Music Venue Directory: How to Find and Book Venues 2025

Finding the right venues is crucial for building your touring career. This comprehensive guide covers venue databases, booking strategies, and resources for discovering performance opportunities.

Online Venue Databases

1. Indie on the Move

Coverage: United States and Canada Price: $12.95/month or $119/year

What It Offers:

• 20,000+ venue listings
• Booking contact information
• Venue details and capacity
• Submission tracking
• Email templates
• Resource library
• Community forum

Venue Types:

• Bars and clubs
• Coffee shops
• House concerts
• Festivals
• College venues
• DIY spaces

Best For: DIY bands booking their own tours

Pros:

• Extensive database
• Contact information included
• Submission tracking
• Educational resources
• Active community
• Regularly updated

Cons:

• Subscription required
• US/Canada only
• Information accuracy varies
• Some outdated listings

Website: indieonthemove.com

2. Sonicbids

Coverage: Worldwide Price: $10-20/month

What It Offers:

• Venue and festival opportunities
• Direct submission to promoters
• EPK hosting
• Gig alerts
• Application tracking
• Industry connections

Venue Types:

• Festivals
• Clubs and venues
• Corporate events
• Cruise ships
• International opportunities

Best For: Bands seeking festival and special opportunities

Pros:

• Festival opportunities
• Direct promoter access
• International reach
• EPK included
• Professional platform

Cons:

• Subscription required
• Application fees for some gigs
• Competitive
• Not all opportunities are paid

Website: sonicbids.com

3. Pollstar

Coverage: Worldwide Price: Free basic, Pro subscription available

What It Offers:

• Venue database
• Industry news
• Tour schedules
• Venue capacity info
• Contact information
• Industry directory

Venue Types:

• Theaters
• Arenas
• Amphitheaters
• Clubs
• Festivals
• All venue sizes

Best For: Professional touring and industry research

Pros:

• Comprehensive database
• Industry standard
• Detailed information
• Professional focus
• Regularly updated

Cons:

• Pro features require subscription
• Geared toward established acts
• Can be overwhelming
• Not DIY-friendly

Website: pollstar.com

4. Bandsintown Venues

Coverage: Worldwide Price: Free

What It Offers:

• Venue discovery
• Fan base insights
• Venue contact info
• Event promotion
• Analytics
• Fan engagement

Venue Types:

• All types of music venues
• Festivals
• Clubs
• Theaters

Best For: Discovering venues where your fans are located

Pros:

• Free
• Fan-based insights
• Large database
• Easy to use
• Promotion included

Cons:

• Limited booking features
• Basic contact info
• Not comprehensive
• Focused on promotion

Website: artists.bandsintown.com

5. Gigmor

Coverage: United States Price: Free tier, Premium $9.99/month

What It Offers:

• Venue listings
• Direct booking opportunities
• Musician networking
• Gig postings
• Profile creation
• Messaging system

Venue Types:

• Bars and clubs
• Private events
• Weddings
• Corporate events
• Restaurants

Venue Best For: Finding local gigs and private events

Pros:

• Free option available
• Direct venue contact
• Private event opportunities
• Networking features
• User-friendly

Cons:

• Smaller database
• US-focused
• Quality varies
• Less established

Website: gigmor.com

Regional Venue Resources

United States

By Region:

Northeast:

• Brooklyn Vegan (NYC area)
• Boston Band Crush
• Philly Music Scene
• DC Music Download

Southeast:

• Nashville Scene
• Atlanta Music Guide
• Austin Chronicle (Texas)
• Miami New Times

Midwest:

• Chicago Reader
• Detroit Metro Times
• Minneapolis City Pages
• Cleveland Scene

West Coast:

• LA Weekly
• SF Station
• Portland Mercury
• Seattle Weekly

Finding Local Resources:

• Google "City music venues"
• Local alt-weekly newspapers
• City tourism websites
• Local music blogs
• Chamber of commerce

International

United Kingdom:

• Get In Her Ears
• The Unsigned Guide
• UK Venue Guide
• Music Venue Trust

Europe:

• European Music Network
• Gigmit (Germany-focused)
• Groover (Europe-wide)
• Local tourism boards

Australia:

• The Music Network
• Live Music Office
• State music organizations

Canada:

• Canadian Live Music Association
• Provincial music organizations
• Tourism boards

Venue Types and How to Find Them

Traditional Music Venues

Characteristics:

• Dedicated music spaces
• Regular live music
• Sound systems and stage
• Music-focused audience
• Established booking process

How to Find:

• Online venue databases
• Google Maps search
• Local music publications
• Other bands' tour schedules
• Music venue associations

Booking Tips:

• Research their typical acts
• Follow submission guidelines
• Provide professional EPK
• Suggest similar acts you'd fit with
• Be patient with response times

Bars and Restaurants

Characteristics:

• Music as atmosphere
• Varied audience attention
• May provide equipment
• Often lower pay
• More frequent opportunities

How to Find:

• Drive around your city
• Yelp/Google reviews mentioning live music
• Local event calendars
• Ask other musicians
• Visit in person

Booking Tips:

• Visit during a show
• Speak with manager
• Understand their vibe
• Be flexible on volume
• Bring your own promotion

Coffee Shops and Cafes

Characteristics:

• Intimate settings
• Acoustic-friendly
• Daytime/early evening
• Casual atmosphere
• Lower or no pay

How to Find:

• Local coffee shop directories
• Instagram location tags
• Walk your neighborhood
• Coffee shop review sites
• Local event listings

Booking Tips:

• Visit as a customer first
• Acoustic sets work best
• Flexible on compensation
• Bring your audience
• Professional but casual approach

House Concerts

Characteristics:

• Private homes
• Intimate audiences
• Guaranteed attentive listeners
• Pass-the-hat or guaranteed pay
• Unique experience

How to Find:

• House concert networks
• Concerts in Your Home
• Home Routes (Canada)
• Word of mouth
• Social media groups

Booking Tips:

• Build relationships
• Professional communication
• Respect the space
• Engage with audience
• Follow house concert etiquette

Festivals

Characteristics:

• Multiple acts
• Larger audiences
• Application process
• Often competitive
• Good exposure

How to Find:

• Festival databases
• Sonicbids
• Indie on the Move
• Music festival directories
• Genre-specific listings

Booking Tips:

• Apply early
• Professional application
• Highlight unique qualities
• Build relationships
• Start with smaller festivals

DIY and Alternative Spaces

Characteristics:

• Non-traditional venues
• Community-focused
• Creative environments
• Flexible arrangements
• Often all-ages

How to Find:

• Local DIY scene
• Social media
• Word of mouth
• Art spaces
• Community centers

Booking Tips:

• Understand the community
• Be respectful
• Contribute to the scene
• Flexible on payment
• Help promote

College and University Venues

Characteristics:

• Student audiences
• Campus activities funding
• Often good pay
• Academic calendar dependent
• Application process

How to Find:

• NACA (National Association for Campus Activities)
• Campus activities boards
• College venue directories
• Student organization contacts

Booking Tips:

• Work through proper channels
• Understand student interests
• Professional presentation
• Flexible on dates
• Educational angle helps

Booking Strategies

Research and Targeting

Before Reaching Out:

• Research the venue thoroughly
• Understand their typical acts
• Know their capacity
• Check their calendar
• Read their booking guidelines

Create Target Lists:

• Organize by region
• Prioritize by fit
• Note capacity and type
• Track contact information
• Set follow-up reminders

Making Contact

Initial Outreach:

• Follow submission guidelines
• Professional email
• Include EPK link
• Suggest specific dates
• Mention similar acts

Email Template:

Subject: Booking Inquiry - [Band Name] - [Genre]

Hi [Booking Contact],

I'm reaching out on behalf of [Band Name], a [genre]
band from [location]. We're planning a tour through
[region] in [timeframe] and would love to play [Venue Name].

Our sound is similar to [comparable acts who've played there],
and we've recently [notable achievement]. We typically draw
[X] people in [similar markets].

EPK: [link]
Music: [streaming link]
Video: [link]

We're available [date range] and would love to discuss
a potential show.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Contact Info]

Follow-Up

Timeline:

• Wait 1-2 weeks before following up
• Send polite reminder
• Provide additional information
• Suggest alternative dates
• Know when to move on

Persistence vs. Pestering:

• 2-3 follow-ups maximum
• Space them out appropriately
• Add value with each contact
• Respect their time
• Accept rejection gracefully

Building Relationships

Long-Term Strategy:

• Attend shows at venues
• Support other acts
• Be professional always
• Deliver on promises
• Stay in touch

After the Show:

• Thank the venue
• Share photos/videos
• Tag them on social media
• Send attendance numbers
• Express interest in returning

Venue Research Tools

Google Maps

How to Use:

• Search "music venues near location"
• Check reviews
• Note capacity and type
• Save to custom maps
• Plan routing

Social Media

Platforms:

• Instagram (venue photos and vibes)
• Facebook (events and booking info)
• Twitter (announcements)
• TikTok (venue atmosphere)

What to Look For:

• Types of acts they book
• Crowd size
• Venue atmosphere
• Booking contact
• Submission process

Bandcamp and Spotify

Research Strategy:

• Find similar artists
• Check their tour history
• Note venues they play
• Research those venues
• Reach out with comparison

Local Publications

Resources:

• Alt-weekly newspapers
• Music blogs
• Event calendars
• City magazines
• Tourism sites

Venue Database Comparison

Red Flags to Avoid

Venue Warning Signs

Be Cautious Of:

• Pay-to-play schemes
• Unclear payment terms
• No contract or agreement
• Poor reputation
• Safety concerns
• Unprofessional communication
• Unrealistic promises
• Ticket quota requirements

Scam Indicators

Watch Out For:

• Upfront fees required
• Guaranteed exposure promises
• Pressure tactics
• No verifiable history
• Too good to be true offers
• Request for personal financial info
• No physical address
• Fake booking agents

Building Your Venue Network

Start Local

Strategy:

• Play every appropriate local venue
• Build reputation
• Get testimonials
• Document success
• Expand regionally

Expand Regionally

Approach:

• Target nearby cities
• Build on local success
• Connect venues in region
• Create mini-tours
• Establish presence

Go National/International

When Ready:

• Consistent regional draw
• Professional operation
• Financial stability
• Team support
• Strategic planning

Conclusion

Finding and booking venues is an ongoing process that requires research, persistence, and professionalism. Start with databases and local resources, build relationships, and expand strategically.

Quick Start Steps:

1. Subscribe to Indie on the Move or similar database
2. Research venues in your target cities
3. Create professional EPK
4. Develop outreach email template
5. Start contacting venues
6. Track all communications
7. Follow up appropriately
8. Build long-term relationships

Resources:

• Indie on the Move: indieonthemove.com
• Sonicbids: sonicbids.com
• Pollstar: pollstar.com
• Bandsintown: artists.bandsintown.com
• Local music publications and blogs

Remember: Every successful touring act started by booking one venue at a time. Be professional, persistent, and patient.