Comments on: How does an independent musical artist go about booking colleges?

By: xillith

xillith — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:01:59 +0000

You seek the holy grail my friend. This is because the gigs supposedly pay $300-$1500. Can tell you what does not work. College lists, especially those offered by my favorite on-line music distribution company (I like their services otherwise).

Starpolish.com recommends joining the NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) and participating in their confrences. The web site says this is where the paying gigs are booked. However their fee to join and participate is $600 plus dollars. See http://www.naca.org for details.

Have tried to just go to the web sites and e-mail the individual schools. Never have recieved a response.

Have seen promoters offer the bookings at $100 per up front to them as a retainer. Seemed like a load of junk to me, left it alone.

Have also seen certain "Sonic" web sites have offerings from time to time but never had too much luck with their pay to participate system. More like pay and never hear a thing anyway.

Good luck. Probably best to play in the college towns you can, and make live contacts there. So far that has worked best for me.

Rock on!
References :
http://www.starpolish.com
http://www.naca.org

By: Just_gone

Just_gone — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:40:59 +0000

I would contact the student government. They have an entertainment committee, and a faculty adviser, and that will start it off.
References :

By: johnbook9

johnbook9 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:05:59 +0000

One of the best ways to do this is to contact the radio station at those colleges/universities. Sometimes they can help out with promotion, or at least lead you to people who do set up shows at colleges or venues nearby. Also ask if the radio station features a show with live performances. You may want to do a Q&A/interview with them, and perhaps play a few songs that will get people interested in that show. If you have your own website, be it your own domain or MySpace, you can create a street team and that will generate interest.

When calling the radio stations, ask if there are any local publications of interest. You can use that for advertising, selling music, T-shirts if you have them, etc.
References :
My mind was the source for this one, thank you.

By: Evil Genius

Evil Genius — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:27:59 +0000

Go to the college's web site and look up either Student Activities or something similar. Contact the Dean of's office and let them know you are available and ask if there are any upcoming events for which they are looking for talent. You may also nned to be in touch with student run organizations handled by Student Life, but they will put you in touch.
References :