Band Business Money Tips

I went to the Mall this weekend and saw a DJ working his mix tables inside a Metropark Clothing store. This is part of the way they build atmosphere in their retail clothing stores. The store owners like, want, and benefit from having a musician playing music in their stores as a show piece that doesn’t interfere with people shopping, however brings people in to enjoy the experience of live music. You can do this to increase your money making opportunities for yourself or your band.

WHAT YOU NEED:
Business card, samples of music (either on CD or a web site address on your Business Card showing where they can listen to you music)

HOW YOU DO IT:
Approach stores you think could benefit from having your music at some point. Some store types you could approach are clothing retailers, boutiques, grocery stores, bookstores, or small private shops.

Think of how they might use you and your music. Can they use you any time as part of their shopper’s experience? At a special sale or a store event? At an employee shopping day or party? Can you be the center of an in-store event to increase their sales?

Tell them how you can come in, setup easily with your own equipment or theirs, and breakdown easily and quickly. Help the storeowner visualize the whole experience as something easy for them to do and good for increasing sales or positive attention to their business. If it is an employee party or event, help them see, feel, and hear the how they will be the center of the thankful applause they will get for making it all possible.

HOW MUCH YOU COULD MAKE:
Depending on the type of gig you arrange, you could have a flat performance fee, a per-hour fee (if you play for a long time), or you might play for Free and ask instead to be able to sell your band products. Of course this is up to you and how you want to structure the deal, however make sure your deal is in writing and signed and dated by both you and the person that will write you the check.

Have your agreement contract detail the time you setup and breakdown, how much you are paid, where you set up, if they want you to say anything on the microphone during your event, the correct name and contact information for you or your band, any information they need for the marketing or publicity of the event (if there is any), or any other details that you can think of.

Remember that every opportunity you have to play is a way to increase your cashflow, increase your popularity, market yourself, and sell more of your product.