Do you dream of headlining a giant music pageant?
Not surprisingly, an important step in the direction of that aim is: reserving your FIRST music pageant slot!
With 1,000+ annual music festivals within the USA and Europe alone, there’s an entire world of alternative on the market so that you can wow IRL audiences together with your reside present.
On this article we’ll discover:
- the professionals and cons of pageant performances
- know for those who’re prepared for a pageant gig
- and some other ways to e-book your first pageant slot
Let’s dive in!
Why play music festivals?
This would possibly sound like a wierd place to start out, however it’s value asking: Do you actually WANT to discover music pageant alternatives?
Some festivals are superb, career-defining experiences:
Coachella, Glastonbury, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Pageant, Newport People Pageant, ZoukOut, Rolling Loud, Lollapalooza Brasil…
Impress these audiences and your music shall be throughout TikTok and Instagram. As memorable as it might be to rock a kind of levels, although, your presence at a pageant of that calibre in all probability means you’ve already constructed your profession to a sure degree.
Smaller music festivals offer you an opportunity to:
On the best way there, you’ll have to contemplate OTHER sorts of festivals. Small festivals catering to area of interest genres. Upstart festivals that spotlight your metropolis or area’s artwork scene. Or model new occasions that haven’t been confirmed but.
- Carry out in entrance of probably the most devoted music followers in a geographic area
- Attain curious listeners who’re open to discovering new sounds throughout genres
- Construct your pageant resumé
- Meet, befriend, or collaborate with different up-and-coming acts
However let’s be sincere: You may additionally encounter disorganized festivals. Crap attendance. Failed promotion. Unhealthy climate. Scammy administrators. Horrible sound and manufacturing. And actually, is there something worse than dangerous sound at an outside gig? The reply is no.
Enjoying a music pageant might be unforgettable. Unforgettably nice or disastrous. I’m not making an attempt to discourage you. Simply need to set some lifelike expectations:
Not all festivals are created equal. Your mileage could range.
Some issues to contemplate about music pageant alternatives
Journey prices versus pay
What’s the compensation to your efficiency? How distant is the pageant? Do you want a lodge? Are you able to e-book different tour dates in your method there and again? How a lot will you pay in gasoline and meals?
If it’s a fantastic pageant alternative, it might be definitely worth the journey for breakeven or perhaps a slight loss. However you’ll need to suppose by these calculations beforehand.
Time and visibility of your pageant slot
I stated above that not all festivals are created equal. The identical goes for slots inside any given pageant.
What good is enjoying a pageant in case your set is early within the day whereas attendees are sleeping off a hangover, or for those who’re enjoying probably the most inconvenient stage concurrently a main-stage act that may draw crowds AWAY from you?
Should you’re not conversant in the pageant first-hand, ask round to realize perspective. Learn opinions on-line. Try TikTok, Instagram, Fb, and YouTube for video from the earlier yr’s occasion, with a particular search focus in your slot, stage, and time.
Stage of pageant viewers engagement
Whereas it’s usually the case that music pageant attendees are open-minded and enthusiastic, it will also be true that… they’re not particularly there for YOUR music.
An enormous pageant with many competing levels can have the sensation of an all-you-can-eat buffet, the place listeners pattern a little bit of this, a little bit of that, however don’t absolutely put money into something besides the headliners.
Different festivals — like Portland, Oregon’s Pickathon — put an enormous emphasis on new music, and create an surroundings the place attendees are actually excited to listen to the lesser-known acts.
So once more, perform a little analysis to get a way for whether or not precise music discovery is going on on the smaller levels.
The truth of pageant merch gross sales
That is one other space that may be an enormous win or a giant disappointment.
Should you slay, your new followers could bounce on the probability to satisfy you on the merch desk (assuming merch gross sales are permitted in the course of the pageant). Nevertheless it is also true that within the rush of an action-packed pageant, your viewers strikes rapidly to the subsequent set.
That is yet one more space the place a little analysis might help you set correct expectations.
Alternative prices
Your default assumption might be that the pageant IS your alternative. Nevertheless it’s value asking what you’ll be giving as much as play the pageant.
That might be the financial prices we talked about above, however it is also different paying gigs you must decline.
To pageant, or to not pageant?
Now even for those who complete up the worst of all of the above situations: Small stage, early hours, unfocused viewers, no merch gross sales, turning down gigs at residence…
… enjoying your first music pageant should still be value it.
It’s a foot-in-the-door and a resumé-builder. An opportunity to make an influence on just a few new listeners. A solution to familiarize your self with a brand new efficiency surroundings. A problem to push by discomfort and acquire confidence for future reveals.
In different phrases, the expertise alone — even when it’s removed from supreme — could also be a progress alternative value pursuing.
However are you READY to carry out at a music pageant?
When you’ve answered whether or not a pageant is best for you, you’ll have to determine in case you are proper for the pageant.
Listed below are 9 issues that music festivals will search for when reserving acts:
1. Nice efficiency expertise
The time to show to your self (and others) you can persistently ship a tremendous reside present is BEFORE you try and take the pageant stage.
Music festivals are, clearly, efficiency occasions! So that you need to be well-rehearsed and have loads of stage expertise earlier than submitting to festivals.
Festivals need to know you’ll hold audiences engaged, not flip them away, which might diminish the popularity of the general occasion.
In case your present is nice AND distinctive, all the higher — as a result of that uniqueness could make it easier to verify off just a few of the opposite packing containers under.
2. High quality live-performance video
It’s not sufficient to play nice reveals. It’s worthwhile to have proof. Which means: video and picture documentation of you sounding nice and your viewers loving it.
Assuming the pageant workers hasn’t heard you carry out earlier than, this reside content material (which must be simply accessible in your web site and YouTube) would be the major method a pageant can assess what you’ll deliver to their occasion.
Some common guidelines for reside efficiency movies:
- Seize nice sound — No distorted digital camera mic. No crowd dialog speaking over the music.
- Present the viewers — Once more, the booker needs proof you’ll be able to transfer the room. If the venue is packed, seize the gang. If the venue isn’t packed, seize footage of the band close-up to the stage, after which get extra footage shut up on particular person viewers faces.
- Keep away from the tripod shot — The immobile digital camera behind the room is boring. Have somebody maintain the digital camera and transfer round to spotlight the bodily dynamics of your efficiency.
- “At residence” is okay — Should you can’t seize video of a gig, you need to at the very least have a reside efficiency video from your own home, rehearsal house, and so forth. It’s also possible to take video from home live shows if that’s acceptable to your style and the viewers consents to being on digital camera.
3. A clearly outlined musical model
Try to be previous the purpose of your musical journey the place you’re discovering who you’re, what you must say, and what your sound is.
This isn’t to counsel you’ll be able to’t change and evolve, however relatively… you need to’ve already made a transparent musical assertion, backed by a visible aesthetic and a way of story that resonate with a specific viewers.
As EDM-festival organizer Evan Bailey says:
“Whatever the model of music you like, it’s necessary to have an outlined sound and attempt to be an innovator. Though that’s simpler stated than accomplished — too usually, younger artists imitate what they hear working elsewhere. Though inspiration is a part of any artist’s work, it’s necessary to essentially develop your individual sound, look, and so forth. On the enterprise aspect, it helps promoters when artists have an outlined and distinctive manufacturers, too.”
Your model, nearly as a lot as your songs and efficiency expertise, shall be an necessary consider how severely a pageant considers your participation.
4. Trade buzz and social traction
All festivals need to set up a sort of cultural relevance. Pageant administrators and bookers need to really feel assured that they’re hiring the very best expertise inside their means.
The extra buzz and traction round your music, within the press, amongst the business and fellow acts, and on social, the higher. That reveals the festivals that you just’ll deliver the thrill issue.
After all the extent of buzz you’ll want to attain will differ based mostly on the profile of the pageant. However all this to say, your first pageant slot will in all probability be an occasion that coincides with or follows your social progress and networking. It gained’t precede it.
5. An official launch with momentum
To place this merely, most festivals are reserving acts who’ve launched music on standard DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music. Even for those who’ve solely dropped just a few singles, that counts!
However most festivals are NOT contemplating acts with zero output, or output that has gotten zero consideration.
6. Accessible and digestible pitch info
No matter you wanna name it — an EPK, an ABOUT web page, a one-sheet — you’ll want an simply accessible part of your web site the place you’ll be able to embody all of the related info {that a} pageant planner will need to see when contemplating your act for his or her occasion.
You’ll be squeezing rather a lot into this web page, so attempt to make it as punchy and digestible as doable.
Your web site’s festival-pitch web page ought to include:
- Hyperlinks to your music on the preferred DSPs
- Hyperlinks to your TikTok, Instagram, and X profiles (if relevant)
- A brief bio (one or two paragraphs)
- A abstract of your social stats, viewers dimension and demographics, and so forth.
- An embedded YouTube video of your performing reside
- Hello-res picture(s)
- Press quotes
- Highlights out of your touring historical past
- Your pageant historical past (although for those who’re studying this text, you in all probability don’t have that but!)
- Testimonials from expertise patrons, venue house owners, and even followers — about your reside present
- Contact data
7. Availability and dedication
This in all probability sounds apparent, however be sure you’re really accessible to play the occasion earlier than you make your pitch.
Affirm the supply of everybody else in your act. Be certain that each they every mark their calendars with tentative holds.
8. An unforgettable pageant second
Among the finest methods to point your worth to the pageant is to arrange a pitch that features a efficiency promise.
Are you able to do one thing throughout your pageant slot that simply screams “viral second?” One thing that may make the viewers seize for his or her cameras? One thing they’ll go residence speaking about greater than the rest they noticed on the pageant?
Your unforgettable music fest efficiency might embody:
- A complete set collaboration with one other act
- A shock visitor for a track or two
- An enormous reveal
- A efficiency stunt or emotionally-connective second
- A tribute to a different artist or album
- A prop (however not tiny Stonehenge!)
Determine make that second a actuality. After which put it in your pitch.
9. Artist and viewers demographics
Grant-funded festivals could have standards to meet as they construct the lineup.
For example, some Canadian occasions are obliged to characteristic a sure proportion of Canadian artists.
Different occasions could also be guided by a particular mission assertion that may favor sure artist candidates based mostly on style, age, race, geography, or different demographics. And naturally many festivals are pushed to current a various lineup out of a way of social duty, or just because it makes a greater occasion.
As IndieWeek founder Darryl Hurs defined:
“Range and demographics are a giant issue, as pageant promoters have gotten extra delicate to creating positive that everyone is included.”
All that to say, you’ll need to pay attention to the what, who, and the place of each the artist lineup and the attendees. Should you might help the pageant obtain a aim in addition to simply being nice on stage, don’t draw back from mentioning it!
Ideas for locating your first music pageant slot
As soon as you’re certified to take the pageant stage, how do you discover your first pageant slot? Listed below are some pointers to level you in the proper path.
Begin with native music festivals
Be lifelike: You’re in all probability not going to make your pageant debut on the Newport People Pageant. They’re extraordinarily selective and plan lengthy prematurely.
Like most issues in music, it’s best to make your mark amongst smaller communities first, whether or not they’re on-line or in your geographic area.
To your first pageant, begin by trying in your hometown. Ask native bands and venues. And naturally, go to your native festivals!
Search for NON-music festivals
There are different causes to throw a pageant, and typically these non-music occasions will nonetheless have music levels.
After I lived in Oregon, as an illustration, I performed an annual meals pageant on the river with an enormous mainstage for music. Though attendees hadn’t arrived particularly for the music, it was nonetheless a big viewers of folks that caught round to hear. In my present hometown, there’s a summer time beerfest that has a number of music acts all through the day. Come for the beer, keep for the music.
So don’t be afraid to start out your search outdoors of music. Speak to metropolis workers and Chamber of Commerce reps. They’ll pay attention to what occasions are within the works.
Plan at the very least a yr prematurely
Timing is all the pieces. And most profitable occasions take a very long time to plan, promote, and produce.
Begin your analysis and your pitching early.
Meet individuals within the pageant world!
Networking. It’s necessary in most fields. And festivals aren’t any exception.
First, remember to observe the accounts of festivals you might need to play sometime. Comply with AND have interaction! Not solely will this assist the planners get conversant in you, however you’ll be able to keep up-to-date on the most recent pageant bulletins and deadlines (that are often shared on social).
However don’t begin and finish with Instagram and TikTok. You possibly can usually have a extra significant dialog with individuals on LinkedIn, Discord, or Reddit.
And even perhaps extra impactful than on-line networking, attend business occasions and music conferences! I often attend People Alliance Worldwide yearly, and there are reps from a number of the largest festivals in people and Americana music at that occasion.
Certain, there might be an expense to journey to a networking occasion reminiscent of that, however you get to satisfy lots of people face-to-face, multi function place, get your questions answered immediately, and go residence with extra confidence once you observe up on these conversations.
And keep in mind your native business mixers, musician union meetups, and extra. If there are worthwhile music festivals in your space, there’s sure to be somebody who is aware of somebody at these occasions.
Get a reserving agent
I do know, I do know. That’s simpler stated than accomplished.
And also you may not be prepared for a reserving agent. In any case, a reserving agent expects to be paid fee based mostly on the gigs you’re enjoying. Are you performing sufficient worthwhile gigs per yr to justify their work? Many brokers gained’t even think about you as a shopper till you’ve confirmed to tour a sure variety of days per yr.
That being stated, an agent CAN assist open doorways to festivals. It’s their world, in any case. And identical to PR and numerous types of promo, it may typically assist reduce by the pile of pitches and emails to have trusted illustration.
Undergo the VENUES as a substitute
Many city pageant occasions host occasions throughout a number of music venues. I used to play one of these pageant in Oregon (on the time it was referred to as MusicFestNW), and it had the enjoyable vibe of a pub crawl, however with music. This provides you the prospect to start out inquiries from the bottom up — starting with the venues, relatively than the pageant organizers.
Darryl Hurs of IndieWeek jogged my memory of this when he provided his recommendation on moving into festivals:
“Typically festivals will work with taking part venue bookers as to what artists are enjoying that venue in the course of the pageant. In case you are beginning domestically, actually get to know the venues that participate within the festivals. For example, I labored intently with one specific venue and booked loads of reveals there, and was then capable of discuss to THEM about get artists into sure festivals that their venue participates in. And in some instances, it was a backdoor to truly getting the artist into the pageant.”
Familiarize your self with the first music pageant roles
Have you learnt the proper individuals to contact once you pitch your music for a pageant?
It helps to have a way of every of the pageant workers’s tasks.
Bigger pageant workers could embody:
- Pageant Director – Just like the producer of a file, this particular person is chargeable for the general monetary, creative, and cultural success of the hassle.
- Creative Director – Supervises the vibe of the pageant, and may have vital affect over the lineup.
- Booker (or Expertise Purchaser) – The one who will think about, negotiate, and rent the acts.
- Manufacturing and Stage Managers – These individuals head up the bodily infrastructure on the occasion in addition to the sound/lighting for every stage.
- Outreach Staff – There may even seemingly be entrepreneurs, a publicist, and a sponsorship supervisor. These consultants assist develop consciousness, attendance, and income for the pageant.
- Coordinator and Runners – The individuals who plan journey and transport pageant acts, journalists, and so forth.
- In addition to a small military of different workers, safety, volunteers, photographers, social media coordinators, hospitality, and extra.
Keep organized as you analysis festivals
Should you’re taking your pageant analysis severely, you’re going to desire a central place to retailer all the information you’ve gathered. Make a spreadsheet with all of the related contact and pitching info for every pageant.
Your pageant contact sheet ought to embody:
- Pageant title
- Occasion dates
- Tackle/location
- Official web site and social hyperlinks
- Deadlines for submission
- Submission necessities
- Contact data or URL for contact kind
- Necessities of the pitch
- Date of pitch
- Date to follow-up
- Some other wants (as an illustration, if the pageant is overseas, will you’ll want to renew a passport or file different paperwork?)
Make a fantastic pageant pitch!
All of your work up till this level has been preparation for the pitch.
Now how are you going to make an plain case to your music at this occasion?
Your pageant pitch ought to:
- Meet all of the pageant’s acknowledged necessities (learn fastidiously!)
- Be as transient and punchy as doable, whereas nonetheless emphasizing your {qualifications}
- Make clear within the first paragraph what profit you present to the pageant (keep in mind what I discussed earlier about unforgettable moments, demographics, and mission)
- Embrace your contact data and a hyperlink to your web site’s pageant pitch web page
Keep prepared, even for those who don’t get booked for a pageant
Should you’ve by no means performed a pageant, you might be in an early section of your musical journey the place — since you haven’t confirmed your self at a pageant but — you get loads of rejections. Or only a lack of response.
That in all probability looks like a Catch-22: How can I play a pageant if I haven’t performed a pageant?
However one necessary factor to remember is: Festivals usually have last-minute emergencies. Bands break up. Artists get sick. Flights get cancelled. Vans break down.
You would possibly have the ability to save the day and rock that pageant slot in any case. However so as to take action, you must keep rehearsed, keep prepared, and be accommodating to the pageant workers you’ve already communicated with.
In the event that they reject your first pitch, don’t be impolite or defensive. Thank them for his or her consideration, and ensure to inform them that if any acts fall by, you’d be thrilled to fill in.
Then remember to attain again out to the pageant within the weeks or days earlier than the occasion. So long as you’re not pestering these individuals evening and day, that followup would possibly arrive simply within the nick of time.
I’m not saying to dam out your calendar for a pageant you’re not scheduled to play. Take different gigs if they arrive up, in fact! But when the dates are nonetheless free when the pageant nears, verify in with the organizers once more.
As you’ll be able to see, there’s rather a lot that goes into enjoying your first music pageant.
From researching the choices, to contemplating that are best for you, to creating a successful pitch. It may be loads of work.
However once you’re lastly enjoying in entrance of that enthusiastic pageant crowd, the work may have all been value it.
You gained’t go away the occasion fascinated by all of the steps it took to get there.
You’ll be fixated on what’s most necessary: the viewers, your music, and the magic that occurs when the 2 meet.