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Saturday, August 16, 2008

THE ROLE OF A BOOKING AGENT (by Rick Finley)
Current mood: focused
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

This is a great article that details when to expect that you are ready to garner the interest of a booking agent.  Until that time, it is up to you to build your base, buzz, and brand.  Onlinegigs can help you keep track of and manage that process with automated tools (press releases, contracts, tour itineraries), a national directory of venues, colleges, festivals and media outlets, fan management notification tools, and widgets to automatically post your show dates to any website or myspace page.

The Role of a Booking Agent:

Every performer wants a booking agent. Who wouldn't? Someone to set shows up, negotiate the fee, keep an eye on legal issues, deal with any problems that might be on the horizon, coordinate a logical succession of dates that create a nice tour, all for a fee that usually hovers around the 15% mark.

Wow, you don't even have to pay them upfront? They just take a cut? Unfortunately, however, like anything good in life, connecting with a viable booking agent takes time, effort, and dedication. The first thing a musical act must do when considering a booking agent is to take a long hard look at the demand for their music. This is different than analyzing the quality of the music, the themes of the music, the cool stage show, or the vibe of the performance.

Venues are created and built to make money. When an act can demonstrate the ability to bring people in, it becomes able to arrange the use of a venue's facilities to stage the performance (compared to singing on the street). Because both the performing act and the venue desire money, it is the booking agent who will draw up a set of agreements to manage the expectations of both. The title "booking agent" is used for someone who matches performing acts with the venues and completes contractual requirements. A booking agent is typically one of the following three types:

In-house:  
The in-house booker only books for his or her venue, and is mainly in charge of finding bands that fit together with the venue (in theory) and keep it full of paying customers. They may branch out and do a festival or two, but primarily they are responsible for one venue. This is the person who most unsigned bands are dealing with when they first start looking for gigs.

Independent:
There is a second class of booking agent. They are independent and looking for bands with some sort of growing demand or large potential. While "potential" is a possible criteria, independent booking agents are not likely to work for free. These types of bookers will book shorter tours in smaller venues. They also may book local festivals, one-off shows, and usually have a few local venues they have a good connection with.

Agency:
The booking agent who works for an agency is going to work with bands that have a demand for their music. These agents rarely have to sell the band because any band they work with will already have a solid history. They simply show the venue the results of the last tour and commence negotiation on new tour dates. Agency bookers usually have well-developed networks and contacts with venues across the country or the world. Larger agencies, such as William Morris, will have all sorts of resources to assist the artist – corporate tie-ins, connections to other artists, legal backing, etc. Even the smaller agencies, however, are usually very well run and well-supported. Most performers want to reach this level of booking agent.

THE TRUTH

This brings us to the hard truth. Most performers do not need a booking agent…yet. There are relatively few performing acts that have such a high demand for their work they actually need to pay someone to keep everything straight.

Countless bands and solo musicians are highly frustrated by the lack of demand for their music, and they constantly point to the quality of the performance, claiming that it is so high that people would love it if only someone else could get them in the door. Many unknown bands are looking for a booking agent who will sweep them from obscurity, slap them on as the opener for a well-known band, and the rest will be history. They see the booking of shows as the only thing standing between them and success.

Others might not imagine reaching the top quite so quickly. They just want a booking agent who will cobble together a nice little National or Regional tour to smaller venues and 200 people per show.

Have there been situations where music from an obscure band with no demand found its way into the hands of someone with power, who then dropped them into a nice tour line-up? Yes. Can you expect the odds of this happening to favor you? No.

MOVING UP THE BOOKING LADDER

Booking agents do NOT determine your success in the music industry.

Booking agents exist in part to support artists, but certainly not to create artists. Creating demand can be done in an artificial way using marketing dollars, but music is one of the few things in life that creates demand in a very natural way.

If you can snag an independent booking agent, or even a friend who wants to be involved with your work, more power to you. Some of these types of artist-business teams last for decades and are incredibly successful. We are always more comfortable and more loyal to those who were slugging it out in the trenches with us.

At the bottom level, however, there is much that can be done with in-house bookers. Don't begrudge that you have to deal with the "lowest form of booking agent." Treat them with respect, and play good shows. Play good shows to the point that you can point to ONE venue and say, "I bring a lot of people there every time I play."

Until an artist can say that about ONE venue, spend 6 months, a year, even 2 years building up your show, your vibe, and your audience. A performing act can expect to find a booking agent willing to spend time making the calls, following up, selling the band, doing all the paperwork, and troubleshooting any issues when 15% of your gross amounts to a respectable paycheck for them! Are you a good bet for them? Only you know for sure.

As you perform successfully on a small scale, then access will start opening up at the independent booker level. You may move from one place you can sell-out to a roster of 4 or 5. Now you are getting closer to the point that you need a booking agent. And guess what? When you start needing a booker, you will be shocked at how easy it is to get them to take your calls.

By: Rick Finley

Onlinegigs v.4 is a comprehensive Artist & Event management solution that is revolutionizing the way performance opportunties are tracked, booked and promoted.


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Wednesday, June 13, 2007

6/12/07 - Onlinegigs Booking Advice & Feature Newsletter - Gig Swapping
Category: Music

The newsletter doesn't post so well in this blog section!  Check out the web version of the below newsletter by clicking:  HERE

There's a sign up form on the myspace page to receive the newsletter via email. 



..> ..>
OnlineGigs v.4 - Book | Promote | Manage | Tour  
..> ..>

Issue II, Volume III

Welcome to the second issue of the Onlinegigs Booking & Promotional Tips monthly newsletter. This month learn the fine craft of Gig Swapping. If you have built up some local buzz and are looking to expand your performance radius, swapping gigs with other like minded bands is a great way to do it. Also be sure to take a look at this month's feature spotlight to find out how Onlinegigs can automatically post your tour dates to any website on the web. Just add a few lines of code and all of your important websites will be up to date.

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Jay Flanzbaum Onlinegigs, Founder


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Booking Advice
Gig swapping to break new markets.
 
automatically update your website
 
Intn'l Songwriting competition & mid-west music summit

Onlinegigs v.4 is a comprehensive Artist & Event management solution that is revolutionizing the way performance opportunties are tracked, booked and promoted.

"An invaluable tool for any band, agent, or manager..."more>>

"This thing will forever alter the way bands, managers, and publicists go about their business..." more>>

..> ..>
Booking Advice
Gig swapping to break new markets

By Jeri Goldstein, Copyright 2006 The New Music Times, Inc.

Bands looking to expand their audience beyond their known markets need to be open to new options. One such idea is swapping or trading audiences with another musician or band. The idea is perfectly suited to acts that have a strong following in their own market. Here's how it works.

First, find a band in a new market where you would like to expand, whose work you like and with whom you think you would be compatible. Second, make sure the band selected has a strong following in the desired market. You are attempting to break a new market and it only makes sense to do this with a band who can sell tickets in that market. In order for this to work, it would be optimal if the selected artist is interested in expanding into your market. Suggest to the artist that you will book and promote at least one gig or perhaps even a number of gigs in your market where you have a strong fan base. You (or your team) will negotiate the dates, do all the press and generally do whatever it takes or whatever you normally do to promote your gigs to their fullest. The other group will provide you with their press materials and will co-bill the show. All the publicity will include the visiting group and you will even try to arrange print and radio interviews for the group.


Negotiate a percentage or minimal guarantee plus some percentage for the act. Make sure they understand that you will take a larger fee and greater percentage since this is your audience and you are doing all the work to introduce the group in your market. In return you expect the group to do the same for you in their own market introducing you to their audience...



Jeri Goldstein is the author of, How To Be Your Own Booking Agent The Musician's & Performing Artist's Guide To Successful Touring 2nd Edition UPDATED. She had been an agent and artist's manager for 20 years. Currently she consults with artists, agents and managers through her consultation program Manager-In-A-Box and presents The Performing Biz, seminars and workshops at conferences, universities, for arts councils and to organizations. Jeri has released a 3-hour seminar on CD-ROM, Marketing Your Act. No expensive conferences to attend-learn at your convenience to boost your career. Her book, CD-ROM and information about her other programs are available at www.performingbiz.com or phone (434) 591-1335 or email Jeri at jg@performingbiz.com.

..> ..>
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automated music and band booking tools
automatically update your website!

..ourpost-pic.jpg" alt="Update your website automatically with Onlinegigs." align="left" border="0" height="92" width="100">It takes long enough to find new gig opportunities and develop relationships with talent buyers, you don't also need to be spending all of your time keeping your websites current. With Onlinegigs you can easily keep any website up to date with new performances the moment they are booked. This means your whole team can be on the same page at the same time. Your record label, your manager and your agent can all have their websites automatically updated in addition to your own. The layout is fully customizable to fit any website design and it comes in both HTML or Flash formats for more flexibility. Stop wasting your time and stop missing promotional opportunties. Onlinegigs is also happy to do the customization for you it takes just a few minutes,send your request to support@onlinegigs.com.

Onlinegigs v.4 is truly a comprehensive Artist & Event management solution that is revolutionizing the way performance opportunities are tracked, booked and promoted. Take the animated tour now and see what booking and promotional automation can do for your music career. View the Tour Now »

..> ..>
Main Tour

Automated Tasklist for band & agents.
Managing your contacts and business relationships starts with a powerful Task Management system. Tour Now»»

Automated Press Release

Automated Press Release for band publicists.
Automatically notify the press & your fan lists the moment you confirm a performance. Tour Now»»

 
Automated Web Updates Automated Web Updates to your own website and your booking agent, your manager and your record labels websites.
Confirmed shows can automatically post to any web site with a few lines of code. Flash and HTML compatible. Tour Now»»
Automated Itinerary Automated Itinerary to better organize your band's tour schedule.
Performances are automatically inserted into an itinerary with driving directions. Tour Now»»
..> ..>
full suite of tools for independent bands
Intn'l Songwriting competition
digital music distribution for bands
mid-west music summit
International songwriting competition for unsigned bands.The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual songwriting contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate. Midwest Music Summitt and Conference for Bas, Agents, and Managers.Each year the Mid-West Music Summit has been building the sort of story that SXSW and CMJ have acquired over the years. Thankfully, there's finally an outlet for talented mid-west acts to get on stage in front of a growing industry crowd without traveling so far from their own musically bountiful back yard.
© Copyright OnlineGigs, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

5/16/2007 - Onlinegigs Launches New Tour Date Syndication Departement
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Onlinegigs Launches New Tour Date Syndication Department


May 2007, Delray Beach, FL - In a continued effort to fully automate the administration of live music booking and promotion, Onlinegigs is proud to announce the launch of a new syndication services department. The new service will be included in the regular monthly subscription fee and further automates the distribution of tour dates to music industry portals and media outlets. Onlinegigs is already a powerful Contact Resource Manager for the music industry, with integrated technology for simplifying and automating administrative tasks. Members are easily able to automate things like press releases, fan reminders, updating web sites & social networks, issuing performance contracts, generating itineraries and more.

With the launch of the new syndication department, Onlinegigs members no longer have to manually input tour dates into many of the popular music information portals like
Jambase, Mojam, TIBConcerts, Epitunes, Eventful, Myspace, Sonicbids and Pollstar. Onlinegigs can now automatically update each of these sites using various web syndication services and more outlets are being developed everyday. Most independent artists have a difficult time covering all of the bases and making sure that their show information is both up to date and posted to all of the important music industry websites. Onlinegigs members however, now only need to enter tour dates once into their account and that information is then distributed automatically to their website, all over the internet and into print publications.

"The booking and promotional process is incredibly labor intensive, especially when developing new artists," says founder and CEO, Jay Flanzbaum. "So the next logical step was to automatically extend the promotional reach of our members even further by spreading their tour dates as far and as wide as possible through syndication. Each new partnership will also greatly enhance each members' reach as companies like Jambase develop their own promotional relationships."

Live performances and effective publicity are critical to the development of every new artist's career. Onlinegigs values developing artists as well as the empowerment of musicians, agents, record companies and managers to make a living through independently controlled touring and promotion. Onlinegigs simplifies the booking and promotional process by combining highly detailed and relevant contact information with easy to use, automated functionality. The member community has booked just under 10,000 performances to date and is actively involved in the ongoing development of the program. Onlinegigs constantly seeks out new technologies to further automate the administration of event booking and promotion.


For an abbreviated list of upcoming gigs:
http://www.myspace.com/onlinegigs
For a full List of upcoming gigs:
http://www.onlinegigs.com/docs/tour_dates/admintourgrid.asp
Logo for download:
http://www.onlinegigs.com/banners.asp#logo

For more information contact:
support@onlinegigs.com
(888) 595-3122

 

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

sxsw interactive

sxsw is coming up again, and i gotta say i think i enjoy the interactive conference more than i do the music conference. not that i don't have a great time at the music conference :) but i am really looking forward to this years interactive. last year i ran into scott allen, who just published a new book with david teten called virtual handshake. its next on my reading list.

Currently reading :
The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors And Closing Deals Online
By David Teten
Release date: 15 July, 2005

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Saturday, July 29, 2006

7/29/06 - Onlinegigs.com is a Proud Sponsor of The Musefest
Category: Music

The Musefest:  August 4th-6th 2006

The Big Mouth Presents: The Musefest

A prideful tribute to Ithaca New York's vibrant music scene. Featuring The Pharcyde, Buckwheat Zydecco, The Either/Orchestra, Kevin Kinsella and Ti Ti Chickapea, Entrain, The Pietasters, and many more (full performer list at bottom of this page).

The Musefest held at Newhart's Lodge just 10 miles outside of Ithaca, New York has been received with enormous support and excitement.  Musefest is a prideful tribute to Ithaca New York's vibrant music scene.  It features a multitude of diverse bands and musical genres, with options for many people.  At Musefest, in the span of one weekend, you can see the best bands Ithaca and upstate New York have to offer.  This year we have booked some national acts as well.  Musefest features everything from Bluegrass to Heavy Metal on three stages.

cooperatively run event, this seventh year music festival represents a blend of many high ideals.  It is based on the principle that we come together to have a great time, share in the fun, but also share in the work.  Musefest's founder and principle organizer, Way or Papa Muse had this to say:  "When people pitch in to help and put their energy into something like this, they feel a sense of investment and ownership for it.  Pride makes for care and quality.  Nearly everyone appreciates that Musefest is an inexpensive event with so much to offer, so they respect the parameters that have been established.  We create an atmosphere of respect and freedom, which has been working out really well in most regards".

This year the festival theme is Possibilities - Reminding people that they have choices which may empower their lives.  There is also a strong focus on alternative energy education with workshops and displays at the event.

Camping:  The Musefest features two camping options.  General camping is free and offers a beautiful landscape.  It has both wooded areas and an open field.  Family camping costs $20 per tent but is fenced in, quiet, and guarded.  This option is best for those who like a serene, peaceful and quiet environment.

Musefest is an awesome party supporting and exhibiting innovative creative independent music.  This music festival is not only a place to hear great new music, but is also a way to bridge different worlds and build community.  There is a drum dome where hand drummers create intense rhythms around a large fire.  There are workshops, nature walks, yoga, and many new options every year.

Tickets and Pricing:  All info about the event and tickets to the Musefest can be found at the official website:  http://www.musefest.org.  The website is simple to use.  As Papa Muse says:  "Along with creating a cyberspace community, we want to encourage people to embrace technology in positive ways".

Ticket Price and Volunteering:  $30 weekend pass in advance at http://www.musefest.org/tickets.php (cut off is 12 am on August 4, 2006).

Tickets also available at Ithaca Guitar Works at Dewitt Mall.  Call 607-272-2602 for general info. 

$45 weekend pass and day passes available at the gate.

Day passes available at the gate.  Friday $20, Saturday $30, and Sunday $25.

Anybody over twelve years of age must have a Musefest ticket, and kids under eighteen years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteering is an alternate way to attend Musefest.  By offering a minimum of eight hours of your time to help the festival run smoothly and successfully, you will be reimbursed and earn admittance to the event.  We will be taking volunteer applications first come first serve.  See http://www.musefest.org for details.

Website Tickets and Perks:  When you buy your tickets at the official Musefest website there is now an offer for a 50% discounted price on the Musefest 2006 compilation CD which includes the Musefest 2006 performers.  This deal will also apply to certain Musefest performers CD's.

These compilation CD's get the music out to everybody.  Those who get the Musefest CD take home a piece of great memorabilia and familiarize themselves with the bands of this area.

Family Friendly:  Musefest is very family oriented as well.  Along with the quiet family camping area, events for kids will be going on all weekend.  On Sunday morning, August 5th 2006 at 11:00 am, Musefest features a parade with children, belly dancers and musicians.  Children dress in costumes, wear face paints, and march around the festival grounds as a wake up call to the onsite village.  Parents are asked to bring costumes, instruments, and supplies for their kids to participate.  At Musefest you may find a puppet theater, a bounce tent, story tellers, jugglers, and songs all for the kids.

Also in association with the festival is the Muse Magazine, a comprehensive music magazine published annually that details the Ithaca music scene.  The magazine provides information about the bands and the local music scene, as well as the Musefest.  It is totally free and available across central New York.

MUSEFEST 2006 ROSTER INCLUDES:  The Pharcyde, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Either/Orchestra, Kevin Kinsella and Ti Ti Chickapea, Entrain, The Pietasters, Elliot Martin's "Black Castle", Thousands Of One, Hubcap, Papa Muse, Five 2, Speer-Specker-Henrie, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, IY, Blue Sky Mission Club, SeepeopleS, Malang Diabate and Jali', Dufus, Urban Horse Thieves, Igor's Egg, Seth Feldman, AyurvedA, Brand New Sin, King Snyder, Grooveyard, Bone Jar, Dog Fashion Disco, Another Day Late, Fairway, 12 Oz Muzzle, Candy Floss, Katherine Aelias Band, Go Gone, Patti Witten, Alan Rose, Linda Stout, Sean Kobuk, Steve Gollnick, Crow Marley, David Besag, Nate and Kate, Ashley Cox, and Jody Kessler

Papa Muse
Musefest Inc.

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Thursday, June 01, 2006

June 2006 - Music Booking Advice Newsletter
Current mood: working
Category: Music

.. language=JavaScript type=text/JavaScript> ..>
How to become a booking agent for unsigned bandsmusicians, bands, music booking agents, record companies, mangement companies, singer/songwriters, music venues, entertainment booking agents, independent bands.
MUSIC BOOKING ADVICE NEWSLETTER: Issue X, Volume II
book your own tour with ease

take control of your music career

Nationwide tour promotion from your bedroom.

find more gigs, book more gigs, organize your gigs, promote more gigs, live your dreams.


In This Issue:
Press Kit Protocol
Feature Highlight:
OnlineGigs is a Nationwide Music Industry Directory
Unsigned Band Resource:
Musicsubmit.com
« Archived Newsletters - If you missed any of our previous newsletters, check out our archived newsletter section!
ONLINEGIGS.com - BOOK~PROMOTE~MANAGE~TOUR: Click for a free 30 day trial!
 
Press Kit Protocol

Music industry directory to find the right contacts.We find that a lot of bands are unsure of how to exactly handle sending and following up on their press kits. Below is an outline of steps that have proven successful for a number of bands and agents. Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone and you may have to improvise from time to time.

GIG SEARCH

VENUE CAPACITY: If you are new to a market you should try and choose the smaller rooms (50-200 capacity). You can always send your press kit to the biggest, most established room in town but will most likely find them difficult to get a response from. MUSIC STYLE: Try to search for your bands specific style of music, if the query results in a small selection of clubs try expanding the music styles to ALL.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT: One of the best reasons to play colleges is that it will give you the opportunity to expose your music to a large population of music buying fanatics. If this is important to you then try and select the colleges with the largest enrolled student body in the market you are looking for. TUITION: lets face it the other reason to play colleges is the money. The more expensive a school is to attend the more likely it is that they have a sizable entertainment budget.

TIME FRAME

Most clubs book a minimum of two months in advance. But keep in mind that you have to get thru all of the initial steps below before they are going to talk about booking with you. So it is always safe to assume a 3-6 month window from the time you send a CD to the moment you are able to lock down a performance with a new club.

FIRST CONTACT

Schedule A Phone Call Reminder: We find it is helpful to schedule an initial phone call for each venue you are trying to play before sending a CD. This is not always necessary but it may save you some time and money down the line. If nothing else you should confirm the mailing address and the booking contact.

SEND PRODUCT

Schedule A Task Reminder: Be sure to set this activity and clear it once you have sent the package. You will find it is very helpful to have a precise record of the date that you put the CD in the mail. MAKE SURE EVERY PROMOTIONAL ITEM HAS YOUR CONTACT INFO ON IT! (CD, Picture, Bio etc.)

FOLLOW UP

Schedule A Follow Up Phone Call Reminder: Schedule this call for 10 days from the date your CD was sent. This first phone call is just to confirm receipt of the CD. You should not press the contact for whether or not they have listened to the CD just yet. Give them a chance to catalog your band and add it to their pile of CDs to listen to. We also find it more efficient to create an email template that you can use every time for this inquiry. Then simply cut and paste it into an email and schedule your next follow up call.

Schedule Weekly Follow Up Phone Cal: Now is where the fun starts. The key here is PERSISTENCE. Of course it is a fine line between being persistent and being a pain in the ass. Some rules of thumb,

  1. Before asking about your music be sure to ask if now is a good time for them to talk about booking music.
  2. If they have not listened to your CD yet and ask you to call back, make sure to ask when a good time to call them back is. Be sure to schedule your follow up for this date and time.
  3. Do not stop calling until you get a firm answer as to what they thought of your music and whether or not they are interested in booking your band.
  4. Do not take ZERO response as a not interested, if they do not call you back, do not give up. Leave them a message one week, an email the next and so on.
  5. If you get a Not Interested. I find it helps to describe your bands music at this point just to be sure that they are not confusing your band with someone else. Talent buyers listen to a ton of music and occasionaly will make a mistake. Be polite but persistent.
Feature Highlight: Onlinegigs is a Nationwide Music Industry Directory

Music Industry DirectoryView a Flash Animated Clip

First and foremost Onlinegigs is an extremely powerful, automated booking and promotional tool. But Onlinegigs also comes pre-loaded with a huge directory of its own contacts. There is nationwide listings of over 9000 Venues, Colleges, Festivals and Media contacts.Each contact has, at a minimum, a full address and phone number. But Venues also have capacity, music style and PA information. Colleges include Student Activity Coordinator information as well as the schools average tuition and enrollment data to help you determine potential entertainment budgets. Festivals include music style and submission deadline info. And Media contacts have print frequency and radio station format information.

The directory is fully searchable and maintained by the Onlinegigs member community. Onlinegigs is the only service that pays you for your contacts and your updates. We offer money back off of your subscription fee for adding and editing contacts. Many members use Onlinegigs for free because they are constantly working and constantly updating and adding contacts. Members additions and edits are immediately available to the other subscribers and has a direct benefit for those new to a particular area.

Onlinegigs can import any electronic list of contacts from almost any file. Outlook, ACT, Excel etc. Please contact support@onlinegigs.com to find out about importing your address book.

In next months issue of Onlinegigs Booking Tips and Advice Newsletter we will discuss the crucial Contact Resource Management (CRM) tools that you need to keep your efforts organized and professional.

Unsigned Band Resource: MusicSubmit

Musicsubmit Band PublicityMusicSUBMIT is an internet PR and music promotion service guaranteed to save you hundreds of hours and dollars. Music SUBMIT will send your band to 200+ music related websites, internet radio stations, music writers and online music magazines. What do you get? Exposure for your music, Internet radio airplay, Higher ranking in Google, Targeted traffic to your website, Increased fan base.


CHECK THEM OUT AT: www.musicsubmit.com

 
© Copyright OnlineGigs.com. All Rights Reserved.

Currently listening :
The Dust of Retreat
By Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
Release date: 28 March, 2006

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Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Booking Tips & Advice Newsletter
Category: Music

How to become a booking agent for unsigned bandsmusicians, bands, music booking agents, record companies, mangement companies, singer/songwriters, music venues, entertainment booking agents, independent bands.
BOOKING TIPS & ADVICE NEWSLETTER: Issue IX, Volume II
book your own tour with ease

take control of your music career

Nationwide tour promotion from your bedroom.

find more gigs, book more gigs, organize your gigs, promote more gigs, live your dreams.


In This Issue:
The Proper Follow Through
Feature Highlight:
Managing Your Contacts
Musicians Resource:
USA Songwrting Competition
« Archived Newsletters - If you missed any of our previous newsletters, check out our archived newsletter section!
ONLINEGIGS.com - BOOK~PROMOTE~MANAGE~TOUR: Click for a free 30 day trial!
 
The Proper Follow Through

tour the country, tour the worldIt never fails to amaze me the amount of work most indie bands and agents will go through to put together the most elaborate CD and Press Kits. The hours spent in the studio fine tuning each song, the amount of money spent on designing cover art and getting photos taken and so on. It is not that these things do not require a lot of time and energy, but what amazes me is that most bands will then send out these works of art to try and book gigs and then never even make one follow up phone call to be sure it arrived.

Once that CD and press kit is sent, you will need to do everything in your power to maintain a consistent schedule of follow up calls, emails and faxes. The problem is that most people get discouraged after the first few times that they are unable to reach the Talent Buyer. Some even get very emotional in just trying to get a response to the repeated emails or calls. The reality is that most Buyers will only book those things that they already know about or that comes recommended from their trusted peers or friends. For the average band to be heard above the never ending din of new bands only requires one thing, PERSISTENCE.

You need to be confident enough in your product to not stop contacting the venue until you get a firm yes or no. But it is a fine line between being persistent and being a pest.

A Pest:

  • Calls during the busiest hours (nights and weekends.)
  • Calls, emails and leaves numerous messages every week.
  • Is usually looking for a gig within the next few weeks.
  • Is short or abrupt when calling.
  • Stops calling after a few weeks of disorganized rudeness.

Persistence Is:

  • Finding out when the best time to call is and only calling during those hours.
  • Following a consistent, weekly schedule of phone calls, emails and faxes.
  • Being realistic. Most clubs book 2-4 months in advance.
  • Being polite.
  • NOT GIVING UP, (a lack of response never means not interested.)

Once you reach the Talent Buyer always ask if it is a good time to discuss booking. If it is not, ask when would be a better time and be sure to set a reminder to follow up.

Any band can put together a great demo, but truly successful bands realize that every person they contact is a potential business relationship for life. They may not be interested today, but you should ask if it is okay to stay in touch and keep them posted about your progress as a band. Then call them a couple of times year, say hello, tell them what you have been doing and inquire if there are any gig opportunities.

Sending out a few emails or CDs is not going to make the phone ring by itself, no matter how good your band is. The only way to get the industry to take notice and give you an opportunity is through consistent, professional follow through. Onlinegigs gives you all of the tools you need to be sure you are accomplishing this end. If you ever have any questions on getting Onlinegigs to work better for you just send an email to support@onlinegigs.com and we will call you directly to discuss your needs. Whether you are looking for local, regional or national dates, Onlinegigs is the only comprehensive solution for you.

Feature Highlight: Managing Your Contact

book your music, book your band, book your lifeOnlinegigs is an incredibly powerful Contact Manager. You can easily schedule reminders for important phone calls, meetings and tasks as well as mark them as completed to track your history with each contact you do business with. The task list is also viewable in Day, Week and Month View calendars. Email and fax messaging are directly integrated and all messages related to specific contacts are cross referenced and searchable. Your current contact lists or address books from Outlook, Excel or Word are easily imported into Onlinegigs. You can even earn money back off of your subscription for adding new contacts to Onlinegigs or for editing outdated information.

Onlinegigs not only comes pre-loaded with over 9000 music industry contacts but you are also able to create much needed industry forms and documents. You can easily issue contracts for any upcoming performance and then send it out by fax or email to the talent buyer as well as your band members, your publicist, your tour manager etc. Tour itineraries are automatically generated with custom driving directions from one gig to the next. And you can create a press release in minutes and then send it out to the local media in any market in the country.

Because Onlinegigs is a web based application there are many benefits that other desktop programs cant comptete with. Your important business information is automatically backed up and archived in 14 day intervals. Your vital data is also completely accessible all day, every day from any internet connection. Have a contract dispute from a club? Log into your account and pull up your confirmation. Dispute averted.

Musicians Resource: USA Songwriting Competition

Win $50,000 Grand Prize worth of cash, cool music gear from Roland, Sony, Steinberg, Ibanez Guitars, Audio-Techica and more! Winning songs will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated radio program Judges include A&R from Universal, BMG, EMI, Warner and SONY Music. Hurry! Deadline is drawing near, enter now.

Check Out: USA Songwriting Competition

 
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Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Onlinegigs Sponsors Jazzfest By Nite 2006
Current mood: excited
Category: Music

Republic New Orleans | 828 S. Peters St, New Orleans, LA | venue website
JOHNNY SKETCH
& THE DIRTY NOTES
Friday - 4/28/2006
- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up

Superfly presents
UMPHREY'S MCGEE

Saturday - 4/29/2006
- 10pm
- 18 & Up

An Honest Tune magazine presents
PAPA GROWS FUNK
& BONERAMA

Sunday - 4/30/2006
- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up
THE BENJY DAVIS PROJECT
& ELLIPSIS

w/
DJ Kinetic
Thursday - 5/4/2006
- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up

liveneworleans.com presents
GEORGE CLINTON
& PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC

w/ Hot 8 Brass Band, DJ Quickie Mart

Friday - 5/5/2006
- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up

OnlineGigs.com presents
PARTICLE
w/ DJ Logic

Saturday - 5/6/2006
- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up
JURASSIC 5 (2 shows!)
Saturday - 5/6/2006
w/ DJ Logic

- 2am | 18 & Up
Sunday - 5/7/2006
w/ Media Darling Showcase

- Doors 8pm/Show 9pm
- 18 & Up

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