Playing Christmas Gigs: Good Times, Good Pay, Good Marketing

   For live performing musicians, Christmas gigs can be the most lucrative and funnest gigs of the entire year. There’s just something about the season that brings out the best in people. Some of the best times I’ve had at gigs are the ones I’ve played right around Christmas. The celebratory and giving spirit of the season seems to really affect the club owners and especially the audiences at this time of year.

   A good show is really the coming together of the performer and the audience. Around the holidays people are just ready to relax and have a good time. This really becomes evident as you play gigs around the holidays. The audience is so eager to celebrate that our jobs as entertainers become much easier. You can really draw on the audience for that extra push of energy to take your show to the next level. Having a successful gig at Christmas is as easy as keeping things light and happy onstage. You don’t even have to play exceptionally well as long as you’re having a good time. It’s a great time to market your band because people will remember you if they have had a really good time. Associating your band with good memories is fantastic marketing.   

   People are extremely generous around the holidays and it’s a great idea to have a tip jar at the front of the stage. I’ve made a lot of extra money in tips playing gigs around the holidays. It’s always great to get some extra cash from the club owners as well. It’s been my experience that my biggest tips from the club owners happen around the holidays. It’s usually because people are willing to spend more in the clubs and a good club owner will let some of that trickle down to the band. It works both ways with the band too as we always try to tip the bartender and waitresses that help us out, especially around Christmas.

   That’s why I like to play gigs around the holidays. If you’re willing to do it, there’s usually a lot of opportunities to play. Many bands don’t like to book gigs around the holidays as they like to take that time off to celebrate as well. But if you’re willing to get out there and play some Christmas shows, you can make some extra cash and you’ll also be pretty much guaranteed to have a successful show.

Author: Live Musician Central

My name is Matt Rushton. I have been playing in bands for 27 years. I've been playing professionally for 21 years. I have opened for Sheryl Crow, Barenaked Ladies, Joan Jett, Little River Band, and Quiet Riot. View all posts by Live Musician Central