We ask that you wait three to four weeks before following up via the Gilman booking line. This gives the bookers an adequate amount of time to review and process your material. The booking and office phone line is (510) 524-8180. Booking nights and hours are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7-9 PM, Pacific Standard Time. As for email, there is no longer a central Gilman booking email address. Most of the bookers have their own email addresses, and it is their choice if they wish to deal with your band in that medium.

Call Tuesdays for Jay, Carlos, and Pete.
Call Wednesdays for Naoma, Yosef, and Eggplant
General band booking can be done online here: http://myspace.com/officialgilmanstbooking

Thursday Night Cafe booking can be done here: http://www.myspace.com/924gilmancommunity

Remember that we only do weekend shows (Friday/Saturday), with the occasional Sunday matinee. Because of this and the fact that many bands want to get booked at Gilman, please don’t take it personally if we aren’t able to accommodate your band in any reasonable amount of time, or sometimes even at all. If you are persistent, it is in all likelihood that you will eventually get a show. To give everyone a heads up, it has been known to take a very LONG time to get booked, and an individual band’s experiences in regard to how long it takes can vary.

When you call in to the booking line and leave a message, we do listen to what you have to say about your interest in getting booked, but we usually don’t have the time to respond to each and every request unless we have something to offer immediately. Please remember that we are volunteers—with outside jobs, activities, and loved ones—doing the best that we can. Patience is a virtue and try to keep a positive attitude.

Our booking is often done up to three months in advance, especially during the summer months. Summertime is touring season and out-of-towners get the first crack at open dates and we try to set up shows around who’s coming to town, but keep in mind—not every single touring band gets booked. If you are contacting us for a date that is not on our booking board yet, we will politely tell you so and ask you to call back when the time is appropriate. Let’s be honest here—there is no reason as to why we should start booking shows for bands that are touring in five months or more. Keep it within the three-month time frame and that will be fine.

BOOKING POLICIES:
We are generally willing to consider most bands, within reason. However, we do not book racist, misogynist, homophobic, or major label bands. Our “no major label” rule also applies to bands that are on record labels where 95% of their sales are done through major labels or major-owned distributors within the United States. More mainstream or “college rock” bands will most likely not be booked, but that is also up to the interpretation of the individual booker of what that means. We like to keep our underground scene as far out of the corporate eye as we can. We do not do monetary guarantees, nor have we ever. Certain booking agents like to think otherwise, but the truth lies here. We generally do not do written contracts, although we have in the past. We also reserve the right to alter those contracts where applicable, i.e. crossing out everything that does not apply to the regular Gilman process. We do not do food riders (don’t even ask), but you are entitled to one free bottled water per band member.

HOW WE PAY BANDS:
We take roughly 10% off the total of the door take and give it to our only paid staff — our security guards. The remaining door money is split 50/50 between the house and the bands. The band money is divided up based on two considerations: the distance traveled to get to the club, as well as the drawing power based on the approximate mass of audience members watching during the band’s set. Our staff for the night comes up with suggested divvied-up amounts and then bands are more than welcome to negotiate amongst themselves. It’s a fair and honest process and for the most part, it works for the club and the bands.