|
This is a DIY method and a little more work for bands but
really the success rate is much higher for shows than me just
booking the first band that emails me:
Update: 4/8/08 - We are back to
Friday and Saturday nights for shows. Locals, locals, locals
secure a local and then contact me. I am really getting hit hard
with bands and promoters who are not following the directions
that are detailed here on this page. PLEASE read this page if
you want to get something set up. Sundays, Tuesdays, and
Thursdays are also available for shows. But not Wednesdays.
You can email me but the focus really needs to be on the
locals. If you are a new band in the Topeka Market then I
probably will not email you back until I have heard from a local
that wants to bring you in. I just get so many bands wanting
dates but without a local there is no point in doing the show.
| Step 1: |
Look at my Calendar page and see if the
date is available. If there are
already touring bands listed I will want to add a local if
possible but you are welcome to inquire about the date.
READ my INFO page before emailing me questions: pay, times
etc. I really hate to have to answer the same questions over
and over. |
| Step 2: |
If you are looking for a weekend and
there is a spot open then contact the locals. I allow my
locals to book their own shows. However, I do require, when possible, a balanced show with a young band to open and an older band to close so we all make money. The young bands bring the numbers the older bands bring the drinkers.
I do need the shows to run until at least 1am. We close at
2am. |
| Step 3: |
I host an Acoustic Open Mic night on
Thursdays. |
| Step 4: |
On Tuesdays we have a
Band Open
Mic. Reduced cover to get more kids out for regional and
touring bands. Just hit me with an email if the date is open
and we will get you in for a Tuesday. |
| Step 5: |
If you re a touring band and find an open
date please contact any band from my BANDS
page to get a show set up. Without an area band it will be
a tough draw. See notes below. If you haven't already, go
ahead and send an email directly to me as time allows I
will help all I can. If I do not respond I may just not
have a spot for you. I don't always have time to reply to the
dozens and dozens of emails I get everyday, however I do try to check out every band that emails me. |
| Step 6: |
Please be patient as I answer emails for
hours a day and can get behind but I promise I read every
email I get and will respond asap. If I don't get back I
just can't help you out this time but feel free to contact
the locals. |
| Step 7: |
Once we have confirmed a date be sure and
check the Calendar page for errors; bad link, correct date
etc. I update my Calendar daily so if there is a prob let me
know. |
| Notes |
Please understand that I do my best to
get a local for every show but there are only so many
locals and
lots of dates. Then I will try to get an area band that I
think will give us the best chance to have a nice turn
out. I am taking chances on the bands just as you are
taking chances in playing venues but be assured I am doing
the best I can to make every show a success.
Also know that The Trap, as with most venues, is not
a place where there are hundreds of fans for your band to
come in, collect a large paycheck from the door and to
sell your merch to. The Trap is an opportunity
for you to
bring fans in to hear you play. You must bring the fans,
not the other way around. If you book a show and then just
show up without doing any promotion then there will most
likely be few there to see you. I have over 15,000
Myspace
friends most within a 50 mile radius so there are plenty of folks
who know about your show at The Trap. It is then up to you
to make them want to come and see you (interesting music,
good website, good promotion etc.) The Trap only holds 100
or so :o) screaming fans at a time so with the right local
and promotion you should pack the place for every show.
I know you may be thinking, "How do we know who
will draw?" when contacting locals. But you can also
be thinking that you don't want to put your show in the
hands of someone else. Be aggressive and contact the
locals and find out all you can. Some will answer and some
won't but if you just sit back and let someone else set
the show up and then it turns out crappy you will wish you
had done a little more. I cannot possibly forward an email
from every touring band on to every local for every date
needed. This is why I leave it up the touring bands to
sell themselves to the locals to get a show.
It has been great to
work with so many great bands and the great people in
those bands. Keep it up!
Please Read: Helpful Hints
(print out for your entire band to read) |
| Expectations |
Posters - I would like to have some kind of
flyer at least 2 weekends before the show. It doesn't have
to be fancy but something letting kids know about the show
other than my Calendars. I don't have time to do posters for
every show and you only have one show a month and then you
can even use the same poster again with new dates if you
need to. But something with your logo or whatever helps
people recognize your band. MySpace - You need to make an
event on www.Myspace.com.
then be sure and invite me so I know you created one. This
is a simple but extremely useful tool to get some folks out
to your show.
|
Brian Chambers:
boobietrap@cox.net |
