Get More Gigs
Back to Artist Home Click headings to reveal text. Define yourself, your identity and your music – be unique Supply far outweighs demand Work up your ‘elevator pitch’ Put yourself into perspective Diversify your output Be memorable – for the right reasons Your EPK (Electronic Press Kit) Audio Image Copy Additional digital content CVs, biographies […]
Back to Artist Home
Click headings to reveal text.
Define yourself, your identity and your music – be unique
- Supply far outweighs demand
- Work up your ‘elevator pitch’
- Put yourself into perspective
- Diversify your output
- Be memorable – for the right reasons
Your EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
- Audio
- Image
- Copy
- Additional digital content
- CVs, biographies
Audio Recordings
- Provide online access to your music
- Show variety and accuracy
- Use complete tracks
- Present your strongest work first
- Include your contact details
- Include track titles, composers and dates
Copy – for the audience
- Focus on the experiential
- Speak to an audience with no specialist knowledge
- Cite inspiration or unusual aspects
- Ask a non-specialist for their comments
- Use short and snappy press quotes
- Avoidname-droppinglists
- Avoid widely-used or general terms and repetition
Copy – for the promoter
- Present clear and uncluttered information
- Provide a 30-50 word summary
- Keep biog info short
Typical mjf brochure/web listing
Benoit Martiny Band
Festival Pavilion
17.00 (60 mins)
mjf international
Benoit Martiny drums
Jasper van Damme alto saxophone
Joao Driessen tenor saxophone
Frank Jonas guitar
Sandor Kem double bass
On their UK debut, this high-energy Luxembourgish band has its roots in garage rock, punky-
thrash metal and jazz: concise, uplifting tunes and great fun to watch.
benoitmartiny.com
Listen here:
£3
manchesterjazz.com/tickets
mjf friend discount available
Presented in association with music:LX Luxembourg Export Office
Pitfalls: avoid copy that doesn’t say anything useful
Images
- Be distinctive
- Get a professional photographer
- Use close-ups
- Provide high-resolution images (300 dpi)
- Use colour photography
- Avoid clutter in live shots
- Include instrument(s) if possible
- Provide a selection of different images
- Image manipulation is OK
- Convey mood and expression
- Avoid shots of guys against a city wall
- Provide J-pegs or similar files
Finding the right gigs
- Research other programmes
- Show how you could play a part in them
- There is no single database of promoters
- Use your contacts and ask peers
- Be aware of exclusion zones
- Be aware of promoter preferences
- DIY gigs – pros and cons
Establishing the relationship
- Personalise your OGM
- Supply your up-to-date contact details
- Identify who to contact at each venue
- Note any deadlines for Artists’ Submissions
- Put yourself on mailing lists
- Identify the time for follow up call
- Stay patient, polite but persistent
- Understand the risk
- Interpret a ‘no’ as a ‘not yet’
3 Top Tips
- USP – what are your unique selling points?
- OGM – what is your outgoing message?
- TWR – develop a three-way relationship with promoters and audiences
© Jazz North 2016