Your Gigs Strategy: How to Get Bookings for Your Act in 2020-21

Things are changing by the day for the Entertainment industry and it can be hard to keep up with what you are able to do in terms of work and gigs. We see what types of jobs and gigs are out there everyday, and we’re starting to see some really positive signs in terms of the number and types of gigs that are rolling in globally.

So what types of entertainment work can you expect to get at this time? What can you do to maximise your chances of getting the jobs and gigs that are around right now and what do you need to consider when working ?

And don’t forget, a great place to start is to register with us to get free job & gig email alerts for your act type.

What’s available now?

We’ve been watching closely over the last few weeks to see what types of jobs are starting to appear, now that many of us are out of lockdown.

The majority of bookings we’re seeing at the moment are private bookings for Weddings and Birthdays. These are for all sorts of entertainers, from singers and bands, to dancers, children’s entertainers, drag acts and tribute acts. These entertainment bookings are for anytime between next week and 2021!

As well as these, we’re starting to see an increase in demand for virtual entertainment, anything from short recorded performances to full live performance and skills classes.

What can I do to get more gigs now?

Here are the 3 key steps you should be taking to make sure that you maximise your chances of getting more bookings over the coming months:

1. Sign up as a Virtual Entertainer

Sign up today and make sure you consider exactly what type of online performance or class you can offer. You can read our full Guide to being a Virtual Entertainer and watch the explainer video to get you started.

If you have already signed up and you would like us to promote your virtual service, you can send us a video sample of a virtual performance and if it is a good quality clip we will promote it across our social media.

Clips can be sent as MP4 files to [email protected].

2. Sign up to Give Skills Classes & Lessons

We’ve recently launched a new category that we are promoting to bookers – lessons & skills classes. As one of our members you can now add yourself to the teaching categories, for singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, magic & more. You don’t have to be a qualified teacher to do this, just have buckets of enthusiasm and a desire to pass on your wonderful skills.

These lessons can be offered as one off-skills classes, or on-going lessons, either in person or online. We are currently promoting them for 1-2-1 sessions, as well as a way to bring some fun to a zoom Christmas or Birthday party. You can get creative with what you would like to offer and add it to your profile description.

If you are already registered with us, find out how to add yourself to the new lessons categories here.

3. Get the Best Promotional Materials Possible

At a time when there are fewer gigs available, it is absolutely essential that you have fantastic photos and videos and a well-written description and bio. You need to look professional, and poor quality photos and videos will undermine your talent when it comes to attracting bookers.

Your photos need to be crystal clear and work well as a selling tool on the search results pages. Your video also needs to have good, clear footage – no shaky cameras or poor sound – and should ideally be a selection of clips showing a variety or songs or performance types.

You also need to make sure you’re promoting yourself in as many places as possible – in our directory, with your own website, on social media and through networking.

No video or website, or need help with your photos? No problem – we have an exclusive service for our members, where you can get photo editing and retouching for ￡25, video editing for ￡45 and a beautiful, mobile-friendly, easy-to-edit website designed specifically for your act from just ￡149.

4. Promote Yourself as a Wedding & Party Entertainer

Firstly, if your act is likely to appeal to the wedding market, make sure you add yourself to the wedding category for your act type in our directory. So, for example, if you’re a singer, make sure you also list as a Wedding Singer. Watch this video to see how to add your act to different categories in our directory.

You can also read our really useful and comprehensive Guide to Getting Wedding Bookings .

5. Read our Essential Guide to Marketing for Entertainers

This is now free for anyone who is registered with us. Just log-in to your account and click the ‘Get More Gigs’ button.

Our new system will help you create the best profile possible so you can appear higher up in the search results. If you scroll down the Get More Gigs page you will also find our Essential Guide to Marketing. Part One: Social Media Marketing for Entertainers is now live.

What should I keep in mind when I get booking enquiries?

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind during this time of social distancing.

When you first receive an enquiry, if the booking is for anytime this year, you should make sure you reassure your client about social distancing measures. Make sure you have thought through how your act will work in a socially distanced situation.

You should show your clients that you have really thought this through, by letting them know, for example, when you think you will need to wear a mask and how much space you think you will need for your performance.

For any auditions, you should also make sure you check the social distancing arrangements in advance, so that you know where to go, how to keep a safe distance and what to bring.

And one last piece of advice – keep going! Keep trying, keep working at it, keep updating your materials. Those bookings are out there, you need to go and get them!

If you’ve found this article useful, then keep checking your emails – we will be launching a whole new series of articles, exclusively for our members, on how to market yourself successfully as an entertainer!