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David Ellis, Promoter Account Manager at Sonicbids, shares some insider information and tips on working with promoters and understanding how they operate.
Since August of 2005 I have had the pleasure of working with all sorts of promoters – small music series, big festivals, films, magazines, conferences, etc. I absolutely love doing what I do and building relationships with these organizations. I thought that after hitting my 3-year mark here at Sonicbids, it was time I shared some inside information on our promoter community and offer artists some advice in the process.
• Promoters are not all created equal
I’ve worked with some partners who prefer to talk by phone, others by email. Some get back to me right away, others take a few days. Some are chatty, others choose to focus exclusively on business and never build a personal relationship.
What’s the point you ask? Just like musicians, family members, and the general population, promoters are not all created equal. I only mention it because after meeting so many Sonicbids artists at conferences and reading our Forum, I see that there is this perception that all promoters on Sonicbids are these Hollywood fat-cats that sit behind a desk all day, smoking cigars, and collecting thousands and thousands of dollars from artists.
David Ellis of Sonicbids (L) with David Silbaugh of Summerfest (R)
Well, I’m here to say that A) most promoters don’t collect thousands of dollars at all and B) many promoters are great people who do, in fact, run great events that are focused on the artist. Here are some photos of me with promoters I work with: David Silbaugh from Summerfest and Roger Jansen from MOBfest. I have worked with both of these events for a few years now and know that both of them are awesome people who have a genuine concern for helping break bands at their events.
In many cases, you can learn more about the promoter via their website, bio, MySpace, etc. Utilize the “quick note” when you submit your materials with Sonicbids to connect on a personal level and stand out from the crowd.
David Ellis (L) with Roger Jansen of MOBfest (R)
• You catch more flies with honey than vinegar
This is an expression my dad used to always say to me when I was younger and it’s always stuck with me. Basically, it means that you’ll get a better response from being sweet than bitter. Don’t get all “sour grapes” and burn bridges. You’d be surprised at the nasty emails promoters get from “not selected” artists. Make yourself stand out by being nice and sending a really well crafted follow up letting the promoter know the value in booking you. In the end, they’re running a business, and if they see the value, they will book you. If you can’t explain the value in booking you, than you should see why you weren’t booked.
I got rejected for the first job I applied for here at Sonicbids, but it was something I really wanted. So once a month for a year, I kept following up with emails that showed my interest and eventually found something that was well matched for my skill set.
• Always put your best foot forward
David Ellis (R) with Crispin Giles of NXNE (L)
This is something that you’ll hear in Sonicbids “Quick Chats” all the time, but it is absolutely fundamental. If you ever get the chance to speak with one of our promoters one on one, this will be the first thing they say in terms of what artists need to know to get booked.
Typically, a promoter will make up their mind within 10 seconds if they want to book a band or not. Since, realistically, they may not listen to the 5th song in your EPK, make sure the best stuff is at the beginning. Same with the photo gallery.
I hope this sparks some discussion amongst the Sonicbids community. If any of you want to ask me questions, please feel free to do so via comment. Also, please feel free to tell me how good I look with a fake mustache. If you want to comment about how I should grow a real one, please feel free to do that too.
- David
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