Do you dream of headlining a giant music competition?
Not surprisingly, an important step in direction of that aim is: reserving your FIRST music competition slot!
With 1,000+ annual music festivals within the USA and Europe alone, there’s a complete world of alternative on the market so that you can wow IRL audiences together with your stay present.
On this article we’ll discover:
- the professionals and cons of competition performances
- learn how to know in case you’re prepared for a competition gig
- and some other ways to e book your first competition slot
Let’s dive in!
Why play music festivals?
This would possibly sound like an odd place to start out, however it’s value asking: Do you actually WANT to discover music competition alternatives?
Some festivals are wonderful, career-defining experiences:
Coachella, Glastonbury, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Pageant, Newport People Pageant, ZoukOut, Rolling Loud, Lollapalooza Brasil…
Impress these audiences and your music can be throughout TikTok and Instagram. As memorable as it could be to rock a kind of phases, although, your presence at a competition of that calibre most likely 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 think about 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 essentially the most devoted music followers in a geographic area
- Attain curious listeners who’re open to discovering new sounds throughout genres
- Construct your competition 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. Dangerous 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 competition will be unforgettable. Unforgettably nice or disastrous. I’m not making an attempt to discourage you. Simply wish to set some sensible expectations:
Not all festivals are created equal. Your mileage might differ.
Some issues to think about about music competition alternatives
Journey prices versus pay
What’s the compensation to your efficiency? How far-off is the competition? Do you want a resort? Are you able to e book different tour dates in your approach there and again? How a lot will you pay in fuel and meals?
If it’s an important competition alternative, it could be definitely worth the journey for breakeven or perhaps a slight loss. However you’ll wish to assume by these calculations beforehand.
Time and visibility of your competition slot
I mentioned above that not all festivals are created equal. The identical goes for slots inside any given competition.
What good is taking part in a competition in case your set is early within the day whereas attendees are sleeping off a hangover, or in case you’re taking part in essentially the most inconvenient stage similtaneously a main-stage act that can draw crowds AWAY from you?
In the event you’re not conversant in the competition first-hand, ask round to realize perspective. Learn evaluations on-line. Try TikTok, Instagram, Fb, and YouTube for video from the earlier yr’s occasion, with a selected search focus in your slot, stage, and time.
Stage of competition viewers engagement
Whereas it’s usually the case that music competition attendees are open-minded and enthusiastic, it may also be true that… they’re not particularly there for YOUR music.
An enormous competition with many competing phases 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 totally spend money on something besides the headliners.
Different festivals — like Portland, Oregon’s Pickathon — put an enormous emphasis on new music, and create an setting the place attendees are actually excited to listen to the lesser-known acts.
So once more, do some analysis to get a way for whether or not precise music discovery is going on on the smaller phases.
The truth of competition merch gross sales
That is one other space that may be an enormous win or a giant disappointment.
In the event you slay, your new followers might leap on the probability to fulfill you on the merch desk (assuming merch gross sales are permitted through the competition). But it surely may be true that within the rush of an action-packed competition, your viewers strikes rapidly to the following set.
That is yet one more space the place some research may also help you set correct expectations.
Alternative prices
Your default assumption might be that the competition IS your alternative. But it surely’s value asking what you’ll be giving as much as play the competition.
That could possibly be the financial prices we talked about above, however it may be different paying gigs you need to decline.
To competition, or to not competition?
Now even in case you whole up the worst of all of the above eventualities: Small stage, early hours, unfocused viewers, no merch gross sales, turning down gigs at dwelling…
… taking part in your first music competition should be value it.
It’s a foot-in-the-door and a resumé-builder. An opportunity to make an impression on just a few new listeners. A option to familiarize your self with a brand new efficiency setting. A problem to push by discomfort and acquire confidence for future reveals.
In different phrases, the expertise alone — even when it’s removed from preferrred — could also be a progress alternative value pursuing.
However are you READY to carry out at a music competition?
When you’ve answered whether or not a competition is best for you, you’ll have to determine if you’re proper for the competition.
Listed here are 9 issues that music festivals will search for when reserving acts:
1. Nice efficiency abilities
The time to show to your self (and others) you could persistently ship an incredible stay present is BEFORE you try and take the competition stage.
Music festivals are, clearly, efficiency occasions! So that you wish to be well-rehearsed and have loads of stage expertise earlier than submitting to festivals.
Festivals wish to know you’ll maintain audiences engaged, not flip them away, which might diminish the repute of the general occasion.
In case your present is nice AND distinctive, all the higher — as a result of that uniqueness might assist you examine off just a few of the opposite bins under.
2. High quality live-performance video
It’s not sufficient to play nice reveals. You have to have proof. Which means: video and photograph documentation of you sounding nice and your viewers loving it.
Assuming the competition employees hasn’t heard you carry out earlier than, this stay content material (which must be simply accessible in your web site and YouTube) would be the major approach a competition can assess what you’ll convey to their occasion.
Some normal guidelines for stay efficiency movies:
- Seize nice sound — No distorted digital camera mic. No crowd dialog speaking over the music.
- Present the viewers — Once more, the booker desires proof you’ll be able to transfer the room. If the venue is packed, seize the group. 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 in the back of the room is boring. Have somebody maintain the digital camera and transfer round to focus on the bodily dynamics of your efficiency.
- “At dwelling” is okay — In the event you can’t seize video of a gig, you must no less than have a stay efficiency video from your house, rehearsal house, and so forth. You may as well 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
You ought to be previous the purpose of your musical journey the place you’re discovering who you’re, what you need to say, and what your sound is.
This isn’t to counsel you’ll be able to’t change and evolve, however moderately… you must’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 type of music you’re keen on, it’s necessary to have an outlined sound and try to be an innovator. Though that’s simpler mentioned than carried out — 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 facet, it helps promoters when artists have an outlined and distinctive manufacturers, too.”
Your model, nearly as a lot as your songs and efficiency abilities, can be an necessary consider how critically a competition considers your participation.
4. Business buzz and social traction
All festivals wish to set up a sort of cultural relevance. Pageant administrators and bookers wish to really feel assured that they’re hiring the perfect expertise inside their means.
The extra buzz and traction round your music, within the press, amongst the trade and fellow acts, and on social, the higher. That reveals the festivals that you simply’ll convey the thrill issue.
In fact the extent of buzz you want to attain will differ based mostly on the profile of the competition. However all this to say, your first competition slot will most likely be an occasion that coincides with or follows your social progress and networking. It received’t precede it.
5. An official launch with momentum
To place this merely, most festivals are reserving acts who’ve launched music on common DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music. Even in case you’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 embrace all of the related info {that a} competition planner will wish 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 comprise:
- 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 stay
- Hello-res photograph(s)
- Press quotes
- Highlights out of your touring historical past
- Your competition historical past (although in case you’re studying this text, you most likely don’t have that but!)
- Testimonials from expertise patrons, venue house owners, and even followers — about your stay present
- Contact information
7. Availability and dedication
This most likely sounds apparent, however be sure you’re truly out there to play the occasion earlier than you make your pitch.
Verify the provision of everybody else in your act. Make sure that each they every mark their calendars with tentative holds.
8. An unforgettable competition second
Top-of-the-line methods to point your worth to the competition is to arrange a pitch that features a efficiency promise.
Are you able to do one thing throughout your competition slot that simply screams “viral second?” One thing that can make the viewers seize for his or her cameras? One thing they’ll go dwelling speaking about greater than anything they noticed on the competition?
Your unforgettable music fest efficiency may embrace:
- An entire 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!)
Work out learn how to make that second a actuality. After which put it in your pitch.
9. Artist and viewers demographics
Grant-funded festivals might have standards to meet as they construct the lineup.
For example, some Canadian occasions are obliged to function a sure proportion of Canadian artists.
Different occasions could also be guided by a selected mission assertion that will 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 accountability, or just because it makes a greater occasion.
As IndieWeek founder Darryl Hurs defined:
“Range and demographics are a giant issue, as competition promoters have gotten extra delicate to creating certain 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. In the event you may also help the competition obtain a aim apart from simply being nice on stage, don’t shrink back from mentioning it!
Ideas for locating your first music competition slot
As soon as you’re certified to take the competition stage, how do you discover your first competition slot? Listed here are some pointers to level you in the correct path.
Begin with native music festivals
Be sensible: You’re most likely not going to make your competition debut on the Newport People Pageant. They’re extraordinarily selective and plan lengthy upfront.
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.
On your first competition, 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 competition, and typically these non-music occasions will nonetheless have music phases.
After I lived in Oregon, as an example, I performed an annual meals competition on the river with an enormous mainstage for music. Regardless that attendees hadn’t arrived particularly for the music, it was nonetheless a big viewers of people who 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 exterior of music. Discuss to metropolis employees and Chamber of Commerce reps. They’ll pay attention to what occasions are within the works.
Plan no less than a yr upfront
Timing is all the things. And most profitable occasions take a very long time to plan, promote, and produce.
Begin your analysis and your pitching early.
Meet folks within the competition world!
Networking. It’s necessary in most fields. And festivals are not any exception.
First, remember to comply with the accounts of festivals it’s possible you’ll wish 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 competition bulletins and deadlines (that are often shared on social).
However don’t begin and finish with Instagram and TikTok. You’ll be able to usually have a extra significant dialog with folks on LinkedIn, Discord, or Reddit.
And even perhaps extra impactful than on-line networking, attend trade occasions and music conferences! I often attend People Alliance Worldwide yearly, and there are reps from a few of the greatest festivals in people and Americana music at that occasion.
Certain, there will be an expense to journey to a networking occasion resembling that, however you get to fulfill lots of people face-to-face, multi functional place, get your questions answered immediately, and go dwelling with extra confidence whenever you comply with up on these conversations.
And keep in mind your native trade 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 mentioned than carried out.
And also you won’t be prepared for a reserving agent. In any case, a reserving agent expects to be paid fee based mostly on the gigs you’re taking part in. Are you performing sufficient worthwhile gigs per yr to justify their work? Many brokers received’t even take into account you as a shopper till you’ve confirmed to tour a sure variety of days per yr.
That being mentioned, an agent CAN assist open doorways to festivals. It’s their world, in spite of everything. And identical to PR and varied types of promo, it could typically assist reduce by the pile of pitches and emails to have trusted illustration.
Undergo the VENUES as a substitute
Many city competition occasions host occasions throughout a number of music venues. I used to play one of these competition 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, moderately than the competition organizers.
Darryl Hurs of IndieWeek jogged my memory of this when he supplied his recommendation on moving into festivals:
“Typically festivals will work with collaborating venue bookers as to what artists are taking part in that venue through the competition. If you’re beginning domestically, actually get to know the venues that participate within the festivals. For example, I labored intently with one specific venue and booked lots of reveals there, and was then capable of speak to THEM about learn how to get artists into sure festivals that their venue participates in. And in some instances, it was a backdoor to really getting the artist into the competition.”
Familiarize your self with the first music competition roles
Are you aware the correct folks to contact whenever you pitch your music for a competition?
It helps to have a way of every of the competition employees’s obligations.
Bigger competition employees might embrace:
- Pageant Director – Just like the producer of a file, this particular person is chargeable for the general monetary, inventive, and cultural success of the hassle.
- Inventive Director – Supervises the vibe of the competition, and might have important affect over the lineup.
- Booker (or Expertise Purchaser) – The one that will take into account, negotiate, and rent the acts.
- Manufacturing and Stage Managers – These folks head up the bodily infrastructure on the occasion in addition to the sound/lighting for every stage.
- Outreach Crew – There may even possible be entrepreneurs, a publicist, and a sponsorship supervisor. These specialists assist develop consciousness, attendance, and income for the competition.
- Coordinator and Runners – The individuals who plan journey and transport competition acts, journalists, and so forth.
- In addition to a small military of different employees, safety, volunteers, photographers, social media coordinators, hospitality, and extra.
Keep organized as you analysis festivals
In the event you’re taking your competition analysis critically, you’re going to need a central place to retailer all the data you’ve gathered. Make a spreadsheet with all of the related contact and pitching info for every competition.
Your competition contact sheet ought to embrace:
- Pageant identify
- Occasion dates
- Handle/location
- Official web site and social hyperlinks
- Deadlines for submission
- Submission necessities
- Contact information or URL for contact type
- Necessities of the pitch
- Date of pitch
- Date to follow-up
- Some other wants (as an example, if the competition is overseas, will you want to renew a passport or file different paperwork?)
Make an important competition 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 competition pitch ought to:
- Meet all of the competition’s acknowledged necessities (learn rigorously!)
- Be as transient and punchy as doable, whereas nonetheless emphasizing your {qualifications}
- Make clear within the first paragraph what profit you present to the competition (keep in mind what I discussed earlier about unforgettable moments, demographics, and mission)
- Embrace your contact information and a hyperlink to your web site’s competition pitch web page
Keep prepared, even in case you don’t get booked for a competition
In the event you’ve by no means performed a competition, it’s possible you’ll be in an early part of your musical journey the place — since you haven’t confirmed your self at a competition but — you get lots of rejections. Or only a lack of response.
That most likely looks like a Catch-22: How can I play a competition if I haven’t performed a competition?
However one necessary factor to bear in mind 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 competition slot in spite of everything. However so as to take action, you need to keep rehearsed, keep prepared, and be accommodating to the competition employees 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 competition within the weeks or days earlier than the occasion. So long as you’re not pestering these folks night time and day, that followup would possibly arrive simply within the nick of time.
I’m not saying to dam out your calendar for a competition you’re not scheduled to play. Take different gigs if they arrive up, after all! But when the dates are nonetheless free when the competition nears, examine in with the organizers once more.
As you’ll be able to see, there’s rather a lot that goes into taking part in your first music competition.
From researching the choices, to contemplating that are best for you, to creating a profitable pitch. It may be lots of work.
However whenever you’re lastly taking part in in entrance of that enthusiastic competition crowd, the work may have all been value it.
You received’t depart the occasion enthusiastic about 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.
