Finding and booking the right talent for your venue can be stressful and frustrating, especially when you have a limited budget to work with. Whether you have a local bar and you’re looking for live acts to play for your patrons or you’re a nightclub owner looking for the right DJ to start the party, there are a few things you can do to bring in quality entertainment without breaking the bank. Here are some tips for booking talent that will help you stay within budget.
Choose Local Musicians
Local musicians are always looking for exposure and a chance to play. If you have a bar or pub and the regular customers enjoy live music then start reaching out to local or regional bands to see if they would be interested in playing at your venue. It should go without saying, but it’s important to book bands that would appeal to your regular crowd. Don’t just hire an act because they’re cheap or because you like them. If the music isn’t going to interest your customers then they’re going to let you know, and that’s not a good thing.
Chances are that you can easily find local and regional bands that can cater to your crowd. Staying local will do a few things. It will eliminate lodging costs and could also help reduce travel expenses. This way you’re just paying for their time. If the band is newer, then they’ll be more inclined to work with you on price, as opposed to a more established band that probably charges higher rates. Bringing in local acts will also show that you are willing to support the local music scene, which could actually draw musicians to you. You’ll have bands asking you to play, rather than the other way around.
If you have a nightclub and you’re looking to hire DJ talent that’ll really get your crowd moving then you can use the same reasoning listed above. Typically DJs would cost even less than a band simply because you’re really only paying one person as opposed to multiple musicians.
Schedule in Advance
One way to save a few dollars is to try booking entertainment well in advance. This will not only save you the headache of trying to fill your schedule at the last minute, but musicians are more likely to work with you if they can plan ahead of time. You might even get a deal if you’re willing to schedule that band or DJ on a regular basis, but that would depend on the demands and interest of your crowd.
Get Bands Willing to Promote
Look for creative ways to work with the acts you book for entertainment. For example, you could work out an arrangement with the talent that their payment could increase depending on profits at the door or bar sales. Giving them a cut of the door or percentage of the bar sales could be a huge motivator to get them to help promote. If your entertainer knows that he/she stands to make more money if attendance is high and people are buying drinks then that person will be more likely to spread the word so the room gets filled.
When you’re just starting out or have a limited budget to work with, then it’s really important to develop and maintain a good working relationship with the people you hire to entertain your crowd. Doing so will not only keep your patrons happy, but it will keep the talent happy and more willing to keep working with you. Over time, you’ll be able to draw in more people and have a bigger budget to play with, which means options for bigger acts to perform at your venue.
