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You’ve put together your EPK and are ready to submit your materials to the many awesome listings on Sonicbids. Now what?
Do your homework
A lot of artists treat submissions like lottery tickets. This might seem like an exciting idea, but remember that the lottery has its downside – like the fact that your odds are generally 1 in several million. However, the odds of getting even the most in-demand gigs are not only significantly better to start with, but by choosing gigs wisely and being sure you present yourself in the best possible way, you can make the odds even better.
• Use the search tools. Want to see all of the opportunities in South Carolina that have submission fees under $10? How about all of the Boston-based opportunities? The Advanced Search can make it happen. It even lets you save up to five searches so you can pull them up quickly next time you log in. To access the Advanced Search log into your account, go to the Promoter Drop Box and click the Advanced Search link.
Sonicbids artists like Black Betty and The Downbeat 5 have had great success on Sonicbids and attribute this to doing their homework and being selective. Here are some tips they sent us:
•Don’t chase something just because other artists do. While a lot of those opportunities really are fun, ask yourself: Is this opportunity right for my music/performance? Will this event help me meet my particular list of goals? What are the ways I can make my submission stand out for a promoter? Am I what they’re looking for? “If I read a gig listing and it doesn’t scream ‘Me’, I’ll generally move on,” comments Black Betty.
• Focus on your niche and utilize the heck out of it. “We have a theatrical, sexy, burlesque vibe to the band even though our music is straight up rock,” says Black Betty. “The group is also female fronted, and we’re located in New England. Seeking gigs specifically targeting these themes has usually resulted in success for our submissions.”
• Do your due diligence, which is a lawyer-y way of saying: Do your research. Start by reading all the details on the Drop Box gig listing page. Then review the promoter’s Web site. These days, there’s almost no end to the details you can dig up about gigs, the people who put them together and, really, just about everything else. Find that information.
• High profile gigs have high profile expectations. Map out your career path, and be realistic about where you are and what the next steps are. The Downbeat 5 makes a great down to earth point. “Start small. Some of the major festivals and conferences get tons of people submitting, and they come at a significant submission cost. If you’re just starting out, start small. Submit to local venues or local conferences. These won’t cost as much, and you’ll have more of a shot at getting booked.”
• Yes, you can contact the promoter. You can use the good old telephone, or reach them with the Email My EPK tool, which allows you add a note. What’s posted is usually plentiful, but don’t be afraid to speak up if you have other questions. Maybe you want to know how long they’ve managed this opportunity, what other projects they’ve worked on, or if they can provide references of other performers they’ve worked with. Remember, the artist-promoter relationship is a two-way street. You’re two halves of a whole, and you need each other.
Make your messages and submissions personal. Impress the promoter by doing some research into things they’ve done professionally. If you’re sincerely interested in their projects, it makes sense to make that interest apparent in your correspondence with them.
• The Downbeat 5 recognizes that Sonicbids gives them access to many different markets and gig types, not just live events. “A licensing gig is still a gig. Put it in your calendar so promoters can see it when they’re looking at your gigs to see how active you are. If your music is going to be in an indie film, put “Name of Film” (“Name of Song” featured in scene X) as your venue title, and the date the film is released as the performance date.
Playing live on the radio? That’s a gig, too. Get that in your calendar. Not playing live, but they’re playing you on a radio show? Put it in the “Press” section of your EPK. Don’t forget, any exposure is good exposure. Sonicbids has tons of magazines, podcasts and more in our Promoter Drop Box. The more places people hear you, the broader your fan base will become.”
Ready to find the right gig for you?
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