You might think that it’s not a great time to be booking college gigs for fall, but think again. It’s true that many of the students won’t be on campus right now, but in a week or two, they start returning. Meanwhile, it is likely that the student activities adviser or director of student affairs is probably around getting things ready for the student’s return. So now is the perfect time to connect with the student activities adviser, get their contact info and perhaps begin discussing some early college gigs for fall events for the returning students. Sometimes, this is booked before students leave in the spring and other times…
Are your methods working for you? Are you satisfied with the results you’ve been achieving? So as you review how you have managed your business over the last 4 years, can you identify one thing you have been doing repeatedly to achieve desired outcomes? Is there one way you have been booking your dates or making your calls or marketing your act? Has it been working time and again? If you are, then please identify that method or strategy and repeat it often in everything you do. BUT, if it has not delivered the results you are after, then again, identify that strategy or method, isolate it and let’s really…
Which works for you when you settle the gig cash or check? Does your contract specify your preferred method of payment when settling your gigs? Do you let the booker know your preferences if you don’t have a contract? What is the best method of payment? This might seem a small point, but depending on the type of venues you normally perform in, this may be an issue deserving your consideration. Now most artists performing at performing art centers, on college campuses, for government organizations, in schools and sometimes at festivals, most often get paid by business check government check or certified check. In some instances, money can even be…
Do you have compelling mailing list invites on your website or at your shows? As you gaze at your home page, you might have placed an invitation to sign up for your mailing list somewhere on that page. You know exactly where it is. Perhaps in the upper right-hand corner or bottom left corner or bottom right corner or even in the middle of the page somewhere. And it probably says something like sign up for my mailing list. OK, here’s my question to you… Why! That’s right, why should I sign up for your mailing list? I know this sounds silly, you’re probably thinking, why not or because then…
How can you turn cold calls into friendly calls that get you the great gigs you desire? I'll start a two part series for you this week that helps you do just that. I offer you a 4 part process. Each step is a strategy that can be used alone or in combination with any of the other steps to really maximize your booking process and reduce or eliminate cold calls completely. Once a gig is played, the old contract gets filed away, hopefully. It’s likely that you will get back to that venue’s booker in a few weeks or months as you look for another date later that year…
Negotiation Technique Reduce Call Me Next Week Syndrome Here is a negotiation technique reduce Call Me Next Week Syndrome. Let’s face it, people are busy with their own agendas and are not always ready to work on your agenda—even when you think you set an appointment. It can be very frustrating to get the booking person to deal with you when you want them to and be ready to work with you to book your gig. So you have to set your own deadlines. Allow yourself 3 call opportunities to get them on board to work with you. 1st Call: Perhaps it’s the introduction, you send your stuff, you set…
Lawyers, agents, managers, oh my! Which comes first? It’s often a confusing question that you man struggle with at the dawn of a performing career. Is it best to have a manager before you have an agent? Should you get an entertainment lawyer before you align with a manager? How do you decide what is best for your career? So often emerging artists think first of getting an agent because after all, when you are touring and playing dates, you are making money. When you are in the public eye, in the media, at the venues, you are building market value, a fan base and leverage to get more gigs…
Selling CDs in bulk may be a boon to your income if you are currently selling your CDs one at a time? Do you have some old CDs that you haven’t sold yet and they are just sitting there taking up space? Here is another way to move some of those CDs, whether old or new. Well, it’s not just about moving them or selling them, it’s more about getting your music into the hands of an unlikely audience—a new audience. OK, how? If you play benefits for charitable organizations, private events like weddings or corporate events for a local business or parties of any sort. C’mon admit it, every…
Focus on the right gigs for you that is. It doesn't really matter whether other acts are playing certain venues. What matters is that you focus on the right gigs and play the venues that are right for YOU. So how do you know what venues are right for you? You need to know two important things to help you determine the right venues. First, you need to know yourself as an artist and your lifestyle needs. Second, you need to know who your audience is and where they enjoy seeing live music. To help with these, here are some questions to assess your choice venues, know your performance preferences…
This week we tap into the power of niche market networking as I continue to share the 4th step to help you turn cold calls into friendly calls. If you have already discovered a unique niche market that is perfectly suited to your performance, congratulations! If you haven’t, review Chapter 8: The Art of Touring in my book, How to Be Your Own Booking Agent, for all the details on how and why you should explore niche marketing. Now, here are 5 suggestions to put this valuable asset to use and turn cold calls into friendly calls. If your niche market is an organization with multiple chapters or offices that…
