Hi Andy,
On reflection, when I first started a few years ago, I did have a lot of the problems you have described. Now I've found a few agents that I trust and know personally. I know that they trust me, also, which is important.
If anything goes wrong with any gig, which it does sometimes and I know will again, I know that the agents will be right behind me. An example of this is a few years ago, I went along to do a gig in a pub somewhere on the moores. When I arrived the lasndlord and landlady were lovely. They explained that it hadn't been very busr recently, so not to rush in with my things. I set up anyway. The landlady started to talk to me and said that if it didn't pick up, I would be able to go home. Well, this happened. It got to about 10pm and they said that i might as well go home. They offered me £30. Obviously I was amazed at this. I explained that I wanted the contracted amount. They both then started shouting at me saying that the artist last week accepted this money. I wasn't having it, I demanded the money. They gave it to me reluctantly. When I had packed all of my things back into the car, i set off home, when my agent called. She told me that she had put them right. Being a singer is not a hobby and no mtter what happens they still hasd to pay me. If I wasn't there I wou;ld have been working somewhere else. On top of that, I still have to pay commission on the contracted amount, so Iwou;ld actually have been about £7 out of pocket +petrol + loss of earnings from another venue.
Tibby, if you do start here are some tips.
Whatever you do, you must remember that you need to entertain an audience that really varies from venue to venue. Sometimes weddings, working mens, pubs, all with different age groups and tastes in music.
Decide what kind of act you will be. I sing mainly soul and motown in my solo set. I do, however make sure that they are well known songs that everybody knows. That is not to say that I do the same material as everybody else. I have been to a few gigs recently where, the clientelle and staff at the venua have loved what I do because I'm not doing what every other female artist is doing....Duffy and Amy!!
Get your sets together before you contact agents, You never know, they may have something for you that weekend. I do 2x 45 min sets. First set has a couple of ballads, but mainly songs that people will sit and listen too, stuff like 'Ain't Nobody. My second set is much more up tempo with Rockin Robin and Nutbush. That sort of thing.
If you decide to do up to date stuff, you need to keep on top of it. That is actually one of the reason that I do classic songs, less expense and less learning lol.
Don't let this frighten you, but you need to have a thick skin. Last week I was setting up in a pub. One of the blokes asked if I did Anastasia. I said, sorry, but no. He then said, well if you haven't got it, I'm going. He then got up and left......unbelievable.
Good luck and contact me if you have any more questions.
Sarah
