The Ultimate Guide to Organising Gigs With Software

Photo by Vishnu R Nair

Software isn’t just used by musicians to create new sounds; it can also help to make managing their live performances much more straightforward.

If you’re an artist, then you’ll be all too aware of how difficult it can be to stay on top of all the aspects of live performances. And that doesn’t just make everything concert-related more stressful — it also eats into the time that could be spent on your art.

Gig management software removes many of the pain points connected to live performances. On this page, we’ll run through everything you need to know about event booking tools for musicians, including how they help, the problems they remove, and how to get the most from the software.

Understanding the Challenges Of Gig Planning 

If you’re a musician who has never encountered problems with the gig planning process, then consider yourself lucky. Unless you’re Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, or Bruce Springsteen (in which case, hi!), then you’ve likely come up against a whole host of issues that can suck the fun out of live performances.

From double bookings to dealing with incomplete information, trying to organise a live performance is often a headache-inducing experience. And that might be acceptable if you’re organising just one concert, but when you’re trying to organise a whole tour, things can get very complicated and stressful, very quickly.

It’s even more difficult when you have to organise other musicians, too. At that point, good gig planning doesn’t just make your life easier; it ensures that the gig actually happens. 

How Software for Musicians Helps

If you’re tired of wrestling with the stresses and strains of organising live performances, then gig software for musicians provides the perfect solution. This software actively addresses many of the issues that musicians have when it comes to organising their live shows, making it much easier to enjoy your time on the road.

Here are just some of the ways that gig software can help:

It Gives You The Information You Need

Ever had to deal with incomplete gig information, all because you’ve misplaced the paper all the details were written down on?

Gig software allows you to record all the key information about your live shows, including the date, location, and time of the show, as well as details about key points of contact at the venue and other vital information. 

If you ever need information about a show, then all you need to do is open up the software, and it’ll all be there. 

It Puts Everyone on the Same Page

Would bands like The Smiths, Pink Floyd, and The Police have broken up if they’d had band scheduling software? Well, we can’t say for sure — but they might have kept going for a few more months at least if they had. 

With gig software like Band Pencil, every member of the band along with touring musicians can easily access key information. If a band member fails to show up on time for the concert, then it won’t be because they didn’t know where they had to be. After all, everyone in the band had the same information. 

It Facilitates Slick Client Relationships

Being a touring musician is difficult, but things become much easier when you’re on good terms with venues. Good gig software includes the ability to share information with venues, ensuring that they have all the details they need about the show.

In an era when some musicians can be difficult to work with, presenting this level of care to venue managers helps show that you’re professional. This feature also centralises communication between the venue and the musicians, ensuring that everyone always knows exactly what’s happening. 

It Gets You Paid Quicker

You might primarily play music for love, but you’ll also want to get paid promptly, too. With gig organising software, you can increase your chances of not only getting paid, but getting paid quickly, without having to chase up payment. If you’ve ever had to repeatedly call a client to get the money that’s rightfully yours, you’ll be aware of how welcome this feature is.

From within the software, you can send and manage invoices — and most crucially of all, your clients can pay those invoices, too. 

It Can Lead to An Awesome Show

Finally, perhaps the biggest advantage of gig software for musicians is that it can increase the chances that you’ll have an awesome show. For one thing, it makes it more likely that everyone who’s due to perform turns up on time, which ensures you’ll have time to practice. The best gig management software also includes a ‘setlist builder’ feature, allowing you to play around with setlist ideas to come up with a show that will wow the audience.

You’ll also be much more likely to deliver your best show if you can arrive at the venue in a relaxed, creative state of mind, rather than rushing around because you’ve been dealing with admin tasks.

How to Get The Most From Gig Management Software

Gig management software can be a game-changer for touring musicians, but it won’t be all that automatically. 

The first step is to choose the right gig management software for your needs. Here at Band Pencil, we’ve gone to great lengths to create software that musicians love, and we’re continually adding new features that make managing the performance side of your craft much easier. 

Once you’ve gotten your gig management software, spend some time learning how to use it. We offer demos of many of our software’s features, which will guide you through exactly how to use the software.

Get Started Today

Ready to remove the stresses and strains of organising live performances? Then be sure to sign up for a free 14-day trial with Band Pencil. If you decide that it’s just what you’re looking for (hint: it will be), then you can grab yourself one of our highly affordable subscription packages. If you have any questions about our software, then don’t hesitate to check out our contact page, which is a treasure trove of information.