Bob Norton nails it.

Whether it's starting a business to open a store, fixing appliances, installing security (as I do) or playing music (as I have done)... the business end is crucial to the success of your business. You can't just be a dumb musician thinking if you play the music well, people will flock to your shows and clubs will have a bidding war over you.

I've been in the bands that had the attitude that we're strictly a country rock band, and we don't play pop country and heck no we don't do MOR pop. That's a hard, lean road because you run out of places that will hire you pretty quickly and those one time gigs are not the road to success. I've learned from the past and some of the more successful bands I have played in knew we had to be on time, show up sober and stay that way, play the full sets, dress and act appropriately, interact with the audience and play music they could dance to easily.

Danceable music = a packed dance floor = hot and sweaty dancers = a bar that's selling drinks and making money = you will be hired again.

Price is important but not something to die over. It's better to play several medium priced gigs and be working several nights a week than to play one high priced gig that nets under the sum of the several. The higher price will come as you stick with it, keep the club owners in the black and create a larger paying audience who are willing to drive a bit to see you. Getting to know that audience, especially the "regulars" is so important. You better learn their first and last names. We'd see folks coming is as we were setting up and we'd stand up and yell across the club... "Yo Fuzz... good to see you bro... where's Willy?" Fuzz and so many others would appreciate that we knew them personally. One fan in particular would drive over 100 miles to see us play. You best believe we let him know we appreciated it. Get to know the folks at the show. Even the ones you may never see again.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.