Live Music Blog

Having many people that know who you’re is always a worth and not a hindrance.
Just the other day I got a call from someone who wanted to find out if I has been available to play bass with their band. I declined due to not having the room to take on another project but I gave them the number of someone else I knew that would fit the bill perfectly.
That day, that band found a new bass player and so the story goes.
That experience got me thinking that pretty much everything that I do in my dealings with the music business is based on who I know.
people prefer working with others whom they trust will do the job they want them to do or prefer recommending others for jobs that they can’t tackle themselves for one reason or another. I understand that when this particular band that has been looking for a bassist finally found one through my network I has been proud of myself. I has been glad to help someone out.
That is what networkings really all about though is not it? Helping people?
For everyone who is just starting out my recommenndation is to locate as many people and go to as many functions and gigs as you can.
Immerse yourself in your local scene.
The more that people know who you are, the more opportunities that will open up for the taking. Become the squeaky wheel that gets all of the oil. Have that belief in yourself that you’re worth knowing and don’t be afraid of knowledge.
One thing that you don’t do still is to get to know people for what they can do for you. Get to know them for who they are as a person. Others can spot your insincerity a mile away (especially us cynical musos) and that’s a real turn-off.
Personally I’m chuffed when someone asks me for recommenndation or just wants to have a chat about how things are going for them, but only If the y are genuine about it.
A amazing place to start networking would be at open mic evenings.
Get yourself involved in an open mic and just walk up to someone and say “hi”. Everyone is there for the same reason so there is some common ground. You can perhaps ask them If the y are going to be performing on that night and go from there.
Don’t forget, the more you network the more you’ll be known and the more you’re known the more work you’ll get.
In time your ‘little black book’ of names will become your  biggest  asset.