Should I Ask A Venue For a Guarantee?

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Today’s question is from a booking agent and its a great one!  Don’t forget to send in your questions. I’ll be answering alot of them in the coming weeks.

QUESTION: I have an artist who’s asked me to book her venues/coffeehouses. She wants a minimum of $150 per booked coffeehouse gig.  Should i lead with suggesting cover cost?  What’s the best way to ask?

ANSWER: This is an excellent question! And the short answer, at least according to personal experience, is NO.  Here’s why:

  1. Don’t approach a venue telling them how much money they should give you.  That will likely put a bad taste in their mouth.
  2. Thoroughly read over a venue’s website before emailing them. Most established venues have a spelled-out laundry list where they explain booking procedures, needed draw, percentage split.
  3. Ask, don’t tell. When you are establishing a relationship with a venue, get a feel for how they work before telling them how you work. Here is a mock inquiry letter that will help ask about $$$.  It will be in “first-person” since most people reading this post are artists. But feel free to adjust to third-person tense if you yourself are not an artist and are representing someone else.
“Could you shed some light on your venue’s booking process and door policy?  I visited the website and couldn’t find these details. I want to make sure I know how your venue approaches this so I can plan accordingly, promote well, and pass the information to the other artists on the bill.

You’ll have to edit the above to make it sound more like you, but seriously consider asking with your motive being to help he venue…b/c when it comes down to it, this is simply a business for them and they have no reason to give you a financial guarantee if you can’t give them a people guarantee.
DISCLAIMER: perhaps the artist you’re representing is a “Big” name who is well-known in the region…then the above might not apply to him/her.  But in most cases, for most independent artists reading this, asking for a guarantee from the venue is still far out of reach.
Thanks for asking!

  • http://www.bridgetteperdue.com Bridgette Perdue

    I think it’s important to clarify the type of venue too, and what they specifically are looking for. Some gigs, like playing covers (or even originals) for a restaurant, should be paid, in my opinion. You’re providing a service so you should get paid for your time.

    I def agree that the lead off should be “how can I help YOU?” You get more bees with honey, not vinegar…or something like that! And most venues understand and have budgeted for paying musicians.

    Asking for money from a coffeehouse or like place, is definitely different, especially when it’s more of a concert, or they don’t have music regularly. I think then, it’s even more important you bring something to the table, and work out something boht parties are pleased with.

    That’s my long-winded two cents! ;-) Feel free to like, dislike, comment, poke, etc.

    ~Bridgette~