Farmers in New Jersey spend the winter planning for planting, growing and harvesting. They order seeds, service machinery, and maybe shop for new equipment. That begins to happen while many NJ independent musicians, singers and bands without fame have New Years Eve as their last big paying gig 'till spring.
Audiences get partied out; pockets emptied by holiday spending. And severe weather keeps audiences at home; thus, many restaurants discontinue live music during winter. If musicians use the down time like the farmer, winter can be our planting and growing season, because we have more time to spend on generating gigs for the coming year.
In winter, we have more time for writing songs and more time to network with industry people, entertainment booking offices, and other musicians. I recall spending an off-season researching music festivals in the U.S. and abroad, finding contacts and how to reach them. Prospecting for gigs takes days and days at the phone and computer. Time we don't have in our busy season.
Another down time project is prospecting among libraries for concert gigs. Playing the library concert circuit can be a source of gigs more lucrative than clubs. Every town has a library, and they get grants from the state and federal governments for programs. You don't have to worry about "pay to play" and feel the pressure of having to bring in an audience. Also, during the lean winter months, a musician could fill his 2015 calendar with good paying gigs booked in colleges and universities.
The slow months bring more time for teaching your instrument and for learning about advertising and marketing strategies that can help you conduct your music career as the business it is.
Some fulltime musicians toggle between playing gigs and teaching music. Alternately, the roles back up each other. When gigs dry up, players teach. The third Saturday in May ushers in the party season and is the busiest weekend for weddings. And it's about then that students get busy with other activities and put their music lessons on hold. I recommend that if you can teach, then do so. If you don't know how to get started, talk to someone who teaches privately.
Look for gig patterns in your work year and let them guide your "planting," just as farmers look to extended weather forecasts to guide them.
A wonderful example of successful prospecting and booking music programs came to me via my new Facebook friend, Alan Segal, founder of the Jazz Sanctuary Inc. in the Delaware Valley/Philly Area. The musicians are linked to some 21 participating churches where they play concerts. Their website states, "All events at a house of worship are secular in nature; not religious, and all are welcome." And mind you... they play JAZZ!!
Segal and friends don't only play in churches. But one thing is certain; they didn't get the circuit of church gigs by sitting around complaining about the lack of gigs. Another thing I've learned and acted upon: If you can't find a gig---create one! I recommend visiting www.TheJazzSanctuary.com for inspiration.
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