Mon, 09/19/2011 - 20:49
Hi all,
Next Feb/March my ukulele ensemble, the Performing BUMS, are 90% likely to be in Melbourne for the Melbourne Ukulele Festival. However, we're likely to only get 1x 30min spot for a trip that will likely cost $700+.
So, we're after ideas and contacts for other venues we could perform in. Know a bar/cafe/bookshop/stadium that could host between 2-9 performers? We perform a wide variety of music and are very adaptable. We have very minimal riders (water is good. that's about it) and are willing to perform for smallish fees.
Please help?
Tue, 09/20/2011 - 06:47
#2
Thanks! I'll be sure to pass it on and follow it up. Still a while away, but no harm in putting out feelers 
Wed, 09/21/2011 - 21:57
#3
Unfortunately the places I play at have fees so smallish I cant see them even with my multifocals on Occasionally they do provide water
Add "Melbourne Open Mics" as an FB friend, there may be a few leads there. I will ask around for others
Wed, 09/21/2011 - 22:53
#4
Thanks @blindkiwi - Honestly, I'm not tooooo fussed if we're paid or not (whether percentage door or takings), although a free drink would be nice. It's more that we would appreciate other opportunities to perform, making the trip down a bit more worthwhile...
Thu, 09/22/2011 - 03:40
#5
Many years ago i lived in Melbourne and i used to go to a few open mics, though i didn't go to many actual events. It was ages ago though, it'll all have changed since then. I quite liked the one in The Great Britain though, it's a tram ride away from the centre of town though. and this page about it doesn't mention any live music. :-(
I emailed a friend of mine who had moved to Melbourne asking him, but no word as of yet... Best of luck though...
PS - and of course there's the internet, if it were me, i'd start somewhere like here, though obviously that way you don't get the benefit of a personal recommendation to know which ones live up to their advertising. I definitely recommend signing up to their weekly newsletter though because you'll get a feel for what sort of events happen at which venues each week, which will be a great way to decide which venues to approach first.
Thu, 09/22/2011 - 07:15
#6
you might also want to hook up with the melbourne ukulele kollective, or pick their brains for possible venues: http://www.muk.com.au/
Thu, 09/22/2011 - 15:52
#7
@third time Lucy: they host the festival MUF that we've been invited to play at. We've mentioned we'd like other performance spots but, as yet, they haven't been able to help with that.
@Calum: thanks, some great ideas there.
Thu, 09/22/2011 - 21:02
#8
Apparently, I may be looking at this completely the wrong way http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2011/09/booking-tip-start-with-the-bands-a...
So... With that in mind, any good local bands anyone can share? 
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 09:46
#9
that is probably true in a lot of cases.
I must say though, i am a promoter on a small scale and i genuinely do care about the bands appealing to each other's audiences on the night, and all those things the article says promoters don't care about if you book through them without talking to the other bands first.
The reason i do it is because i love music, and i do think now that there's less money in gig promoting there will be more people nowadays with the same attitude as me.
I know it sounds like i'm sticking up for promoters, i wouldn't go that far, but i see a lot of stuff about promoters not caring about the music, and ripping bands off etc, and in my experience it is the venues (and their bookers, who are not promoters, i might add, there is a difference, they are on the payroll of the venue) that do this, not the promoters.
So don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, i'd say take every gig possibility on its own merits, as you judge it.
Sorry i can't help you with bands, my favourite Melbourne band split years ago (Pre-shrunk, not a very ukuleley band either, their lineup: two basses, three vocals and a drumkit!)
Fri, 09/23/2011 - 16:38
#10
@Calum - Yes, it'd be much easier to differentiate if bookers would stop calling themselves promoters when they have no intention of promoting at all, which is what the majority in London seem to be.
@Kiwafruit - I once played at an open mic in Brunswick (I think - somewhere in north Melbourne) that offered me accommodation in return for playing. It was something like the Brunswick Inn and had an open mic. It was also about 8-9 years ago, so probably isn't that useful to you.
Wed, 09/28/2011 - 02:46
#11
hey, here's more information from my man on the spot in Melbourne, though he says he hasn't been doing much gigging since moving to Melbourne:
1) The Edinburgh Castle (no lie!) have regular bands playing, it's a nice old worn down, friendly kinda bar but the folk there are your 25-35 crowd and I love it. Good food, beer and garden!
2) One of my locals in Yarraville called Aqua e Vino usually put bands on most weeks, but they're usually more quirky, eccentric stuff - they have funk, gospel, jazz, you name it. Bit more upmarket wine bar kinda vibe, but it's a great place when I fancy a bit of a treat and the staff are tiptop.
3) There's about a million bars down Brunswick street that have local bands on
4) My mate played in The Mofo Lounge in the Eastern suburbs - very small but very comfy and quite a funky vibe.
(don't personally have any such contacts, but i'm listening in)
i did catch a live duet at "the knife shop" in collingwood a few weeks ago. they don't seem to have a meaningful web presence, but maybe you could call/email them for booking info. there's a facebook page with contact details: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Knife-Shop/102764823145196?sk=info