The most common question we get asked is ‘how do i get more gigs?’ Probably the key to understanding and then answering this is ‘why are you failing to get gigs already?’ i.e. what is going wrong in the process that is letting you down?
What lengths can you go to, to sell yourself as the hottest act out there?
Here’s 3 main areas to review - nail these and you’ll be well on the way to filling that diary…
1. Make Yourself Irresistible
When you start to critique the process of contacting venues or promoters it quickly becomes obvious that in order to be successful you need to play the game. The game is that the person you are contacting is very busy and has hundreds of people contacting them for exactly the same reason as you. So how do you stand out? Be organised - reply promptly, be professional and above all BE CONCISE!
No waffle, just cut to the chase and make it sound AMAZING! The trick is to imagine what information they will want from you and make it as easy as you can for them to get it. Links to your music on youtube or soundcloud etc need to work and be clear. Links to your website or facebook page. How many fans follow you on Twitter. What your aim for the next year is. how many albums you sold at your last gig.
Make EVERY sentence so compelling that it will make the reader to want to read the next sentence - and the next and so on. Really sell yourself but not to the point where its all bluff and cover or flowery nonsense. One decent photograph is not a bad idea. And clear contact details at the bottom.
We get so many emails every day asking us for management - the worst ones don’t even ask us anything they just tell us who they are. So be direct and clear about what you are asking for.
2. Follow Up
When you don’t hear back from someone, DON’T give up! Chances are they are busy and have forgotten rather than that they are just not interested. Follow up your email with another email - or even better with a phone call. In fact in your email tell them when you are going to call - if your email is competent and to the point they will have had a quick look at your youtube link before you ring. Guaranteed. Use a multi-pronged attack - if they don’t respond on email - try them on facebook. If they don’t do facebook try them on Twitter etc etc.
Don’t just send a half hearted email easy-come-easy-go. Try to make every one count. Go the extra mile to be creative about how you get in front of them. Persistance is attractive. A good technique is to ask if you can arrange a face to face meeting. Ask them what they are looking for and listen to their response and then include all those things in your pitch for why you are special.
If you can send them a demo CD and manage to call them a few days later when it is sitting in front of them on their desk you’ve nailed it and got the best chance ever to impress them and stick in their mind and get a decent response out of them.
3. WIIFM?
In understanding how the other party use this acronym to identify ‘What’s In It For Me?!’ - Venues are not just interested in having great bands - they are also very interested in how much the bar takes during the night. If you can convince a venue you are bringing loads of people down they will be interested. If you actually do they will invite you back. Simples. So when you contact people and places - be specific and use facts and figures a lot - ie. tell them how many people were at your last gig - not just ‘it was a full house’ or ‘there was a great atmosphere.’ People need REASONS to trust you are a good proposition.
So in summary - be incredible! Be memorable. Be reliable. Present the relevant information as simply and quickly as possible. Understand their priorities and give them the data that will make you look like a great idea to them. Once you have this sorted hammer it like there’s no tomorrow - contact as many people as you can and the more gigs you are getting the more you can pick and choose and command bigger fees. Always ask for a merchandise table (make sure you have merchandise!) and get your name everywhere visually and when you are on the mic so everyone knows who you are… but that’s another post for another day!