Just what should be included when writing great introductory emails or cover letters that will help get the booker's attention. I thought I would share some useful copy-writing strategies with you in a two-part series. So often I receive emails that are supposed to introduce me to a potential new client or someone wanting advice or even a referral to some industry professional. Unfortunately, most of the emails I receive tend to leave out any enticing information to get me to read on. Worst of all, many are bulk emails sent out to everyone on their mailing list, and they don't even apply to me. Step number one for writing…
Your livelihood depends on it. I know you want to book better gigs and even great gigs. You also want to increase your gig fees each year. Wouldn't it be great to put a string of dates together to create tours that are profitable? Those things can only happen if you really, really know who is YOUR audience. First: It helps determine your appropriate venue type and location. Second: It allows you to create marketing materials that speak directly to YOUR audience. Third: It helps you price your act properly. These three things alone can make your booking much more efficient and much more profitable. But, let's go beyond that.…
As the artist, you must remain in control of your career development. That means becoming a partner with any team member helping with your career. As the savvy artist that you are, you know handing over your career to someone who, may not be as invested, is not prudent. If you are not their only client, then their attention is naturally divided. When they have many other clients, then you may get lost on the roster if the phone is not burning up with calls for you. Your life, your livelihood and your career are at stake. You must direct your team members. Remain in control of your career development…
Are you giving yourself time to just breathe? Do you ever look at a website or newspaper or magazine page and get overwhelmed by all the copy and graphics? In the design world this is sometimes known as not leaving enough white space. You need some white space to pull the design together. Sometimes I feel like we create our lives in a similar way, crowding every moment with something so that there is no room to just breathe. We don’t leave any white space. It is in this kind of environment that we begin to feel overwhelmed. In that white space, there are opportunities staring you in the face.…
Are you aware of the difference between an inquiry vs an offer? Have you ever had this happen to you? You get a call from a venue who is all excited about the possibility of booking you for an event. You discuss the date, the price and a bunch of other details. It’s looking great and you think, “What a wonderful way to start the day?” A few days pass, then a week, then a few weeks, and you don’t hear anything more from the person, so you give them a call. And now you begin to get the run-around and the delay tactics. You begin to hear, ”I’m not…
What exactly is, "being in a state of flow?" Flow, in the zone, on the path, in the right place at the right time, coincidence, serendipity—whatever you may call it, is something to pay attention to. But do you? I have experienced, being in a state of flow, a few times in my life. When I had just decided to write my book, but hadn’t yet, it seemed the universe agreed with my decision. Information I needed, arrived unsolicited in the mail or was handed to me by friends, unasked. Sometimes, you need to be alert enough to recognize the gifts being handed to you. Then, be grateful to stay…
Do you take your music career seriously and completely believe in your act? Are you feeling worthy of higher fees for your work or to play the really, great gigs? There you are, day after day, setting up your tour dates, talking with bookers, the media and fans. You convince people that you are talented and worthy. You want them to take you seriously, so they will book your act, review your shows and buy your tickets and merchandise. I hear the same story from many artists. Often there is a slight sense of fear to ask for too much. There might be a shyness and a hesitancy…
I hate cold calls! How about you? If you read any books on selling, you might come away with the impression that the higher number of calls you make equals a certain percentage of sales. Make 100 calls you might, I said might, get 1 or 2 % in actual sales. That's why I hate cold calls. I don't like those odds. I liked one-to-one odds better, one call, one email, one promo packet sent, get one gig. When you use long lists, probably from directories or purchased databases, it’s likely that don't know many, or any, of those people on the lists. Your chances of selling yourself, your act,…
You may have heard the term “the riches are in the niches.” Let me explain how that might benefit you as you create a lucrative touring career. Return gigs and referral gigs can be your life's blood, certainly these sorts of gigs play an integral part of your career's livelihood. But a return gig to a choice venue or event can be so difficult to score. And if you don't have a strategy in place that you implement with regularity, referral gigs could be slipping through your fingers. Wouldn't it be great to be in a situation where the gigs are coming to you, the calls are incoming rather than…
Here's to the best gig you ever had! Sure, let's celebrate that one. Why not? In fact, it was such a great gig, you ought to try and get more just like that one. Funny though, how we forget to remember to do that. We are constantly searching for the next new venue in a new market, with a new presenter or booker. There's nothing wrong with that, and yet… What if we remembered the best gig we ever had? What was it like? Can you remember every detail, every nuance, every person on the staff, the food in the dressing room, the sound and lights? Oh, and how about…
