Performers: How are you with networking?

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I used to be ok with this when I was a drunk. I could go to 7-9 shows a week, no problem.

Now, I have trouble getting out of the house at all.

My room mate just told me that a friend that I haven't seen since I moved to this town was going to be at a show tonight. We've been having trouble making time to meet up, and it would've been ideal.

Problem is, he only told me about the show an hour before it started. I was covered with drywall dust and hadn't shaved for a week. Well, 3 hours later, I am giving up. Just couldn't get my stuff together to go out. Plus it's dark and cold, and I don't have good winter clothes or bike lights. Or money for the touring bands. No job, and looks like I won't have one until maybe April.

I really want to start playing shows again, but seems like the only way to get them, and get people to come to them, is to go to other people's shows all the time. Which I just can't seem to pull off anymore.

How do all y'alls deal with this?

Burnbridge, I know, once I'm out of money and it's cold and dark in Ohio (I grew up there) it's pretty hard to pry oneself out into the night.

I'm concerned for you. Please don't wait until April for work (or warm clothes for that matter). You are so very capable. Please come up with a plan to pull together enough money for warm clothes and transportation. I'm afraid this winter is gunna come down heavy and stay a rock hard frozen river until April.

Is there some conduit to do some holiday fill-in work at some restaurants in Columbus? Your resume worked once. Try it again?

Oh, I think I'll be ok. I have a lot of work to do on my friend's house to keep me busy, and I got food stamps now. I heard this winter's going to be a rough one, but still it won't be much here in ohio compared to Minneapolis. I decided I'm going to try to build up my art/illustration portfolio to act as a fun counterpoint to running the restaurant in Nebraska in the summers, instead of getting steady work. Really, I don't need more than $40/month cash to get by since I got food stamps (that's cat food & litter and tobacco).

..

Just trying to figure out how to reconcile the major social regression I'm having with trying to get out there and play shows still. Small paradox.

Are there other strategies, other than going to a ton of shows, to get booked at a gig and have some people come? idk...

OK, I'm no musician; so this may be a clueless idea;

Columbus is a college town. Aren't there artsy rag newspapers/news-letters strewn around that have classified adds with stuff like bands that are looking for specific musicians? You may be more like a one-man band type of performer but who knows; you might find a good group with some gigs to hookup with as a start.

I have a terrible time with this myself. I love playing music and I am good at it. I just don't like to hang out, so it is difficult to meet people to play with.
I repair amps, and build pedals and what not and this helps me stay in loop with the local musicians. I am also on good terms with the owner of small guitar shop and so he will put my name out there when he hears of something that he thinks would be a good fit for me.

Burnbridge, I'm not a performer but I've dated a couple of them. They got together with other musicians at someone's house and would sit around and jam, write music and talk . But they did go out a lot and support each other at shows/gigs when they themselves weren't playing and they networked a great deal. Maybe you could arrange to get together with some of your friends to hang out and play together. Have you checked out the internet to see what websites are out there to network with other musicians and performers in your area of Ohio? I haven't looked myself, but I remember hearing about websites like that from some of my musician friends.

Also, keep warm.

Well, I know people that play music here, and I know when shows are happening. I just have such a hard time getting out and going to them anymore. Plus I don't have any money, at all. $0
So that's an obstacle to going and making myself known to audiences in a new town.

Maybe I just need some ridiculously clever novelty that people can't resist. Ugh. Me no like novelty music or gimmicks.

Damn, I understand that. Is there anyway that you could assist with setting up or play with them and get into the show for free? When I was in college, I use to do voluteer work for Virginia Opera and that's how I would get tickets to see the operas for free, same thing for the Virginia Symphony too. I understand about you having a hard time getting out. I'm like that too especially now. But I find that after I do actually get out, I usually enjoy it.