usually you're lucky to break even so don't do it for the money =)

what kind of gig? just a show with bands?

Yeah I mean in the future I'd like to be selling stuff from clothing lines but simply put my money really wont go that far at the moment.



I dont really know any decent local artists, or atleast people doing the stuff I'm into.



I live in york when I'm at uni, its a good city but a nightmare for stuff like this, basically cause its a historic city and because of the walls. You dont see graffiti art here at all because every building has a presevervation order on it and people care enough about the buildings to leave them alone. That and there really isnt a music scene because its really difficult to find locations. All the buildings are small most pubs dont have space for custommers let alone to have a gig in (most the buildings are tudor).



I have found a cinema that rents out its basement for gigs so that might work out but it depends on the cost.



Right now the only band im in regular contact with is a ska band thats doing fairly well (touring with some fairly major acts in that scene).



I know of some other bands but their music is totally different and wouldnt fit, one I'm worried will be too expensive the other are newly formed and I dont think their set is very big at all.



So right now it really is the ideas stage.

well, i play at venues quite often with my band, and while i'm not usually the one doing the booking, i know how things are usually done. it could be different in the uk, however...



i don't think we've ever had to pay a venue to play there. they usually take out money from the door or from the drinks that people purchase. same thing with other bands. they get their money from the door, unless they are a bigger band with a guaranteed payment, but that's more the venue's responsibility than the person setting up the show.



myspace is a great resource for looking up bands if you haven't tried that route yet. that's basically how we've gotten all our shows. i'm sure a lot of bands will play for just money that's received at the door, and even for free, just to get their name out there.



it really isn't that big of a deal, though maybe i'm just used to it because i've done it so many times now. i think the main expense would be the flyer design if you plan to hire someone to design it. but i would book a smaller show first, to get the feel of things. trying to deal with bigger bands may end up being too much of a hassel at first.

I think the venues pretty small and I'm trying to get local bands to play, the problem is obviously I dont own the venue I'd just be putting the gig together.



What happens for example if we had a low turn out and I didnt break even and couldnt pay the bands?



Thanks for the tips though, yeah i'll start looking on myspace more.

if the venue hosts shows regularly or serves drinks, then most likely you don't have to pay to rent out the space. just get in contact with whomever owns the venue and say you want to have some bands play there on whatever date you're thinking; usually they want notice at least a month in advance.



if you inform the bands that they would only earn door money, then they take the risk of getting little to no payment. i just had a show last night, and from the door money, only got $12. it gets trickier in the case of bigger bands who demand a certain amount of money to play at a show (we've played with one who needed $200), but in that case, it's the venue's responsibility, i think. the venue will advertise the shows to an extent themselves, because they want to draw people in to buy their drinks or whatever.

God shifting through the crap is bloody hard (myspace that is) I've yet to find a band I'd like to risk my money on and I need around three bands.



Or am I aiming to high for the first time out?