I approach things differently. I use my restaurant gigs to "fish" for higher paid private gigs (individual, government...mayors office, governors office, local colleges and universities, etc.) and to try to make contacts for my day business (film production, print, photography, PR, etc.).

I figure a good day client is worth a minimum of $100,000 in billing a year. I NEED the exposure at the upscale, but public venues.

I have never done any direct marketing of my services at all.
We have no "account executives" or other sales representation.

I frequent the finer establishments...both those I have played before and those I would like to work and entertain there (usually for lunch-late-around 1:00 PM when management has a minute to stop by and visit). About every 4th time, I pick up a little job (a publicity release, alteration to a menu or web-site...product photography, a TV commercial,etc.).Frankly, these are jobs I wouldn't fool with normally, but it keeps the door open. About every 10th time (twice a month) there is a serious discussion about a possibility of playing at the establishment.

Lexington has been called the biggest "one horse town" in the country. You're either "in or out". Luckily, I'm associated with "society" music and get the call for most "horse" related and other society events.

At my restaurant gigs, people comment on the work I have done for the establishment. I convert that to corporate/organization work when possible. the obvious advantage is the chance to promote sound scores and the importance of superior audio in film work.

Two years ago, I took a job a private club. Last Christmas season, the jobs were light, because people called or visited the last restaurant I played and new staff members didn't know where I was. I'm working on changing that now.

My 5 biggest daytime clients (including a leading automobile manufacturer and one of the biggest international horse breeding operations) came from this little "fishing" process.

Point is, this works for me. It works in this location for this section of the market.

What works for you will be different. The challenge is to find the mix...


R.
(Part-time University Professor-Marketing/Communications).