How To Write A Booking Email (w/ Examples)

[@HippieWanderer]

Thank you for this! I work with a few musicians/bands, and have worked as a talent buyer as well. This has been useful content to offer constructive criticism for artists, without having to pick apart the sample emails they show me that they’ve sent out. Sending your video saying the same things I would has helped them be able to receive the information without feeling attacked or criticized- big thanks!

[@WOK-YT-handle]

This is EXCELLENT advice!

[@TheElectricfishmusic]

Great information. Thanks for taking the time to post. I know it will help me.

[@60yroldRockstar-kl7mt]

Top Tips, starting out loving the challenge!

[@amberking88]

Super helpful!! TY

[@InterIdoru]

Very nice video with quality information. I get a lot of booking emails that are WAY too long - 2-3 paragraphs, a list of 15 videos, a link to a dropbox of 50 photos. It's simply way too much! Also, recently I picked up a newish "The New Music Business" sort of book. The author wrote that people should make their booking emails super casual, super short, and use only lower letters, no capitals, don't worry about punctuation. Be hip and cool.He wrote that proper capitalization and standard politeness, not being uber casual, turns bookers off. I almost couldn't finish the book - I don't know any bookers that ignore emails because it's neutral and uses proper punctuation.

[@forthrightrecords]

That's an interesting take! I agree with the casual and short aspect. But I think you should definitely punctuate properly. If it's someone you already know, or someone you've worked with before, then sure, you can be incredibly casual. But for a cold email I'd recommend using proper grammar, no doubt!

[@BookedAndBlessedWithHollie]

Keep it short and sweet but still get your vibe across. No-one wants to read a huge block of text. That's why I recommend sending a super short email like the one you start with and then attach your one sheet.

[@hitcgirl]

Thanks for a great video. Love the Pokémon ball up on the shelf! :)

[@oldservantrecordings]

Thank you.

[@JustinCrumpDrums]

This Was Amazing Man

[@PhlaymzTV]

Dope. Thanks. I'm definitely about to implement this.

[@angelathomas1159]

Thank You !!!

[@benjaminarmstrong746]

I've found that most bookers respond to something like... "Hey, any chance for me to put together a bill with my band (insert band name) and two other local bands for March 18 at (insert venue name)?"

[@MJ-xt1ce]

thanks so much man. this is a great video

[@emilsundstrom2722]

Cool, this helped a lot

[@justkickingit272]

Key thing to put in is how many people your band will pull

[@DocBolus]

Cheers for that, really useful video.

[@lanksart]

Great video

[@thebraggersKansasCityPop]

Great Information, Simplistic and clean.Thanks a bunch. Do you have anything on the new music press release?

[@letthebadguygo]

Forgive me, but can you give an example opening line for solo performers instead of bands? Thanks for the helpful info!

[@forthrightrecords]

Hi Louis! Sure thing. If you're sending the email on behalf of yourself, I'd just be like "My name is Louis Schefano-I'm an indie rock artist from Flagstaff, AZ" etc. Not all too much different than the band version, it's just first person instead of referring to the group.

[@kennethstonemusic]

How do you get the right email addresses of the club venues

[@nck3500]

I choose Facebook Messenger over email because of more replies. *My band need videos. How to find a videographer, even if paid, to do videos at the bars we play?

[@stephanierobbins1456]

Great video and examples! Curious about your thoughts on follow-up emails - how frequent and what would you say?

[@forthrightrecords]

Thanks, Stephanie! And that's a great question-probably something that should've been covered in the video. The follow-up is definitely more art than science. I always joke that the cardinal sin of follow ups is when someone emails me Friday night and then follows up first thing Monday morning. Overall, I view it as very situational. If you're in a pinch / major time crunch and don't have much to lose, then you could follow up in a day or two. But if you're looking to book something months in advance, I always find it tactful when the follow up is a week or two later, as opposed to two days later when the person may or may not have even had a chance to fully digest the first email yet.

[@stephanierobbins1456]

@@forthrightrecords Great! Thanks again!

[@intercommradio7372]

​@@forthrightrecordsthat seems a bit too long to me lol 2 weeks wow. and what if you've never heard back from them?

[@QueenCityVon]

How do I put my links in the email !? I’m super lost

[@Necroctulhu]

So if you are just starting out, making a "live video" in your apartment would be enough?

[@forthrightrecords]

If you currently don't have any live videos, then yes. Something is better than nothing. With how easy it is to record music these days, a studio recording doesn't really give the booker a true idea of what you actually do live. If you're going to make one in your apartment, set up a nice with a clean background and do your best with lighting.

[@Necroctulhu]

@@forthrightrecords oh ok, thank you for the advice!

[@kennethstonemusic]

How do you find out who to send the email too? Who do you ask for.?

[@forthrightrecords]

Good question! And that can be tricky depending on the establishment. Some places will have that info present on their website contact section-something like "for live music inquiries, please contact___" etc. Other places might keep that contact info more discreet due to the volume of emails they already receive. If you're struggling to find the contact, you can always reach out to their generic contact email and cordially request who you should contact in regards to the live music booking at their venue.

[@PhlaymzTV]

Question: as a talent buyer, are you checking social media stats when you get these emails?

[@forthrightrecords]

Good question! The stats are most important if it's a ticketed show. So, if a talent buyer is trying to gauge whether or not your band will draw in their region and sell tickets, the stats are something they'll look at (although your stats don't necessarily tell the whole story as far as whether you can get people to the show, but it is something considered). That said, if your FB page has 12 likes and your IG has 20 followers, it tells whoever is booking that you might be a new act / relatively inexperienced. For smaller places, or breweries-places that are just looking to have entertainment for their existing patrons-the stats are taken into account a lot less than you would think. We care more about the live video and the quality of performance you are able to bring to the space.

[@InterIdoru]

@@forthrightrecords I want to throw in my agreeance on this! I book "foundation tours" for bands so there is no guarantee payment or required draw for them to have - the bands self-fund their own way. I don't need stats - just quality live performance video so I know what venues I want to book their tour through.

[@richardfranklinmorse]

Can’t listen to this video anymore, it’s too jarring to have a trumpet playing while I’m trying to hear what you’re saying

[@mimsmis]

Wow, I didn't notice the trumpet muzak until I just read your comment : ) I'm captivated by this information, he pointed out everything I did wrong, now I will knock the ball out park.

[@3SIDEGOOF]

Probably a silly question but: If im setting up a tour for multiple bands, will i need to include all their info (bio, links, live video) in ONE email ?

[@forthrightrecords]

If you're pitching an entire bill to a venue, then yes, you'd want to include info about each act that you're looking to put on stage in that email. If there's a headliner in your package that is the major draw, then obviously the pitch would mainly be about them, and then you would just list out some additional info about the opening acts as well.

[@3SIDEGOOF]

@@forthrightrecords thank you