How to Get Your First Gigs as a Band or Solo Artist in the UK
By Written by Peter McVeigh
You have songs and a set, and now you need somewhere to play. A practical UK guide to open mics, support slots, promoters and venues, how to ask, and how to turn one gig into the next.
Getting your first gigs is mostly about being prepared and asking in the right way. Most venues and promoters are happy to hear from local acts, as long as the message is short, clear and easy to say yes to.
This guide walks through how to get ready, where to start and how to approach venues and promoters in the UK. It is general advice, and every scene is different, so adjust it to your area.
Get ready first
Before you contact anyone, make sure you have a set you can play well. Aim for a tight 20 to 30 minutes of your best material, because early slots are short. You also need something people can listen to or watch, such as a couple of tracks online or, better still, a short live video, because a live clip shows a booker what they would actually be putting on. Pull together a short bio, a good photo and your links in one place, and our Electronic Press Kit Builder will put these into a single page. Finally, have your own gear sorted, or a clear idea of what the venue supplies.
If you have never played live, practise the full set standing up, with the same gear, without stopping. Nerves are normal, and our guide on stage fright covers what to do about them.
Start with open mics
Open mic nights are the lowest pressure way to start. You get a short slot, a real audience and a chance to meet other musicians and the people who run the night. Treat it as practice and as networking.
Arrive early, be friendly to the host and stay to watch other acts. The people you meet there are often the ones who tell you about gigs, and hosts often book or recommend acts they have seen do well.
Find your local scene
Your local scene is the best place to begin. Go to gigs, talk to the bands and note which venues put on original music and which book cover acts.
Make a short list of venues and promoters that suit your genre. A venue that books indie bands is a better fit than a bar that only wants a covers act, and the reverse is also true. Our guide on what makes a bar a legitimate music venue can help you judge whether a place is worth your time.
Ask for support slots
Support slots are one of the most common ways to get a first proper gig. Bands who put on their own nights often need support acts, and a support slot brings you in front of their audience.
Send a short, friendly message to bands in your genre. Say you like what they do, offer to support and include a link. Reciprocate: if they help you, put them on a bill when you can.
How to contact a venue or promoter
Keep your first message short. Say who you are and the kind of music you play, in a line. Say why you are contacting them, ideally that you know the venue or have been to a night there. Add a link to a track or live video, and say what you are asking for, such as a support slot or an open date, and when you are free.
Do not ask for a Saturday headline slot on your first message. Weekends are usually kept for acts who can bring a crowd. A weeknight support slot is a realistic starting point.
If you do not hear back, a single polite follow-up after a couple of weeks is fine. Our guide on following up after someone shows interest has more on this.
Understand the deal before you agree
Find out what you are signing up to before you say yes. Is it a paid slot, a split of the door, or play for exposure? Are you expected to bring a crowd or sell tickets? What time is the load in, the sound check and your set time? And what does the venue supply, such as a PA, a backline and a sound engineer?
Be careful with pay to play arrangements where you buy tickets to sell on. They can leave you out of pocket. Our guide on what to charge for a gig covers fees and getting terms in writing.
Make the most of each gig
Tell people about the gig well beforehand, and tell them more than once. Turn up on time, be polite to the sound engineer and staff, and leave the stage tidy. Collect emails or follow-ups from the audience, and our guide on building a mailing list explains why this matters. Film a short clip of the set if you can, as it helps you get the next booking. Then thank the promoter and ask whether there is another date, because reliable acts get rebooked.
Common mistakes
The usual mistakes are contacting venues with no way for them to hear you, asking for a headline slot straight away, sending a long, generic message and agreeing to a deal you do not understand. The last one is playing the gig and then not following up.
What to do next
Pick three venues or promoters that suit your sound, find a live clip or two tracks to link to, and send each a short message this week. Go to an open mic night before you ask for anything bigger, and keep a list of who you contacted and what they said.
Once gigs start coming in, the next questions are money and paperwork. See our guide on what to charge for a gig, and our guide on DIY touring for when you start to travel.
Disclaimer
This article is general advice for independent artists, not legal or financial advice. This article in particular is part of a series of quick information articles that are less personally focused or anecdotal. Every venue and promoter works differently, so always confirm the terms of a booking before you agree.