About Playing Live

Local shows will most likely be your first "major" source of income. Expenses involved in local/regional shows will be limited to gas and maybe per diems. - In order to get booked at a local or regional club you will not need the services of a booking agent, instead you will be able to do it yourselves. All you need is a complete and updated press kit, lots of persistence, and the ability and confidence to play a 45 - 60 min. set.

Once you've selected local and regional clubs you want to perform at, send out the complete press kit and follow up with a phone call within 5 to 7 working days.. The club will then tell you whether they're interested in booking you for a show or not. If they are, it will be your turn to tell the venue how much money you want for your performance. Once you've negotiated a deal you will have to gather all the pertinent information and set up a contract. (Note that after you've played a club for a couple of times and established a working relationship, the venue might not insist on a written contract anymore.) Nevertheless, getting things is writing is a very good habit to get into.

Here's a list of issues you will have to address and particularize in a contract:
"Purchaser" or "Buyer" (Name of the Club Promoter)
"Artist"
“"Deal" - The deal you accepted and the amount of money you will get paid.
Here are the four most common deals you will encounter:
Flat or Guarantee Ex.: $ 300
Versus Ex.: $ 300 versus 30% door, whatever's higher.
Plus Ex.: $ 300 plus 30% door
Points/Split Ex.: 50/30/20 of Net
· Date of Event
· Set Length
· Deposit (if any)
· Who will pay to whom how much and when
· Admission Fee (Ticket Price)
· Capacity
· Act of Nature (Force Majeure)
The force majeure (literally "superior force") clause is applied when there is an unexpected event that causes performance of the contract to become impossible; it releases one or both parties from their rights and obligations.
· Cancellation Fees
· Recording by Permission Only
· Promotional Commitment
This, for instance, specifies the minimum amount of money you, the band, expect the club to invest in advertising the show.
· Merchandise: How much the club will take from the gross of merchandise sold (usually 10%)