This week I’m starting a multi-part series on funding sources. Over the next few weeks I’ll dive into a few different funding sources you may want to consider. Depending on your act, one or more of these sources may work well for you and others may just not be right. This week, let’s talk about Funding Sources Arts Council Touring Grants. I want to start here because these grants have set time-frames and deadlines. Who offers these grants? Arts Councils in each state in the US or province in Canada. You need to check you specific state to see whether…

Timing is everything in festival bookings when to book festivals is particularly challenging. So to have some idea of when artistic directors are most likely to focus on booking next year’s festival will certainly give you an edge. Since so many artists and agents are attempting to contact the festival, their booking schedule is not likely one of those items announced on their website. So here are a few guidelines to follow: One month prior to the festival, they are busy and will be very unreceptive to booking calls. Never call during the week prior to the festival or during…

Here's the scoop on how to increase festival bookings—book 2 years on one call. Getting into your festival of choice is not an easy task. There is so much competition vying for so few performance slots. So how can you make yourself look more attractive to the artistic director? First spend some time on the festival site and get familiar with what the festival is about. Get a real understanding of the scope of the festival and what the director is trying to accomplish with their programming. Look over last year’s schedule and read all the workshop titles and who…

When it comes to festival bookings plan your approach for a better response. There’s no doubt that playing festivals can expand your audience within the festival market. There are so many to play and choose from as you plan your festival booking search. If you feel ready to pitch your act to the festival market, then here are 5 steps to take before picking up the phone or emailing a link to your Electronic Press Kit or your website to every festival on some huge list. Set some touring goals as to the markets that are logical for you to…

Make better career building decisions by doing the numbers, create budgets and let the numbers guide you rather than your emotions. How many times a day do you have to make a decision that might impact your career or even your life? What factors do you use to help you make your final decision? Most people are influenced by their emotional response to any given situation. Heck, that’s what advertisers count on as do car sales people, real estate agents…you’ve been there. You remember, “So what color car do you see yourself driving.” Emotional? You bet! When it comes to…

Your name impacts your marketing and sometimes it makes your marketing much harder. Name things to make your marketing easier. This is a motto I live by and frankly so should you. Why make your marketing harder than it already is. Your name for your business, projects, CDs, shows, books, your act, when well chosen, can be a boon to your marketing or a complete hindrance. I recently had a conversation with a band member who was concerned that their band name and then the album name was going to be problematic for their future. I tried to demonstrate how…

Here are 5 steps towards future gigs that you can implement immediately and get ahead of the booking game. Since this is winter, you are likely hitting the road to fulfill all the gigs you worked so hard book a few months ago or you are using the winter months to work on future bookings, a recording project or taking time off the road to do whatever... Well I've got a winter to-do list for you to help you stay on track to get future gigs. Step 1: Reconnect with recently played gigs. Gather up all those recently played gig…

Tired of playing for small crowds and want to play Gigs With Big Audiences? Want to build your recognition within a larger marketplace? Want to play in front of hundreds if not thousands? Then it’s time to knock on the doors of city hall. Yes local government departments are a great place to find some big audience gigs. You know the ones I’m talking about. Ever see the whole community turn out at the local band stand or amphitheater or city park? Who goes to these concerts-the whole town perhaps? Well why aren’t you playing on that stage in front…

Contracts why you need them may baffle you so here's a quick Biz Booster to help you understand just how important it is to issue a contract for every gig. I read a lot of emails lately that talk about getting burned by venues because there was no contract on the date. You worked so hard to get the gig. Now you need to make sure it is real! Trust is a wonderful thing and you want to trust the booker who gave you the date. You want to trust they will promote the date, that you’ll be on their…