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ARE YOU GETTING BLOWN OFF?

ARE YOU GETTING BLOWN OFF?

Do you feel like your words are falling on def ears when you call a potential gig? Do you even get that far in the process?  Do you feel like no one calls you back when trying to pitch your band?

Believe me, I get it.  This was a large part of my music career.  I just felt if I could do a good enough job selling my group and talking to enough people, I could force my band into success.  But, we don't know what we don't know, right?  

It wasn't until I started studying other bands that were getting all the gigs that things began to clear up for me.  On top of that, I became an entertainment agent buying bands for a few shopping centers.  These shopping centers would redirect all their entertainment inquiries right to me.  And there were hundreds calling me.  Now I was on the other end of this hearing every good, bad, and ugly pitch out there.  Here's the interesting part.

 The bands that were doing it write never called me.  They didn't have to.  The buyers were calling them. 

To address these questions, you have to first understand the dynamics of the situation.  Some of these buyers you are trying to reach have fielded hundreds of calls from bands claiming how amazing of a band they are, that they have this member or that, or have played this gig or that.  And the worst is when a band bags on another band that is getting all the gigs and claims their band is better.  I can't tell you the times someone has done that about a band who happened to be friends of mine.  So how do you think that worked out for them? 

The point is, when you are your own product, there is nothing you can really say about your band that is going to hold any weight because the person on the other end of the phone expects you to say that you're the best.   

So, how do you get around this?  You have to start somewhere right?  And how did the bands that don't have to cold call anymore get to that point?  They had to start somewhere too.  

RELATIONSHIP + QUALITY = GIGS  

RELATIONSHIP + QUALITY + FANS = GREAT GIGS

If people like "you" first, that is half the battle.  

There are many ways to build a relationship with someone, but a good start is to be a better listener than a talker on the phone.  Ask great questions about what would make their event the best ever.  Ask what they are looking for in a band.  If the conversation feels relaxed and the person you are talking to doesn't seem rushed, ask them how they got into this role of booking the entertainment.   

The bottom line, be interested in them as a person more than booking a date.  Also, mentally go into this call being ok with not being a good fit for the event or venue.  This helps you not feel the need to push or rush the conversation.  

Talking about your band.  When the conversation comes to a close, ask them for permission to send a press kit on your band with a live video promo in it to see if the buyer thinks you would be a good fit.  If they say yes, also ask them when a good time to follow up would be.  

Nowhere in this conversation do you "pitch" your band.  If the buyer asks direct questions, feel free to answer, but don't overdo any answers.  The goal is to let high-quality promotional material for a high-quality band do the work for you.  If your band is not to the point of high quality and your promo material isn't either, then your best action is to spend time on that first.  I know this seems like a bummer when you are excited to get out and play, but remember, there is only one first impression to be made and this is how you do it right. 

We will be discussing more on this in future blogs, but if you want to jump ahead, this topic and more are covered in detail in our FREE E-Book.

 

 

 

 
 
 
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