How to Get Gigs as a Musician: Proven tips for booking local shows and growing your audience

If you’re a band, DJ, or singer trying to grow your audience, landing local gigs is one of the most effective ways to get noticed.

Live shows put you directly in front of new listeners, help you build real-world connections with fans that streaming alone can’t match, and can lead to collaborations, better-paying opportunities, and media coverage.

The good news? You don’t need to be famous to get booked. You just need the right approach, persistence, and presentation. Here’s a step by step guide on how to get gigs and actually hear back from venues. For further reading, check out this guide from Ditto Music and this networking article from Soundbrenner.

1. Start with a Clear, Simple Introduction

Bookers skim dozens of pitches daily, so your introduction should be short and crystal clear.

Think of your opening line as a quick handshake. It should immediately tell them who you are, what you play, and where you’re based.

• Example: “We’re The Moonlights, an indie rock band based in Chicago.”

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash

This immediately communicates your genre and location. Two critical filters bookers use when deciding who to book.

SEO tip: Including your city and genre in your introduction helps with discoverability if your pitch is ever shared or quoted online.

2. Share the Right Links

Make it as easy as possible for bookers to find what they need:

• 1–2 direct links to your best tracks (Spotify, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or YouTube)

• Link to your social media profile

• Your musician website - if it’s up to date with your music, bio, show dates, and contact info, you can skip linking socials separately; bookers will find them there

Why Having a Website Matters (Especially for Local SEO)

A musician website is more than a digital business card.

It’s your permanent, searchable home base:

• Looks professional: Shows you’re serious.

• Central hub: Music, photos, bio, gig dates, and contact info in one place.

• Convenience for bookers: All info is one click away.

• Boosts local discoverability: Well-structured sites rank higher for searches like “jazz singer in [city]”.

• Geo-targeted keywords: Phrases like “folk band in Austin” or “wedding DJ in Berlin” help you rank in relevant searches.

• Fan connection: Add a mailing list signup to turn visitors into loyal attendees.

• Always accessible: Social algorithms fluctuate; your site is always there.

Pro tip: Use a simple domain (artistname.com) and update your “Upcoming Shows” page regularly for both fans and search engines. Learn why every serious musician, band and Dj needs a music website.

Want to dive deeper in SEO and how it can help you? Here's a detailed guide on what is SEO and how it can be utilized to boost your visibilty.

3. Show You Can Bring a Crowd (and Have a Little Proof Ready)

Venues love booking artists who help fill the room. But “proof” doesn’t have to mean massive numbers.

Social media numbers don’t always impress - 100 Instagram followers might not turn heads, but 100 mailing list subscribers absolutely will.

Even 30–50 engaged subscribers can be a game changer, because they’re people you can reach directly and reliably, without an algorithm getting in the way.

It’s great if you can casually include a line like:

• Example: “I have 50 local subscribers who regularly attend my shows.”

That tells a venue you can bring real people, not just online likes.

Photo by Amir Arabshahi on Unsplash

If you can, also have a few extras ready in case they ask:

• Your email list size (and how many are local)

• Average turnout from recent shows

• Short live video clips

• Testimonials from past venues or organizers

• Promo assets (poster files, social story images, short clips)

These little details make it easier for a venue to picture you on their stage, and to say yes.

4. IRL Ways to Get Gigs (Beyond Email)

Sometimes the fastest way to get booked isn’t another email, it’s showing up in person.

Face-to-face connections help you build trust, and they make you more than just another name in an inbox.

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Here are some easy, low-pressure ways to put yourself out there:

• Open mics & jam nights: Great for meeting hosts, swapping contacts with other musicians, and getting a feel for the local scene.

• House concert: Small, intimate shows where you really connect with listeners. People remember these and often invite you back.

• Community events: Farmers’ markets, art fairs, school fundraisers - these build local visibility fast.

• Cafes & breweries: Casual venues are perfect for developing your set and growing a loyal base without big-stage pressure.

• Private events: Weddings, corporate gigs, and birthdays often pay more and lead to word-of-mouth bookings.

• Festivals: Apply early, apply often (and don’t forget smaller niche festivals that fit your style).

• Busking: A great way to practice, meet people, and spark unexpected opportunities.

• For DJs: Offer flexible set times and send a short sample mix so organizers know what you bring to the table.

Photo by Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash

The more people see you playing in different contexts, the more likely they are to think of you when a slot opens up.

Networking is about creating mutually beneficial relationships, not just collecting contacts:

• Visit venues during off-peak times

• Introduce yourself to staff and sound engineers

• Offer to trade support slots with similar acts

• Follow up within 24 hours of meeting someone

5. Where to Find Gigs Online

If you’re not already doing it, online research can massively expand your reach and keep your gig calendar full.

Think of it as a steady drip of opportunities, instead of waiting for the perfect one to appear.

Some places to start:

• Booking platforms: Sites like Gigmit, Indie On The Move, Sonicbids, GigSalad, Encore, and Resident Advisor list venues, festivals, and private events open for applications.

• Local groups: Facebook groups like “Gigs in [City]”, local subreddits, and even music-focused Discord servers can surface opportunities you won’t find elsewhere.

• Venue websites: Many list booking contact info or submission forms if you dig into their “Events” or “About” pages.

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

If you combine steady online outreach with showing up IRL, you’ll start building a network that keeps the gigs coming, without having to constantly start from scratch.

6. Ready-to-Use Templates

Reaching out to venues can feel awkward if you’re not sure what to say.

Having a few short, friendly templates in your back pocket makes it easier to send that first message, follow up, and keep the relationship going after a show.

Here are some you can adapt to your style:

Quick DM / Intro

• “Hey [Name], I’m [Artist], a [genre] artist from [City]. I think my sound could be a good fit for [Venue/Night]. Here’s a live clip and my site: [link]. I’m free on [dates] if you’ve got any slots coming up, even as an opener.”
  

Polite Follow-Up

• “Hi [Name], just checking in to see if you had a chance to listen. Happy to send over a short live clip or any other details that would help. Thanks for considering!”
  

After Gig Thank-You

• “Thanks so much for having us last night, your staff were awesome. We counted around [draw] paid on our end. Here’s a folder with photos/clips: [link]. We’d love to come back in [month] if there’s an opening.”

7. Micro Promo Plan for Each Show

Think of each gig as its own little marketing campaign.

A few small, well-timed actions can turn a show into a packed room and help you build momentum for the next one.

Photo by Manolo Chrétien on Unsplash

• T-21 (3 weeks before): Announce the show on your website first so it’s your central info hub, then share the link everywhere. Create an event page if possible.

• T-14 (2 weeks before): Email your mailing list and share your poster. Your email list is gold here. These are the fans most likely to show up.

• T-10: Post a short live clip to remind people why they should come.

• T-7: Share the event in local Facebook groups, subreddits, or forums.

• T-3: Send a reminder email with a presale push (if tickets are available in advance).

• T-0 (day of): Post your set times, share a quick behind-the-scenes story, and build that “tonight’s the night” excitement.

• T+1 (day after): Thank everyone for coming, share photos or clips, and invite any new faces to join your mailing list.

8. Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

Even great musicians sometimes lose gigs because of small, avoidable missteps.

We gathered a few of the most common mistakes and how to turn them around:

• Overlong emails: Keep your pitch short and focused. Bookers should be able to scan it in under a minute.

• Too many links: Choose your best track and your website. The easier it is to click, the more likely they are to listen.

• Forgetting your location or genre: Always say what you play and where you’re based, right at the start.

• Overstating your draw: Be honest about how many people you can bring. Venues respect realistic numbers more than inflated ones.

• No live proof: Have a recent live video clip or photos from a live event ready. It doesn’t have to be pro-shot. Clear audio and good energy are what matter most.

• Aiming too big too soon: If you can bring 30 people, start with venues that hold 50–80. Build your following before targeting larger rooms.

Final Thoughts

Booking local gigs is about clarity, professionalism, and consistent effort. A strong website, a growing mailing list, and clear proof of your draw can make all the difference.

If you don’t have a website yet, Noiseyard makes it simple to launch one in minutes, optimize it for local SEO, and give you tools to collect emails, share your music, and grow your fanbase - helping you get booked more often.