BOOKING A SHOW

EVER WONDERED HOW YOU CAN GET MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR MUSIC SCENE? IF YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO SET UP A DIY SHOW, OR ARE WONDERING WHAT GOES INTO PLANNING ONE, HERE ARE SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS ON HOW TO BOOK A SHOW. **DISCLAIMER: BOOKING A SHOW IS ANYTHING BUT “SIMPLE”.**

1. Make sure you’ve got a space available! This can be a venue, a basement, a bookstore (RIP Nice Price), a living room, a record store, etc. Bars are okay spots for shows, but age restrictions suck. **Give yourself a month minimum beforehand to avoid conflicts with other shows, last minute band cancellations, finding a PA, and generally not wanting to tear your hair out.**

2. Get your paws on a PA! You'll need some amplification for your mics and such so you can hear loud and clear. The space may have one already, but if they don't, ask around with your music pals, especially those that are in bands. Also, make sure someone's on board to run sound during the show. It can be as simple or as EQ-y and complex as you want! **Acoustic/stripped down shows are another alternative! This will keep any noise complaints to a minimum, and is also generally lower-risk and lower-stress.**

3. Gather your talent! Touring bands bring a new/exciting element to a show, while local bands bring a familiar/guaranteed element. Mix it up to ((hopefully)) ensure a good show and a decent crowd! **Make sure you’ve got a place for your touring bands to sleep! Sometimes they can/will find one on their own, but definitely don’t leave them hangin’.**

4. Promote your event! Two weeks in advance is a good guideline for when to start promotion. Make a flier, a Facebook event, tell your friends, get it on the WKNC Rock Report, anything you can to spread the word! Make sure you include: who’s playing, time/date, place, and donation amount. If it’s a house show, do NOT post your address! Just say to ~*ask*~ Also, if you have a dollar amount required for entry, you’ve got to pay taxes to The Man or something, so make sure you put the word “donation” next to it! **If this is a sober show or a safe(r) space, PLZ make sure you denote this on the flier!! If you don’t know what these are, look ‘em up and consider them for yr show.~**

5. Have an early load-in time for the bands to get their gear inside and (maybe) set up // soundcheck. This also provides cushion time for getting lost, flat tires, “dog-ate-my-drumset” (classic...), etc. Check-in with bands a week or two and then a day or two in advance to make sure that everyone’s still on board and good to go! Exchange phone numbers to make communication easy. **People usually expect a show to run on *punk time,* so if you’re trying to keep a tight schedule, say so! Make it clear in your promo AND to the bands!**

6. Collect donations! The number one gold star trait of a house or DIY-space host is someone who brings around the donation box! It sucks, and sometimes people look at you funny. But at the end of the day, your touring bands NEED ((not want)) gas money and deserve a lil’ extra for being rad.

7. Have a good dang time! Thanks for putting together a cool event where people can come, hang, and keep the scene alive.