trying to be my own agent

[sketchyj]

here in Denver, CO it's not easy to make it in the entertainment industry. As a VJ, it's also difficult because there is no thriving rave scene and very few clubs who even have a VJ. Also, the local music scene is and always has been a surefire ticket to anonymity for performers. So, until i decide to saddle up and ride out of this one horse town i have to figure out ways to get half decent gigs locally. So yesterday i was reading through the Westword (the free paper with entertainment listings, etc) and came upon a weird local electronica band called sci-fi uterus. I was interested because i've never heard of any local bands who do electronica, and this trio had really unusual personas - they were weirdos for sure. So i checked them out some more and found that they have a few albums out and a following, and I listened to their music at Wax Trax records. I then found out the web address for their production company and contacted the company through email, explaining that I am a VJ, what my act is like, that i VJ at a club monthly, and that i would be interested in VJing for the band sometime. I included a link to my demo reel. They emailed back and said that they enjoyed my demo, but that they use their own prerecorded DV content at gigs and they would keep me on file for something possibly in the future. They also asked if possibly they could play at the club i work for, or if i could get them in touch with the promoter. I sent back an email telling them i could try and arrange something with the club manager if there were an opportunity in it for me to VJ at the gig. This was acceptable, but now i have to try and get them booked at the club for it to work. I haven't yet approached the club manager (who i am good friends with), and i have no experience in promoting, so i don't really know how i should approach it. I'm wondering if i should ask the club if i could bring in a band and i would be the promoter (meaning I would assume both risk and reward) or letting the club promote it and if they don't make money it's on them not out of my pocket. I'm playing things by ear and wondering if anyone has experience they might share.

[solly]

Hi Jason
There is a very important thing to keep in mind. Being a promotor is not an easy job if you promote somebody that nobody knows. So if these guys are good and you think people will like seeing them you have a chance do have them play regularly everyweek and you make a deal with your boss where you get the cover money and he makes it on the bar and find out how much they want and how many people can fill the place, etc. You will have to take care of the flyers and its distribution. These guys are from out of town so somebody has to pay accomodations. Make your calculations and see if its worth it. If they are famous and people will cue to see them you have a good chance to make cash, otherwise you will have it difficult. Make numbers. Good luck
So

[sketchyj]

thanks solly....
actually this is a local band, normally i don't like any of the local music but they stood out as something different and unusual so i checked into them. i was wondering how other VJs get their gigs without the use of an agent or manager. Do they send info or try to meet someone at the club personally? The club gig that i have now i was able to get because i knew people there already, but i am unsure as to how i would make contacts at other clubs.

[VJFranzK]

Originally posted by sketchyj
here in Denver, CO it's not easy to make it in the entertainment industry. As a VJ, it's also difficult because there is no thriving rave scene and very few clubs who even have a VJ. Also, the

at the same time, enjoy the fact that there's less competition! ;) it's hard to make any waves in an "entertainment metropolis", because there are literally thousands of extremely interesting and talented people there... :(


perhaps arrage a performance, but don't invest too heavily (literally or figuratively) in it. i'd focus on building your residency?

[solly]

. i was wondering how other VJs get their gigs without the use of an agent or manager. Do they send info or try to meet someone at the club personally? The club gig that i have now i was able to get because i knew people there already, but i am unsure as to how i would make contacts at other clubs.

You can make contact directly by getting the boss or owner, in other words the guy who pays and makes the decisions, by phone first. Dont send him any demo or dont send him to your website. Make an appointment with him and then show your demo and tell him all the good things you can do to his club. It will be all up to you to convince him once you see him in person, not on the phone. Try to close a deal and shake hands. I am not saying it will work all the times but if you get 1 deal out of 10 meets you are considered good.
Solly