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Return to live: a conversation about booking shows, safety, and live streaming

Posted: Jul 12, 2021

Category: Live Performance

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**Guest post written by Melanie Kealey for Bandzoogle.

 

Return to live shows BZ


"As restrictions are starting to ease in some parts of the world, we thought it would be beneficial to have a conversation with Kyle Weber (founder of live show & tour booking platform Indie on the Move) and Kristen Ford (singer-songwriter and touring artist) to gain some perspective on how artists are going about booking or re-booking tours..."

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Use Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to Kill Your Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Posted: Jul 10, 2017

Category: Tips & Tricks

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**Guest post written by Jonathan Sexton, CEO of Bandposters.

 

"It’s hard to stay on top of all the things you have to do to break your band and make a living...To keep ahead of the game, time management is key. So we’ve put together a weekly calendar for you, with some helpful things you can do early in the week to help sell out your shows on the weekends..."

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Meet the Music Booking Agents

Posted: Dec 12, 2016

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Louise Dodgson, Editor at The Unsigned Guide.

 

Meet the Music Booking Agents
"Working with a booking agent is a topic we’re often asked about by artists and bands who wonder whether they should still undertake all gig bookings themselves or acquire the services of an agent who can bag those lusted-after festival slots and tour supports. Do I need an agent? At what stage should we approach one? Will a booking agency even work with an unsigned or emerging band? If you’ve ever wondered about any of the above, this blog is for you!"

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5 Ways to Impress Venue Bookers and Get More Gigs

Posted: Feb 29, 2016

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest Post written by Dave Cool of Bandzoogle.com.

 

Get Gigs Bandzoogle
"I spent three years as program director for two venues here in my home city of Montreal, overseeing 500 shows during that time. Here are 5 ways that you can impress venue bookers and give yourself the best chance to get more gigs..."

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Here's The Pitch, Pt. 2: The Follow-Up

Posted: Nov 10, 2014

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Joshua Powell, singer-songwriter, DIY musician, and frontman for Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery, as featured in his blog Fearsome Folk.

 

"Your bobber just exploded and somebody took the bait. Now it’s time to let out on the line. One of those thirty-four venues replied to your excellently crafted pitch email and now you’re in negotiations to set the stage for your impending show. But the thread of your line is steadily unspooling, and sure, your cast was masterful, but there are other things to which we must attend. We’ll do that here—in the follow-up..."

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When should an indie band take on a booking agent, as opposed to booking their own shows?

Posted: Sep 29, 2014

Category: Touring

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**Q&A with Eva Alexiou-Reo of FATA Booking Agency.

 

This is a great question! I feel that a band should take on a booking agent after they have booked a few tours themselves or if they have a high demand by fans to be in national markets. Since an agent's job is to find and route live engagements, then it should be during a time when there is something going on in those markets...

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What's Your Draw?

Posted: May 19, 2014

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Paula Tolly, one half of the Boca Raton based Americana duo 33 Years.

 

"You know the scenario.... you’ve been trying to get into this local bar for who knows how long and your buddy just gave you the name of the new booker. You email him or text or whatever his preference is and you get the dreaded dead end comment back: "How many people can you draw at my venue....?" Your heart sinks, your confidence dwindles and you think, "Hey, is there anyone out there who really cares about the music nowadays?""...

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4 Ways To Get Your Band Booked When The Booker Ignores You

Posted: Apr 7, 2014

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post by Chris "Seth" Jackson, a bass guitarist and composer and founder of HowToRunABand.com.

 

OH no! I can't get a show! I keep sending out booking emails that never get replied to. What do I do?...

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How Do I Follow Up With a Venue That Hasn’t Returned My Email?

Posted: Mar 3, 2014

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Joy Ike, creator of Grassrootsy.com and Independent Musician, as featured on Grassrootsy.com.

 

THE QUESTION: I have a question that I hope someone here can help me with. After you’ve sent an email and you don’t hear back for a week or two, is it ok to resend the same email in the case that it got lost in the shuffle? I don’t want to come off as being pushy, but I want to make sure that they actually received the email.

 

THE ANSWER: Art, this is a really great question that I think a lot of people struggle with. It’s hard to know how to follow up on a email when you don’t know if it was ever read, if it reached the correct person, or if the receiver purposely didn’t get back to you. So we’ve got a few suggestions on what you can do...

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When Am I Ready to Tour?

Posted: Dec 23, 2013

Category: Touring

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**As featured in Indie on the Move's Touring Tips Section.

 

If you are considering going on tour, there are a few prerequisites that must be met in order for you to make everything happen...

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How to Get From “Local Artist” to “Touring Musician”

Posted: Dec 2, 2013

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Joy Ike, creator of Grassrootsy.com and Independent Musician, as featured on Grassrootsy.com.

 

"STEP 1: Perfect your performance. Play as many open stages as you can to network with others and solidify your stage presence. Become a familiar face and make sure you get to really know the people. Give this a 6-month time period." Click the title to read numbers 2-7, including an in-depth description of each crucial step...

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How To Delegate Tour Booking & Promo Responsibilities

Posted: Nov 25, 2013

Category: Delegate Responsibilities

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When it comes to touring independently and really maximizing success and profits along the way, it certainly helps to delegate show booking, radio/press/media promotions, and other responsibilities amongst everyone involved in the project - after all, you have to run your band like a well oiled business machine these days if you expect to make a splash and build a buzz.

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The Truth About NACA: 
Gigging on the College Circuit

Posted: Nov 18, 2013

Category: Show Booking

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**The following is an excerpt from MusicBizAcademy.com's "The Truth About NACA: Gigging on the College Circuit" by Fran Snyder, originally published in 2001.

 

"The National Association of Campus Activities, established in 1960, is a non-profit organization that puts on regional conferences where music acts, comedians, lecturers and other entertainers showcase in front of campus activities programmers from around the country. There are 1200 member colleges and 600 associate members (talent or agent) which makes NACA the largest organization of its kind." So how do you land one of these coveted showcase slots and secure college bookings with fantastic guarantees?... 

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Blasko Talks About the Touring Business

Posted: Nov 6, 2013

Category: Renman Music & Business

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If you want to be in a rock and roll band, touring is going to be your biggest asset. It's not all glitz and glam and it's definitely not for for everyone, but if you're anything like Blasko, Ozzy Bassist and manager of The Black Veil Brides, you'll enjoy the struggle and learn on the fly along the way. Check out this bit of Blasko discussing the ups and downs of the touring business and what you should expect when getting involved.

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How To Make Sure You’re Booking a Good Venue

Posted: Nov 4, 2013

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Joy Ike, creator of Grassrootsy.com and Independent Musician, as featured on Grassrootsy.com.

 

Booking a tour can be a difficult process. Not only are you spending hours upon hours emailing venue after venue, but you’re also taking a major gamble on the venues you’re contacting. It’s often hard to know if the spot is a good fit for your band, if there is decent foot traffic, how hard you will have to work for your draw, and how well their booker will work with you to make the event a success. It’s just one huge gamble.

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Should You Pay to Play

Posted: Aug 26, 2013

Category: Show Booking

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**Guest post written by Ari Herstand, a DIY singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, CA with 500+ shows under his belt, as featured in his blog "Ari's Take". 

 

"...But what all the non-superstar musicians in LA have in common is, when we play a show in town we accept shitty shitty deals...This isn't going to be a post about LA (as that could fill a book), but rather the issue of "pay to play" clubs. Let's explore some of the many scenarios bands get offered by venues and promoters every day..."

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How Do I Plan a Tour?

Posted: Aug 12, 2013

Category: Show Booking

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**As featured in Indie on the Move's Touring Tips section.

 

Whether you’re planning a two-week mini tour or a two-month tour, first and foremost you should sit down and write up a mock itinerary. This will include the cities you plan to hit and the dates you plan to be in each city...

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