Self-sufficiency is an appealing trait to have, and it could help you move up in your career whether your pursuing a career in art or business. If you’re an up-and-coming artist trying to make it big, self-sufficiency could be the key to growing your stardom. While booking some gigs may require an agent or manager, finding your own gigs is very doable. Here are some tips you can try to find your own gigs and become “booked and blessed.” 

First, stay professional. Since you don’t have representation to do your communication for you, you must double as the talent and the manager. Create a pitch for show venues and talent buyers that is clear and concise. Add a descriptive subject line, make sure your body paragraph is informative, and always end your email with your contact information. Add past performances, links to your work, and any information you think is important to your email. If you don’t get a response after 3-4 days, send a follow-up email or give them a call. Persistence is important! 

Meet as many promoters as you can. Face-to-face interactions are always favorable compared to emails. If there are specific venues you dream of performing at, show up in person to really make a lasting impression. Once a promoter has met you personally, they’re more likely to respond to you later on. Make a day of it and visit different locations with your band members or members of your act to help secure a spot for yourselves. 

Promote yourself online. You never know who’s viewing your content- it could easily be a talent buyer or promoter, or a friend of a promoter, or a friend of a friend of a promoter. The point is, the more online exposure, the better. And the larger audience of users you accumulate online, the higher the chance is of you booking a gig. An active online presence adds credibility to you and your act. 

Once you book a gig, put the effort into maintaining and strengthening relationships with promoters. Always communicate with them before the performance so that they’re not worrying if you’ll show up or not. Additionally, follow up afterward to better your chances of being booked there again. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. If you’re a poor communicator or flaky, it could get out to other venues and hurt your chances of being booked elsewhere. Always leave a good impression.  

Lastly, show them why they booked you in the first place. Perform your best every time so that you leave the audience and the talent booker happy. Give every performance your all and get ready to watch how this helps you book in the future. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to find great gigs and stay booked and blessed.