Playing pan year-round is something everyone strives for, but it’s not always an easy task, considering the unfair stigma that pan is more of a spring and summer instrument. To remove the stigma, there are a few things that pan players can do to enhance both the instrument’s status and their own capabilities to potential clients.
- Learn Seasonal Music- Expanding you and your band’s repertoire is always a good idea. The trick is knowing when to bust out Hava Nagila or which arrangement of Jingle Bells to purchase. Those with the time and dedication should make their own arrangements to maintain a unique sound. If you play in a band, lead sheets for new tunes are good. For a solo or duo act working with tracks, karaoke tracks are available as a starter until you can make your own.
- Marketing- Aside from social media and a website, which you should have for any type of gig, using email marketing to reach past customers is perhaps the best direct way to inform people you have a new product. If you want to expand your band’s reach to a different audience, like Jazz for instance, try letting past customers know you have something new going on and show them with a video or audio clip in an e-blast. Make sure to add features to your website to show the different options you have available.
- Instrumentation- Even if playing steelpan is your preferred choice, adding an instrument to your ensemble, either with another player, or even learning enough on your own for a set of music, could put you into a whole new tax bracket if you approach it right. Ukelele has become a popular choice for many due to its low price and being easy to learn. Mixing it up with an added instrument during your set helps too, such as bringing along a harmonica or hand pan. Singing is also a smart option for pannists since it adds a dimension to your sound that may help win over potential clients who aren’t fans of instrumental music.
- Venue Networking- Performing at live music venues like restaurants, clubs, auto dealerships, retail music stores, and bars can be a great way to boost visibility to the community and make extra money from the venue. But it’s not always easy to get those gigs. The first priority is making a connection with the owner by becoming a patron of the place you want to play at and asking to speak with either the owner or the director of live music. Make sure you come prepared with at least a business card and CD or flash drive to give as a demo. Win them over with your enthusiasm for your product and what your music can do for the venue. They need to know what you can do for them as an artist. Creating a monthly event is also great for generating excitement for your act. One idea is a monthly jam session where local musicians come and play with your band.
- Player Networking- Attending other musician’s events can lead to more gigs for you as well that you may not have foreseen. They might be able to include pan in their act, bringing you on to either part-time or full-time as part of their band. Sometimes, these networking opportunities turn into full-time work. The key is to be known to as many players as possible and expand your skill set to include a diverse number of genres like country, rock, soul, samba and even hyper-specific genres like French Caribbean or Creole music.
