Are you an absolutely excellent band or awesome musician who can’t seem to find the amount of, or quality of gigs you’re after? Chances are, in spite of your incredible talent, you aren’t ‘bookable’!!
To explain, there are thousands or more artists, with superior skill, musicianship and playability, but they have not put together the necessary essentials that would make for the kind of experience agents are trying to sell to their audiences.
For example, DON’T be an Artist or Band who possesses ZERO:
*YouTube Performance Videos (videos of your studio recording with the CD cover jpeg showing won’t get you on stage)
*Website or page with a Schedule of Past/ Future Events (Promoters want to know if you’re working)
*A Well Written Bio (Excellent Grammar, Crisp & Truthful)
*Your Story and/or Other Useful Promotional Media (Have You Won Any Awards? Played with Anyone Famous? Overcome some huge setback? Everyone wants to know!)
*Viable Contact Info (other than your email & number on the bar napkin)
*CDs or Merch to Sell (Any & Everything Memorable to Sell works – try toothpicks!)
Other Artists, especially Newcomers have Zero clue of:
*What to Charge (Free should not be an option and paying the club should be outlawed)
*What Back-line Is (Immediately after talking to Club Owner/Promoter, befriend the Sound Guy/Gal!)
*Appropriate Load In / Stage Time / Load Out (Timing is Everything and Your Respect for it Should be Absolute!)
Education for the EntreMusician is First Base. Knowing What – and When to do What should be in place before you make the call or send the query email. Your business sense should be as tight as your act.
A cautious “Catch 22” is for promoters to book an act that has all of the aforementioned elements in place and do them very excellently, but lacks the talent to move a crowd…they will usually work with this act first, knowing they must sell the sizzle.
We’ll talk about additional bookable components next week. Like “Are You Reliable?”
If you have a question, comment or disagreement about “Bookability” please respond!
Jere B's Approach 