- Some agents will require that you build a demand for your live show. However, you can pursue agents who represent soft-ticket gigs (venues that already have an audience and just need a great entertainer).
- A strong and appropriate promo video, pictures etc. If you’re going after theater gigs, your promo should be shot in a theater in front of a receptive audience. But your acoustic video will be great for colleges, house concerts, small venues etc. With the right promo they can market you to venues where they have strong relationships.
- Recommendations or quotes from the venues you’ve performed in. Show reviews are also in this category. Basically, anything that shows you are a quality act helps them sell you.
- 100% professionalism. The way you represent yourself to the agents will show them how you will relate to venue managers.
- Appreciation. Of course you appreciate the fact that your agent gets you work. But appreciating all the effort that they expend on all the gigs they unsuccessfully pitched you to goes a long way. Filling your calendar to the point where you are turning gigs down takes hours of work that is only rewarded when a pitch turns into a gig.
I was a booking agent for 20 years, and I can attest that it is very hard work. But with the right tools and 100% confidence in the act, I could walk them into the venues where they trusted me. Without that, it was always an uphill battle. That is why having these pieces in place will 1) help you attract an agent, and 2) help them be more successful on your behalf..
