Hi Adam!

I don't know that I have a formula per se. I can tell you my story, and you can imitate some of the things that I did that might be relevant and helpful. 

I play in a couple groups, and I freelance as a sideman. Specifically, I play in a Steely Dan tribute band, which is a large 10 piece jazz-rock band; I have my own solo contemporary/smooth jazz project; and I play with other groups when I get called.

The 10 piece band is expensive to hire. I am not the band manager, but I am a co-leader and one of the founding members, so I can speak knowledgeably. That band has to turn large numbers out. We have a big mailing list, and we sell out large venues.

It took a long time to build a following and become successful. We started playing almost for free in tiny hole in the wall places. We passed around clipboards and built our fan mailing list one person at a time.

Like almost every gig I do now, that band got the contacts with venues and buyers through friendships. I don't mean fake networking "pseudo-friendships." I mean real friendships that take time to develop, and weren't developed for the sole purpose of getting a gig. That's how the initial opportunities came about.

But John is right! Once you get the opportunity, you have to get people to come!!!! And the mailing list was so so so key in our success. We have a large mailing list of dedicated fans that show up and buy tickets and buy drinks and buy food!!

As our fanbase grew, and we continued to turn people out, our reputation grew and so did the opportunities.

My own jazz project grew out of the larger band. I have always written my own music. I recorded that music as a personal art project. Next thing you know, I have 1,000 CDs in boxes, and a wife asking me how I'm going to get my money back.

I stumbled around. I hired a publicist. I did a half-assed radio promo. And so on. Minimal success.

I stumbled onto John's course, and recovered the cost of the course in a few weeks. Honest!!!

I started doing the same thing our larger band did (building a mailing list) online. I sold CDs. Some of those CDs got in the right hands. I met my mentor/manager online while I was building my list. We became close friends. She's not just a "ticket" to my career... She's a wonderful person that I love to hang out with and proud to call my friend.

She introduced me to my producer (my next CD is going to kill it, BTW), musician/collaborators, etc. I met people (now friends) and built credibility with people who have hired my solo project. I play local wineries, and have had the opportunity to open for national, Billboard charting artists. And I get people to show up to shows through my mailing list!!!

Music is a service industry. Make friends, genuinely care for people, build a mailing list so you can make more friends and genuinely care for people... And don't suck on stage. Your music has to be good, and people have to enjoy seeing you. Be likeable!!! lol!!