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Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of confusion in the Irish music community, especially when it comes to booking gigs. As someone who has worked in pubs and music venues for over 30 years—managing many of them and booking countless acts—I felt it was time to share what I’ve learned.
This post is aimed at independent and original acts who want a real shot at building a career in the music industry but feel stuck. If you’ve ever wondered why booking gigs in Ireland seems so hard, I’m here to give you a reality check. Some of this advice may be tough to hear, but it comes from experience. Let’s dive in.
Most venue or pub managers are juggling a dozen things at once, and artists are just one part of the equation. When you approach a venue, you need to keep that in mind. Your goal should be to make it as easy as possible for the manager to see the value you bring.
Here’s the reality: if you’re an original act without a strong local following, many venues will see you as a high-risk booking. They need to know that you’ll put money in their tills—not just play great music. For every €100 they pay you, they’ll need to generate €300–€400 in revenue to break even, considering staff costs, utilities, and more. If you can’t show them how you’ll help achieve that, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
Before you think about touring or playing gigs outside your area, ask yourself:
If your local base isn’t strong, it’s time to focus there first. Start small, play consistently, and connect with your audience. A loyal local following makes you more attractive to venues in other towns, especially if you can promise to bring people with you.
When you’re ready to expand, consider collaborating with bands from other areas. Bring them to your town, help them build their audience, and do the same when you play in their area. This is how touring worked in the past—and it still works today.
If you want to book a gig, always aim for a face-to-face meeting.
In today’s world, you should also have an online press kit (EPK) ready. Forget elaborate folders or physical press packs—they’re outdated. A good EPK should include:
Bring a tablet or laptop so the manager can see and hear your work on the spot. Don’t overwhelm them—just show your best track and a clip of you performing live.
Venue managers notice the little things. Show up on time, know your equipment, and keep your soundcheck quick and efficient (10 minutes max). Soundchecks that drag on or screeching amps can drive away early customers—and you won’t get invited back.
During the show, connect with the audience. Tell them when you’ll start, thank them for coming, and ask them to stick around. Avoid using foul language or anything that could alienate your crowd—this has ruined gigs for great acts in the past.
After the gig, don’t just pack up and leave. Mingle, talk to people, and ask for their email addresses. Build real connections. Saying, “Find us on Facebook” is easy to forget, but personal engagement is memorable.
If the turnout was poor, don’t be greedy. Venues are businesses, and a poor night for them affects everyone. Be honest with yourself:
Sometimes it’s worth offering to adjust your fee or suggest ideas for a better turnout next time. Showing you care about the venue’s success goes a long way.
In today’s digital world, there’s no excuse for not promoting your gigs properly. Here’s what you should be doing:
Even better, collect data to show venues how many people engage with your music online. If you can prove that you have an active, engaged audience, you’ll stand out from the crowd.
Launching your music is a huge milestone, but too many artists rush into it without proper preparation. Before you even think about an EP or album launch, ask yourself:
Your launch should be an event—not just another gig. Use the tips above to plan months (or even years) in advance. Make sure you register CD sales to count toward Irish charts, and leverage every gig as a chance to build momentum.
If you’ve been struggling to book gigs or feel stuck, take a step back and reassess. It’s never too late to start over with a fresh approach. Yes, it’s hard work, but if you’re serious about your music, it’s worth it.
Focus on building relationships—with venues, other artists, and your audience. Apply the basics I’ve shared here, and you’ll see a difference. Venues want you to succeed because your success is their success too.
Booking gigs in Ireland isn’t easy, but it’s far from impossible. With the right mindset, preparation, and effort, you can build a thriving career in the music industry. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, leave a comment or reach out to me—I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks for reading, and best of luck on your journey.
Indie Launch Ireland by MusiBiz is a straight-talk AI coach for independent Irish artists who want real results — not vague advice.
Built specifically for the Irish music scene, it helps you assess where you actually stand (awareness, engagement, draw, media impact) and gives you clear, stage-based next steps to book more gigs, grow your email list, build leverage with promoters, and stop guessing your strategy.
If you're reading Reality Chart to the Irish Artist – Booking Gigs in Ireland, this assistant acts as your practical action partner — turning information into a focused 60-day plan you can actually execute.
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Excellent Reading here Michael....Common sense by the bucket load...
Thats it in a netshell Paul. All people have to do is Read and follow the steps above .. Its all there for anyone to study and apply !!
Well said Michael, 100% correct! (venue promoter)
Nice one Walter. Thank you very Much for the feedback. If you would like to connect let me know and i can share with you new acts that are making waves and are applying these very steps. I would also like to help Venues bring some much needed life back into them once again..Michael...
What an invaluable article. It's a real eye opener and will no doubt reap rewards for those who take it on board. I'll pass this on to my sons band "Water on Mars" .
Thats very kind of you to say Caroline. It was written to guild and steer today's Artist in the right Direction. Most of it is common sense with a few insights of my own . I sincerely hope that those who stumble on this article will use it as part of their yearly practice. Getting it right from the beginning is critical .
A great read. Thanks Michael.
Thanks Barry. Felt it needed to be said to ground and direct the artist on the proper course..
Awesome article Michael !
Everyone these days expects everything to be handed to em' on a silver platter, it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n' roll !
Good Man Axel. So glad you liked it. I hope Artists read it and take the first steps..
Brilliant article Michael, thanks for putting so much time and effort into it for the benefit of artists. Will definitely use some of your advice as am recording EP soon, take care, Mick Brown Folksinger
Delighted you liked it Mick and it seems that many others are getting something from this . I have a Couple more articles related to this , to take a look at . I hope you enjoy them moving forward with your EP. Thank you.
Michael - Good article. I am based in Tralee and the town has been ravaged and there are a lot of empty pubs and venues that just sell drink when the tourists are around. I have a US guy from the West Side of Chicago that I would think would do well using Ireland as a springboard - he has a great back story. He has played a few gigs in Ireland - upstairs at Whelans etc. but nothing significant really. I was thinking of putting together a tour for this guy - he has management in Germany - I know NOTHING about the Irish pub/venue scene but this guy writes and sings and has a following but its close but no cigar. Am I mad to embark on this ? .....
If you have belief in him and can see a future for him then go for it . Create a base for him local and build from there first . As the great John Hartmann ( Manager in the US for over 50 years ) told me . " If you cant make it in your own backyard, You ain't making it anywhere ". Collect up email addresses from all fans and keep all of them updated with any developments . Its about building relationships and having a base to operate from . Do this first before going on any tour . Good luck ..
Thank you, Michael. Your advice is much appreciated. May I ask - what could a US artist who has a certain profile/looks good/writes his own songs and has a good narrative expect from a pub venue ? Seems there are too many acts looking at fewer venues every year..........
Thanks Daragh . The same applies wherever you are from . The Venue is the key to securing a local following and a base to work from . You can have the best look , talent and write your own music but if you haven't a local following to begin with , you are chasing your tail in this Industry. Artists need to look in the right direction and build their fanbase locally first before skipping to further on. Being an independent artist is different now and they need to look at this as a real business . The venue is your first marketing plan . If your music is good you will gather up a fanbase quickly. collect their email and keep them updated . successful artists from other areas will contact you as you have a following . Have them invite you to their venue . This is how it is done . Use digital media for updates but the groundwork will have to be done by you the venue and the artists that surround your area. Hope this helps ..
I had the pleasure to have met this guy and I can tell you one thing, Passion and enlightenment for the music industry pours from every crevice of his body. He is spot on in what he states, you can see he has a clear understanding of what its like to be on both side of the fence and he is not afraid to get his hands dirty. I wish, and I truly mean this after meeting him, that I had known him around the time he had the venue. I had payed a visit to it, while I was in the town and though it now lay dormant, it just looked like a magical place, but for him at the time it just was not meant to be. On the flip side, this man is definitely one to watch in the future and if you ever get the opportunity to meet him in person and step onboard his visions...My advice to you would be to grab it with both hands, hold on tight and don't let go, As he is moving and I don't think his passion for helping out struggling Irish artists is ever gonna let him stop. All the best in the future Mick, our paths will most definitely cross again my friend, your Friend... #Berthmark
Thanks Mark. Wow , You are very kind with your words and thank you so much. It was a great pleasure to meet you and I am so happy that you like this post . It's all there for others to see and implement . You are a Super talented artist and yes , we will be meeting up again soon . Thanks Again and take care.
Great article. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Lots of food for thought there.
Many thanks Karen . It's a very practical Post and was written so Artists can see where they should begin before considering a career in the Music Industry. .
Thanks Micheal for taking the time to put this information out there, its cold sobering but realistic for artists nowadays, so thanks again, regards, Glen
You are very welcome Glen . No point on sugar coating it. It is what it is and if Artists just apply even some of the above , They will be in a much better place . Thanks for reading and I hope it help you I some way .
No guys... Dublin venues are a black hole where amazing musicians and bands will be paid no more than €100 each per gig unless they have already established fame on TV or online. So take the advice above as a warning (not a guide).. invest your time and resources into your online presence... be imaginative... can you make your original song video go viral?... can you get to the TV exposure stage of any of the XFactor/IGT/BGT/TheVoice shows (despite how contrived they are).... Biggest reality Check is... The most awesome bands in Dublin venues can only hope to get about €500 per gig "forever"... while nearly any band that achieved some significant TV or YouTube fame can probably land their fair share of €2000+ gigs and festivals around the world. That's the world we live in... 90% media/marketing and 10% talent... Good luck to ye... and I really hope the talented ones heed this advice
Thanks for the feedback Stephan. You have many good points in there for people to consider ..
very interesting and enlightening, Im one of the clowns banging my head off a wall, trying to remain a "REAL" artist, palying original songs to the back of a line of necks at a bar, woundering why im not selling any of my cds. I have to begin again and start to get street wise with the new technology available, and to build a steady fan base locally and countrywide.
in other words follow Michael Kiernans wise words, thanks again Kiernan, lets hope I want it as much as I think I do.
Thanks, Martin. Starting again for established artists may not be as daunting as you might think. You now know what doesn't work and starting to apply a new way of getting your Music out there may work quicker than you think. Your fanbase is everything and building that is your focus along with writing good music. If you need any more advice then please contact me. Best of luck.