With the launch of Last Minute Musicians’ international sister-service Gig Heaven, we thought it would be worth taking some time to introduce the site to you, and give you some top tips for finding international shows and performing abroad.
What is Gig Heaven?
GigHeaven.com is the place to find everything you need for a wedding, party or event, anywhere in the world. Browse through the currently available services, or use menus at the top of the page to find the category you are looking for, then narrow down the listings by price and location.
Similarly to Last Minute Musicians, you can then visit each supplier’s listing to view their promotional material; this could be anything from featured images and biographical material/service descriptions, to high-quality video or audio recordings.
You can also view previous client’s reviews and testimonials, in order to ensure the quality of your suppliers’ services. No matter how unique your event is, use the Gig Heaven international entertainment directory to find the very best photographers, services, caterers or entertainment near to you, anywhere in the world.
What kind of international gigs might you get booked for?
One of the great benefits of being a professional musician is the potential to travel the globe and perform in exotic locations.
While this isn’t always the case (and will always vary in its potential, depending on what kind of musician you are) if you’re a serious professional musician, then there is a very real chance of securing some bookings overseas.
The first thing that is really important to remember is that, when you are booked for an overseas performance, you aren’t going on holiday and must not treat it as such. This is a professional engagement, just like a show back home, and all of your usual duties must come first, no matter how exotic the location.
You must respond professionally to each situation that arises. That said, performing abroad does offer some wonderful advantages, and there may well be opportunity for some sightseeing, between jobs, and perhaps even the opportunity to stay in luxury accommodation, expenses paid.
When it comes to the specific opportunities available for performing abroad, there are all sorts of events that you could be booked for. While many aspiring original bands dream of the bright lights and flashy venues of a multi-date world tour, the reality is that it is entirely possible to plan an independent tour yourself, with either a moderate following or as support for other local acts.
Some smaller European venues, cafes and bars will accommodate singer-songwriters looking for acoustic shows.
When it comes to private bookings, it could be argued that even more opportunity exists! Some popular gigs are:
- 5 star hotels in places like Dubai are regularly looking for pop/rock party bands for residency shows.
- Cruise ship entertainment can take you all over the world, performing as a solo artist, in acoustic duos, party bands and even cabaret entertainment.
- Some ex-pats are perfectly prepared to pay a premium to have their favourite acts fly out for private parties.
- High-end corporate events or conferences will often look abroad for quality entertainment.
- Some couples planning a “destination wedding” will look to source their entertainment from the UK.
How to get international private bookings
Securing international bookings might be a simpler process than you first think. There is usually a whole surplus of musicians required for cruise ships, and a great place to start in looking for this kind of work is Musicians For Cruises.
This is a great site that connects cruise and hotel acts with clients, and also allows you to view job vacancies that are currently available and apply.
Joining an entertainment agency or directory is also a great place to start pick up some enquiries from clients, both domestically and based overseas, as you never know who will be browsing their listings. Obviously, we’d recommend that you consider registering for a listing with Last Minute Musicians, with 60,000 enquiries being sent in the last 12 months alone.
Additional resources for finding gigs abroad:
A few things to remember when performing abroad
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll probably require adapters to make sure that your electrical devices can be plugged in. If you’re taking lots of PA gear with you by van, it is worth keeping in mind that you’ll need to make sure that your equipment will be able to safely run off of the local electrical supply.
Consulting with whoever it is organising your booking is a good place to start with this. Of course, renting or sourcing equipment in the country you are travelling to can mitigate most issues.
Regular travel insurance may not cover any accidents while working, and you may have to pay additional prices to insure any instruments that you take with you, so thoroughly look into all insurance options. You can also read more about how to safely transport instruments in our blog on taking instruments abroad.
While learning some basic phrases in the local language is always a good idea, musicians may find it worth augmenting their vocabulary with a few other useful words like “loud” and “quiet”.
Some countries will require entry and exit visas, and may have different requirements for someone travelling on business, than to those going for tourism.
The best general advice for performing abroad is to do as much research as you can into where you are going, and every practicality you can think of. Try thinking about your gigs domestically – what challenges have you encountered? Try and spot as many things as possible that could present an additional problem when working abroad.
… And finally, don’t forget to check your passport’s expiry date!
Do you have any experience in performing abroad? What advice would you give to other musicians looking to secure bookings abroad? Post your advice in the comments below!
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