Frequently Asked Questions And Help

General Questions

 

What is Progigs?

Is registration required?

What are the benefits of registering?

How does it work?

Who can register?

How much does it cost to register?

I am looking for a gig. Can I list?

I am an agency. Can I list?

How many listings can I have at once?

What types of gigs are listed?

What types of artists are needed?

Who will see my listing?

How long will my listing stay posted?

What do I need to pursue gigs?

Will you be adding territories?

How long are contracts?

What is a "coats-style" entertainer?

Who pays for travel?

How do I get a photo ad in the Featured Listings section?

Can I contribute to the site?

What is your privacy policy?

Help Section

How do I edit my profile?

How do I add, edit or delete my listing?

How do I get automatic email notifications?

How do I attach a photo to my listing?

How do I attach a graphic to my user name (avatar)?

I get an error message when I try to login.

I get an error message when I try to list.

Browser security settings.


General Questions

What is Progigs?
Progigs maintains a database referring professional musicians and vocalists to current job openings for entertainers. Primarily, listings consist of hotels, casinos and cruiseships both in the states and abroad. Listings include a brief description of the gig and contact information. We network with agencies and other sources to find gig opportunities world-wide. We also offer other resources for professional entertainers. Our Members are among the most experienced and skilled entertainers in the industry. We regularly receive thousands of unique hits weekly and look forward to growing substantially in 2007.

Is registration required?
Registration is not required to access the site and many of the resources available. However, registration is required to access contact information in our listings as part of our effort to ensure that only qualified, professional entertainers contact agencies, venues and other Members.

What are the benefits of registering?
By registering and becoming a Member you have access to our job board which features contract work for professional entertainers in the cruise industry, international venues, casinos, 5-star hotels, and more. You can also connect with agencies and venues offering work to professional entertainers, as well as other Members, and choose to receive automatic email notification when new gigs are added. Members have access to contact information in the listings, an online profile, the ability to list, automatic email notifications of new gigs, online photos, and more. While the listings are viewable by anyone, contact information is reserved for Members. This helps limit the submissions and communication to the listing contacts to only professional candidates. Members may also submit listings as an individual, a group, or as an agent or venue. You also have access to members-only downloads such as free music-related software and books.

How does it work?
It's very simple. Browse current gig listings, find gigs you are interested in, and submit your promotional packages directly to the gig contact for consideration. You may also contact other Members. Additionally, you can submit a Member Listing if you are a group or individual available for work.

Who can register?
Established acts and artists in all styles and for all instruments may register, including bands, duos, trios, vocalists and soloists. If you are new to the industry but have performing experience and want to pursue contract work, you are welcome to register. However, please review all important information on this site and make sure you are fully prepared before contacting agencies or Members. Remember that we focus on the contract entertainment market, and while we appreciate all talent, we only accept listings that cater to the specific needs of our industry. We are not, for instance, the right avenue to book gigs for an original rock band. Please review some of our listings to get an idea of the types of acts and individuals needed before becoming a Member.

Please note that all registrants who plan to submit packages for gigs outside of their respective country should possess a valid passport or be prepared to obtain one quickly. It is recommended you obtain your passport before you need it. Sometimes agents and venues need acts or replacement members on very short notice. The process to get a passport can take several weeks. Being prepared is in your best interest.

How much does it cost to register?
There is a one-time administrative fee of $49.00 to register for a lifetime membership, or $59.00 for a Featured membership. This helps cover our advertising costs in both print media and with targeted online campaigns (Google, Overture, banner ads, music-related sites), as well as our bandwidth and hosting costs. Once registered you will be able to create your user name, password and profile for immediate access. Utilize the best resource available to professional entertainers looking for this type of work. Registration is free to agencies and established acts listing a job opportunity. See the getting started page for more information.

I am looking for a gig. Can I list?
Absolutely. Listing as "available" will give established acts and agents access to your information. Established acts who are available can list as well.

I am an agency. Can I list?
Absolutely. There is no membership fee for agencies, venues and independent agents. Please contact admin@progigs.com and we'd be happy to create an account for you.

How many listings can I have at once?
Members may have one active listing in each of the two Member categories: Professional Musicians And Artists Available and Established Acts Available. Please do not list multiple times for the same act/category. Multiple listings are subject to deletion. If you wish to relist, either edit your current listing or delete it and create a new listing. There are exceptions. For instance, if you are available as a piano soloist and also as a Jazz duo, you may list for each entity.

Agencies and venues may post unlimited listings.

What types of gigs are listed?
Our gig listings are comprised of short and long-term contracts with Hotels, Casinos, Resorts, and Cruiseliners. These are working situations geared towards bands and artists available for travel both in the U.S and abroad.

What types of artists are needed?
Dance bands from 4 to 7 pieces, duos, trios, and solo artists are needed in all styles. Besides the larger showrooms and clubs, many hotels and cruiseliners have smaller rooms with an intimate atmosphere where duos or solo pianists/vocalists are needed, for example.

Individual musicians/artists are needed by established acts with existing contracts who have lost a member or need a fill-in. Individual musicians/artists may also seek other experienced individuals looking to team up for working situations.

Who will see my listing?
We currently maintain active Google and Overture campaigns which gives us top ranking for several key phrase searches for professional musicians seeking work. We currently receive several thousands unique visitors weekly. Some of the high-profile domains we own include hotelgigs.com, cruisegigs.com and casinogigs.com. Entertainment agencies look to Progigs because they know that our Members are qualified and ready to work. We are working hard to build a comprehensive database for working musicians, establishments providing regular live entertainment, and agencies. Part of our commitment is properly promoting the site through a series of effective campaigns to give you the best possible exposure. And unlike similar services, we ONLY feature listings that appeal to professional working musicians. You won't find weekend gigs at your local pub listed here, or weekend warriors.

How long will my listing stay posted?
Listings remain active until you delete them. At our discretion, we may remove listings that we find are no longer valid. Most of the gigs listed are continuous, meaning that the venue maintains a steady entertainment schedule and books acts on an ongoing basis. For this reason, acts are always needed and the listing may remain posted indefinitely unless we receive notification that something has changed or until the agency deletes them.

What do I need to pursue gigs?
You should have a complete promotional package including a CD or cassette tape, glossy 8x10 photo, song list, band and band member bios, and references. If you do not have these things, you should seriously consider getting them before contacting anyone. It is imperative to have a professional presentation. The package does not have to be fancy, but it should be well put-together. Demos should be short and feature a variety of your best material. A 4 or 5 song demo is sufficient, featuring about a minute of each song fading in and out. Make sure vocals are prominent in the mix and include harmonies if possible. For overseas gigs, a video demo is almost always required. Even for stateside gigs, it's recommended to include a video. 10 minutes of good live coverage is usually sufficient. Choose footage that highlights positive energy and movement and band unity. Realize that agents are accustomed to dealing with pro acts and will expect a tight, cohesive stage presentation with some basic choreography.

Will you be adding territories?
Absolutely. Our goal is to continually add several major markets in the United States, Europe, Asia, and additional travel opportunities.

How long are contracts?
Contract length varies depending on type of gig. Overseas contracts with large hotels are generally 3 to 6 months, with the possibility of consecutive contracts, meaning you could be offered an additional 3 to 6 months at another location. Contracts with casinos and hotels in the continental U.S. can range from a week to several consecutive weeks. Contracts with cruiseships can range from several weeks to several months.

What is a "coats-style" entertainer?
A "coats" entertainer is a term typically used in the UK to describe an "all-around" entertainer that works in a family resort atmosphere. It's very hard work, you'll need to have lots of physical and mental stamina and superb communication and social skills as you'll be regarded as the public face of the company which hires you to keep its guests happy. At any given time You might be dancing or singing in a stage show, devising competitions for children, bingo-calling, organizing outdoor and indoor games, etc. The key is being versatile, flexible, upbeat, and friendly.

Who pays for travel?
Travel abroad including transfer of equipment is covered by the booking party (agency or venue). Travel to and from departure ports for cruiseliner gigs is also generally covered by the booking party. Travel to and from gigs in the states is usually the responsibility of the band/artist, although there are exceptions. When negotiating a contract, ask about travel considerations.

How do I get a photo ad in the Featured Listings section of the home page?
Members may choose to run a featured ad at any time. Select the Registration link on the home page and choose the Featured Listing option. The fee is $19.00 for a Featured Listing.

Can I contribute to the site?
Yes! We welcome contributions including reviews of venues you've played, information about countries you've worked in.....any information you think would be beneficial or entertaining to your fellow Members. Or, perhaps you have a particular area of expertise and would like to share information. If you'd like to contribute, please contact us and share your idea.

What is your privacy policy?
Progigs does not share Member information.

Help Section

How do I edit my profile?
After logging in, simply select the Profile icon at the top of the page. After making your changes, select the Update Profile button to save your changes.

How do I add, edit or delete my listing?
You must be logged in to add, edit or delete a listing. First, please make sure you are viewing a category you have permission to list in. For instance, as a Member, you may post in Musicians Seeking Gigs, but not in Gig Listings, which is reserved for agencies and Progigs staff. After ensuring you are in the correct category, select the Add Listing button. After creating a listing, you will find Edit and Delete buttons within your listing to manage your listing.

How do I get automatic email notifications?
After logging on, select the Profile icon. Next, select the Email Notify button at the top right of your profile. From here, you may select which categories for which you would like to receive automatic email alerts. For instance, if you'd like to be notified when new Cruiseline gigs are listed, select Cruiseliner Gigs from the Subscribe to Email Notification of New Posts drop-down menu. You may unsubscribe to automatic alerts at any time from the same screen.

How do I attach a photo to my listing?
You can link to a picture that you have online. From the listing toolbar, select the Add Image icon (second from the right). Type in the path to the picture online you would like to use. For instance, you may have a pic on your band's site you would like to display. To find the path, right-click the picture and view Properties. The full URL path will be displayed. Example: The address portion will show the full path of the picture in the following format: http://www.mysite.com/images/bandpic.jpg. If you do not have a picture online, there are many free services that you can use to upload photos such as www.villagephotos.com.

How do I attach a graphic to my user name?
Once logged in, select the Profile icon. Use the Choose Avatar section, select the picture you would like displayed next to your User Name when listing in the forums. You may also link to a picture of your choice by typing in the full URL path (as described above). If linking to your own picture, it must be exactly 64 x 64 pixels in size.

I get an error message when I try to login.
Passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure your CAPS lock is not on. If you get a cookie error, see the section below to check your Browser Security Settings.

I get an error message when I try to list.
Ensure you are in a category you have permissions to list in. For example, Members may post in the Musicians Seeking Gigs categories, but not the Gig Listings categories, which are reserved for agencies and Progigs staff.

Browser security settings.
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