Booking Music Without Being Annoying
Saturday late entry, meandering booking thoughts.
I’ve been marking off little areas of town and contacting booking for electronic stuff. Once again, it’s a very hard sell, but when I find somebody, they will be interested for afternoon chill-out BS live and in person.
I’m going to keep trying even though you basically have to teach somebody what it is when you’re selling yourself, because I know it will be worth it once I have things figured out.
I’m also ramping up the DJ booking effort, which has been great, and I’ve been able to really sharpen my sale there. I realize how many different assets I have through searching hard for collateral—videos and stuff like that, and some great-looking pictures, so that’s, if anything, just self-assuring that I actually have stuff going on.
I’d like to be working weekends and some nights too, weeknights that is, and it kind of mixes with my day job too, so it’s always good to be calling on people, figuring out what they’re doing. But my difference-maker is I’m actually interested in hearing about them, not sitting around talking about myself.
I think that’s a really important point. You’ve got to be able to figure out what you’re going to do for them, not vice versa.
Nobody likes a off-duty musician that’s gone on a little too long, and the real sweet spot is knowing when to shut your mouth, but getting the information across just the same. It’s an art, so I look forward to people even responding so I can sharpen that part too.
How do you do this without being annoying?
I have friends who have been invading text chains about their music. Zero point zero people want that. That’s why I keep it so separate. About gigs, if you ask, I’ll tell you, or if you say put me on a list or text me, most of the time I’ll remember. If you haven’t, you will never get anything from me unless you follow my Instagram or Facebook.
It’s important to keep friendship separate from music, or you’re going to end up with one canceling out the other. Generally, music is the one that loses.
It’s a learning process, and I keep learning. I feel like every email I write I learn a little more. Every call I make, I learn some stuff about what people want to hear, and to me that’s just generally interesting.
Because I believe in it, like I believe in the work stuff I do too, so I don’t try to have individual efforts really. If I can sell myself, I know I’m doing a good job or will do a good job.
Doesn’t mean it’s mistake-free.
It just means my abilities are high, and that’s where my confidence comes from, not some invisible cock-sure BS.