Playin' by the Book - The ins and outs of bookstore gigs

This article originally appeared in Acoustic Guitar, September 1999. © String Letter Publishing. All rights reserved.           Illustration by Paul Kotapish

Acoustic venues are scarce nowadays, and the recent boom of bookstore chains such as Borders and Barnes and Noble means hundreds of new performance opportunities across the country. Most of these stores present a mixture of local talent and well-known acts promoting their new CDs, and one look at the bookstores' performance calendars confirms a soft spot for acoustic music. Playing these gigs is a great way to learn how to promote yourself, work with a (usually basic) PA, structure a set, and just get some experience performing in front of strangers. If you're already a seasoned performer, the bookstore gig can help you tap into a new audience, sell your CD (although you have to clear this with the store manager in advance), work on new material, and-especially if you're on the road-make a little money between bigger gigs.

The best way to get started is to go to a scheduled performance at a store where you're interested in playing--ideally a performance that's stylistically similar to your own. Talk to the musician and ask how he or she liked the gig. More importantly, find out the name and direct phone number of the store's events coordinator. Later, when you call the person who does the booking, explain what type of music you play and ask if he or she would like you to send a demo. A typical demo pack includes a tape or CD (a good home recording should do the trick), a picture (preferably a black-and-white eight-by-ten), and a short bio. The more professional this package looks, the better. You should also find out how much performers are paid. Sometimes you can choose between a check and a store credit, and the latter usually amounts to more. If the store is part of a national chain, don't assume that the pay is the same at every location. Also find out if a PA will be provided and whether there are any other requirements you should know about.

Wait a couple of weeks before you make a follow-up call; most bookstore event coordinators wear many hats, and it might take them a while to get to your demo. Hopefully your phone will ring within a reasonable amount of time and you'll be offered a time slot, usually about six to eight weeks in the future. Congratulations!

Now it's time to do a little planning for the actual gig. Most likely you'll be expected to play two one-hour sets. When you choose the songs you're going to play, keep in mind that there will be other stuff going on during your performance. People will be browsing, reading, talking, studying. It's not the ideal set of circumstances to show the world what a great player you are, but there is usually a core group of listeners who are genuinely interested in the music. Stay away from material that creates too much of a ruckus, is potentially offensive, or is so difficult that nobody understands it. Think about some things to say about the pieces. Remember that most of your audience will be there by chance and will therefore know nothing about you.

Think about what equipment you want to bring. Generally, the simpler the setup, the better. Nobody wants to hear you do a two-hour sound check. There won't be anyone there to help you run the PA, so you should be familiar with its basic functions. You might want to bring your own mic and mic stand. I highly recommend using a guitar with a pickup. Imagine the squeal of a hot microphone in the midst of those quiet shoppers and coffee sippers! A pickup will also make it easier to control your volume, which should be high on your list of priorities.

Plan to arrive at the store an hour or so before you're scheduled to start playing. See if the person who booked you is there. If not, ask if there is anyone else who can show you where to set up. If there is a café in the store, that's most likely where you'll be playing, but you might have the option of playing in another part of the store. Once you're done with your setup and sound check, take a few minutes to relax. Get a latté if there's a café (usually free for performers) and get a feel for the place and its people. You'll probably have to ask a staff member to turn off the canned music, and if it's a big store, ask if they can introduce you over the intercom. As with any performance, start out with one of your stronger songs, and voilà, you're off! Welcome to the world of bookstore gigs.

--Teja Gerken

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