Guidance for new bands wanting to get booked at festivals
The Indispensible Festivals Guide
Thursday 10th December 2009
If you are an unsigned band who is looking to get a festival booking in the summer, here is some advice about how you should go about trying to get a booking from a festival organiser.
Most Festival organisers get inundated with cds and emails from bands they've never heard of, all wishing to play their festivals.
My advice is:
- Target those festivals that look appropriate for you - there's no point a drum 'n' bass outfit contacting a traditional folk festival (but you'd be amazed how many do!)
- Try to stand out from the crowd and make sure any publicity package looks professional.
- If emailing, include a clickable link to a MySpace site or similar where anyone interested in you can see what you're about. A good live video on the site that has instant impact in the first few seconds of viewing can help.
- If you've a fanbase / email database and genuinely believe you can shift some tickets for any festival that books you, say so.
- If you're willing to play for little or no money in order to get exposure, say so.
- If you've a bit of a local following in your area, then target first those festivals within easy travelling distance for your fanbase - nearby organisers may already know of you.
- Be prepared for the fact that many organisers won't even reply (sorry - I get over 50 approaches a day and just don't have time to reply to them all) - be prepared to follow-up with a phone call to those festivals you think are your best bet for a booking - don't be put off by lots of rejections - if you've faith in your own ability then keep going.
by Peter Chegwyn
Organiser, Wickham Festival and
Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival
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