Get To Venue Bookers

Get To Venue Bookers - by Jeri Goldstein     

Want to get to venue bookers more often and more effectively?

There is a fine line between professional prodding and being a pest. Those everyday check-in calls can put a booker off. Yet, make only one call and never follow up, and you get nowhere.

Try this alternative method of getting your name in front of a venue booker, festival director, library or school coordinator or program organizer.

Begin a process of inviting these potential gig buyers to gigs you already have scheduled at nearby venues. This invitation has a number of advantages.

1. It let’s them know you are out there playing. This gives them an opportunity to check the schedule of the upcoming gig venue and even call the venue to talk with the programmer.

2. It is a kind way to connect with this buyer without asking them for anything. You are instead inviting them to an event, with two guest tickets reserved for them at the door. Even though the likelihood of them attending at first, may be slim, it doesn’t matter. The fact that you invited them, puts your name before them again.

3. After the gig, if they show up, you can reconnect to thank them for coming. Yet another chance for them to get to know you or hear your name and possibly think more seriously about working with you. If they don’t come to the gig, no problem. Then you can drop them an email with a quote  from the gig organizer, letting them know how well it went with hopes that perhaps they can make it the next time you play in the area.

4. If you know when you’ll be returning to the area, you might drop them an after-gig email with that time-frame noted and send your regrets that you didn’t get to meet at the gig this time around.

This sure-fire method to get to venue bookers can be used to invite potential gig organizers, media reviewers and industry professionals. If you get in the habit of making a list of these potential invitees for each current gig you already have on the calendar, you’ll find yourself making faster connections with these folks. You’ll also find it easier to extend an invitation than to ask for a gig. At some point, they just might show up to the gig when enough invites are issued.

This process gives you multiple points of contact without bugging them for a gig. It also offers them multiple opportunities to learn more about you. They see you in action. They will begin to recognize how much market value you may offer to their venue at some point, given all these other performance occasions.

These are all great ways to get to venue bookers as well as a reviewer or industry professionals.

Get your list ready and put this strategy to work right away. Fall tours are happening and you’ve got gigs on the books. This is a great time to test this out. You may just make some progress on booking next year’s gigs, now.

Have you tried this method to get to venue bookers, the media or industry professionals? What have your results been?

Leave me a comment below or on the Performingbiz Success Strategies Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PerformingbizSuccessStrategies.

I can’t wait to hear about your success.

Registration for this Fall’s Booking & Touring Success Strategies & Secrets Online Course has now closed.

If you missed signing up, but would still like to, please email me and I will discuss the possibilities with you. Our first Video Chat is Wednesday, Sept. 26.

Email:  jg@performingbiz.com and put Online Course in the subject line.

 

Now, Thanks to the Band Curfew from the UK for providing the Biz Booster Theme Music, Future Dance. Check them out at www.curfew.co.uk

And for more career boosting tips, articles, books, resources, tele-seminars and online courses, visit me at Performingbiz.com