Biz Booster Hot Tip!

Have you considered why long term planning matters? As you stare at your calendar, panic sets in.  You have some dates locked in for June, a couple for May and a bunch for April. But, there it is, that cliff looming out there on June 20th, your last date on the calendar. Perhaps you've experienced this scenario in the past. Maybe this is what your calendar looks like right now. I'm only painting this picture to set the stage. The fact is, that if you only look out as far as the very next booking, your calendar may seem pretty empty two months from now. The solution is really very…

These 3 top factors to book great gigs must be an essential part of any artist's tour planning. If you want to get great gigs that pay well, where you sell your merchandise to an appreciative audience, you MUST know the following 3 Top Factors to book great gigs. These three career-changing factors are the difference between struggling to book your tours and booking great tours with ease. # 1. You must know what you are offering. It's not sufficient to simply put it out there that you are an artist. It doesn't matter what type of artist you are, whether you are a singer/songwriter, a classical pianist, a storyteller,…

If they can't sell it they won't book it ought to be the mantra you repeat when booking your tours. Most artists I know and work with focus on their music or show or products as they create their marketing materials. They then talk about their music or show or products when they pitch their act to a venue. This often has disappointing results when they don't get the gig. When I approach pitching an act to a venue booker, I first put on their booking hat and begin to think like they might think, worry about what they might worry about and consider the things they consider when deciding…

Do you ask your fans for gigs? Are you concerned about where to find great gigs? Perhaps you are missing the number one, fantastic source for new gigs—and it’s right under your nose—or, really at your fingertips. How often have you come right out and asked your fans about great places to play in their town? How often have you looked over your fan list and selected some of your super fans and then wrote them a personal email asking them specific questions about their town or surrounding area? Here are three things that you might do this week to really make use of YOUR fans and stir up some…

Are you concerned about those elusive return bookings? The gig went pretty well you think to yourself as you head to the dressing room. It was a great audience, pretty full house, very responsive. You felt great! You were pleased with your playing and your banter—a good night. These thoughts roll around your mind time after time and yet those elusive return bookings are so baffling. "What went wrong? What continues to go wrong? What am I doing that turns a great gig into a one time only gig?" One of the main factors that may be the cause of those elusive return bookings is probably something you never even…

Do you focus on your big ticket items? Have you ever considered how many CDs you must sell in order to equal the fees you get for playing your gigs? Think about this now and then take a look at your website. Now what is the first thing you are trying to promote to your visitors, your CD or how to book you for a gig? Most websites I view are focused on selling their CDs above anything else. That is a $10, $15, or $20 item. Even if you are booking lower paying gigs, say at $300, it will take 20 CDs at $15 to equal a single gig.…

Remove emotions when making career building decisions and you will make better choices. 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 career, you need to consider the facts and remove your emotions as much as possible. Do you…

Book gigs strategically with your career goals in mind. Do you ever get the feeling that you are chasing the same gigs every other performer you know is after or is playing? You keep asking yourself, "Why not me?" First of all, seeing those venues on your performer friend's itinerary doesn't tell the whole story. You have no idea what kind of deal they negotiated or anything about the situation, you only see a particular venue listed on their itinerary. So before you get all envious about the fact that they are playing somewhere and you are not, let's look at this from a different perspective. Start with your goals…

Thinking BIG is often a challenge. I run into this all the time. Artists and other creative people are focused on their art, their music, their writing, etc. That focus keeps the thinking process turned inwards. The focus is on the day-to-day and most often the logistics and the minute details. Many artists are not in the habit of Thinking BIG! When it comes to negotiating gigs, I've found that so many musicians willingly negotiate themselves into comfortably smaller fees rather than going for it and asking what they really deserve. Do you fit into this description? Visual artists often under price their creations. Have you found yourself doing this?…