Compared to others I'm still a new comer to playing gigs been at it for just under 2 years. I find that you have to be as much as a sales guy as you do a musician. I've spent many a lunch hour from my day job in my car calling potential clients at retirement homes on my cell phone. Sometimes it takes 5 phone calls before I reach the decision maker(activity director). Once I reach the director I give a sales pitch and tell them I will send a promo package. A number of times after they hear that I've played other retirement homes they just give me a date. Going back about 18 months ago my wife also assisted by sending promo packages to all the local hotels and banquet facilities. I've got a number of gigs that way as well. It's now a point where word of mouth is in action. But I still spend some lunch hours in the car making calls.

On the play for tips I've gave that try at coffee houses, Starbucks and a couple of local venues. Only one of the locations worked out where the tips were worth playing for.I still play there about every 6 weeks.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 11-03-2006).]