How do you get work / gigs?

[NorseHorse]

I'm curious about the different ways engineers in this forum attract clients. And for those looking to establish yourselves, perhaps you can get some good ideas on how to expand. The questions are:

What forms of advertising are most effective for you?
Are there other ways you advertise?
Basically, how do people know you are there?

Some suggestions include:

Phonebook
Word-of-Mouth
Online Ads
Direct Mailing
Craigslist
Magazine Ads
Credits on CDs
Website
And others...

[NorseHorse]

1. Hands down, the most important for me is word-of-mouth. I'm located in a very musical town, and because of my various non-recording activities, I've gotten to know many folks who direct or perform in ensembles who then need recording. Or folks I've recorded have then passed my info on to others.

2. Here's one to think about... Even now and then I have gear that I need to "put through the paces" when I'm not on-the-clock for a paid gig. On such occassions, I look for an upcoming show in town that I know wouldn't normally be recorded, and I ask to record it. It's win-win: I get to test gear; they get mp3s; and I form a relationship with a potential client.

3. I have a website, but I'm pretty sure most of the people I've worked with have never seen it! Still, it's nice to have when interacting via email with new people.

[Drlove]

All word of mouth. And I am booked until October!

[Studiodawg]

Word of mouth in the classical, educational and jazz communities...

[Remoteness]

I wait for the phone to ring.

[joelpatterson]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

I wait for the phone to ring.

For some inexplicable reason, this reminds me of a joke I heard about show business long ago. It's called the four phases of a career-- something like that.



"Who is Steve Remote?"

"Get me Steve Remote!"

"Get me a young Steve Remote!"

"Who is Steve Remote?"

[tnjazz]

In the slower months I like to sacrifice a virgin.



Otherwise...um...word of mouth is usually the way they come about.

[Remoteness]

Yes, yes, yes...

I think I've seen those phrases (less the name) performed in some film or TV show.

Very funny. Very funny indeed.

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

For some inexplicable reason, this reminds me of a joke I heard about show business long ago. It's called the four phases of a career-- something like that.



"Who is Steve Remote?"

"Get me Steve Remote!"

"Get me a young Steve Remote!"

"Who is Steve Remote?"

[Remoteness]

During the slower periods we usually spend money we made and expand via various build (and wiring) projects.

Originally Posted by tnjazz

In the slower months I like to sacrifice a virgin.



Otherwise...um...word of mouth is usually the way they come about.

[NorseHorse]

I've got one friend who has an add in the phonebook. He gets calls all the time for people looking to recording in his studio at $50/hr. He hasn't been in the area long, so his "studio" is actually his closet with a one kick-ass signal chain perfect for vocals. No complaints yet.

[bishopthomas]

I just took out an ad in a few counties' yellow pages. We'll see what happens when they're published in the next few months. I had to start somewhere and I feel like that's still the place people go to find local businesses (even more so than the Internet).

[Remoteness]

From the beginning, I never wanted to advertise in the "Yellow Pages."
I felt it really didn't represent the type of clientele we were looking for...

How many folks do you think would be looking for a mobile or location recording facility to capture their next live performance for CD; DVD; film or nationwide broadcast?

My partner at the time (late 70s/early 80s) thought we should give it a shot. but I insisted we should avoid it at all costs.

I'm not interested in doing weddings, barmitzvahs and the occasional "my son (daughter) wants to be a rock-star" or "if I transfer my (noisy) analog audiocassette recording to digital will it sounds as good as digital?" recording sessions.

Having your listing in a directory that represents what we do is another story and I'm all for that, except for the fact that you (usually) end up getting a ton of resumes from folks that want a job.
The ratio favors job applications, but have receive some serious gigs via the online (and paper) directories.

In any event, word of mouth still rules in my book.

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

I've got one friend who has an add in the phonebook. He gets calls all the time for people looking to recording in his studio at $50/hr. He hasn't been in the area long, so his "studio" is actually his closet with a one kick-ass signal chain perfect for vocals. No complaints yet.

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

I just took out an ad in a few counties' yellow pages. We'll see what happens when they're published in the next few months. I had to start somewhere and I feel like that's still the place people go to find local businesses (even more so than the Internet).

[Remoteness]

...And, you know what really bugs me when folks call or email us about a job?

The fact that they usually do not do any research in what we actually do.
Most of the time they're sending out mass-emails or doing cold calls without any intelligence whatsoever.

Caller:"I wanna work in a studio, I'm a great editor and can recorded a turntable really well..."

Me: "Yeah, but we do mobile and location recording."

Caller: "What's that?"

Me: "It's a studio on wheels."

Caller: "Wow, do you travel a lot?"

Me: "Yes."

Caller: "Wow, that's a lot different than recording in a studio."
Caller: "I think I've seen trucks like that parked in front of venues I've been to."

Perhaps they should have done a bit of research before they cold call potential employers.
It would not be so bad.

When a person calls and already has a good idea about what we do, they immediately made it to the next level without even knowing it.

Do diligence is key when making caold calls looking for a gig!

[NorseHorse]

Remoteness, What directories do you prefer?

Anyone else have something to add?

I sent a direct-email yesterday to a regional orchestra I haven't worked with before. They have a few dates in the upcoming season that are within a mile or two of my residence, so I sent an email introducing myself and letting them know I had those dates open at the moment (pretty far down the road). If I don't hear back, oh well, I'll book something else.

[huub]

I think one gets jobs by not screwing up.. :)

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Remoteness, What directories do you prefer?

<snip>

All of them!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by huub

I think one gets jobs by not screwing up.. :)

Yes, exactly -- you are only as good as your last job.

[bishopthomas]

Steve, I agree that the Yellow Pages will mainly bring in those types of calls. But 4 decent jobs per year and it's paid for itself (financially, maybe not in terms of the frustration involved). I think that trade magazines are a great way to let your collegues and competition know that you exist, but think about who the magazine targets before you take out an ad. I'm persuing the live sound and lights aspect mainly. It wouldn't make sense for me to take out an ad in FOH magazine, but an ad in a country club newsletter (if those exist) would be more profitable.

[Remoteness]

Thomas:

That makes a lot of sense.

Placing ads in the right rags is a very good idea for sure.

I'm sure there are many of those magazines our there!

Even boating or golf mags and such would reach the right clientele economically speaking that is.

[Remoteness]

Bishop Thomas:

Here are just some of the potential magazines you can look into...

Boating
Boating Life
Cruising World
Marlin
Motorboating
Power & Motor Yacht
Power Cruising
Powerboat
Sailing World
Southern Boating
Sport Fishing
Yachting
Yachts

Flying
Kitplanes

Bridal Guide
Brides
Charleston Weddings
Chicago Bride
Elegant Bride
Instyle Weddings
Martha Stewart Weddings
Modern Bride
New York Wedding Special
The Knot
Town & Country Wedding Special

I'm going to stop here even though the list goes on and on.

I happen to have a waiting room (free) subscription set-up...
Yep, I get free mags for my clients and such.
I can opt-out on the rags I don't want to receive.
The list is insane to say the least.

[bishopthomas]

Stevie Sonic, you ARE the man! Waiting room magazines? I now am haunted with the thought of Steve Remote standing over me with dental drill in hand. Nightmares for weeks.

[Remoteness]

Hey, that's Dr. Remote fella!

[joelpatterson]

The Curious Case of Mr. Steve and Dr. Remote...

[valleysound]

I get a roughly equal amount of gigs from word of mouth or actively hunting down gigs. I have a phonebook ad that has gotten me some work, basically paying for itself at this point. My website also gets me work, but since I made it and run it myself, I pay only for my web hosting which is probably less than what I pay for coffee in a year!

[Graham Tobias]

I'm a big fan of finding potential new clients at gigs. I've met some of my favorite clients that way. I'll see a band or a player that kicks ass... I'll chat them up, show them what I do and a lot of the time I end up working with them in the near future. Now if only I could make that work when trying to meet a potential new girlfriend...

I've also done work subcontracting (using my rig) or freelancing for a bigger mobile company than my own.

I have a website that I put a lot of time into.. but honestly the only people that have seen it are people I've showed it to.

I've been trying hard to stay in contact with a lot of video guys too. I haven't gotten any gigs because of it yet but there are some video guys I'd recommend to clients and I hope the video guys would do the same for me. They owe me for all the adaptors they've borrowed that "the intern must have lost" anyways.

[maxpidge]

word of mouth baby!!! if your good, they will find you!!!

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by maxpidge

word of mouth baby!!! if your good, they will find you!!!

Right on, right on, right on!