It’s frustrating. You send out emails to this venue and that venue but nobody gets back to you…and then you start to wonder if you ever sent those emails in the first place. It happens all the time. At least it happens to me!  So when I began book this year’s summer tour, I went a whole new route and got a little more specific in my pitch letter.

THE BASICS
If you want to venues to read your pitch, you must have 3 very important elements in your pitch email.

1. A Brief Bio. Remember that they many venues get hundreds of email pitches each month. They don’t have time to read a book. Be short, straight and to the point. I usually put the bio in bold so its the first thing a booker reads.
2. The date(s) you’re looking to book.  Send a date. They don’t have time to go back and forth asking you about possible dates. Tell them what date you’ll be coming through town.  If possible, give them two dates. This will increase your chances of being booked. And don’t forget to tell them which of the two dates you prefer.
3. Links: don’t be shy with these (see below). This is most important! I used to send a link to my website and EPK, but soon found that it paid off to send direct links to video and audio clips so bookers didnt have to fish around on my sites to find what they were looking for.

MOCK PITCH: here’s a completely fictional example

Email Subject:  Booking @ ABC Lounge – August 5 or 7

Hi Bob,   My name is James Jordan. I’m an independent acoustic artist based out of Boston, MA who travels regionally through the Philly, Baltimore, DC, NYC, MA and NJ circuit. I’m inquiring about booking  Aug 5 or 7 as I make a pass through the area on my summer tour,

In short, my music is a mix of blues, folk, and soul. My formal bio is as follows as well as the information requested from you contact page.

Singer-songwriter James Jordan has a sound that can best be compared to artists he’s opened for over the last year – Amos Lee, Michael Tolcher, & Jeffrey Gaines.  Noted as “a standout artist” by WXPN’s Anna Smalley, and a “unique lyricist” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Jordan has become a sought after artist on the East Coast and tours the college circuit, listening rooms, and music festival year-round. Jordan regularly plays venues such as NYC’s Living Room, Washington D.C.’s Birchmere, and Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live.

Website: include direct link to your site

Audio: include direct link to your best song(s). NO attachments.

Video: include a direct link to your best video from a live performance. DO NOT send a video of yourself playing in your living room. Try to send a video with great lighting and audio – something that looks semi professional if poss.  This is the most important link. See why in “The Venue & The Booking Process“

Press Kit: send a direct link to your press kit

Other venues played: include other venues played in this particular city

Draw: include your draw.

Thanks and I hope to hear from you.
James

CAUTION: It is always really great to include “Other venues played” or “draw” to prove to the booker that you have a following in the area. But if you say you have a draw of 2 people, you probably won’t get book. It might be best to leave that information out.