How to Land A Booking Agent from a Booking Agent’s PerspectiveBy Carlos Keyes

How To Land A Booking Agent Landing an agent that wholeheartedly believes in your music is the

pinnacle of a prosperous career as an artist. As president of my own entertainment agency, I get countless emails on a daily basis from artists seeking representation. There are a few key points that I look for in an act before I consider answering their request.

As a booking agent for over 20 years, it’s obvious to me that this is a topic that needs to be addressed. There are so many artists looking for representation. There are two types of artists that appeal to booking agents: the artist that has a following and that already sells tickets; and the artist that does not have a following but exudes major potential. Usually, agents lean more towards the established artist. Artists that will bring in revenue, however, they always have room for one baby act. An act would have to show maximum potential in the agent’s eyes.

So, how do you convince an agent that you are the undiscovered gem they’ve been waiting for? Here are a couple of steps to get your foot in the door with a reputable booking agent.

Presentation I get many emails and packages from artists seeking

representation. The number one offense that I come across is presentation. Being an artist is your craft and you should put love and effort into everything you do for it. That being said, your photos should be high quality, not cell phone photos. Your demos should not sound like you’re singing in the bathroom. You should have a clean, professional and appealing website.

Hone in on your look. As an artist, your image is a large part of your appeal. Who is your audience? Hiring a personal stylist or an image consultant to assist you in this process would be a smart investment. Your image should mirror your music and your audience.

The Obvious Social Media Presence We all know that social media is important, but it is the

most cost effective and clever approach to acquire free advertising and promotion. A strong social media presence with heavy engagement is key. Make sure that all your followers are real. I am sure that it may be tempting to buy likers or followers; but in the end, this only damages to your image. Any music veteran can spot fake social media. Organically build your fan base through engagement. Schedule a time of the week to write back to your fans comments and requests. Utilize sites and apps to their fullest potential. Be consistent with your posts. Most importantly, make sure your image and your content coincide with each other. It’s not always about the numbers but more about fans that are passionate about you.

Sum up In conclusion, with these two main ingredients

in fruition, you can confidently present yourself to agencies when you feel you are ready to make a pitch. You will present a more polished and professional scope of yourself as an artist. In turn, your future agent will see a diamond in the rough, ready to be polished and presented into the music industry.