Pimp Your Music Business Plan – 6 Characteristics Your Booker Doesn’t Have

If you read my last post, then you’re probably aware that I suggest designating only a single booker to take care of your live bookings. Today, I want to list a few characteristics I believe every booker should have, in order to positively impact the band’s business.

What Is A Booker Made Of?

Below you will find my list of 6 characteristics that I believe every booker should have. Enjoy!

1. People’s person

Just like most businesses out there, booking is a relationship business. The designated booker has to be someone that can easily work around people. He’s got to be a people’s person. He should be able to communicate effectively and know how to create bonds with different venues.

2. Handle rejections

If the designated booker knows how to handle rejections, even better. In the music business, getting rejected is part of the deal, so make sure you don’t designate someone who is too emotional about rejection (Hint: No daddy issues here).

3. Persistent

Another quality you should look for is persistence.  He should know how to chase his leads. Working the venue until they cave in, this needs special skills if you don’t want to come over as an obnoxious business. On the other hand, knowing when to quit should also be part of the reputation management arsenal of your booker. After all, this is a business and you want to take care of your brand and reputation.

4. Consistent

How regular do you play gigs? Once every 2-3 months? Once a month? Or do you play every week? Or even, do you play 3 weeks in a row, then 2 months later you have another gig, and finish it off a year later with another? A booker has to be consistent in his job. Depending on your band’s strategy (more on this later), you will have to work out how often you want to play live. Then you have to make sure your booker is consistent with booking them at those specified intervals.

5. Available

Do I need to say that your booker has to be available at all times? Not only venues, but also the band has to be able to contact the booker at all times. Just imagine losing an amazing gig opportunity because the booker was unreachable. This is a dynamic world, things happen all the time. Make sure he is aware of this.

6. Strategic

Does your booker have a plan? He shouldn’t just be booking whatever comes along. He should stick to a strategy. Better yet, work out your band’s live performance strategy together with the booker. You’ll probably have to think about why you’ll be performing live. Is it to gain new fans, or to maintain the existing ones? Are you going to focus on small or big venues? What kind of price strategy will you be pursuing? How will you cover your costs? etc.

Tell me, what is your booker made of?

Do you book your own gigs or do you rely on a booking agency? Let me know in the comments.

Photo: Men in Black by g-mikee