How To Approach A Booking Agent

If you're an artist who's finding it tough to book shows for yourself, the problem might be as simple as the approach you take. Try the following steps and see if your luck changes.

1. Approach only the venues that specialize in your type of music. If you're a solo/acoustic artist, don't be surprised when the local rock clubs don't return your emails. Start with coffee shops and work your way up to bigger rooms. You'll have much better luck.

2. Email etiquette is important! Just because email is impersonal, doesn't mean that you're not making a first impression. If your entire message consists of: "hey, my band wants to play a show" - I guarantee that nobody is going to take the time to write you back. Find out the name of the person you're writing to; introduce yourself and then your band; include as much information as possible about what you sound like, where you've played before, and what other bands would fit well on a show with you. This way you're doing a lot of the agent's work for them, and you come off as more professional.

3. You need to have a website, even if it's just a MySpace page. Most agents today wont talk to artists on the phone, and they don't want you to send them a CD in the mail. They prefer to check out your website to get a quick idea of what you're all about. The page should include 3-4 of your BEST songs, some pictures, and a detailed description of the band. If you have some positive reviews of your music or live show, include those as well. You are selling yourself to the agent, so it's important to put your best foot forward.

4. Follow-up, but don't be a pest. Once you've sent an email to a booking agent, wait at least a week before following up. Agents get tons of emails just like yours everyday, and sometimes it takes them a while to respond. If they are interested, they will get back to you. Hounding them with follow-ups is only going to hurt your chances of a show.

5. Be gracious, no matter what happens! If an agent declines to book you, there is nothing you can do to turn that around. Thank them for their consideration, ask if there is anything you should work on, and then leave them alone. Try again after a few months have gone by. If they do give you a show, NEVER complain about the details, even if they put you on a Monday at 6PM. Do the best you can, promote as much as possible, and maybe next time they'll move you to a better night and time.

Certainly this is not an exhaustive list, but the main point that I hope you take away from these tips is that IF YOU ACT LIKE A PROFESSIONAL, YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL. That will come through to everyone that you work with, and eventually it will open doors for you.