Gigs and Venues looking to book independent artists

The Music Phone Book has been an industry secret for years, used by local, regional and national music pros to find the contacts and support staff needed for their events.  “As a manager, I don’t have much free time,” said Larry White, a seasoned music pro who has worked with artists like R.E.M., the Red Hot Chili Peppers & Jane’s Addiction.  “The Music Phone Book has really become the industry bible.  Not only does it include thousands of industry contacts and private unlisted information you can’t find elsewhere, it saves you a ton of time.  I used the MPB to help find the right music publisher for an artist I’m managing now (Ryan Lindsey), and still use it on a daily basis.”

But the MPB isn’t limited to the top industry pros anymore.  “We have seen the number of independent artist readers grow considerably in the last few years,” said the MPB’s publisher David Codr.  “Part of that is artists and bands are getting more business savvy and realize 40 bucks is a small price to pay for the direct number to nearly every club talent buyer and promoter in the country.  But the real beauty for independent bands is how comprehensive the MPB is.  Unlike every other music guide, we actually seek out what I call the B, C, D & E list contacts.  These are local and regional music pros who work with, and look for, new independent artists.  A big problem for independent bands is most of those music pros don’t have an office or even a website.  So if you don’t know about them already, the MPB is really the only way you’re going to find them.”

Adding to the problem is there are more independent artists performing now than ever before.  The influx of more bands to an already crowded industry has altered how many music industry pros work. A good example is how many talent buyers now filter through the hundred of band calls they get each day. 

John P, a club talent buyer who requested his last or club name not be used, is following a new trend to filter the number of bands he speaks to.  “I get literally hundreds of bands calling me each week and I only have a handful of open spots to fill.  To cut that number down, I only take calls from people I don’t know two days a week now.”  John doesn’t list those days or times on the club’s website or on his voicemail greeting, so it becomes a luck of the draw scenario.  “The only place I list those days & times is in the MPB because I’ve found the bands who use the MPB are developed enough that I want to talk to them.”