Booking shows may be an impossible thing for an indie band to do If the band do not know the best way to grab a club  promoter’s attention.  promoters and club owners generally book in advance, so it’s imperative that a band contacts them months, can be a year before touring.

Bands need to establish flyers/postcards, and send them out unending ly. Not just to disparate  promoters, but repeatedly to the same  promoters. Sending a flyer to the same  promoter ought to be done every month or so to let them know you are serious about the occasion, and to get them to recall your band.

A high quality color flyer does make a difference when promoting your band. In fact, it receives more interest with solid content listed on the flyer.

1. performance based photo

2. The genre of music your performer plays

3. Contact information in bold

4. The band’s price range to do a show

5. A couple lines of reviews from media outlets who covered past shows

Besides clubs, colleges are another alternative Venue for artists to performance their music live.

The popular way to grab a college representative’s attention is by sending your flyer/postcard with a compact disc, and placing phones calls to the student activity director who handles live entertainment.

Sending your CD  and press release to college radio stations and newspapers is also a nice way to make your name known on many campuses. Getting early recognition could help your occasions of the student activity director hearing about your performer before you inquire about doing shows.

An alternative way to book shows at colleges is by performing at the National Association for Campus Activities Showcase.

Each February NACA hosts the National Convention which brings together musicians, music agencies and university entertainment buyers. The National Convention allows college representatives to see live showcases and organize co-op purchasing with neighboring universities.

Bands such as Dave Matthews band and O.A.R. have been success stories through the association.

Performing at the convention may be costly, but may be value it in the long run for the band. In order to be on the showcase, a band must 1st become a member of the association. A few other costs come into performance in order to buy a booth, register and then submit the band. An acceptance cost is also charged if your band is chosen to play.

Networking is key for indie artists even Assuming that they do not get chosen to play college shows at the conference. There are other companies such as bar owners, entertainment Venue  promoters and companies in attendance at the showcase.

Social networks could also be key to landing gigs for a band. My suggestion is to check out what Clubs are popular within the independent band world. Check other independent bands’ pages and see what Clubs they are playing at in certain cities.

The tour actually starts off June 4-5 in Wantagh, N.Y., where the band will play shows at the Nikon Theatre at Jones Beach. Dates currently end June 20-21 at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wis.  The news leaked out initially on the livenation.com website and then it was pulled back and the group announced the dates the next day officially.

There is also a documentary in the works which is a fan-based project about Phish Fan’s that grew up with the band in the 70’s and 80’s.  It will focus on the band’s touring from 1984-2004 and how it  influenced the life of those fans.   Sounds really interesting.  You can get early tickets for their tour at Phish.com

It is great to see the Dead and Phish going back on the road.

So what better way to kick off 2009 than to confirm what’s been buzzing in the rumor mill for some time: The Dead will be touring for the first time in more than four years, with nearly twenty shows spread across a month from mid-April through mid-May! Details will be announced soon, so keep your eyes on the Dead’s site!

Bring out the Tie Dye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!