Articles

You've probably read numerous articles espousing the benefits of having a written contract for all of your gigs. You might have even experienced one of those moments when you wish you had had a written contract for that one gig you did for your friend, who just didn't have the agreed upon amount money at the end of the night. Never mind — you are wiser now.Below is a listing with explanations of a variety of types of contract agreements and supplemental documents that can be used when booking your gigs.Letter of Confirmation:There are those times when a formal performance contract may be inappropriate or unnecessary. This type of document…

Now that you have some basic negotiation savvy, it is time to become familiar with some of the standard types of deals used when negotiating performance dates. I also suggest the various situations for which each deal is best suited. Keep in mind, however, that every negotiation can be as creative as the individuals participating. If the following standard deals require some tweaking to suit a particular situation, feel free to explore all of your options. Most booking personnel with whom you shall be negotiating are familiar with these standard deals and may be more comfortable using one of them to finalize your negotiations.Straight PercentageStraight GuaranteeGuarantee Plus PercentageGuarantee Versus PercentageGuarantee…

We are making deals all the time. Whether you are looking for a record deal, a publishing deal, booking a performance date, hiring a side musician, renting a car, buying new sound equipment, hiring an engineer to record your next CD or even deciding where you are going to have lunch--you are entering into a negotiation. There are techniques that could help make you more comfortable and more skilled at handling each of these situations so that you can reach your desired outcome. In this article, I will cover some of the techniques more specifically geared toward increasing your skills for booking performance dates.Establish GoalsI believe that everything we do,…

Yes, it is so important to play as often as possible. It is also just as important to make sure you play rooms that help move your career forward. Once again this topic requires you to review your long-term goals and keep them in mind as you tackle every new aspect of your career. In this case, selecting appropriate venues can be challenging but rewarding. The challenge lies in that there are a finite number of venues where one may play and an infinite number of other acts competing for those venues. The reward is realized when you begin to qualify the venues you choose to play, in order to…

School's in session! I thought I would lend some insights into playing the college market as you begin the fall touring season. For some artists, the college market is a gold mine and for others it simply offers frustration. Many acts successfully use the colleges as a point from which to launch their careers while others have found it leading to a dead end. There are a number of drawbacks to playing this arena as well as benefits. As we explore both ends of the spectrum, keep an open mind about how this market might fit into your booking plans.Colleges and Universities offer a variety of performing opportunities. Many campuses…

I receive many promotional packets. I don't receive nearly as many as a club owner or promoter does, though. As I review the packets, a few main issues strike me—first, the most interesting and important facts are often buried deep within the text. Second, in an attempt to look impressive, the artist includes far too much material reducing the impact of the really "good stuff." And third the material is not well organized. Since your promotional material often serves to introduce your act and create a first impression, it is important to make your first shot count.With that in mind, I'd like to suggest some helpful tips as you pull…

You may have heard the expression, "the right tool for the job." It works for home repair, car maintenance and promoting your act. One of the greatest expenditures you may make to market your act is creating an effective promotional package—including your CD or video. This is your marketing tool. It needs to be appropriate to the audience you are attempting to reach. It needs to be right for the job at hand. If you are booking club dates, you must be mindful of who is on the receiving end, opening it, reading it and making the booking decisions. Perhaps you are doing a radio promotion campaign. Again, be aware…

As emerging artists, it's often hard to find promoters or venues that will take a chance on an untested artist. When a promoter finally catches on to your act and gives you a chance, it is important that you recognize that promoter's efforts. If success finds you, make sure you return the favor to those who have invested their time, belief and money on you back when first started. As a musician building a career, you need adventurous promoters willing to risk a night in their venue with possible low ticket and/or bar sales. You need to play that venue numerous times as you build an audience. When your audience…

Persistent and consistent follow-up is one of the key elements to a successful touring career. This holds true whether you are trying to book a gig, land an interview with a local or major paper, get a record deal or find an agent or a manager. Those who simply send out their promotional packets and wait for a response may as well disconnect their phones and save on the monthly bill—you won't get a return call.This business is filled with very busy people trying to handle all of the thousands of incoming requests for gigs, articles, record deals and management deals. If you are serious about what you do, then…