thought into what we're doing & don't need to plan anything like music or costuming?

After my last giging experience, it has been confirmed for me that the answer is no.

Maybe some folks have an inckling, if they are respectful sorts or have done a simmilar profession themselves.

But most seem under the impression
a] we sit in cupboards in our pretty dresses and can go on 2 sec notice 'cos they are so special
b] all we do is wobble about prettily anyway. Why would you need semantics like when, what, space or anything else? Its not like you plan or do anything? Choreography? Nah? Planning? Nah.

Blegh.