Monday, October 23rd, 2006
I Am a Good Entertainer How Can I Get Better Gigs?
If you want something you've never had, you've gotta do something you've never done... nothing will ever change until you decide to do something different!
The first step is to find out where you really fit in the overall scheme of things. There are many levels of success. You may be booked for a year in advance and sell-out every performance with outstanding audience responses... on the Eagles Club circuit. Is this success? Of course it is. Can you push your achievements to another level? Very likely... if you are prepared to analyze how and why the acts that play the fairs, casinos and corporate events, etc. have achieved these goals. Study the differences with an open mind and try to make the necessary adjustments. You will likely think you're ready for the next level before you actually are... this is perfectly natural. I receive promotional materials every day from bar performers who believe they belong on the concert circuit. Yes, there are less talented artists than you on the concert circuit... some whose talents may have diminished beyond acceptable levels. But, at one time, these performers had to earn their longevity through competence, hard work and popularity. The fact is, they still have a large, loyal and forgiving following that will purchase tickets to their shows. My question to the wannabe concert artist is always the same... how many tickets can you sell? When you can sell enough tickets to turn a decent profit, the buyers and promoters will be calling you.
Sometimes you have to take the initiative to promote a few of your own concerts to prove to others (and especially to yourself) that you can sell tickets. In the beginning self-promotions often bring a serious dose of reality... which is usually in the form of a much smaller audience than expected. So, learn to expect the unexpected. Always cover your tail with a "free ticket" give-away program to fill the empty seats if required. You should always try and look good in the face of failure. Offer a charity group (with a large membership) a portion of the ticket price for selling them to their membership at a special discount price. Their mailing list and/or telephone solicitation can often sell half your tickets before they go on sale to the general public. This, together with public sales and complimentary tickets can make the venue look full and build a positive momentum for future shows. With a little luck, you can publicize a "sell-out" which always creates immediate attention. And, more asses in the chairs means better CD and t-shirt sales at the back of the room. Don't forget to collect as many e-mail addresses as possible as this is an excellent chance to build on your e-mail list. Learn as much as you can from each event... don't get discouraged, it can take a few years to build a legitimate following. It is more important to look good... perception is everything. Organize as many give-away options as possible. You won't know until the last minute if you're going to flop or not... and you may need to distribute a lot of tickets quickly. So, have a contingency plan ready just in case.
A continued run of "no positive response" from your shows, auditions and promo packages are a sure indication that either you or your promotion method needs some improvement. Karaoke and track show success doesn't make you a good entertainer. It will be your long-term dedication to practice and learning that will make the difference. There is no shortcut to gaining the ability to deliver your talent to an audience with the magic and precision of a seasoned professional. The projected personality, confidence and attitude of a real pro, together with a dialogue that makes an audience laugh and cry, almost at will, is a talent that is developed only over time. This will come eventually with a lot of hard work... and possibly a little sooner with some professional coaching.
Technical ability is only a fraction of the total talent package required to become a complete entertainer. The other requirements (in no particular order) are creativity, image, attitude, charisma, persistence and determination. You won't need all of these attributes to reach success at some level... I know of many performers without much technical ability who have carved out very successful careers for themselves with charisma, persistence and determination. Some of the world's most successful entertainers were initially told "don't quit your day job" only to rise to the top through creative avenues that overcame their technical flaws. The music industry can't explain how an average to poor singer can become a superstar. And so, they qualify these unlikely wonders by labeling them "stylists" as though it is a worthy measure of excellence. And, surely, it can be. Some artists who's vocal abilities are average at best, are talented in other areas and find a way to combine a unique delivery with brilliant lyrics to produce hit records. A few classic examples of such success are: Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Chris Christofferson.
No matter what the musical genre, the process for "getting noticed" is always the same. Once you have acquired some degree of ability, you must assemble a professional promotional package that accurately represents your performance and continually send it to all potential buyers, agents, producers, promoters and party planners that hire your type of entertainment. Do not send your "promo pack" without first contacting the potential recipient by telephone or e-mail and asking permission to do so. Remember, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Your best opportunity to impress will be the quality of your promotional package. Don't exaggerate or include any bogus accomplishments... this can come back to haunt you. Update your promo information regularly and always include a "live" video sample which shows your performance, introductory rap and the audience response. A brief 10 minute variety sample will be sufficient for most buyers. However, a full performance video should be available for the occasion where a potential buyer wants to view an entire performance. This may be requested when the client wishes to be sure you can deliver a full-length performance, or wishes to check out your ability to communicate with the audience. Web sites have a purpose, but rarely reveal enough to hook a worthwhile buyer without some additional firepower. So, don't totally rely on technology
Of all the ingredients needed for success, I can't overemphasize the importance of a good attitude... with it, you stand a strong chance of getting assistance and guidance wherever you go... without it, your career will likely be filled with endless obstacles. And, you may never, ever really understand how or why you didn't get where you wanted to go.
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Posted By Les Vogt @ 12:00 AM
Author's site: http://www.members.shaw.ca/lesvogt
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