how do you get gigs?

do you just need to know some promoters? or send in demos? i want to play gigs but dunno where to get gigs.

don't know how it works in the UK, but we got shows when first starting out by 1) sending demos to places that accepted them and then hassling the booking people until they set something up, 2) playing some shitty places that don't really require much in terms of experience, and 3) making friends with other, better bands who can set you up to open for them

for me it's been 1) getting to know club owners/managers (uh, mostly through playing at their clubs with bands that someone else does the booking for), 2) then emailing or asking about open nights to book my own band.

if you don't know them at all, then i would say email them and have a nice website or press kit if possible.

really though, i hate booking gigs and starting with a new band is hard. it gets way easier once you have some good shows and start developing relationships.

developing relationships

^ this

Most small venues have a web site with a booking section or something that lists contact info for whoever books the shows. If it doesn't, you call and ask someone who's in charge of booking. Some people make you send them shit in the mail, which is really annoying, but usually there is an email address. So you email them, and link them to your shit and briefly tell them where else you've played and why you're so awesome etc. and generally say things that will convince them that people will come out and pay the cover to see you. You email them and then you wait 7-10 days maybe and then you follow up with another email. Repeat as necessary. Once you've played there you know who books it and can maybe contact them more directly.

On reading your original post, I realize that my last post assumes you know where you want to be playing. If you don't, you should try to find some like-minded bands you like/are having some success (and really you should do this anyway) and see where they're playing, go see shows in those places and see what they're like, etc.

Also booking is a big pain in the ass.

you find out who the promoters are and give them cocaine. = gigs

Do people really send in demos still? I mean, there's invariably shit to listen to on the internet and it's less hassle for everyone involved.

You will still find the odd venue/promoter that asks for you to send in a "press kit" (I hate that term) in the mail. I don't know if they're just old fashioned or if they think that's the best way to weed out the less-serious bros or what. I find it pretty wasteful and annoying.

myspace, websites, and electronic press kits are pretty much what I and most bookers I know look for.

You could start by playing house shows with friends' bands. If you don't have friends who are also in bands, then I'd say making some would be a good start. Besides having a sense of what your band sounds like, having a sense of who you have played with is also important. Generally, you're probably not going to get booked for a paying gig unless you've had other gigs or unless you're invited to be part of the "package" by a more experienced band.