Many musicians complain about the lack of gigs they have, but when I ask them to look closely at the type of venue they are searching, the repeated pattern seems to be clubs, stadiums, concert halls and pubs. What I would like to share with you is this... keep a look out and be totally aware of the possible gig locations so that youre not limiting yourself. How about restaurants, parks, malls or my favourite, the local coffee shops? Coffee shops are the next link in the chain of grand gigs. Depending on the venue, you can drop in several times and contruct links with staff and get a feel for the type of customers that come there. Make it your second residence!

Depending on the type of music, coffee shops represent the perfect venue for musicians to meet with their perfect audience, and if they are your right audience, what must your audiences be doing if theyre not watching you? Drinking coffee :)

Coffee shops are great places for all the people who want a break from both work and home. Its like the middle space, or the third space. I personally like these places because its nice and cosy, allowing you to contruct deeper relationships with the crowds.

Something that works day in, day out is the power of repetition. If everybody see your name several times, they remember it, and create a link in their mind. By putting up several posters in the coffee shops where the identical all the people go everytime between home and work, it becomes something they cannot miss, and they will definitely remember it. You might guarantee most of them will be at your event.

So how do you get booked?

Pay attention to the peak and off-peak times at the coffee shop as you can use this to your advantage really easily. If you play in the morning when its peak instant and attract many customers for the shop, youll notice that the lunch area can be very low in customers, so pitched correctly, you could ask the shop management if you could play in the afternoon, and attract the customers that way.

Dont expect to be paid by the coffee shop management, but one way to grow your audience is to collect mailing list signups. This way you can inform them by post or email where you are performing next because there will definitely want to be a part of your music.

The most important thing is that you have already built up great relationships so that you can emphasise how you will bring more many people to their place.