Playing in Bars and Pubs: Getting Regular Gigs

The live bar and pub market: a concrete opportunity

Hundreds of pubs, concert bars, microbreweries and beer gardens programme live music every week. This isn't the world of large venues with complex artist dossiers and 18-month booking cycles — it's a market of quick decisions, direct relationships and regular income.

A pub manager can decide to book you within 48 hours of watching your video. The fee typically ranges between €200 and €600 per evening, often paid the same night. And most importantly: a great set in a bar builds loyalty — the owner will call you back next month.

This guide explains how to find these venues, contact them effectively and build a steady calendar.

Finding the right venues

What to look for

Not every bar programmes live music. To avoid wasting time, target those that have:

• A mention of "concert", "live music" or "open mic" on their Facebook or Instagram page
• A stage, even a small one, visible in photos
• A past programming agenda (concerts already played = future concerts coming)
• Google reviews mentioning "great musical atmosphere", "live concerts", "jazz night"

Where to find them

• OpenStreetMap (via overpass-turbo.eu): search for venues tagged "live_music=yes" in a given geographic area.
• Google Maps: search for "concert bar [city]", "pub live music [city]", "jazz bar [city]". Venues with concert photos and reviews mentioning music are your priority targets.
• Facebook: most live bars run an active page with an agenda. Search "[city] concert bar" in the page search.
• Bandsintown and Songkick: these concert platforms list venues that programme regularly. A venue with 10+ concerts per year is an active one.

When to reach out: bar seasonality

Pubs programme year-round, but some periods are more favourable:

• Late August – September: the autumn restart is an excellent time to pitch your services. Managers begin programming again after a sometimes quieter summer.
• October – December: strong period with Halloween, Advent evenings and New Year's Eve. Calendars fill up fast — prospect from September for December.
• January – March: relative lull, but the ideal moment to propose monthly residencies over a longer horizon.
• Spring (March – May): good window for terrace nights and spring-themed events.

Plan 3 to 6 weeks ahead for weekends. A Friday night in December should ideally be booked by late October.

How to contact a pub manager: phone or email?

Phone first

For bars and pubs, a phone call is often more effective than email. The manager rarely reads business emails but does pick up the phone. A few rules:

• Call late morning (10am–12pm), before the lunch rush.
• Introduce yourself in 30 seconds maximum: artist name, musical style, what you're offering.
• Ask if you can send a video by SMS or email immediately after the call.
• Propose a specific date or range: "I'm available on Fridays in November — do you have any slots?"

The follow-up email

After the call, or if you prefer to start in writing, your email should be short and visual:

1. Clear subject line: "Live music proposal — [your style] — [target month]"
2. Three to four lines of introduction
3. A performance video link (YouTube, Instagram — no heavy attachments)
4. Your base fee or range
5. Two or three availability dates

Avoid ten-page PDF artist dossiers, lengthy biographies and large attachments. A pub manager decides on instinct, in a matter of seconds.

What to offer to maximise your chances

• Acoustic duo: the most requested format and easiest to fit into a medium-sized bar. Minimal setup, maximum versatility.
• Themed nights: an "Irish Night", a "jazz manouche night" or a "blues session" attracts a specific, loyal audience. Offer this concept as a turnkey package to managers looking to stand out.
• Open mic you host: propose to host a monthly open mic. It's a win-win: the manager gets a crowd on a usually quiet weeknight, and you build a regular presence and a local artist network.
• Monthly residency: "I play at your venue the first Friday of every month" creates a routine for the audience and secures your calendar. It's easier to sell than you think.

Building a regular calendar: the residency strategy

The goal is not to play once in a hundred different bars, but to play regularly at five or ten loyal venues. This residency logic allows you to:

• Build a local following that tracks you from bar to bar
• Negotiate progressive fees (after 3–4 gigs, you can ask for a raise)
• Grow your reputation in the city: venue owners talk to each other
• Reduce prospecting time: a loyal venue calls you back on its own

To quickly identify the right venues across the country, the Pubs & Bars Live pack lists over 600 verified venues in 2026 with emails and phone numbers. Our Geo Campaign service can also prepare and send your outreach emails targeted by geographic zone. See our methodology page to understand how we select these venues.

Classic mistakes to avoid

• Sending an email on the weekend: bar managers are swamped Friday–Saturday. Contact them on weekdays.
• Proposing an unsuitable format: a 6-piece band with a truck full of gear doesn't fit an 80-seat bar. Tailor your proposal to the venue.
• Not following up: a first email with no follow-up often goes unanswered. Wait 2 weeks and try again.
• Ignoring the bar's social media: before contacting, check what they already programme. A bar that runs jazz every Friday doesn't need a metal band.