TOPIC:

Can someone advise me on this - we have an excellent local band here (South Somerset) called Hello Hopeville, who play a mellow style of country music. I think would go down well at the Bell and I know they would like the opportunity to play here. How would they go about getting considered for a gig?

If the band email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with audio/video and website links I can forward to our band booker

Sounds like the application from the band in question has been rejected. Is there an appeals procedure?

You would have to check with Steve, but we can get up to 100 gig requests each month, many from national and international bands - so we do have quite a long waiting list

The procedure is to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. giving links to your music plus info on your location and personnel. Steve gets at least a dozen applications per week, and so only responds when he's interested, otherwise he'd spend a tiresome amount of time saying "Thanks but no thanks". He does listen to everything that comes in (I know this as I live downstairs from him). If the first track doesn't appeal he'll try the second and so on. He really is fair. The rule of thumb is that if you don't hear from him in about six weeks then you won't, but if you do we're looking at dates about six months ahead. Not getting a booking doesn't necessarily mean you're not good enough; even if every band were excellent, and even if every band fitted within our range of genres (which is largely roots- and jazz-based but includes may more) it's just not possible to put that many bands on.
A footnote: sending repeated emails or phoning the bar and hassling the staff, who know nothing of this, will not work in your favour.