How to Find the Right Concert Venues

Booking a show in your hometown is easy. You know the clubs that are good for your band. However, if you are heading to a new city, you have to do some homework in order to book the best concert venues for your band.

Capacity

When you are looking for a place to play in a new city, you need to have a realistic understanding of your draw. This number is important when it comes to booking concert venues. You always want to book a site that has a capacity for one less than your expected draw. For example, if you know you can get 50 people in the door, book a place that only has a capacity for 49. You want to sell the place out. It's better for your career to sell out a smaller venue than to have a larger one only two-thirds full. If you aren't really well known outside of your hometown, start by teaming up with local acts that will help improve the show's attendance.

Atmosphere

You need to take into account what type of music your band plays and make sure it's in tune with the atmosphere of the place that you are booking. For example, if your band is a hard metal band, don't book a coffee shop. Similarly, adult contemporary singer/songwriters most certainly don't want to be at a club geared towards head-bangers.

Reputation

While the atmosphere is important, you want to do business with reputable concert venues. Before you schedule your band, take to the Internet and see what others are saying about the location. There are sites out there that have both customer and performer reviews. You want to check both types to see how well respected the place is. You won't have a good show if you are struggling to deal with the owners, and if customers have had a bad experience, they won't come out, even if they love your group. Remember, the place should treat both you and your fans with respect.

Cost

If you book directly with the location, the cost is going to vary. If you are new in the area and don't have a lot of buzz about your group, you are probably going to have to pay a percentage of the door to the location. However, these deals are usually negotiable if you ask. You can probably come up with an arrangement that works well for both you and the owner.

Finding concert venues out of town is a time-consuming process. However, if you do a little research, you can have an awesome show that opens up more locations to you on your next trip through.