Indie Artists: Be Your Own Booking Agent

27-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

Time to Drop the Booking Agent, Here’s How to Book Your Own Shows

No one knows better than an indie artist how frustrating and stressful it can be to book shows, tour, and perform. The struggle, when it comes to getting in touch with venues, managers and bookers, is quite real. Hiring a booking agent may seem like the easy answer, but if the royalties aren’t exactly flowing in yet, you might not be in the financial position to do this. What to do, then? Let’s not forget that we are the DIY generation, we do it ourselves. Here’s how to book your own shows.

Perhaps you’ve made a list of all the venues that would fit your music, sound, and style, and yet it’s nearly impossible to get them to give you a decent time slot. You will most likely get an 11pm weeknight spot or a 3pm Sunday afternoon one, and we all know that no one is going to miss brunch to catch your new band at what promises to be an empty, desolated venue.

When you ask for a better, higher profile slot, the booking agent usually says: “Well, how many people can you draw?”. If the answer is more than 20, then you’ve got yourself a Friday night show. However, if your response is anything less, you’ll have to wait patiently in line until your following is bigger.

Which brings us to our next point.

Book Others, to Book Yourself.

How is a band supposed to grow a fan base if the only shows they can play occur when people are watching Netflix or in a yoga class? Good question indeed. Those who manage to bring a good crowd are those who are either already established or have a lot of friends in town. Venues are not going to bet on a new indie artist nor are they looking for the next big act to feature before they blow up. Venues want to break even. They want to see the money they spend on a typical Friday night come back in full, and if possible make a little profit.

Be your own booking agent. Look for an equally unknown band that shares your ambitions, ethos, and sound and put a show together. Perhaps, pick a less reputable venue in your town; smaller and more intimate is ideal. Make sure you market the show as a party; a night to have some fun and enjoy some live music. Startups like Sofar Sounds have built a brand around this exact experience and platforms like youbloomConnect match local indie artists with one another, making it easy for bands to come together and book.

Each band will bring their friends, and if you advertised the event properly, their friends will bring other friends looking for a fun night.

Play the show, distribute some t-shirts, have a beer and repeat.

One of two things will happen. You will either get a call from the bigger venues looking to book your band or you won’t need them anymore because your fan base has been growing without their help.

You should hope for the latter.

About the Blogger

Luca a freelance writer, blogger, musician and songwriter. Born and
raised in Italy, his passion for Rock n Roll made him move to London where he
lived for one year and gained a certificate in Songwriting from ICMP.
Luca relocated in NYC in 2014 to pursue jazz music and liberal arts at the
The New School from which he graduated in December 2017. Luca currently
resides in Nashville, TN

How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Music Project

24-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

So you’ve got a great proposal for a music project, but how are you going to get it off the ground? Whatever this proposal contains and whatever music you’re planning to embark on, you’ll need the most important tools to get funding and this will come from a grant. A grant will take the financial load off of you and increase your chances of success.

If you have a good idea, you need good financial backing to get it off the ground. You may be creatively bright and your ideas may be promising, however, if you don’t have the funds you need, it’s going to be difficult for you to start your music project effectively. There’s a lot of money being given out on music grants, for instance, the UK Arts Council planned to invest over £1 billion in 2016, but nevertheless, the grant application is a highly competitive process. Getting a good grant from an arts organisation or funding body is doable as long as you write an outstanding proposal.

Without access to a grant, you may find that your music project lacks the essence you have in mind and it may fall behind other projects, so do your project justice and secure a grant today. Let’s consider how to write a proposal that will engage the audience and help get your project started.

Research That Could Help

In order to secure the best grant you can, you’ll need to do thorough research about what kind of opportunities are present. Create a definitive list of all the grant bodies and funding opportunities that exist within your local area – just like when you look through a list of the best up and coming bands, it’s good to have a base which you can target in the future. If you’re at college, a lot of colleges have grant schemes for promising students, so look into these. Often, colleges are legally obliged to offer a certain amount of money for grants, so there may be something in it for you.

Make use of who you know in order to reach out for grants and information on accessing grants. Perhaps you’re in a strong music scene where a lot of other live musicians have been given grants in the past? Ask around and see where these musicians may have gained funding.

Yes, you read that right. With every grant body, there are strict criteria for what is needed to make an application, so do take time to meticulously check if you qualify. It may take a long time, however, there is nothing worse than writing out a bespoke grant proposal for a body that won’t be able to award you one in the first place – it’s simply a waste of time. Paying attention to the eligibility criteria will give you the best chances in terms of knowing what you can apply for. Get organised, create spreadsheets and make some calls if need be – whatever it takes to secure the best grant for you.

Don’t Sit Behind Your Computer

It’s important that you don’t just sit behind your computer and expect a grant to appear before your eyes. Be proactive in your approach when you look through your list to see the grant bodies that are applicable for you. A great way to help yourself is for someone else to help you.

Apply for a granting agent and let them see how they can help you send your application and make it stand out. There are many professionals with a lot more contacts than you, so it can be wise to make use of agents to assist you in your grant application process.

The Application Process

Depending on which body you’re applying for, you will need to state the reasons for your project and its value in a succinct and professional manner. Try to convince grant bodies that it is your project that they should get behind and only yours. Think of how your project can add value and drive this through in your application.

Be sure when you’re looking through the assessment criteria that you nail every point on the head. There is no room for complacency and error because these grant applications are highly competitive. You shouldn’t feel down about rejection either – research has found that almost 80% of applications are rejected by grant bodies. Do not procrastinate and write with a professional feel, giving yourself ample time to tailor each grant application to the body you’re sending it to.

Submit and Wait

Before you submit your grant, double check that you have included all supporting materials that can aid your application chances. Have you put in enough videos or recordings? Are all your references up-to-date? Whatever the application requirements are, be as professional as you can in your approach and think about how you can achieve all the requirements sufficiently.

Success?

When you get the grant that you wanted, it’s necessary to report on the project after its completion. Just like with your grant application, it is vital that you produce this report with the utmost professionalism so that you can have the best chance in the future to apply for further grants. Grant bodies and funders would like to know how you have made an impact with their funding. Collect necessary data and include it in your report in order to reassure the body that they have made the right decision. Whatever information you can provide, whether it’s quantitative information on interaction with your music or references from those that have heard it, put the necessary details in.

We’re not through yet! Think about the long term when you are writing this report and try to establish a long lasting relationship with the organisation that has given you funding. Often, a lot of the organisations are in a close circle, so a good reputation will allow you to access greater funding for your projects at a later date. You don’t want to burn any bridges – quite the opposite. Even if you haven’t received the money you’d hoped for or if your project hasn’t gone as well as it could have, keep good relations with those that have helped you.

Conclusion

There is a lot to be gained with funding for your musical project, so show the grant bodies that you are established, eager to achieve a result and can bring the benefits to them. It is crucial that the body is best informed about why they should be giving money to you. Be professional and make use of the advice above to create a perfect grant proposal. Best of luck.

Have you had much experience in the grant application process? Perhaps you know why a grant can be accepted or rejected. Share your thoughts on the matter and leave us a comment below.

BIO: Lori Wade is a content writer for custom-writings.net who is interested in a wide range of spheres from education and online marketing to entrepreneurship. She is also an aspiring tutor striving to bring education to another level like we all do. If you are interested in writing, you can find her on Twitter or Google+ or find her on other social media. Read and take over Lori’s useful insights!

You’ve Been Writing Song Lyrics Wrong

08-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

As musical styles progress and change with the times, one thing is for certain, writing song lyrics continues to play a vital part in what sets artists from being good to being considered a great. So for those of you currently in a creative drought, here is some advice from a few of the greats.

Jimi Hendrix on Artistic Liberties with the Facts

“Imagination is the key to my lyrics. The rest is painted with a little science fiction.”

–Jimi Hendrix

Many artists pigeonhole themselves by believing that every word written must be 100% accurate to their lives and story they are telling. Of course, speaking from your own personal experiences is vital in creating meaningful music. But the point is to get your message across in the best way possible. Sometimes, this might involve a little science fiction.

Dolly Parton on Throwing Yourself into the Process

“It’s therapy. It’s fun. It’s creative. I love getting on a big writing binge and staying up a couple days working on song and knowing at the end of those two or three days that I’ve created something that was never in the world before.”

–Dolly Parton

If this is your passion, don’t be afraid to throw yourself into your work. The stories of artists writing a hit song in 5 minutes’ time, on a napkin, in an airport is incredible! But most great songs come from hard work, dedication, and focus from the artist. This mean sitting down and wrestling with a song until it feels right.

John Mayer on Speaking Your Own Truth

“I hope that what it comes down to at the end of the day is that people believe that I believe what I’m singing. It comes down to being believable.”

–John Mayer

Authenticity is key in songwriting and producing. This may seem strange since the first piece of advice was to stretch the truth in the songwriting process. Don’t be confused, there is a difference between writing a nonfiction story to produce a personal truth, and writing a meaningless song for the sake of staying on trend. Be true to your artistic endeavors and creative process because the song will thus come across genuine to the listeners.

Now go on and be inspired to create and then when it comes time to perform, remember to sign up for youbloomConnect to get the chance to connect with your fans and other artists to grow not only your fan base but your connections in the industry. To get more information on how youbloom can help you book more gigs across the world and have the chance to play at #youbloomLA and #youbloomDublin, follow the link: http://www.youbloom.com/

House shows are the New Frontier of the DIY

02-May-2018 By Guest Blogger

There’s a new way to get your band out there: house shows.

Playing local clubs and venues is certainly a must for any emerging band. But the networking opportunity that might spring from throwing house shows is something not to sleep on. It might seem counter-intuitive that playing a house show is more fruitful than a local club. It’s not, and here’s why.

It’s Cheap

Playing a house show is a great way for your friends and fans to save a ton of money. No cover charge or overpriced drinks to deter potential guests! Sure they are going to want to drink, but let guests bring their own beverages. And everybody knows that a six pack from your local store is cheaper than a tall boy at a bar. And most importantly, it lasts longer. More people are encouraged to come, have a good time, and spend the few bucks they saved on some merch.

You’ll Definitely Fill the Room

Second, unless your marketing skills are extraordinary or you are playing your hometown, your band is definitely going to have a better time playing in front of a house show audience than a half empty room at a club. And if your band is coming up in the club scene, check out our tips on how to ace those live shows. It takes practically nothing to gather 50 people to a house party, the only thing you have to say is “Hey, there’s a house party”. You won’t even have to add “Bring your friends”. That’s a given.

It’s Easy

Third, you are way more likely to build a fruitful relationship with other bands at a house show than at a local club. A party is a familiar environment, even for someone who’s somewhat of an introvert or just doesn’t know anyone else except their bandmates.

It’s a lot easier to go up to someone and chat at a house party than at a club with loud music playing, people sticking to their friend groups, and bands always busy loading their gear or getting lost at the bar.

In an era where DIY is king, house shows must be queen.

youbloom is all about helping bands build relationships in unexpected places. If you could see yourself hosting a show in your own space, check out youbloomConnect to see what we can do to connect you to a CityRep and a band near you.

Luca is a freelance writer, blogger, musician and songwriter. Born and raised in Italy, his passion for Rock n Roll made him move to London where he lived for one year and gained a certificate in Songwriting from ICMP. Luca relocated in NYC in 2014 to pursue jazz music and liberal arts at the The New School from which he graduated in December 2017. Luca currently resides in Nashville, TN.

5 Tips for Playing Successful Shows

19-Apr-2018 By Guest Blogger

Back To The Ocean Performing at Youbloom Festival

A few tips to playing successful shows

Imagine you just moved to a new town. No friends or musician pals, let alone connections with the local music scene. What do you do? The easy answer would be: get a band together and start playing successful shows , but that is not always the fastest track to local success.

When you’re trying to establish yourself as an artist in the local scene, your goal should not simply be to put a show together, but to put together a successful show. The difference is enormous. Here’s a few tips of how to make that happen.

1. Know your Target

As an artist, you should be crystal clear about what your skill set, goal and target is. An emerging artist should not count booking a show an end goal in itself.

The details are what matters the most: who is coming to catch your band play? Are you going to be performing for a near-empty room, with only your roommate and parents there to watch?

If you’re a rock ‘n’ roller, on the other hand, your natural habitat should be the DIY scene. Do your research. Who are the best local bands that gravitate towards your sound? Where do they usually play? Are they playing successful shows? Where do they go for a pint?

2. Be a Fan

Once you’ve gathered your data, take action. Go see their shows, follow them on social media, see what they’re up to and what their strategy is. Artists should learn from each others’ success as well as mistakes.

Back To The Ocean Playing successful shows at youbloom festival — If you’re a songwriter and producer you may wanna play acoustic rounds and hang out where the local songwriters are, rather than at a dive bar populated by rock bands.

3. Don’t be a Stranger

Most importantly, befriend these fellow rockers. Approach them after their show, buy them a beer and make friends. If you’re the shy type who likes to stand in the back and just enjoy the show, get another member of your band to be the social one. Or, fight yourself and make an effort to exchange a few words and perhaps a little booze with them.

Whether you’re a hit writer or an indie rocker, you never know where meeting new people may lead you. You might end up co-writing a number 1 hit on a chill afternoon session with a writer you met randomly at a show. Or, you might end up headlining a national tour with a small-time band that broke through – and all because you had the guts to go talk to them after a set at your local dive.

Don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone, because that is what’s going to change your perspective on things and ultimately lead you to a more efficient strategy for your career.

4. Offer Up your Skills

Take time out of your own life to make friends with those acts that already establish themselves in the local scene. Ask if they would like you to open for them. That way you will most likely play to a room full of people who are probably into music or musicians themselves.

5. Schmooze

Playing Successful Shows at youbloom Festival — Back To The Ocean and Anna Christie perform at the youbloom Festival

By opening for your new-found friends, you’ll be making a name for yourself as a new band around town, and you’ll be gaining their fans in the process. Throw a nice after-party after the show where you can properly hang out with your new fans and you’ll have a recipe for success.

Networking and making friends is crucial and takes a lot of work and dedication. If you’re looking for a simpler way to join these networks, check out youbloom Connect – where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road. Whether you reach out, or decide to do it alone, do yourself a favor: get out more and meet like-minded people. Many of them might not be your next musical partner in crime, but the worst that’ll happen is you’ll have more friends.