Here are some strategies to open new tour markets by using gig directories when you have no known contacts in those markets. Let’s return to your touring plan and your calendar. We'll make this a 3 step approach and break down the process. Step One-Review anchor dates on the calendar: As you look at any dates already set, no matter whether they are performance dates, conferences, family or personal events. Make a list of those dates that are in new markets where you have never played before and where you do not have any other connections in place. Step two-Ask yourself the following questions about each of those markets: Does…
The devil's in the details? Or perhaps it is really a matter of semantics. Let me explain. The term Artist Manager as it is used in the entertainment industry will most often mean the person who oversees the “Big Picture” for the artist’s development and forward movement toward career success. This means they deal with all the people involved with the artist from agents, publicist, record companies, publishers, travel personnel, group members and in turn deal with all the millions of details related to every one of those team members. Now according to the dictionary, the word manager has 5 potential meanings: to succeed in accomplishing to take or be…
Here’s a great organizing tip to prepare for the New Year. Each year during the week between Christmas and New Years, or the first week in January, I go through my most used files and organize for the New Year. This process coincides with my tax prep each year, so in one exercise I accomplish two tasks: Getting my files ready for the New Year and getting my taxes ready for my accountant. Cool! Here’s how I Organize for the New Year: I keep some of those collapsible storage boxes with covers up in my attic or get a new batch from a local office supply store. Then, I make…
I want to share a powerful end of year review with you to help carry you forward into the new year. It’s the week between Christmas and New Years and the year is coming to an end. Every year during Christmas week I set aside time to look back over the last year and see what I accomplished in my business and in my life. Then I look ahead and make some plans for the new year. I cherish this time as I look at all the new things that I was able to make happen or challenges that I faced head on and conquered. It’s not so much the…
The Holidays Begin Celebrate YOU during this holiday season. So take a break from planning, practicing and do some partying. You’ve earned it after a full year of nose to the grindstone, conferences, phone calls, newsletters, and emails. I always take Christmas week and reflect, regroup, reorganize my office and get ready to dive into the New Year. It’s really a great time to celebrate — but not just the holidays. It’s a great time to celebrate all you’ve accomplished over the last year. We don’t do that enough. We don’t congratulate ourselves for what we’ve achieved, large or small. As independent artists we are most likely not involved with…
Kick bookings into high gear with a two-year planning cycle and give your career a big boost! Widen the picture. Expand your overview. Always looking ahead two years affords you the great luxury of giving your career the momentum necessary to succeed. 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 easy though. Think about it. Whether you work with a team, like agents, managers, publicists or not, two years of planning allows the team to be more strategic in setting their promotions and vision for you in…
It's time to get your contract riders in order before you set out for the next year's tour dates. You know those additional documents you might attach to your contract that tells the presenter or booker what you need to present your best show. In fact there are often a ton of misconceptions about riders. They are not pesky documents meant to help the artist fill their liquor cabinet. And they are not supposed to cause the venue great expense to fulfill every request as you may have been led to believe. Contract riders ought to be a helpful means to express your "real" needs to present your show to…
I cook so I can have leftovers so I can make great things from leftovers. In fact I plan my meals with the intention of creating leftovers. Holidays offer a perfect opportunity for leftovers. I think about the holiday season as the leftovers of the prime time for touring. You have about a month and a half of time when booking personnel are either scrambling to finish their bookings or they are done and not taking any calls. You have returned from most of your intentional tours and are either playing holiday gigs or laying low, trying to book late year gigs for the coming winter. These are the leftover…
As booking agent, I liked to avoid unwelcome surprises when my acts were touring. Shouts of "Surprise!" may be fine for parties, but for tours, not so much. In fact, the last thing you want on the day of your first show of the tour is a surprise. Like when you discover they only have 2 mics and you needed 6, or that they never put up any of the 50 posters you sent. Or how about when you were depending on their publicity person to send out those press releases they promised and now you find out they did nothing. Big oops! Big Surprise! And the worst of it…
As the holiday’s approach I thought I would review some Holiday Gig Booking Tips on getting some last minute holiday gigs. This is where referrals from friends, family and business associates can come in handy. Concentrate on contacting people you know and with whom you do business, such as friends and family and their places of business or their affiliate organizations. Ask them if their office intends on having any holiday events or parties where they might need some entertainment. Ask for a contact referral to the party coordinator and make your pitch using your contact’s name. Also, Check with those on your local mailing list and suggest to some…
