Tom,

After putting together a professional package, one that includes a bio, song list, CD, photo, business card, and testimonials, the next step is selling the product, which in this case is you. You have to essentially be a good salesman, public relations person, and above all, a good entertainer.

One of the first niteclub jobs I landed was at a local American Legion, a place I now refer to as the Blood & Guts Saloon. It was a smoke-filled bar where the locals gathered to get plastered and have some fun dancing. In order to get my foot in the door I offered to perform a free one-hour gig on an off night, an evening when they didn't normally have entertainment. The manager said "How about coming in about 5 p.m. on Sunday."

That Sunday was a nasty, rainy day, a bit cold and there were about a dozen rednecks siting at the bar sucking on cigarettes and sipping beer. When I walked in the door with my equipment I got the fish-eye stare that scares the hell of most people, and no one said a word. It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

After setting up the gear, I looked around the room and took notice of the folks at the bar, of which a few were wearing cowboy hats. I fired up the keyboard and the first song I performed was "Swingin' Doors A Jukebox And A Bar-room." They loved it and I played there for another six years. The starting pay back then for 4 hours was $100, and when I left six years later I was getting $175--not lots of money, but better than the current average pay for this type of venue.

Once you become established, you will be able to quickly expand to other venues, and in a few years, if you play what the audiences want to hear, you will have more business than you can handle.

Good Luck old friend,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy